The Constitution is dead (it wasn't so healthy before Bush and the Empty Minds). All that is left is the memories.

About one half of Hardball was a discussion on Romneys answer about checking with his lawyers shows he has no GUT. He is all brain. Guiliani on the other hand has GUT and will be able to bring in brain as well. GOODNESS GRACIOUS GRRRRRRRRRR

Incredible how Romney and Giuliani managed to portray the race as a two way dogfight yesterday at the debate.

Romnullus and Rudis: The Internecine Politics of Empire Rule (see “The Rise and Fall of Rome”)

nullus: Latin, no, none, not any, by no means, not at all, no sign of.

rudis: Latin, rough, raw, uncultivated, untried, undisciplined, or, a small stick) (Cassell’s)

Romney should know that we here in AMERIKA shoot first and ask questions later. You know, like Blackwater or Cheney. And you never, ever apologize for the mess afterward. Obviously he's not a kick-ass cowboy like the hellacious Rudacious. Gimme a chaw a that tabaccy there. Oh. Where was I? Sorry. Gotta go cut some more brush. HotDamn. Mitt flunked the testosterone test flat out.

interesting. I AM a lawyer who has worked in past administrations and even I thought the "check with my lawyers" comment was very lame. But this exchange has changed my mind. Of course he should be proud of the fact that he cares about the law. Go Mitt!! (p.s. I'm an Edwards supporter)

Though not a fan of Romney or Giuliani, I have to think that Mr. Romney's response was closer to correct than Mr. Giuliani's.

Giuliani's bluster is more of the same John Wayne, shoot from the hip, irresponsible, I know better than anyone else, rhetoric. Romney's response, I believe should have been, I would immediately consult with Congressional leadership. I think John McCain got this part right.

It's not as if we don't know what the Constitution says. Am aware that there are arguable issues regarding the President's Commander in Chief authority but commencing military action, urgent or not, is not the time to revisit those arguments. Democracy, representative democracy, republic, whatever our governmental structure, that structure is guided by the Constitution. It is what all federal government officials swear to uphold. In times of crisis it should return to the fore.

Bill Clinton, in his later remarks about torture, suggests that the President has to analyze and then make the decision he feels necessary but then be willing to accept personal responsibility for that decision.

The punishment for a President making the wrong decision would be impeachment. A heinous thought for the ego of any one seeking or holding that office. In the case of torture that punishment would seem apt and sufficient. In the case of drawing the country into a war, or another one, based solely on one's own assessment of the information available leaves us to paraphrase Shakespeare; Impeachment should be made of sterner stuff.

The only thing Giuliani brings to the table is his toughness or the appearance thereof. This is not sufficient to lead this country. We should by now be well aware of that. We as a culture admire men of action but we must be able to differentiate between entertainment and reality. The President's role is much more that of the consummate diplomat, with a little salesman thrown in, and much less that of the hero who kisses his horse when the dust settles.