Byron York: What if Democrats had a national security debate?

By Byron York, Byron York

Published December 20, 2015

The Democratic presidential field, such as it is, gathers for its third debate Saturday, in Manchester, New Hampshire. Here's a thought experiment: Imagine it were devoted entirely to national security.

The Republican debate in Las Vegas Tuesday night focused almost exclusively on security and foreign policy. The CNN moderators had not originally billed the debate that way, but after Paris, San Bernardino, ISIS, and more, that's what it became.

The GOP candidates were happy to go along, and the debate was an extended exchange on who would be tougher on radical Islamic terrorism.

Maybe some candidates went too far; things got so heated that Rand Paul, the lonely non-interventionist, listened to some tough talk from Chris Christie and said, "I think if you're in favor of World War III, you have your candidate."