AN IRREVERANT RECAP FROM LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE

Senator Sam Brownback: (here's a hint: never try and mix comedy with biofuels)

"How I'd prevent [high gas prices] is us getting more supply in the system through biofuels for one thing, like ethanol from Kansas or maybe Iowa would be a nice state, too, for it to come from...And, we have to in the future work on more conservation here. My family, we have a hybrid car. In that car you can get up to 42, 43 miles to the gallon.

Now my 17-year-old daughter does about 25 on it, so it does matter how you drive it." (and nobody laughed...aw)

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee:

"We've had Congress that's spent money like Edwards at a beauty shop. And it's high time that we have a different kind of tax structure, and the FairTax would get us there."

Former Virginia Governor James Gilmore: (now here's a new strategy: attack your fellow opponents and then refer people to your website for your rebuttle!)

"I looked back at the California debates, and I think that some of the people on this stage were very liberal in characterizing themselves as conservatives, particularly on the issues of abortion and taxes and health care.

..And I want to say -- well, let me to say to you that in this forum, it's very difficult to single people out. But I will say this -- we're going to talk about it on my website tomorrow..."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: (I can only imagine how he feels about Rudy McRomney)

"Look, I've been governor in a pretty tough state. You've heard of blue states. If you ever bought a suit and you look at it and you can't tell if it's blue or black, that's how blue Massachusetts is."

Representative Ron Paul: (Question: "Are you suggesting that we invited the 9/11 attack, sir?")

"I'm suggesting that we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it, and they are delighted that we're over there because Osama bin Laden has said, "I am glad you're over on our sand because we can target you so much easier." They have already now since that time have killed 3,400 of our men, and I don't think it was necessary."

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: (uh, huh no he didn't!)

"May I comment on that? That's really an extraordinary statement. That's an extraordinary statement, as someone who lived through the attack of September 11, that we invited the attack because we were attacking Iraq. I don't think I've heard that before, and I've heard some pretty absurd explanations for September 11th. And I would ask the congressman to withdraw that comment and tell us that he didn't really mean that." (just for the record, he didn't withdraw the comment)

Represenatative Duncan Hunter: (Is the term "SecDef" considered cool?)

[A response to a hypothetical terrorist situation]

"Yeah, let me just say this would take a one-minute conversation with the secretary of Defense. (Laughter.) I would call him up or call him in. I would say to SECDEF, in terms of getting information that would save American lives, even if it involves very high-pressure techniques, one sentence: Get the information."

Represenatative Tom Tancredo: (how long before there was a Jack Bauer reference?)

[in response to the same hypothetical terrorist situation]

"Well, let me just say that it's almost unbelievable to listen to this in a way. We're talking about -- we're talking about it in such a theoretical fashion. You say that -- that nuclear devices have gone off in the United States, more are planned, and we're wondering about whether waterboarding would be a -- a bad thing to do? I'm looking for "Jack Bauer" at that time, let me tell you."

Senator John McCain: (looks like McCain has a web-guy too)

"In 2001, I proposed massive tax cuts, but I also proposed to rein in spending...We let spending go out of control. We spent money like a drunken sailor, although I never knew a sailor drunk or sober with the imagination of my colleagues. By the way, I received an e-mail not long ago from a fellow who said -- I repeat this story -- "As a former drunken sailor, I resent the way that Congress continues being compared to members of Congress."

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson: (when in doubt, quote Ronnie Reagan)

"I would do the first thing that President Ronald Reagan would say: Trust but verify.