I happened to stumble onto the Republican YouTube debate tonight (okay, Nathan did the remote-control stumbling). Very quickly, I was reminded of why I don’t watch debates. Honestly, I don’t like watching people cut down one another, and really, that’s what a debate is at this point in a political race. Now, I have no intention of voting for a Republican candidate (sorry, guys, but I don’t want to risk it). However, I do appreciate some of the candidates (Ron Paul because he talks like a Democrat or Independent, Huckabee because he made a Chuck Norris ad) and respect the hell out of one candidate (John McCain).

I can’t stand Giuliani. I think it’s an instinctive, gut-level thing, like my hatred of the Yankees.

And Romney. I used to feel indifferent to him. That is, until tonight, when he said this in response to the question of the morality of waterboarding (he was going back and forth with McCain, who seriously pwns the entire topic):

“And, by the way, I want to make sure these folks are kept at Guantanamo. I don’t want the people that are carrying out attacks on this country to be brought into our jail system and be given legal representation in this country. I want to make sure that what happened …”

(Applause)

“…to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed happens to other people who are terrorists. He was captured. He was the so-called mastermind of the 9/11 tragedy. And he turned to his captors and he said, ‘I’ll see you in New York with my lawyers.’ I presume ACLU lawyers.”

(from CNN’s transcript of the debate)

…wtf? I realize that it was a joke (okay, I think it was a joke, but I’m honestly not entirly sure), but Mitt just connected the ACLU to defending terrorism.

Way to go, Mitt. Off you go, now lumped in with the Yankees-fan Giuliani.

May the ALCU have mercy on your soul.

“Mitt is my hero. I love him so much, I might have to beat him with a stick.”

Now I fully understand what made my friend Paul say that.

Categories: politics