1. Taxes
Romney tries to explain why he raised fees...er, taxes as governor of Massachusetts. Attacks McCain for voting against Bush tax cuts and for holding to the view that his vote was the right thing to do. Claims he cut taxes many times in his state. Attacks Huckabee for raising tax burden in Arkansas. Says we should lower taxes again for middle class (under $200,000).
McCain says he was a foot soldier in Reagan revolution. Cut taxes AND spending to keep the deficit down. Supported by Gramm and Rudman, Jack Kemp who announced today that he's supporting McCain. "I'm in favor of tax cuts...but we'll cut spending." Have to cut spending, eliminate pork barrel/wasteful spending. Never asked for or received a single earmark for his state. Fiscal sanity.
Romney says McCain didn't answer his concerns. Bush tax cuts were "bold" - helped our economy turn around. "Change is going to have to begin with us." "I cut spending...state employment...vetoed literally hundreds of items."
McCain says, "ask Jack Abramoff...if I haven't cut spending." "I have a record of saving billions for the American tax payer."
Huckabee says "fees" and "taxes" still money out of your pocket. Cut taxes 94 times as governor. Eliminated marriage penalty, etc. Took a $200 million deficit and turned it into $800 million surplus. Rebuilt our road system. "Government's supposed to work."
Romney: "Facts are stubborn things." "You make up facts faster than you talk." Every year we generated a surplus.
Huckabee and Romney go back and forth on who raised taxes.
Giuliani: Recommended 64 tax cuts, accomplished 23 of those. Lowered income tax rate by 24 percent. Lowered hotel occupancy tax, sales tax. Overall tax burden on New Yorkers lowered 17 percent. George Will said Giuilani ran most conservative government over last 50, 60 years. "I am a supply sider." Bush tax cuts are yielding more money than we had higher tax. Best record of anyone in government during the 1990s.
Thompson: Never said he'd cut Social Security. "I have the only plan" for Social Security. Allow people to have individual retirement account. Index retirement benefits to inflation rather than to wages. Increase would not be as much.
Romney: Reducing initial benefit would be a big mistake. Different index for higher income individuals has merit. Adjust retirement age.
McCain: Need to fix Social Security, like happened in 1983. Tell the American people it's broken and it's got to be fixed. Obligation to next generation.
2. Change and Populism
Huckabee: People feel like folks in Washington don't have a clue. Double digit inflation on health care, $3 per gallon, working two jobs, not getting ahead. Need to encourage small business, cut regulation, taxation, litigation. We lose jobs overseas. "If that's populism, I'm guilty." "If we don't wake up to that, we're gonna lose." Getting working class people to believe Republicans stand for them.
Romney: Not going to help wage earner by attacking wage payer. It's rather offensive to attack corporations that create jobs. "I've been in the real world." Need to shrink the federal government.
Huckabee: We ought to have no corporate tax. Don't penalize productivity. We have people who are in trouble today...companies hide profits in Cayman Islands. Level of equity in tax system.
Giuliani: Most experience bringing people out of poverty and welfare. We Republicans don't explain to the poor that our programs, our policies are ladders out of poverty. Tie welfare to work ("workfare"). "I'm doing workfare because I love you more."
Thompson: Likes certain elements of Huckabee's fair tax. Move towards flatter tax. Substantial tax reform. Rudy's apparently read my plan.
3. Who is Better Prepared to Change Washington?
McCain: I've been an agent of change. Change in failing strategy pursued by Secretary Rumsfeld. I fought for this change in strategy. This change has had enormous benefit to America, our security, our future. Strategy is working. I don't know of better change than saving American lives. Line item veto, campaign finance reform. I know how the system works, I know how to bring about change.
Romney: McCain's been an agent of change, but Washington is fundamentally broken. My lifetime of work has taught me how to bring about fundamental, top-to-bottom change. Washington insider won't do it. Energy independence, health care for all our systems, fix education. Sending same people to Washington, different chairs, won't result in different outcome. Needs to be someone from outside with executive leadership. Dramatic difference between talking about change and actually having led an organization. Someone from the outside. Time for a dramatic and fundamental change.
McCain: I also had experience in leadership (in US Navy -- not for profit but for patriotism). I've spent my life defending this nation and making it secure. Struggle against radical Islamic extremism. Osama bin Laden -- "I know how to get him, and I will get him."
Thompson: Everyone came out of Iowa talking about change. What is more important is leadership, telling the American people the truth. Go to American people and say "here's the deal."
