Remember when blogging the debate meant you sat and typed out word for word (except you missed every second sentence) what people said like a bad dictaphonist? Here are my thoughts on the first Republican half of this evening's debates on ABC...without the crap transcript:

• Format - very good. The control of the moderator what clearly respected there making for civil and focused discussion. Some candidates got too lilttle
• McCain - he got irritated and was mean to Romney but only glancingly so. He needed to put the boot in more.
• Thompson - he has already quit in his mind. He made no effort to be particularly engaged even if he was relaxed and interesting when he spoke.
• Paul - he looked so much better on the Bill Moyer interview last night. He looked like and was treated like a nut case. Good scolding about giving lip service to the Constitution.
• Romney - a bit panicky and I think I heard him say that he would cause 12 million illegal immigrants to leave but could not explain how that was possible at all. He did the best job defending his universal private health care program in Mass.
• Huckabee - best line of the group was in the answer to Obama's support. He said that if the Republicans do not offer something to vote for, as Obama does, they will lose the day.
• Giuliani - he is kind of a little more about there than I thought he was. Really much more authoritarian than the rest.

It was a good touch to have the Democrat candidates come on stage to meet and greet the Republicans. Again, a civil moment in its demonstration and implicit recommendation of civility.

More in a bit. The Democrats are up now.

OK, that was that.

• Format - unfortunately, the same questions were not asked both sets of candidates. The first questions to the Democrats about nuclear safety was equally applicable to the Republicans as was the last one about the one thing you wish you had never said.
• Edwards - I do not care that it is personal. I have never met a politician who work was not personal and I do not doubt the personal conviction of Republican candidates.
• Obama - not as good a speaker as I had thought and he got tripped up a few times, especially on the lobbyist stuff. He was unable to speak to a track record like the other three and also indicate why that was not critical problem.
• Richardson - likable and able to show why he had great experience. Good joke about being in hostage negotiations that were more civil than this debate's outset. Hasn't a hope.
• Clinton - she won. Hands down. Asked about how she might make change, she virtually said "hello! I am a woman!!!" She also got the best joke off about being hurt by everyone saying Obama was so likable. By the end of it she even had great body language, not something she is particularly known for.

A useful and positive process. I am so jealous of the US process of primary voting, a process I could be a participant now in had my Dad picked another regional office of the firm when immigrating.