Just a reminder. The Republicans are on now - followed by the Democrats @9:00.

Others will live blog it better than I - Americablog for one but I’ll toss in a couple of comments.

Rudy already blamed Clinton for gutting the military. Nice - actually it started with Bush 41 because the cold war was over.

“The President isn’t arrogant and doesn’t have a bunker mentality” - Mitt Romney. Look tomorrow for the quote where he wants to educate Muslims to reject extremism in the context that Muslim governments have no other options.

Looks like they are all running toward George Bush and his policies. Except of course Ron Paul. I get the impression they are trying to out Bush each other.

Now they are talking about Principles.

McCain says he wants to “restore trust in Government”. Gee - we don’t have that now?

It is interesting listening to the Republicans discuss principles.

Rudy is all about Reagan, The others are giving a lecture on what principles are - I don’t see anyone actually saying I believe in this, or that, or the other thing.

Huckabee, to his credit, just said that everyone is equal, not separated by wealth, etc. Interesting.

They are talking about healthcare -

McCain just gave a lecture about European health care and said, “We’ve been to Canada and it doesn’t work”. Um, looks like John McCain needs a geography lesson.

Exile in the comments asked if Rudy is still in the race. A better question is, “Is Thompson still in the race? Per Thompson, “We have the best health care in the world, it just costs too much. This is rich - Per Thompson - a good number of uninsured can afford insurance, but chose not to buy it. WTF??

Oh, the Redskins just lost

Commercial Break.

After the break they are talking about immigration

McClain and Romney are going at it. Romney says McCain’s plan is Amnesty. McCain says no. I think McCain is correct in that his plan is not Amnesty, however, it appears to me that Romney is a much smoother talker than McCain. But McCain just got a zinger in. McCain said ‘Governor, when you change positions as often as you, you will be misquoted” Nice.,

It is interesting when these guys go after each other - Rudy just said Reagan did amnesty and he is the hero to our party, so he would be in Mitt’s negative ads.

Why not Obama - How do you differ from Obama?

Mitt - The government will run health care. America wants change, Washington is broken, People want change. Change Change Mitt has lived change, Change is his life. So Mitt can change better than Obama.

Freddie - Obama has adoped positon posiiton all liberal groups - He is a liberal - the federal government will solve all. We need constitutional principles. He wants to bring us a to welfare state.

McCain - He has no national secuirty background and respects Obama. McCain says Mitt is the candidate of change (nice shot) - Mitt getting defensive - with the personal barbs.

Rudy - Obama has no experience never ran a city, state, business. Embraced change as a concept - Oh, Socialized medicine - Timetable, Iraq withdrawal all bad.

Huckabee - differences on second amendment, life, 10th amendment - taxes, national defense, Obama wants a weak defense, Same sex marriage, Again Huck with vertical leadership. Huck is a vertical leader.

Ron Paul - I’m similar with Obama in fact young people join us from Barak’s campaign. I differ from Barak with personal liberties - standard libertarian vs non libertarian stuff.