here we go . . .

and as I type, breaking news, Jack Valenti dies at 85.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 06:51:23 PM EST

Clinton says people has spoken and Congress has. No answer yet. Stresses protections for troops. Still no answer. Criticizes Iraqis. Is just a practiced rant.

Same question to Bide (repeated by Williams to stress non-answer of Hillary?).

Biden -- links to political solution, his plan, as predicted

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:06:38 PM EST

War you called dumb, how to square that with sacrifice of troops?

I say give equipment, etc., talk to parents, had a plan in January (proves he has policy substance?)

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:07:52 PM EST

Was that not a shot at Hillary?

She needs to search her own conscience, be straitforward and honest.

Clinmton rebuttal: I take responsibility for my sincere vote, "if I knew then . . . " Real question is what to do now, Bush is stubborn.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:10:01 PM EST

can you oppose the war and vote to fund it?

No. My debaters laughed aloud when he said he had a plan "HR1234".

Obama helped by Kucinich saying look at those who opposed the war in the first place.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:11:40 PM EST

His first question and it is total softball giving him opportunity to be wonky on Iraq.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:12:41 PM EST

Is Feingold/Reid possible?

Answer does not say why it really is, but that we need bold change, what's important . . . Echos Hilary's saying Iraqis need to step up.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:14:01 PM EST

Question needs to introduce him.

Great answer. But "looks" like a crazy old man when he gets angry.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:15:34 PM EST

Is a question from a mom. Obama does not really answer, says we need the votes to overide veto. Goes overtime.

Clinton gets 30 seconds "rebuttal" during which she agrees that more GOP votes are needed in hte Senate.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:17:53 PM EST

Obama, "new kind of politics" and ties to corrupt guy in Chicago. He dnounces it. I have a track record on this. My forst bill passed was campaign reform and I passed ethics reform in the Senate. Plus, how I run this campaign.

Edwards. $400 haircut. Why paid from campaign funds. It was a mistake. I am privileged but, mill town, South Carolina . . . as I predicted. Great, heartbreaking story, though.

Hedge fund followup: financial markets are important. I work at Poverty Center at UNC.

Hillary. WTF does the hedge fund question have to do with an "elephant in the room" of Hillary's campaign??

Richardson you were slow to say AG should go and you said because he is Hispanic. This question allows him to talk candidly and let America know he, Richardson, is Hispanic.

Dodd, you are a Washington insider, accept $$ from lobbyists. Dodd: dad prosecutor at Nuremburg . . . public service a family tradition. I'm for public financing of campaigns. Experience. Experience. Experience.

Kucinich: this is not American Idol. Look at 2003 when people made wrong decisions (Obama thanks you).

Biden: hate speech and plagiarism. Beautiful. One word answer: Yes!!!! Best answer of the night so far.

Gravel: why are you here? Funny answer. He says the mainline candidates "nothing off the table on Iran" scares him and there will be no preemptive nuclear war with Iran. Williams: who? The top tier.

Clinton: Americans do not like you. Why does the GOP want to run against you? Because I stood up for what I believed in. Their worry proves I am good. Laundry list of issues. I am ready to lead.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:31:55 PM EST

None of the candidates seem to be following Ross's advice on talking to the camera.  I'd argue for a middle-ground... where the cameras were thought of as a member of the audience.   The camera would not get all of the attention... Brian Williams would likely get much of it... but the live audience and the home audience would get some attention- as one does with members of a live audience.

by ebrennan on 04/26/2007 07:37:25 PM EST

Edwards, is Supreme Ct. and public in different place than politicians on abortion? NO. (He should point out fact that increasing majorities are pro-choice). Then he recognizes difficulty.

Obama, same question. "Most Americans" trust women to make decisions with their doctors. Move past . . .  and agree on decrease teen pregnancy, move forward instead of look backward.

Biden: Ct. litmus test? No, but make sure the "share my values" I led fight against Bork. Opposed Roberts, Alito and Thomas. This Ct. decision was intellectually dishonest.

Kucinich: my appointments would reflect my thinking.  Culture of life including health care, etc., protect Roe v. Wade and open hearts.

Dodd: you voted for Roberts. Dodd: Roberts went back on promise from hearings (surprised??). 26 years. Experienced.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:38:52 PM EST

Richardson: White. