The Debate According to FAU Students

Brian Williams admonished the audience for applauding, but students watching the debate from Friedberg Auditorium, yards from the official debate didn't have to hold back. Here's what rocked their boats.

1 boat = a few hands clapped
2 boats = a small crowd clapped
3 boats = lots of people clapped

A total score is at the bottom (maybe link to the bottom).

Also, check below for what students had to say about the debate and the candidates (link to the bottom.)

Pre-debate Screen shot of Paul

Huckabee's alternative economic stimulus package, i.e. to spend $150 billion to expand I-95 from Bangor to Miami so that Floridians wouldn't sit in traffic, unable to get to their kids' dance recitals and soccer games

McCain's pledge to stop the pork barrel spending and eliminate bridges to nowhere garnered a few clapping hands

Paul's explanation of the role of government in stimulating the economy, i.e. "sound money, low taxes, less regulations, and a sensible policy where we're not wasting our money overseas"

Giuliani's return of a $10 million dollar check from Saudi Prince Alaweed

McCain's exclamation that Democrats will "tax and tax, spend and spend, elect and elect" while Republicans "will clean up our act "

Honorable Mention for Huckabee for inspiring laughter when he said he wasn't in D.C. "messing things up"

Romney's recasting of the Republican Party as the party of change

Giuliani's performance on turning around the New York economy.

McCain's smack-down of Senator Clinton's plan to withdraw from Iraq and his "let us win" stance

More bashing of Clinton's war strategy by McCain and Romney... the student's were joined by the debate audience

Paul's unequivocal condemnation of the Iraq war, the student's were joined by the debate audience

Honorable Mention #2 for Huckabee for debate audience laughter when he lumped non-Republicans with "drug dealers, prostitutes, pimps, and gamblers"

Giuliani's call to solve global warming as a global problem with technology

Honorable Mention to Giuliani for debate audience laughter about his campaign strategy of giving the other side a false sense of security.
McCain's placement of country over party

Honorable Mention to Romney for debate audience laughter over not being able to imagine the Clinton's back in the White House.

Countered by an expression of shock when Romney responded to his refusal to discuss his campaign finance with... "Well, I'm not concerned about the voters. I'm much more concerned about the other guys on this stage."

Romney's remark that religion test isn't required to hold public office

Honorable Mention #3 to Huckabee for more laughter over his concern for Mitt Romney's sons' inheritance.

Honorable Mention #4 to Huckabee for even more laughter - Huckabee's reason for not defending John McCain against Chuck Norris' claim that McCain was too old: Huckabee's physical approximation to Chuck Norris
Huckabee statement "if you want a president that doesn't believe in G-d then pick someone else."

Honorable Mention to McCain for laughter for his plan to send Sylvester Stallone after Chuck Norris

Honorable Mention to Giuliani for changing welfare - students didn't clap, but the debate audience did

Paul's call on the Republican Party to extend a welcome mat to people who believe in liberty and the Constitution

The Grand Totals of this Very Unofficial Debate Scorecard

Giuliani = 8 + 2 HM
Huckabee = 6 + 4 HM
McCain = 13 + 1 HM
Paul = 10
Romney = 5 + 1 HM - Strike

So if the FAU students have any say in the Florida Republican primary.
McCain is the clear winner and Paul is the runner-up, but he has no sense of humor.
Huckabee wins for class clown or best personality, whichever floats your boat.
Giuliani is toast if and Romney has his work cut out for him.

More from the FAU students about the issues.

Israel Sparks

Andrea Panayotu

Tomas Santiago

Alpha Nu Omega Sorority and FAU alumnus Nessie Moise, 25 is undecided and wouldn't say if she was a democrat or a republican.

And Dr. Majid Naini of Delray Beach had advice for the political process that is too good not to share (even though he isn't an FAU student.)

Comments

[Pdubya]

heidi, thanks for the coverage.

here is an update from the good Dr.

maybe you could call the campaign for a personal interview? paul is very accessible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0nJH6zB9VM

[Pdubya]

good read.

but, like we need a comedian now?

rEVOLution!!!!!!