MANCHESTER, N.H.--With relatively little mention of the standard Republican rhetoric of social and cultural degradation, a diverse and feisty collection of candidates for the Republican presidential nomination instead focused on the proper role of government in America at last night's GOP debate in New Hampshire.

On issues ranging from the Internet to Social Security, candidates argued that the government served the public best when it governed them the least.

Forbes, trumpeting his own plan to privatize social security by giving Americans an option to invest their retirement accounts, criticized Bush for saying he would consider raising the age required to claim Social Security benefits.

"You know that's code for 'we're going to do it,'" Forbes said. When asked how he would respond to critics who wonder what would happen to these private investment accounts if the market were to go down, Forbes said, "'Risky' is Washington talk for 'You're going to take away our power.'"

The candidates, with the exception of Bauer, were hesitant to regulate obscene or offensive content on the Internet. "The Internet is the greatest thing that has happened since the printing press and the industrial revolution," McCain said. All of the candidates said they would not support taxing the sale of goods over the Internet.

Predictably, the candidates--with

the notable exception of McCain--attacked frontrunner Bush for his politics and policies. Bauer, comparing the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision to the Dred Scott decision a century earlier, challenged Bush to choose a pro-life running mate. Forbes took aim at Bush's freshly minted economic policy--unveiled last Wednesday in Iowa--charging that it provided too few tax cuts of too small a size.

"We should get rid of the capital gains tax but Bush refuses to do so," Forbes said.

Bush, noting recent criticism from his Democratic challengers, said, "Well, for some it's not enough, for some it's too much, which leads me to believe I'm doing something just right."

Last night's debate was the first to bring frontrunner Bush to the stage with his rivals for the Republican nomination. His absence at previous debates irked some.

"It's nice to have everyone here, including George Bush--no one is AWOL," said Forbes in his first remarks.

McCain, in contrast, refused to attack Bush at any point in the debate. When asked why he thought so many of his colleagues in the Senate endorsed his rival, McCain said, "It's a testimony to the attractiveness of Governor Bush."

Bush, clearly pleased with McCain's kid-glove treatment, said, "Senator McCain is a good man, a good friend."