Giulani: Depends on how you're gonna change -- for good or bad? Democrats talking about raising taxes. I think a good change is lowering taxes. What direction are you going to change country in? Change is a slogan.
4. National Security
Romney: Senators say they've been there, Governors say they have executive leadership experience. Very difficult to determine what major issues will be. Looking for a president who has judgment, wisdom, ability to make difficult decisions, calm under fire, willingness to listen to others, etc. American people have made the decision time after time to choose an executive leader.
McCain: Maybe we haven't always gotten the best results from those governors. Reagan fought communism for 30 years, traveled around the world. It's very clear that president needs knowledge, background. I know Musharraf, I know how to deal with Pakistan. It's important to know the players, know the issues. Never heard Romney criticize the Rumsfeld strategy or that the surge is working.
Romney: I was running a state at the time the Iraq war was entered into. I did go to Iraq. Intelligence failures...we were underprepared and understaffed. My skill is in taking on tough situations, using judgment to make good decisions. It does not take a U.S. Senator to be president, it takes a person with the skills.
Huckabee: I've been to 41 countries. Sat down with heads of state, been on trade missions. More executive experience than anyone else running for president. Named one of 5 best governors in country. On foreign policy misstatements, it's not a pattern of getting things wrong, I have moral clarity and solid convictions. American ought to be strongest nation on earth. If we have to engage, we won't have politicians interfering with battlefield command decisions by people with blood on their boots and medals on their chests. Governors make good presidents because they've run a microcosm of U.S. government.
Giuliani: Being Mayor of NY City, had safety and security of 8 million people on my shoulders. First time being a crisis manager was not on 9/11. Negotiated with foreign governments, worked on terrorism task force. In justice department, handled cases involving terrorism. Traveled to 35 different countries. When I had to take a stand for my country, I did. Handed back $10 million check from Saudi prince. Been involved, one way or the other, in foreign policy decisions because United Nations is in NY City.
Thompson: National security experience is more important today than ever. It's important to understand the world we live in. Was on intelligence committee. Republican floor manager for homeland security bill. Disagrees with Huckabee about "arrogant" foreign policy comment. Disagrees on closing Gitmo, lifting embargo on Castro.
Huckabee: I don't care what the rest of the world thinks, I care what America thinks. Guantanamo was "too darn good." I don't think where we keep these people is as important as that we keep them.
McCain: Need to improve human intelligence. It's not an accident that I've been endorsed by four former Secretaries of State. Many retired admirals and generals. "It's my life experience." Leading men and women in US Navy.
5. Immigration
McCain: Z Visa is earned not automatic. Round up and deport 2 million people immediately. Have to pay fine, have a job, go through nationalization process, do many things. I have never ever supported amnesty and never will. We have to work together, fix borders. As president, I will secure our borders. Temporary worker program. Have to address issue in a humane and compassionate fashion. National security first. Move forward together on this issue. Americans are compassionate, loving and caring people.
Romney: We believe in rule of law. There are millions of people waiting in line to come to this country. It's unfair for the 12 million who are here that they get to stay while others around the world have to wait. Amnesty in any form just doesn't work, simply the wrong approach. No special privilege to remain in this country.
McCain: In 2005, Gov. Romney said the plan was reasonable. We need to get beyond this, sit down and work this out. Of course it's not automatic, it's earned. We have a national security challenge, sit down together and come up with real solution in a way that we can be proud of.
Huckabee: Not punishing children by deporting their families. They're living in the shadows. Don't punish a child for what a parent did. Build a fence. When parents go back, they'll take children with them. This problem isn't going to get solved by throwing flash words at each other. As a governor, I had to educate those kids. It doesn't make sense to turn children out onto streets. Not hurting children by sending families back to country they came from. Reagan signed the amnesty bill back in the 1980s. Even Ronald Reagan can make mistakes.
Guilani: Had to deal with illegal immigrants in NY City in humane way. Turned over every criminal to be thrown out of country. Every one of us has made mistakes in this area, because it's very complicated. Who has the best plan to fix it right now? I believe I do. Stop them from coming in in the first place. Tamper proof ID card. Need a comprehensive solution. Begin by securing the borders.
Thompson: Others had policies that if you make it into the country, you're home free. Our policies encouraging next generation of people to try to make it across the border? Another 12 million illegals living in the shadows? It's not good for our country, it's not good for them. Long-term best interests of our country are also best interests of Mexico.
6. Romney attack ads
McCain: These are attack ads, I'm running a positive campaign. I want to lead this country. The message we're trying to give is why I'm qualified to lead. They'll judge us by what kind of campaign we ran.
