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

[Brandon H]

They owe Paul and Huntsman two questions now.

(new messages after i hit post)

Now they only owe them one more question.

[Brandon H]

The lag and moderators are terrible. And topic wise you think this would have been a good debate.

[Brandon H]

This would have been a much better debate for Perry to screw up at (at least the online part).

[Brandon H]

As to mandatory military service:

My father was drafted to fight in Vietnam, so I take this issue very personally. Are there positives to forcing every citizen to do military service? Perhaps. It would teach some useful skills as specified and could teach discipline to some. But just because some good can come from it doesn't mean it's right. Forced military service is a trait of a totalitarian society, not that of a free society. Those who volunteer to join the military, especially during times of war, are brave. But they know what they are signing up for using their own free will. How many of our citizens were forced against their will to join the military, fight, and die in a war when the only alternatives were either prison or fleeing the country? Way too many.