#debatesc

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Tweets of the night: Post-Rick Perry edition

New drinking game: Take a shot every time Newt says "dramatically." Warning: You might die. #GOPdebate #SCdebate #CNNdebate #teabate

— Meg Lanker-Simons (@meglanker) January 20, 2012

Late to the #scdebate party. Has Newt suggested swinging with anyone in the audience yet?

— Ali Davis (@Ali_Davis) January 20, 2012

Newt yells at John King, calls him "close to despicable."True.King is standing very close to Gingrich. #cnndebate

— Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) January 20, 2012

Mitt: "I agreed, I think, with what you just said." This could be his campaign slogan. #scdebate

— Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) January 20, 2012

I miss Rick Perry.This is like watching an episode of Friends with no Phoebe. #cnndebate

— Andy Borowitz (@BorowitzReport) January 20, 2012

We're with Andy. We still miss Herman Cain for some reason.

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DebateSC FanFic: Newt Kills The King

As John King is in the middle of a question about Gingrich's ex wife, the former House Speaker's rage slowly builds, until suddenly, a crazed look strikes his face. He leaps into action, barreling forward through podium and charging across the stage. The former Representative from Georgia leaps off the podium, pulls a switchblade from his sock in whilst mid-air, and plunges the knife into John King's chest. As the audience sits in stunned silence, he picks up the fallen moderator's mic, wipes the sweat off his brow, and says, "The King is dead." The crowd goes wild, and Gingrich goes on to win South Carolina by 30 points.

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This is not the time to be doubting people's word, or questioning people's integrity. I am pro-life.

Mitt Romney, declaring his pro-life position, and denouncing what he views as a challenging of his integrity. This begs the question, though; if a crucial presidential debate isn't the time to doubt a politician's words or their integrity, when is?

More debate coverage: ShortFormBlog | DC Decoder

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Mitt Romney continues to try to get to the far right side of the other candidates on immigration: "You build a fence, you have enough border patrol agents to secure the fence." He also said that while he doesn't want to round people up and deport them, he also doesn't want to give people a "preferential" pathway to citizenship. This would seem slightly contradictory, and what reality occupies the space between those ideas is of utmost interest.

More debate coverage: ShortFormBlog | DC Decoder

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I think if I spoke a little slower, with more conviction, I could do a better job.

Ron Paul, on what he'd do differently if he could run his campaign over again.

More debate coverage: ShortFormBlog | DC Decoder

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I'd take all the time I spent talking about these guys on this stage, and I'd use it to talk about Barack Obama.

Mitt Romney, answering what, if possible, he would change about his campaign to date.

More debate coverage: ShortFormBlog | DC Decoder

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The truth of the matter is, the law [SOPA] is far too intrusive, far too expansive... it would have a potentially depressing impact on one of the fastest growing industries in America. ...I'm standing with freedom.

Mitt Romney, coming out against SOPA. He was in good company; all four candidates spoke against SOPA, with Rick Santorum being the only to qualify his opposition with a call for more work to protect intellectual property online.

More debate coverage: ShortFormBlog | DC Decoder

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In response to a question about SOPA, Paul mentions that he was the first Republican to side with a group of Democrats in opposing the bill, thus bringing up a pragmatic argument about the wisdom of nominating a candidate who can build coalitions.

More debate coverage: ShortFormBlog | DC Decoder