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 …

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 …

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

Video: Debate questioner is affiliated with Hillary's — and Kerry's — campaigns; Update: Plantmania!  —  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 …

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.

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 …

Henry Hyde dies  —  Former Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) died early Thursday morning in a Chicago-area hospital, according to congressional sources.  He was 83.  —  Hyde underwent open-heart surgery back in July and never completely recovered from the procedure, said a source close to Hyde.