DebateScoop.org: Liveblog of Democratic DMR Debate

Liveblog of Democratic DMR Debate

By Ross Smith 12/13/2007 01:57:19 PM EST

Join me in the comments as I register my reactions to and chronicle today's Democratic primary debate sponsored by the Des Moines Register.

Just click on "Discuss" . . .

Tags: debate, debates, liveblog, Des Moines Register, democratic presidential primary

< Des Moines Register Debates Round Two Preview: Democrats | Two Iowas - When Debates Are Not Debates >

Liveblog of Democratic DMR Debate | 30 comments (30 topical, 0 hidden)

suspense builds (none / 0)

how bad will the format and moderation be today?

which issues will she say they won't discuss?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 01:59:05 PM EST

baseball steroids report (none / 0)

is already trying to eclipse the debate

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:00:06 PM EST

sound bad again (none / 0)

tinny sound from retransmission of Iowa Public Television.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:01:07 PM EST

focus on the marginal issues and rules (none / 0)

there is a reason some issues are less discussed . . .

rules identical to yesterday

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:03:09 PM EST

balance budget (none / 0)

absurd for 60 seconds: priority to balance the budget yearly and if yes, how?

By the way, this HAS been a subject in MANY of the past debates, Carolyn.

Obama: get long term fundamentals right. End war in Iraq and apply the money here. Overcome special interests. Tax loopholes.

Follow up on priority: he says can't do it in one or two years.

Richardson: I am a governor so it would be a major priority. Line Item veto.

Biden: it is pretty straightforward. Priorities. War plus tax breaks for the rich plus gold plated military saves $350 billion.

Dodd: fed gov is not the states, Bill. Paygo, etc. Here, here, here.

Edwards (gets only 30 sec.) somehing about structure followed by "corporate power and greed" middle class and other buzzwords.

Hillary: 1990s proved "I will institute those very same approaches." Results will take a while.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:09:51 PM EST

when would you raise taxes? (none / 0)

Richardson: falls for the trap of the question and then says tax the richest.

Who will reject the premise as a GOP talking point?

Edwards: big corporations and the wealthiest Americans, big corporations, companies that ae taking American jobs overseas. (Luntz dials going off the charts).

Hillary: sound bites about how people feel. I wanna go back to the 90's the 90's.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:12:55 PM EST

how pay for new ideas in short term? (none / 0)

same question, but posed a different way.

Biden: good, rejects the "Republican paradigm" of the question. Republican priorities are the problem.

Obama: every proposal I have put forward specifies how I would pay. Cayman Islands.

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by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:15:45 PM EST

Not a debate, a survey (none / 0)

She really is no better than yesterday. No follow ups. Her idea of what constitutes a good question seems to be part of the problem. The YouTube submitters did better.

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by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:17:05 PM EST

how change China policy (none / 0)

will anyone reject the premise that they are our banker?

Richardson: Darfur, workers, etc., they are a strategic competitor. BAN TOYS!

Dodd: more adversarial than competitors. Slave labor. Important not to get bellicose (though he just did). Hot air.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:20:08 PM EST

Hillary, too much entitlement spending? (none / 0)

she says it is a problem!! Did she hear the question?

Yes, she says reign in HMOs and drug prices to bring cost down for medicare. Bipartisan commission for SS.

Biden: they will be a problem if we do not act. Lift the cap on the taxes. He repeats her stuff on health care.

Obama gets 30 sec: to emphasize prevention savings. Must change how business is done in Washington.

Richardson: Universal health care a human right. Prevention and red tape elimination. JUNK FOOD AND PHYS ED IN SCHOOLS!

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by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:24:11 PM EST

30 SEC PITCH TIME (none / 0)

Obama: "Fierce urgency of now" excerpt from stump speech. Need "the courage to change."

Edwards: a lot at stake and the cause is corporate power and corporate greed, "rise up together" FUMBLED HIS ENDING, big LAUGHTER AT HIM>

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:26:27 PM EST

trade, poversty, terrorism links? (none / 0)

Biden: obvious outrage expressed in answer to this non-quesiton.

Richardson: human rights good. sanctions good.

Dodd: I am a good Senator like Harkin here, hear?

Edwards: trade and China? BIG CORPORATIONS.

Record set for saying "corporate."

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:30:43 PM EST

NAFTA for Hillary (none / 0)

change or scrap it, Hillary?

Change it and review every other agreement.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:31:35 PM EST

Obama on NAFTA (none / 0)

amend it as I have said

GO BACK to trade and human rights: harder to do when we have a Guantanamo. Luntzers spike.

Dodd: jumps in on his Darfur sanctions.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:32:52 PM EST

time out 2 (none / 0)

Biden: not change so much as action. Also need to know who you are.

Richardson: I will use my 30 sec to thank the people of Iowa. DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF IRAQ.

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by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:34:26 PM EST

YOUR ENERGY PLANS (none / 0)

she posits that they have costs and asks how long before there is benefit.

REJECT HER PREMISE??

Biden: not long. must make it a priority. talking points.

Richardson: will take an energy revolution. 35 mpg is pathetic. 2020 is the year. REP.

Dodd in 30 sec? Here. Borrowing a billion a day for foreign oil. Corporate carbon tax. Gore says my plan is the most honest and bold.

Hillary: must tell people it will affect them. Cap and trade wonkism. Apollo program when I was a little girl.

