This just shows Giuliani lacks an understanding and appreciation of how important this debate is, particularly to the younger voters. He's a hack anyway though and would only get trounced.

Ron Paul is going to own this debate. Should be a good time.

This is a smart move by Guiliani and Romney. They have name recognition, but will need to obfuscate lest people discover them for the shams that they are. They should arrange “scheduling conflicts” right up to voting day.

I was right, both Guiliani & Romney are fake. They don't care about real issues.

Romney and Guiliani are no different than Bush and Chenny.. They do not want to face directly regarding the blunders of Iraq that Republicans have done?

Both Mitt and Rudy are going to have to clearly state what thier prior engagements are or the perception will stick that they are afraid to answer anything but scripted, sound bite friendly, softball questions from the moderators. I do not think either of them benefit from shunning the American voters. It's a perception thing that I think is bad for both of them. Ann

They are COWARDS!!!!!

Romney had a good point. Romney will be their and Rudy wont. I think Rudy is just afraid while Romney just doesnt want to answer a stupid snow man. I dont blame him!

Excuse me, but Romney needs to understand that the "snowman" is a potential voter. Romney better think twice if he believes he's above answering questions from a snowman/voter. Curious as to who Rudy is meeting with on that date. Big donors???

Good move. That circus was the most unprofessional, most poorly run "debate" I have ever witnessed. We are not running for the PTA for cryin' out loud.

Ann B. is entirely correct. Kathleen Elim, I'm sure you are a very nice person and very intelligent, but that "snowman" does not represent a voter. I am a big fan of satire such as that on Saturday Night Live, and I also greatly enjoy good, analytical candidate debates. With all due respect, they don't mix very well.

The YouTube comedy hour was only slightly less pathetic than the mutual press conferences called debates we've been enduring so far that : 1. Give candidates a maximim of 22 seconds to comment on major issues of the day, and : 2. Give credibility and airwave time to neurotic gadflys like Kucinich and Ron Paul as well as the other slightly more normal candidates who are still polling in the .00002 level.

Oh no! A debate where we may need to face questions by constituents that might embarass us with everyone watching, rather than predictable softball questions put forth by sycophants? You mean, we can't manage our message and put out propaganda? Quick, we better run like little girls!

Ron Paul will own that debate whether those frauds show up or not, and they know it.

Those guys already made other plans for that day. Rudy G. plans to go shopping for a new evening gown, and Willard is having his teeth whitened.

Those two are aligning with the Bush Elites who beleive they are above Constitutional Law and above the will of the people. I thought this nation fought the revolutionary war to break away from the arrogant royal family rule and elite power over the people- not given to them by the people types.

Havn't we learned anything from history?

Romney has to steal all of his material as he is clueless. He is even stealing Ron Pauls words on Immigration now. Rudy has been pre programmed just to say 9/11 every time he is asked a question.

Why do they even call these things debates anymore. They are more like group Q & As. The most annoying thing about the Dem youtube debate, was that, I didn't get to hear from every candidate on the questions.

The second most silly thing, was where they played some slumber party game at the end of, "Say one thing you like and one you don't like about the person to your left." What was that? I don't care what they think of each other. I want to hear them debate the issues against each other with no moderator and I'll decide for myself what I like and don't like about thier positions.

I agree with many others here. Ron Paul seems to be all over understanding the issues, and well researched and informed. He is quite exciting in a debate-pretty much unbeatable because he makes sure he is backed with the history and the facts, and I learn a lot from him.

I think Rudy and Mitt are afraid to stand next to him.

This points out that most Republicans can only run by sliming the Democrats. They run on sound bites and propaganda and only appeal to the non-thinkers in society. Ron Paul is a refreshing breeze in the Republican party. He is a thinker and runs on real issues. Good luck to him!! We should have more like him and John Dean -- the good Republicans who believe in working together to solve the huge constitutional crisis we are now in!! Susan

It seems to me that the You Tube format is actually a gift for the candidates. None of the Democrats really engaged with many of the questions, parroting out the same lines. They didn't take advantage of the nature of the format and actually answer the questions. If the You Tube format is around in the Presidential general election, it will be the format that decides the election in my view. Which candidate is prepared to engage with the voters questions? As such Giuliani and Romney are both making a serious error.

both are spineless cowards! how can they expect to be good leaders in this dynamic day and age, if they cant even face "unconventional" format for a debate.

pssst.

Republicans afraid to deal with real americans. Typical out of touch kids.

1.) The debate's questions were screened by CNN to get solid to far left-wingers asking questions which people associated with the left mostly care about
2.) The manner in which questions were asked was remarkably silly and stupid.

I truly hate Rudy, but good for him refusing to attend this sham of a debate.

The You Tube format did cause the candidates to directly respond tgo specific questions - something they seem to dance around when asked by a professional media person. Instead of a scripted talking point, they knew the question was from a constituent (snowman or not) and they addressed the actual topic. I think it would be a huge mistake for any of the candidates to skip the opportunity to provide straight answers to questions from the people. I already distrust to a degree most politicians, but if they don't want to interact with us, I can't trust them at all.