The Official South Carolina/CBS News/National Journal GOP Debate Thread

[Tender Branson]

Eight candidates looking to unseat President Obama will gather on stage at Wofford College Saturday night for a debate on national security and foreign policy hosted by CBS News and National Journal.

The Spartanburg, South Carolina, debate is chance for Texas Gov. Rick Perry to revive his candidacy after a major flub Wednesday night in Michigan where he said he wants to eliminate three government agencies but could only name two of them. The awkward pause has been played over and over again on TV and the Internet since then.

South Carolina is key for Republican primary voters. Since 1980, the winner of the South Carolina primary has gone on to win the Republican nomination every time.

Front-runner Mitt Romney hopes for another strong debate performance and chance to show off his international chops and another opportunity to attack Mr. Obama while the others attack each other.

Meanwhile, political observers will be watching Herman Cain closely to see how he fares on matters of foreign policy as his signature 9-9-9 tax plan is primarily a domestic matter. Cain has been criticized as a Johnny one-note, and Saturday night's forum could give the former restaurant executive an opportunity to move beyond that narrative and to talk about something other than the sexual harassment accusations that have dominated media coverage for the past two weeks.

Moderated by CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley and National Journal congressional correspondent Major Garrett, the debate airs at 8:00 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network and will be webcast at CBSNews.com and NationalJournal.com. The final half hour will only be available online, except for the West Coast where the full debate will air on television.

After the debate, CBS News political analyst John Dickerson will host a post-debate webcast analysis of the candidates on CBSNews.com.

http://www.cbsnews.com/2718-250_162-1335.html

[All life is a blur of Republicans and meat.]

There's another debate already? Christ.

[Tender Branson]

There's another debate already? Christ.

Well, it's the final month - because in 5 weeks it's already Christmas.

And between Christmas and Iowa, nobody's paying attention.

[I left.]

I'm certainly not watching it, but I imagine the quality of the "debating" would make me depressed.

[A dog on every car, a car in every elevator]

The real debate will begin 12 hours from now.  The topic:  Which was the funnier campaign-ending gaffe, Rick Perry's brain freeze or tonight's Herman Cain moment for the ages?

[Simfan34]

Only online? This makes me angry. Kill the internet.

[BushKenya]

Only online? This makes me angry. Kill the internet.

Because apparently NCIS is more important than the leadership of this country.  (NCIS airs tonight at 9:00 ET, right after the televised portion of the debate.)

[ModerateCoward]

Only online? This makes me angry. Kill the internet.

What a shame that rest of the nation can't watch this embarrassment.

[A-Bob]

With a significant amount of the debate online, the fact that it's a Saturday...there will be almost no one watching this. Perry can't revive a campaign from tonight, and considering he isn't experienced in foreign policy I don't know how he would.

[cavalcade]

So, I have the impression that it's a bit harder to BS on foreign than on economic policy...sure you can say "Israel Israel Israel" but if you promise something like "I will not let Iran get the bomb" you are more likely to get challenged on uncomfortable specifics- will you bomb them?  Invade?- than if you were to promise "I will cut government spending."  Knowing your stuff is more important.

If I am right, this debate could not come at a better time for Newt, or a worse time for Perry/Cain.

Jon Huntsman, this is probably the most important night of your campaign.

Same for you, Ron Paul.  The arguments you will have with a frenzied Santorum, and anybody else brave or desperate enough to take a shot at you, are your chance to influence Republican foreign policy for the next 5-10 years.

Mitt, just don't screw up.

Michele, sooner or later the attack dog that savaged Pawlenty must return.

[BushKenya]

I'll be watching it tonight, both on the telly and on the puter.  It'll be completely over by 8:30 my time, so it won't interfere with my sleep tonight, which is nice.  I don't think Perry could revive his campaign whether it's on a Saturday or a Tuesday or any other day of the week.  It won't help Cain, though he can probably hold his own.  The curtain is already closing on the Bachmann campaign.  Mitt just needs to not screw up and Paul, is well, Paul.  Huntsman is a non-factor, almost like the Mike Gravel of the Republican 2012 race, or what Alan Keyes was in the last several cycles.

[ChairmanSanchez]

I'll be watching it tonight, both on the telly and on the puter.  It'll be completely over by 8:30 my time, so it won't interfere with my sleep tonight, which is nice.  I don't think Perry could revive his campaign whether it's on a Saturday or a Tuesday or any other day of the week.  It won't help Cain, though he can probably hold his own.  The curtain is already closing on the Bachmann campaign.  Mitt just needs to not screw up and Paul, is well, Paul.  Huntsman is a non-factor, almost like the Mike Gravel of the Republican 2012 race, or what Alan Keyes was in the last several cycles.

Not in this debate. This is Huntsmans time to shine, though I agree with you, he is going no where anyway.

[Progressive Realist]

[Likely Voter]

I hope that someone asks Cain if he knows who is the president of Uzbekibekibekistan.

I think I will skip this one and wait for the highlight reel. But this might be a good one because foreign policy is actually one of the areas where these guys have fundamental disagreements, between the necon types and the isolationists. Of course Mitt Romney will try to appear to be in both wings

[Governor NVGonzalez]

There's another debate already? Christ.

[Yelnoc]

Predictably, my TV doesn't work today.

[Korwinist]

What time ET?

[realisticidealist]

What time ET?

8

[Mr. Morden]

I'm actually kind of curious about this one, since foreign policy has gotten such short shrift so far in the campaign.  One of the more interesting fault lines that I'll be looking for is how much the candidates stick with the Bush-era "neocon" democracy promotion line, and how much they try to appeal to jmfcst-style "support the strongman" impulses:

http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/38181?&in=13:00&out=16:38

[Minnesota Mike]

I have not been able to bring myself to watch more than a couple minutes of any Debate so far. IMHO they really are boring and I don't learn anything about the candidates I didn't already know.

[Senator Clarence]

Expect Newt to shine!

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

I'm actually kind of curious about this one, since foreign policy has gotten such short shrift so far in the campaign.  One of the more interesting fault lines that I'll be looking for is how much the candidates stick with the Bush-era "neocon" democracy promotion line, and how much they try to appeal to jmfcst-style "support the strongman" impulses:

http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/38181?&in=13:00&out=16:38

I'm expecting a lot of national greatness rhetoric and Obama-bashing. But I am interested in how Perry and Cain present themselves tonight.

Also, I love Bloggingheads.

[Senator Snowstalker]

As one of two candidates I am supporting, I hope Rick Perry can regain his lost ground.

[The Mikado]

Poor Huntsman.  In a normal year this would be his night.

[ChairmanSanchez]

Its starting, for the 11 of you watching across America