GOP debate open thread: Monday, June 13, 2011 (CNN /WMUR /New Hampshire Union Leader)

Tonight at 8pm Eastern, seven declared or possible GOP presidential candidates will debate at New Hampshire's St. Anselm College. Feel free to leave your comments about the debate below; some live coverage might also be provided. When a transcript is available I'll highlight the immigration-related parts in an update.

Those debating are (see each link for more):

* Mitt Romney
* Newt Gingrich
* Tim Pawlenty
* Herman Cain
* Michelle Bachmann
* Rick Santorum
* Ron Paul

The debate is sponsored by CNN, WMUR, and the New Hampshire Union Leader, with John King as the moderator. Note that Gary Johnson was not invited to the debate because he wasn't considered a viable candidate.

See the CNN and King links and the posts on the debates page for coverage of past debates. It would literally be insane to think that this debate will be any different from past CNN debates, which have featured weak questions that don't hold policy makers accountable.

UPDATE: Bachmann says the first government agency she'd go after would be the Environmental Protection Agency and that the EPA should be renamed the "Job Killing Organization". Which is really stupid, and would probably also increase costs long-term due to, among others, greater health risks and increased costs for remediation. But, it'd be good for the short-term profits of those like the Koch family.

UPDATE 2: I have to correct the prediction above: John King was even worse than I predicted, such as asking candidates for president of the United States whether they liked Jay Leno or Conan O'Brien. And, at least two of the immigration questions John King asked were bogus. That link discusses the question asked of Ron Paul; the other bogus question was asked of Santorum. The latter question could have been answered through a web search (with a follow-up asked at the debate) and simply allowed Santorum to give a speech without even answering the question.

UPDATE 3: Never fear, it got even worse. John King misrepresented Tom Tancredo, and then King and Gingrich engaged in the same basic false choice.