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    GOP National Security Debate Went from Snooze to News

    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
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    Yahoo! News is asking GOP voters in Iowa and New Hampshire for their impressions from the Republican debates. Here is a perspective from a voter.

    COMMENTARY | Newt Gingrich was his usual academic self. I'm not a fan of Newt because his debating skills do not convince me that he is a conservative. His debating skills do not rid me of the feeling that Freddie Mac is more of a story than we know.

    I'm an Iowa GOP conservative, and I like straight talk. I'd love Newt, Mitt, Huntsman, Bachmann, Paul or Santorum to provide a straightforward "yes" or "no" responses sometimes.

    Newt's orating raised eyebrows when he started in on illegal immigration. He thinks if you have lived here for 20 years, you get to stay. He does not want to call it amnesty, but he does not want to punish them for breaking the law either. Instead of calling us heartless, Newt said we are inhumane.

    Herman Cain does not get enough credit.

    Herman Cain is a CEO, has a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science. He worked for the Department of the Navy. No one gives him credit for knowing anything about foreign affairs. CNNs John King misspoke when he said Cain did not answer the question about Syria. Cain's answer was short and sweet. He said that he would encourage countries that buy oil from Syria to boycott them. Since a third of Syria's revenue comes from oil, it would hurt their economy, and their potential to finance war and nukes.

    Michele Bachmann was persistent.

    Michele Bachmann impressed me in this debate. She finally got away from saying I or me. She called Perry out for wanting to stop aid to Pakistan. Bachmann would not let Newt off the hook for blanket amnesty. Newt denied it, but she stuck to her guns, and I appreciated her tenacity.

    Wolf Blitzer was good humored and did a pretty good job of moderating. He did not go for gotcha questions and let the candidates talk. While it was not the best debate, I always learn something new about the candidates by watching.

     
    • LINDAM  •  6 mths ago
      all i can say is it doesn't take much to impress you.
    • Ken Sears  •  6 mths ago
      11 million human beings are NEVER going to be herded into cattle cars and shipped to Mexico. WAKE UP. It's time to live in the real (and humane) world. Maybe you get a thrill out of the notion of tearing mothers and fathers from sons and daughters and grandchildren, loading them into trucks and trains and dumping them at the border, but I don't. I wonder how much you've "taken umbrage" at your nice clean sheets in the hotels and manicured lawns at the country clubs....
      Gingrich is talking COMMON SENSE. It's what's GOING to happen, ANYWAY, sooner or later, and like a real leader, he's looking at doing it right: providing the path to legality with decency and humanity. He's got guts to talk common sense when so many loudmouths only want jingoism.
      GINGRICH 2012
      • Beach Bum 6 mths ago
        i agree till the end. no hypocrites anymore. no more liars, no more cheaters or rich slime sucking the life outta America. i still gave you a thumbs up, but it was for your insightful post. i just dont trust a man who cheats while pursuing another for the same. newts a hypocritical asxhat.
      • A Yahoo! User 6 mths ago
        breaking laws brings consequence results...run a stop sign you a pay a fine.. run a stop sign kill some one that is manslaughter..come across our borders illegally (breaking our sovereign laws) this year or twenty years ago there should be consequences and breaking other laws when they get here ... you are making none citizens above the law ..Are citizens above the law?
      • Scott 6 mths ago
        Okcache, you think they haven't suffered consequences? Being exploited by corporate America , paid almost nothing unfit working conditions, long hours,because of their immigration status. But I guess Corporations are above the Republican laws aren't they.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  6 mths ago
      Happy Thanksgiving to everybody
    • ss  •  6 mths ago
      This is what scares me. The American people are completely willing to give away all of their constitutional freedoms for PERCEIVED security. Ron Paul is right...we are headed the wrong direction!
    • Justin  •  New York, United States  •  6 mths ago
      As Ben Franklin once said " Those who would trade liberty for a sense of security deserves none and get neither."
    • Michael B  •  6 mths ago
      cain is a corporate crook. Cain & Aquila. Nuff said
    • Scott  •  6 mths ago
      I am still waiting for a debate, all we have seen so far is a platform for the candidates get to explain their talking points. A Debate is defined as: A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward. I have yet to hear an opposing argument put forward. These "debates" are nothing more than Republican infomercials.
      • TallDudeRetired 6 mths ago
        Great Post Scott. I agree with you.
      • william 6 mths ago
        You have shown that you obviously didn't watch the debate. Ron Paul opposes every one of the neo-con statists. He has for 30 years. WATCH the debates and READ about the candidates before you make blanket statements.
      • Scott 6 mths ago
        William, obviously you have never seen a "real" debate. I have watched all the "debates" And there hasn't been a real debate yet. Yes Dr. Paul has an opposing ideology but none of these GOP clowns has presented any documented fact. Dr. Paul states his ideas and leaves it at that, this is not a true debate. Unlike you, my brain isn't clogged up with rhetoric from a particular candidate and I don't make "blanket statements".
    • anchor baby  •  6 mths ago
      This is not news ..it's GOP propaganda.......as fair and balanced as FAUX NEWS.
      • Cigouave 6 mths ago
        Um, it's labeled a commentary for a reason.
    • KATHLEEN  •  Elmhurst, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Republicans offer nothing for this country. Vote DEMOCRATIC!
    • william  •  Marietta, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Cain impressed you? Syria doesn't EXPORT oil idiot! And why would you suggest that Ron Paul has ever given any "poitician-like" answers? He gives yes or no's to yes or no questions.

