Frank Luntz is predicting that Ronald Regan’s 11th commandment will be broken tonight.

The debate will begin at 8:00 pm eastern, broadcasted on Fox.

Pre-debate spin with Hannity and Colmes has started, first up is Steve Forbes who is in the Rudy camp. Next up is Mary Matalin, taking about Fred.

Questions from viewer email……..What would Fred do to address the corruption in DC?
Sean is still harping about Fred’s late start, slow talking, yada yada yada.

Matalin says Fred reminds her of Dick Cheney in that respect.

Alan asks about Fred’s “passion”, and asks if Cheney endorses Fred. Mary says no. Alan asks about Fred’s short speech, 6 minutes vs Rudy’s 20 minute speech. Wonders if Fred has the “fire in the belly”. Mary says if he didn’t think he could make a difference, then he wouldn’t be in the reace.

Viewer’s question refers to definition of marriage and DOMA.
Mary addresses Federalism and judges. “Passionate and methodical.”

Connie Mack for the Mitt Camp is up next, as a large applause goes up for Gov. Crist on stage.
[the doorbell rang so I missed Connie’s segment]

Bill Kristol just says, “Mike Huckabee is for real.”

Juan Williams expects the campaigns to go negative tonight.

The candidates have taken the stage. Live streaming

First Q: to Rudy. Who is more conservative, you or Fred? Rudy talks about the things in NYC that he did to have success in a democrat controlled city.

To Mitt: Who is more conservative, you or Fred? Mitt says he wants to re-unite the Reagan coalition. Talks about his record in a democrat controlled state.

To Fred: Fred zings Mitt, I didn’t know there was any room to the left of Teddy Kennedy. Fred talks about tax cuts, welfare reform, judges, and a 100% pro-life voting record. Fred says Rudy sanctuary cities, gun control, fed funding for abortion says that Rudy is closer to Hilary than conservatism.

Rudy: says Fred was the single biggest obstacle to tort reform. “Fred has his problems too”

Fred: I supported tort reform with respects to appropriate issues, but most are local issues and should be settled on state level.
Zings Rudy on sanctuary cities.

Rudy: Fred has never had executive responsibility.

To McCain: who is more conservative you or Mitt? Mccain talks about his long record of national security, taxes, and the enormity of the challenge of islamic terrorism. “I led for patriotism, I didn;t manage for profit.”

Mitt: talks about death penalty and welfare reform, and says that his record as a governor is what he is most proud of.

To Mccain on Mitt’s “lawyer response” in the last debate. Mccain zings Mitt “you’ve spent the last year trying to fool the people about your record.” I stand on my record.

To Mitt: clarifies the lawyer response. says it referred to consulting with Congress.

To Ron Paul: on gay marriage, why is the constitutional amendment approach wrong? RP gives a Federalism answer.

To Mitt: I’ve been in a state that recognizes gay marriage. Gives a good answer based on actual experience, and the full faith clause. All states have a single definition, and not written by unelected judges.

To Rudy: if many states have judicial activists, then we should have a constitutional amendment. Right now, it’s not a problem

To Huck: On abortion, views on Rudy. There are real issues that are worth fighting for. The sanctity of human life. Good answer, and large applause from the audience.

To Fred: Planned Parenthood legal work comes up.

To McCain: On the religious right, are you trying to mend fences or not? McCain says he has reconciled with adversaries like the vietnamese, and Jerry Falwell. I’m sure he didn’t just equate the VC with the Religious Right, or did he?

To Tancredo: Differences are OK to discuss with the American people.

Duncan Hunter: This is an historic venue. Says that the Democrats lost their soul in 1961 when Kennedy betrayed the freedom fighters. We’re the party of freedom. Big Applause.

On Healthcare, to McCain….McCain says go to Canada or England before you decide on nationalized healthcare. Displayed a good knowledge of the financing of health care through the tax code, make it affordable, don;t destroy it.

To Ron Paul, Is charity the way to treat the poor? Give choices to the people. We can pay for healthcare by getting out of the world empire business.

To Mitt: Mass. healthcare is Hillarycare. If the dem congress gave you a plan like that, would you sign it? Mitt says the differences are important, and this is a Republican issue. Private market insurance, no increase in spending.

To Duncan: Mandates in Mitt’s plan drive the cost up. 1000 mandated coverages increase costs by 35%

Mitt: we took as many mandates as we could out, but the legislature put them back in.

Huck: the health care maze, and the health crisis: focus on prevention. Turn it over to the consumer rather than government. Wait till the hippies find out that they can get free drugs when they retire, ans see how much healthcare costs.

Tancredo: We should debate the constitutional right of the government to get involved in health care.

Fred: No Child Left Behind….. Was your vote a mistake?
Fred says yes. We should recognize the proper role of the Fed gov’t. Scietal breakdown, and absense of fathers in homes.

Rudy: You said the NY city schools are disfuntional and should be blown up.
Rudy says the kids are more important than the teachers. We should empower parents to make choices.

The next round of questions deals with Hillary Clinton.
Mitt went first, but Rudy took the stage over with the “You’ve got to be kidding me,” line. Great response.
Played to the crowd, and to a big applause.

McCain says he’s not too concerned with her, I’d rather lose a campaign than lose a war. McCain has brought serious answers to the debate. He is prepared and passionate. Big applause.

Huckabee. Republicans should reach out to minorities and be inclusive. “There’s nothing funny about Hillary Clinton as President.”

Fred. If we stick to our first principles, we will win.

Ron Paul. [Unbelievable..RP’s answer is to the left of Hillary]

Medicare and social security…

Fred: There’s no reason to run for President, if you can’t tell the truth. Good line.
This was the best answer of the entire campaign for Fred Thompson.

To Rudy: Says we need a consensus on private accounts before we make any changes. We need a private solution to bring down the costs.

Mitt: his solutions sound weaselly. [Sorry Mitt fans]

Huck: “If things like this were done in the private sector, they’d be in jail.”
Had 2 great ideas involving lump sum buyouts.

RP: Very passionate answer…no specifics., other than young people can opt out.

McCain: Straight talk, We owe it to the young people to fix this.

Hunter: Talked about job losses, trade deficits, and un-fair trade.
Tancredo: illegal immigration? I’m not sure how that figures into the SS debate, but Tancredo figured out how to do it.

On Foreign Policy….

McCain says, “when I looked into Putin’s eyes, I saw K.G.B.” He described Putin as “a dangerous person”, and endorses missile defense.

Hunter talks about the Black Sea deployment of aegis missile systems, and interceptor defense successes. Very solid answer.

Rudy seems a little out of his element on Foreign Policy vs the Russians. He finished strong with a reference to Reagan, and increasing military spending.

Fred, on Turkey/Kurdish situation. I’m not sure that Fred is comfortable with this question, but uses it to punch Nancy Pelosi on the Armenian issue.

Tancredo punches Pelosi also -

Huck - says PKK is a terrorist organization.

RP: Empire-building, yada yada yada. Crowd not warming to RP…. “It’s not our business…”

Mitt: The world is still a dangerous place. Blamed Clinton for military cuts, slapped at the UN (big applause).
Gave a passionate answer, and touched a lot of conservative bases.

RP - Has the Republican Party left you?
Yes. Big gov’t neo-conservatism. Paul’s voice starts getting high-pitched, and strange, smatterred boos in audience.

Rudy says that Iran should not be allowed to get nukes. Sanctions would work if China and Russia thought we were serious.

Fred: some say you’re lazy, how do you deal with that?
Fred told his bio, and said, if a man can do all that and be lazy, I would recommend it.

The Wrap-Up