Having slept in today after our late night liveblogging and round table at Heading Right, and re-listening to the debate, I have just a few thoughts.

One, my pick Romney needs to show some movement in the polls, specifically in SC where he trails Fred Thompson who hasn’t even thrown his hat into the ring. By the way, Fred needs to announce within the next week or so or it may be too late. If he does it changes EVERYTHING.

The event of the night is of course was Ron Paul’s dumbassed remarks on 9/11, where he blamed US (the Jews), for the attack, which sparked Rudy Guilliani to demand an on-air retraction, which he didn’t get.

Paul issued every talking point nearly verbatum from the left wing blogsphere who is his main supporter.

Hot Air has the video here. Yet for all the sparks, we finally heard Rudy say, “I’m pro-choice get over it”, to which I believe pretty much is the death nail for his candidacy. I know that others disagree that abortion isn’t the issue it once was that Rudy has other redeeming qualities, but the fact is that he is a die-in-the-wool RINO and we’re had enough of RINOs.

With that said, goodbye already to RINO extrordinare John McCain. He did better in the debate last night - wasn’t as angry - but as I’ve said his time is past. He’s a relict of 2000 and frankly I’m tired of looking at him. Besides, “Gang of 13 anyone?” He really lost me when he tried to tell us that he never supported amnesty on illegal immigration. Come on John!

Like it or not Tancredo is a one issue candidate - Ok, maybe two if you lump immigration with Iraq like he did. But beyond that the guy’s timing was off and if he is to have any chance - he doesn’t but playing the devil here - he needs to work on getting his message concise and to the point.

Brownback was solid on abortion and in an off air interview on Fox after the debate said that how one views the subject says alot about their character (Rudy?).

Not much else from other cadidates really caught my attention, except for Thompson who looked like a mannequin. Again, appearances as just as important as substance and Thompson basically kicked his candidacy to the curb last night, with or without a “blog”.

Overall, I would have to say - because Paul served up an asswipe statement over homeplate and Rudy drove it over the fence that he won the night. But at what cost? By finally spelling out what we’ve all known, Guilliani is a pro-choice, antigun RINO, as far as I’m concerned the cost was his chance at President.