      Sorry if those 3 syllable words and complex economic policies confuse you, but the rest of us want to hear it.
      • garym 6 mths ago
        Totally wrong. From the state dept website:

        "Syria exported roughly 150,000 bpd in 2008, and oil still accounts for a majority of the country's export income"
      • seattleskies 6 mths ago
        Wow 150k year. So what. Assad get all the aid they need from china and iran. Who in hell thinks these idiot columns from right wingers are "new"!
      • Shane 6 mths ago
        Seattle bpd means barrels per day, not year. Still, it's a drop in the bucket and not nearly enough to make much of a country around.
    • McNeil  •  Los Angeles, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Cain's answer to syria is to "encourage" countries that buy oil from them to boycott???? This is what he thinks qualifies as an answer to the question??? And this voter who wrote this piece thinks Cain knows what he's talking about??? That's truly pathetic.

      First of all, Syria has been classified as a terrorist stae sponsor for decades by all the western countries, so nobody in our column is buying oil from them anyway, and those who are buying from them would tell us to go stick it if we told them to boycott. I would bet money that if you gave him a blanked map of the middle east he couldn't name any of the countries and place them correctly. That's what he would have advisors do! But it tells us that he has no concept of foreign policy.
      • garym 6 mths ago
        Wrong again. Italy and France account for one third of Syria's exports.
      • Shane 6 mths ago
        But he "has all of these things floating around in his head".
    • Danni  •  Sunnyvale, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Only Ron Paul impressed me in that debate. You know, like we're bankrupt and many are jobless, so it's better to pick a candidate who is non-interventionist, who would keep us safe while moving us away from EXPENSIVE WARS. I'm tired of "status quo" politicians like Romney and Gingrich.
    • Joe  •  6 mths ago
      And then they all piled back into the little clown-car and rolled off.
    • nevada0006  •  Mooresville, United States  •  6 mths ago
      President Obama has buster his butt on our nation present problems . As far as Jobs and the economy are concerned GE paid no Corporate income taxes because under GOP leadership major companies have received huge tax breaks for moving headquarters and operations overseas. The Democrats have tried to repeal these laws but the GOP has fought them every step of the way. Another point on Jobs GOP Senator Kelly Ayotteas as well as all the other GOP had a chance to increase the number of Firefighters, EMTS and Teachers by 4,300 in New Hampshire and she voted against this Jobs Bill . What a traitor.

       

      On leadership , President Obama shown to be a strong leader with extraordinary leadership abilities which has made this country and world a better place to live . Cowboy Bush left the country and the presidents office a huge mess. .These are actions on how a real president should act.



      One, He stopped a major recession from becoming a depression which he inherited from Cowboy Bush . If the GOP cooperated just a little our economy today would be fantastic.( Make the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes)



      Two , He rid the world of the worst person since Hitler , Os Bin Laden . Bush had OBL in his sights at least 4 times but refused to pull the trigger because of his friends in Pakistan .

      Three, The President is making good on a campaign promise on removing all combat troops in Iraq, Again a Bush Leftover. John McCain said in 08 the thought we would need a military presence in Iraq for 40 years.

      Obama has had a few problems but look who will be running against him . I will have no problem voting for a man who has made this planet a safer place to live .
      GO,and Kick GOP butt. Obama 2012 !
    • rick m  •  6 mths ago
      Vote out the extreme left and the extreme right. The anger needs to be focused on the Congress and Senate, right now, they are the problem, they are playing games with our country.
    • Caren  •  6 mths ago
      repukes foreign policy ..find another endless war
    • David  •  Pleasanton, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Their top security concern should be which one h[f them has their hands in the deepest pockets of each of the others...
    • Stephen  •  6 mths ago
      It did become news: RON PAUL was allowed to speak for over 500 seconds. That is a mighty dose of education and TRUTH for the public to receive.
      The other candidates and their bankster handlers were devastated.
    • not2bad  •  Youngstown, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Elect Ron Paul 2012, the " People's Candidate." Honest, consistent, not bought and paid for by big business or banks, not about money or power, supported most by active military, is a doctor and knows healthcare first hand, only candidate that was in the military, is for protecting your liberty and freedoms, but above all is for America and Americans first!
    • David Neu  •  Dallas, United States  •  6 mths ago
      All I want for Christmas is an intelligent Republican candidate.
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