After scrounging for a ticket and surviving a broken-down bus, I was able to attend Thursday's GOP Presidential Candidates Debate in Tempe. I am not a Republican, but I am interested in politics and the process our nation goes through to choose its highes t executive. The GOP debate interested me not only because one of the four men in that auditorium may be our next president, but also because of the group of characters running for the GOP nomination. Though only four showed up (Bob Dole - how could you miss it?), the ones who did are the characters making the race for this nomination so colorful. So what I have done is provided a non-Republican's personal perspective on the debate - part of the road to August's GOP convention in San Diego.

Lamar Alexander - He is the most typical candidate out of the four present. He started the debate very well, attacking his "friend" Pat Buchanan's "Buchananism" through his opening statement by saying, "I'm not going to let you hijack our party." But Lamar was drowned out through the rest of the debate because of his statement that this nation needs someone with "executive experience" in the Oval Office, which did not prove public- friendly during the debate. He has some interesting ideas , those being the military patrol of the Mexican American border, a part-time Congress and a citizen's Congress. The latter would comprise regular American citizens, not politicians. It must be remembered that Alexander was once the nation's education sec retary, and, if elected, he could play his cards to the side of education.

Pat Buchanan - He is Mr. "Crossfire." Buchanan seems to be a firecracker whose fuse never needs to be lit. The amazing thing about his bursts is that they fire up other people. I do not believe people would take some of his ideas very seri ously if not for his public speaking talents. Buchanan would duke it out with anyone, though. He is after Japan, China and the rest of the world, wanting to break America apart if needed. He believes abortion is wrong and that a fence should be put along the entire Mexican American border to keep out the "invasion" of immigrants. But the thing about Buchanan is that he makes this entire race fun, and he can compete. He won in New Hampshire and Louisiana, and is ready to take many more - including Arizona - which would give him a real boost of confidence. It is scary to think what this man would do in the Oval Office.

Robert Dornan - He believes he is wearing the "Clinton Countdown watch," meaning he is hoping a Republican takes office in January of next year. He was relatively unknown to me until the debate. He believes in putting a "hero" in office, a nd kept mentioning his military service. He also would like to see fences put at certain places along the border, free trade and the "shutdown of the IRS." Dornan is not afraid to talk, and knows he has nothing to lose. He blames everything on President C linton, even the closing of the Grand Canyon during the budget crisis. Like Buchanan, Dornan is a very hyperactive man on stage, and knows how to use his emotions in his favor. He did get negative reaction when he said not every college major is going to succeed and make money after graduation - not a smart move in front of about 500 college students. Dornan may be wearing the countdown watch for his own exit.

Steve Forbes - My feeling about him is if you see his television commercials, then you've got the man. He was quiet during the debate, commenting on questions asked of him and not really getting into skirmishes with the other candidates. F orbes presents his side on all issues straightforwardly and without getting off track. The flat tax is his largest issue, which he says he does for the people, not for himself. He says it will not hurt him if implemented or not. His belief is "ordinary p eople can do extraordinary deeds when given the chance to do more." Forbes is trying to appear like that ordinary person, but it sure is hard to overlook the cash. He believes in beefing up the border patrol, reforming the Immigration and Naturalization S ervices, free trade and the end of NAFTA. His big statement is if you "free us up at home, we can compete with anyone in the world." Forbes would love to run this country like a business.

Well, through these views of a student, I hope that you have gained some insight into the characters of these GOP nominees. I felt it horrible that Dole decided being elsewhere was more important, though over the weekend it was heard he was rescheduling t o fit in more appearances in Arizona. And why not - this state has 39 delegates to give to the winner, and all have an open chance to win.

Keith Allen is Wildcat opinions editor and a journalism senior. His column appears every other Monday.