I missed the debate live but Fox News has the entire debate in 8 installments here, at least for now, and I listened to all 8 installments and the after show with Greta VanSustern and the USC students from both parties.

I’m not going to give you a blow by blow description of the debate as I watched it to be able to hear it and see the body language of the candidates.

My first impression is that, even though Fox News is perceived as a Republican network, there were no softball questions and when a candidate didn’t address the question Mike Wallace, in particular, brought them back in focus and asked them to answer the question.

There were no stupid questions such as what do you not like about America or do you think America would be better off with Bill Clinton in the White House that were asked in the last debate.

My second impression was it was too short a time frame for ten candidates to really say anything meaningful.

Huckabee did well, but he’s not going to be nominated. I can say the same for Jim Gilmore. Otherwise none of the seven bottom candidates really impressed me and Ron Paul least of all.

John McCain is not a choice in my book, so I discount him immediately.

That leaves Giuliani and Romney.

I know Giuliani’s stand on a lot of the social issues are not conservative, but since my big hot button issue is national security I’m satisfied enough with his answers that, if the primary in South Carolina were held today, I would vote for him.

I was surprised to be as impressed with Mitt Romney as much as I was, although I kept wondering if he had on that weird underwear under his shirt.

Romney certainly has the looks and the voice to look and sound presidential, but his religion bothers me. He has also changed positions on so many issues that I’d really like to know where he really stands on the issues and not just what he says to please the base.

My biggest question for Mitt Romney, and I would love to be able to talk to him personally about it in order to get a real feel for what he’s saying, is because he is a Mormon he is duty-bound to abide by the rulings of the president of the church.

It is my understanding, from what I have read about Mormonism, that if a member disobeys the prophet, the president of the church, he can be excommunicated and lose his place to become a god in the hereafter.

Would he be willing to go against the demand of his church leader, knowing it would condemn him, if the leader told him he had a “vision” and he should do such and such as president, and Romney knew in his heart the such and such would be detrimental to the United States?

I think this is a big problem he is going to have with a lot of evangelicals. Of course, people in 1960 thought if John Kennedy won the presidency, the Pope would govern our country and it didn’t turn out that way.

But Romney’s religion is very personal to him as a Mormon, much different from Kennedy’s Catholicism was to him in 1960. This is what makes his candidacy so troubling to me.

On the other hand, I know Orrin Hatch and Harry Reid are also Mormons and hardly agree on anything, so it’s something I’m going to have to pray about and see where the Lord leads me.

Bottom line is if Fred Thompson doesn’t join the race I will vote for Giuliani. Forget about Newt Gingrich, who may be the best political mind in the country. He carries too much baggage and would be a rallying cry for all liberals to come out and vote for him. I don’t see him as a viable candidate.

That’s my take, and I thought Fox News did an excellent job and can’t imagine why the Democrats are afraid to be questioned by them in a debate forum.

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