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Richelieu / Weekly Standard:
A Depressing Debate — What a depressing debate. CNN's long slide into mediocrity accelerates. Is this what running for president of the greatest democracy in the world has become? Standing in front of CNN's corporate logo in a hall full of yowling Ron Paul loons and enduring clumsy webcam questions …
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Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
A powerful moment — A retired Army general, Keith Kerr, just listed all his military credentials and then left the crowd silent by saying at the end of his video that he is "an openly gay man" and wants to know why gays can't serve in the military. — Romney was hit by Anderson Cooper …
Adam Yoshida:
Why is a Hillary Clinton Campaign Member Asking Questions at a Republican Debate? — So, the fellow who just asked the Republican candidates about Don't Ask, Don't Tell, retired Brigader General Keith Kerr, is a member of Hillary Clinton's campaign for the Presidency.
Matthew Balan / NewsBusters.org:
CNN Fails to Mention Retired Gay General's Endorsement of Hillary — UPDATE: Keith Kerr was known to CNN as a gay activist as far back as December 2003, when he was featured in this CNN article. — CNN, as part of its Republican debate with YouTube, failed to mention that retired general Keith Kerr …
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Video: Debate questioner is affiliated with Hillary's — and Kerry's — campaigns — As incredible as it may seem, given all the flak they took for not vetting questioners after the last debate, CNN not only approved a question from someone affiliated with the Clinton campaign without identifying …
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Michelle Malkin:
Liveblogging the CNN/YouTube debate: "Edginess," "elbows, "eh. " Update: Romney's the Energizer candidate; Update: PLANT ALERT; The biggest stumble of the night award goes to...CNN; Update: The plants keep sprouting like weeds — Update: More plant excavation...Abortion questioner …
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Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:
CNN/YouTube Debate — CNN Wins (Update: A Major Error Mars Their Night) — So the Republicans finally braved the CNN/YouTube format, and the most apparent result was that CNN and YouTube did their homework. For the most part — with a few glaring exceptions — the network eliminated the silliness and stuck to substance.
Ben Smith / The Politico:
Giuliani billed obscure agencies for trips — As New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani billed obscure city agencies for tens of thousands of dollars in security expenses amassed during the time when he was beginning an extramarital relationship with future wife Judith Nathan in the Hamptons …
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New York Times:
The Republican Debate — Following is a transcript of the Republican Presidential debate in St. Petersburg, Fla., as provided by the Federal News Service. — PARTICIPANTS: — FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI — FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR MIKE HUCKABEE
CNN:
Transcript: CNN/YouTube debate Part I — Editor's note: This is part one of the transcript for the CNN/YouTube Republican presidential debate. To see the transcript of part two, click here. — ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (CNN) — The eight candidates vying to be the Republican nominee …
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Politico: Rudy hid security expenses for visits to Judi in obscure …
Politico: Rudy hid security expenses for visits to Judi in obscure …
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The Page
Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Republicans Battle in Florida — The eight Republican candidates for president engaged in a rhetorical free-for-all tonight with frontrunners and long shots alike challenging one another over their conservative credentials and seeming inconsistencies in past public statements.
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Martin Kady II / The Politico:
Lott's brother-in-law indicted — Sen. Trent Lott's brother-in-law, Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, a high profile trial lawyer best known for suing big tobacco and insurance companies, has been indicted on bribery charges. — Several media outlets are reporting the news about Scruggs …
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Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
And now a rebel flag? — So immigration, guns, God, gays and now the stars and bars? — Is this the Upper East Side view of the GOP? — Talk about a caricature. — Conservative talk radio and righty blogs will be on fire tomorrow.
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Reuters:
Venezuela Chavez: CNN may be instigating my murder — CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Wednesday CNN may have been instigating his murder when the U.S. TV network showed a photograph of him with a label underneath that read "Who killed him?"
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Ron Fournier / Associated Press:
ON DEADLINE: "Good Bill" vs "Bad Bill" — DES MOINES, Iowa - As only he can do, Bill Clinton packed campaign venues across eastern Iowa and awed Democratic voters with a compelling case for his wife's candidacy. He was unscripted, in-depth and generous. — He also was long-winded, misleading and self-absorbed.