Obama: a moral imperative. must be couragous andI am because I went to the automakers .Nobody clapped SPIKE.

Edwards: oil companies, power companies, entrenched interests, be patriotic about something other than war, responsibility to future generations.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:42:41 PM EST

Hillary with hand raising joke (none / 0)

good angle -- will get some good press that she is calm and light hearted, confident.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:43:24 PM EST

farms (none / 0)

Dodd: here, here, here, where we are in Iowa here.

Obama: Centerpiece of my rural farm agenda. SPIKES. Family farms make everyone feel warm and fuzzy.
WOOPS: I would have voted against it but for it.

Biden: where are the farmers? it's all out of whack. Voted today the same way we all did.

Hillary: Lugar/Lautenberg? I follow Harkin! I brought "my family farmers" from New York to Iowa. Harkin.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:47:52 PM EST

time out 3 (none / 0)

Hillary: pander to Iowa. Change? Hope is not enough. Hard work is the way.

Dodd: I have been living here and dragged my family here, here. And I make a great Senator and Peace Corps volunteer.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:49:46 PM EST

best ed system features and goals and timetables (none / 0)

all in 60 seconds, please.

Edwards: list of stuff. Can he blame corporations? NCLB will have to be the devil this time.

Richardson: a high priority, pre school, 15 year timetable, list of stuff. Scrap NCLB.

Follow up: how to judge by looking at your state? I raised salaries and ed scores. Hispanics, Native Americans make it tough.

Obama: many good ideas, early ed, teacher pay, NCLB. Sacrifice I would ask: reengage parents. Turn off the TV.

Dodd: ed the top issue. I agree with Barack totally.

Hillary: I have worked on ed reform for a very long time. Fully fund what we ask of states.

Edwards: you asked me about this at the beginning I think?????????

MODERATOR TERRIBLE -- she started with Edwards on this one and just gave him a replay.

Biden: my wife is a teacher. 4 things: early ed, small class, pay teachers, access to college.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 02:58:15 PM EST

first year? (none / 0)

Obama: end war in Iraq. Initiate diplomacy. Review exec orders of Bush with AG and reverse constitutional violations. Talk to all in health care.

Biden: Biden plan for Iraq. Abandon torture, renditions. Catastrophic health insurance for all kids. preschool ed.

Richardson: end war with no residuals. announce energy and health care goals. follow constitution.

Dodd: good joke, followed by "change the shrillness of the discourse."

Edwards: people deserve the truth. End war, Guantanamo, etc. But none will happen unless call on people to take country back from CORPORATIONS.

Hillary: end war, bipart emissaries, exec orders, reverse vetoes, prepare a budget.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 03:04:01 PM EST

character (none / 0)

Hillary you were criticized on health care plan secrecy: I learned a lot from that experience. Internets sunlight! Public finance of elections (Feingold's bill which Obama was early cosponsor).

Biden you say stuff that is not PC: I have my whole career dating to the civil rights movement.

Obama: I have Joe's back on that.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 03:08:20 PM EST

Edwards you call evryone corrupt (none / 0)

Edwards: companies . . . will not voluntarily give their power away. An epic battle. Battle. FIGHT. BIG CORPORATIONS. FIGHT.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 03:09:52 PM EST

Dodd your Dad was a crook? (none / 0)

Huh?

My dad was great. Public service.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 03:10:49 PM EST

Richardson you were a bad energy sec? (none / 0)

Wen Ho Lee?

Richardson: 25 years of public service. Lee pled guilty. We all make mistakes. I'm glad you didn't raise them. LAUGHTER. I did a lot as energy sec. that was good.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 03:12:46 PM EST

Obama you get advice from Bill's advisors (none / 0)

Former Clinton advisors -- great comment: "Hillary, I'm looking forward to you advising me as well."

AWESOME.

Then talks of the "mindset that got us into war."

Restoring respect is a big part of keeping America sage. Long term security.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 03:14:45 PM EST

30 second round (none / 0)

signing statements?

Hillary: like they used to be used, not as a form of veto. Quit with perversion of the law.

Edwards: same answer and "on top of that" make three branches co-equal.

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by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 03:16:42 PM EST

New Years resolution (none / 0)

Hillary: multi-part as you might guess. do a good job in this campaign (sounds awful, like she is saying it needs fixing).

Edwards: to remember the hungry and ill. Like he doesn't always use that rhetoric?

Dodd: I want to see . . . New Years "wish" that Iowans caucus.

These are closing statements. Hillary blew it by being first.

Richardson: lose weight again (laughter). Then he has a New Years wish for Congress and President to do the right thing.

Biden: remember where I came from.

Obama: be a better father, husband, and remind myself that this is not about me. The sacrifice is only worth it -- remind myself not to be timid so I can make a real difference in the lives of American people.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 03:21:36 PM EST

Lessons from Iowa? (none / 0)

Hillary: eat at state fair (crappy).

Edwards: seeing us up close. Honest, FIGHT.

Dodd: Iowans make up their own minds (as opposed to the rest of us whose choice is determined by how Iowa votes!)

Richardson: you like underdogs.

Biden: Iowa deserves to be first and I know the names of obscure towns.

Obama: The core decency of the American people. Generosity of spirit.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 12/13/2007 03:24:47 PM EST

ends 6 minutes early today, too (none / 0)