One-Two Punch for GOP

Summary
In the final debate before New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary election, five Republican candidates appeared on Fox News. We found no shortage of recycled bunk, and a new twist or two:

Huckabee repeated his claim to have made 94 tax cuts including the "first broad-based tax cut" in the history of Arkansas, though he actually signed tax bills that resulted in a net increase in taxes of $500 million.

Romney said his increases in "fees" only amounted to $240 million in Massachusetts. But his own administration and others have put them higher. He also failed to mention $174 million in corporate tax "loophole" closings.

Giuliani falsely claimed that one of his tax cuts more than paid for itself, and he generally used incorrect figures when boasting of his record on taxes in New York City. And he claimed credit for too large a reduction in welfare cases.

Thompson said, "I never said that I was cutting Social Security." That's true, but he is proposing to slow the growth of benefits to those who retire in the future.
McCain said he had never asked for a single "pork barrel project" for Arizona, but we find a few that could qualify for that characterization.

Analysis
The debate was hosted by Chris Wallace of Fox News and took place Jan. 6 on the campus of Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and Rep. Duncan Hunter of California were not invited. Five Republican candidates took part: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee.

'Groundhog Day'
We know that February is still weeks away, but we find ourselves feeling like we're trapped in the political-hyperbole version of the Bill Murray movie already.

Mike Huckabee repeated some old boasts about his economic record.