Pleasantly drunk Goldwater Republican analyzes the GOP debate on Fox.

6:49pm First martini down. Going to run upstairs to pour a second one before things get started. Seasoned political pros claim that Steve has already watched too many debates.

6:51pm FNC found some kid wearing a tie in the spin room, and handed him a microphone. He’s doing everything but spittakes to seem Daily Show-worthy. Is this what it’s come to already?

6:54pm The kid’s name is, apparently, “Griff.” I’m pretty sure he’s a shaved Muppet.

6:58pm So my faithful PJ Media editor tells me, “I’m without a TV right now, so this is fun.” Believe me, buddy, I’d be having more fun right now without a TV, too.

7:02pm “…now let’s meet the candidates.” For livebloggers, this is unnecessary. Also, Brit Hume forgets that familiarity breeds contempt.

7:04pm: (All times Mountain, if that weren’t obvious.) The usual rules - a minute per answer, 30 second rebuttal at Brit’s discretion.

7:05pm First question: Is Fred Thompson smarter than you guys? Answer: If he’s having a postshow cocktail in Leno’s greenroom, he is.

7:06pm Mike Huckabee got the first answer in. Before the Iowa straw poll, he was lucky to get one in the first hour.