A video question about VP Cheney. (Great question you’d never get from a reporter.) McCain says he was considered as a VP and his only two jobs are to cast a deciding vote in Senate and “inquire daily as to the health of the President.” Gets a nice laugh. McCain says he’d delegate only select duties and be careful “people understand there is only one President.” Pretty close to a nasty dig. Giuliani says has to work out arrangement with his VP but in age of terrorism the VP has to be able to take over. Rudy looks to Reagan and Bush balance. Romney says depends on each president and then defends Bush and Cheney for keeping us safe. Brownback says flat out that too much was delegated to Cheney.
Taxes: George talks about fair tax which repeals income tax in favor of sales tax. (You will recall Fred Thompson got ambushed by the fair tax advocates last week.) Huckabee in favor of it. Romney says attractive features and we’d like to get rid of IRS but throwing out tax system is difficult thing. Points out problems like impact on home building. Rudy advocates getting rid of death tax and simplifying and reducing taxes, and says flat and fair tax are intriguing but too complex to get there now. Points out you still need an IRS to administer fair tax. McCain says he favors reforming Alternative Min. tax needs reform. Tancredo likes fair tax and Brownback the flat tax.