Huckabee: Ads are misleading. Was very tempted to hit back, made a decision not to do that, people of Iowa rewarded me for that. People are lookingf for a positive president. Lead "up not down," vertical not horizontal.
Romney: I have spent a lot of money on ads, overwhelmingly focused on my plans. Difference between attack ad and describing someone's record. In both cases, we verified the facts. Let people compare the differences.
Huckabee: I'm not totally persuaded. If you tell a half truth as if it's the truth, it can become an untruth. NY Times said Romney ad was absolutely untrue. It's easy to twist other peoples' records. The people of my state kept reelecting me.
Romney: I'm certainly not the only person at this table who's changed his mind, position. I was wrong when it came to the issue of abortion, changed my position, I explained why that was. Huckabee gave out 1,033 pardons, I gave out none. There are some differences.
Giuliani: Both Kerik and mistress issues have been answered. Kerik was a mistake. All of us have pros and cons in our record. America isn't looking for a perfect person, it's looking for a leader. I've made my share of mistakes, I own up to them. Kerik situation has "nothing to do with me," except should have done a better job of vetting him.
McCain: Wouldn't pledge to only serve one term. Reagan was older than me. I'm older than dirt, more scars than Frankenstein, learned a lot. (Huckabee says he's met McCain's mother)
7. Democratic year? Best person to be Republican nominee and win?
Giuliani: I've been tested, got results that other people couldn't get. Bipartisan compromise, worked with Dem's and independents as mayor of NY City. This country is not moving in the wrong direction, it's a question of leadership, optimism. I've been tested, I'm ready.
Thompson: Never lost an election. Received largest number of votes ever in Tennessee. Fought for 5 major tax cuts, strong conservative judges, 100% pro-life voting record. Not for personal aggrandizement for me.
Huckabee: Common man. Consistency of principles of party. Sanctity of life. Let parents raise their own kids. Practical experience. Americans looking for practical solutions to problems, not ideology.
Romney: Family told me to get into this race. Concerned because America's at a crossroads; great challenges and great opportunities. Innovative capacity of our nation. Fix what's broken in Washington. Overcome global jihad, energy independence, keep tax burden down, protect jobs, etc. Private sector, Olympics, governor of Massachusetts. "I will change Washington."
McCain: America's greatest days are ahead of us. At this time, we need leadership. I bring experience and knowledge to make judgments. Restore trust and confidence in government. Reenergize our Republican base and reach out to independents. Thank people of New Hampshire for this wonderful experience.
I have the debate playing in the background - I wonder if this thing has any audience at all. Polling data suggests independents have largely decided they are not interested in the Republican field.
As a side note, I would be very curious to see what criteria Fox New used to select the focus group. All of the focus group loved Romney. All of them loathed Huckabee, and there was sort of a grudging dislike of McCain. Some of the New Hampshire GOP focus group also made sure to express their utter disdain for Iowa Republicans and their religious tests. That was a GREAT sign -- for Democrats general election prospects.
Overall, McCain would be one of the toughest Republican candidates to face in the general.
Mom was raised to value her vote and will move heaven and earth to get to the polling station. But this time around she seems really unimpressed with the field before her, except McCain.
She commented on how much she liked McCain. She found him amusing with his little joke about Schieffer's discharge from the military. She likes his military background, his rejection of the theocrats, his seeming candor, his hint of rakishness. She told me she doesn't like Romney because he seems plastic, and her Italian Catholic recollections of discrimination at the hands of evangelical Protestants (you wouldn't believe the literature we'd get in our mailbox when we first moved into the neighborhood) make her deeply suspicious of fundamentalists and their talk about personal relationships with God. To her those are buzz words allowing for the persecution of Catholics. Therefore, she deeply distrusts Huckabee. She can't stand Giuliani, whom she regards as unforgiveably pro-abortion AND just nasty, and Fred Thompson does nothing for her.
I think there are many voters like my mother. People to whom the Democratic candidates are reaching out, but whom they have little hope of securing. I believe if Romney or Huckabee got the nomination Mom would not be enthusiastic. She might even find an excuse not to vote. But if it's McCain then she will support him enthusiastically and make sure she makes it to the polls. We should not discount McCain's ability to spark support. He's being disregarded and dismissed as an also-ran, and that's a mistake. He's still capable of sparking support. He's the only one of the Republican candidates who can claim the kind of foreign policy experience he has, and the purported success of the surge - amorphous and groundless as that success may be - appears to validate his support of the war. Of all the Republican candidates I regard McCain as the toughest for the Dems to beat.