No mention of Ron Paul, the only candidate that always follows the Constitution. We still have a Constitution, don't we?

To me, this appears to be yet another attempt to keep Ron Paul out of the conversation. The "media blackout" continues....

Republicans are Americas parents, representing the matured conservatives, democrats are Americas children, representing the immatured liberals. It is easy to be a child, very difficult to be a parent. Throw in a culture that practices fully enfranchised democracy and America is playing craps with loaded dice.

The double standard that has become ingrained in our culture alone is a high obstacle to hurdle. The children wish to continue living on as though reality does not exist, as though reality will never exact a price for cheating it. The liberal democrat ideology has America in free fall and eventually the gravity free state of free fall is paid for with an incredibly powerful smack as all that gravity cheated in free fall returns in one hugh lump.

America desperatly needs republicans in charge of both houses and the Presidency asap. By all means vet carefully, but in the end all conservatives necessarily need to vote for the republican candidates.

America is up against the ropes, staggered and rubber legged, four more years of democrat leadership will put America down for the count.

If Obama and the democrats retain power, our fully enfranchised culture will be proclaiming death to the great experiment in liberty, we are not ready to grow up. Thank you.

Why thinking people would vote for any candidate either the Republicans or Democrats endorse is beyond me. Neither Party has done America any favors. If you want something changed then vote for that change. Vote for a purpose, not a Party. Your candidate does not need to win the election to change America. In fact your change is more likely to get done if you lose. If you "win" the big money will tear you apart. If you lose but cause a stink with 10% of the vote the big money will make the change so you will go away.

Of course any change will probably only last one election cycle. Especially if that change effects the fund raising efforts of the ruling Parties. You have to vote for what policy you think would be best for America every time and if 10% agree it will happen. From the Anti Masonic Party to Perot, it is the way that works.

90% will whine about the candidate the big donors chose but will suck it up when "their" candidate endorses the one with the money. Don't be in that group of lemmings following a leader you know is going the wrong way.

Barry Payne, Titular Despot Emeritus

The left has to love the indecisiveness. It gives the right more time and more issues to polarize, and less time to consolidate and develop an effective strategy. No wonder the left-wing media has been willing to sponsor the debates. The back and forth sniping and issues will surface again when the campaign begins in earnest. It's way past time for some of the candidates, each with significant good points, to drop out and begin supporting an increasingly consolidated conservative platform for the remaining candidates. The remaining candidates need to quit sniping at each other and take on the issues they will face as PODUS.

The left has to love the indecisiveness. It gives the right more time and more issues to polarize, and less time to consolidate and develop an effective strategy. No wonder the left-wing media has been willing to sponsor the debates. The back and forth sniping and issues will surface again when the campaign begins in earnest. It's way past time for some of the candidates, each with significant good points, to drop out and begin supporting an increasingly consolidated conservative platform for the remaining candidates. The remaining candidates need to quit sniping at each other and take on the issues they will face as PODUS.

Newt is conservative. He IS pragmatic, though. And, he has been around for 30+ years. And, conservatism HAS changed over that time (see Individual Mandate). Judge Newt on his current ideas. He does more than sloganeer like the others do. There is substance to Newt. And we will need that to avoid disaster, both in debates with Obama, and after we get rid of him in 2012.

ginuvalde - Gingrich is a CFR member from way back, how do you say New World Order. He owes his allegiance to a foreign entity that wants to overthrow the U.S. Say isn't that the definition of Treason? Think Henry Kissinger. Amnesty for illegal aliens is part of their plan to take over the U.S.

To those who lament the absence of Ron Paul in the discussion, there's a very good reason for that. I love Ron Paul, I love his ideas. He knows exactly what this country needs. The problem lies with the fact that, even if he were to win the nomination, which isn't ever going to happen, the man is simply unelectable. His ideas are so right, and so radical (to some), that he wouldn't stand a snowball's chance of getting elected. That is the sad, sad truth. If only there were enough enlightened people in this country to actually elect a Ron Paul. But magical thinking isn't going to save us from a second-term Obama (who would absolutely destroy any chance of this country ever recovering). We ALL desperately need to get behind someone, and right quick. This is the most important election in the history of this nation, bar none. We actually have a "President" who actively wants to destroy our rights and liberties. Time to wake up, America, before it's too late.

Howard Last, I`m curious. Would you please tell us who you could support for president? I agree with many of your comments. However; I have yet to hear you name a single person you like. George Washington and Ronald Reagan are both dead. Abraham Lincoln was a good man, but most likely flouted the constitution in the process of preserving the union. The CFR and New World Order bit are beginning to get a little old. Our most important job now is to stop the communist thug currently in the White House from obtaining a 2nd. term. The only possible way for us to accomplish that task is to unite behind a single candidate. No one single person is going to suit every voter in the Republicrat party.

Richard Ryan

Lamar, Missouri - Birthplace of Harry S Truman

Richard - the candidate I like is Ron Paul followed by Bachmann. The New World Order types have no use for the Constitution. Are you aware that Kissinger said, "the U.S. has no business being a world power"? Abraham Lincoln should have been tried as a war criminal for Sherman's march to the sea. I still can't find the section of the Constitution that says a state can not secede. How much different would things be if McCain was elected? Did anyone say not much? Remember any way you slice it the lesser of two evils is still evil. The reason we have Barry is because of the republican big shots (you can't call them leaders). They had the senate, house and executive branch. They goverened like socialists. Every time I hear Karl Rove I want to puke. All I can say is keep your powder dry as we may (probably) need it.

I'm curious: if Cain actually drops out of the race, who's most likely to get his supporters? I tend to think that if Bachmann can hold out until New Hampshire and not shoot herself in the foot in the meantime, she could really start to benefit as other candidates drop out. My fear is that she, Santorum, and Cain all stay in through New Hampshire and all drop out immediately afterwards.

The republican "leadership" is absolutely determined to make American citizens believe that our nation can only be saved by a republican, any republican, in the White House. To be honest, however, the WRONG "republican" has no more chance of curing the present democrat induced infection than putting a band-aid over part of a festering wound just so you can't see as much pus oozing out of it as you could before. Some statement that at least "he's better than Obama" fails to impress me.

d.w.hudson - only comments I have, republican leadership is an oxymoron. And the republican big shots will do everything Barry is doing, but at a slower pace.

Howard, I'm right there with you. I support Ron Paul as the only consistent, constitutionalist conservative candidate whose integrity is beyond question. It would seem, however, that too many believe our nation is destined, deserves, and is duty bound to police the entire world. Democracy or else. What a pathetic vision for a nation founded on individual freedom.