GOP Turning Point

I believe tonight's GOP debate, which neither I watched nor most of the electorate, is a turning point in the process. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is, I predict, about to get a huge influx of cash, much of it from evangelicals and fundamentalists, and will become the front-runner for the nomination coming out of the Iowa caucuses.

The Rudy & Mitt show is over, to a large degree because they ate each other. Giuliani is also cooked because of the Shaggate, that the NYC taxpayer paid for him to shag his future wife, Dr. Judith Nathanson. I'll be surprised if their marriage survives the coming train wreck of his candidacy.

The general news story is that this was the debate that drew blood. Andrew Sullivan calls it "Rove's Frankenstein Moment," when a Christian Bible studies bar was solidified for the Republican Party Presidential nominee (Pastor Huckabee wins that contest hands down). McCain took on Ron Paul for wanting out of Iraq but Paul gave as good as he got.

Kevin Drum live blogged here. Favorite line:

9:04 — McCain and Giuliani don't own a gun? What the hell kind of effete pussies are they?

Conservative boot-licking dope Fred Barnes calls it "Two Hours of Humiliation". Best line:

By my recollection, there were no questions on health care, the economy, trade, the S-chip children's health care issue, the "surge" in Iraq, the spending showdown between President Bush and Congress, terrorist surveillance, or the performance of the Democratic Congress.

But I think Eschaton's Thers sums it up best