I sacrificed the opportunity to watch the latest episode of Veronica Mars last night to watch the second GOP presidential debate. Here are some random thoughts:

• Fox News did a much better job than the previous MSNBC/Politico.com production. If you've any doubt, check out this video montage of the questions from the first and second debates courtesy of National Review Online.
• Ron Paul stepped over a line into nutjob land last night. Paul suggested that U.S. foreign policy was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Apparently if the U.S. had simply returned Spain to the Moors, 9/11 would've never happened. The kicker is that Paul was so clueless after the debate that he denied what he had done. "Who did that?” Paul snapped. “Who blamed America?” You did.
• Rudy Giuliani got a lot of well-deserved kudos for challenging Paul on his lunacy. It would've been even better if the nine other candidates had grabbed the jerk, dragged him off the stage and thrown him out of the auditorium. Paul should not be invited back. Oh, and someone needs to kick his sorry butt out of the House too.
• John McCain has some sort of disconnect on the use of coercive interrogation techniques. He's against them because they don't work, but he's OK with them being used if it's really necessary. McCain's steadfast support of the war is his biggest plus, but aside from the loony Paul, that doesn't distinguish him on the stage. Also, being a uniter, not a divider, may sound good in the general election, but teaming up with Teddy Kennedy on immigration and his Gang of 14 stunt on judges is hurting him with the base.
• Tommy Thompson needs to pull out of the race now. The man has zero chance to win and his failure to name even one government program that he would cut shows that the man can't even artfully dodge a question -- one that should be easy for Republicans.
• We need to seriously reduce the number of candidates on the stage. I'm thinking we'd be covered with McCain, Giuliani, Romney and Hunter.
• I still think San Diego congressman Duncan Hunter has no chance of winning, but of the second tier candidates I'll admit that he has made the best showing. He's probably the best candidate for vice-president out there right now.