Among other points that have come up so far in the 2nd Congressional District debate tonight: Congressman Mike Simpson offered a spirited defense of earmarks, saying they're transparent, they're constitutional, and they're the way a congressman who knows his district's specific needs can make sure they get appropriately funded, while challenger state Rep. Russ Mathews called earmarks an inappropriate way that things get slipped into the federal budget. Challenger Chick Heileson said he thinks health care reform is unconstitutional and Simpson agreed. And Heileson said of Afghanistan, "We should get out of there and bring the troops home," while Simpson and Mathews spoke of the 9/11 attacks and the mission for American troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Responded Heileson, "We weren't attacked by Afghanistan, we were attacked by people who don't like us, and there are people who don't like us all over the world."

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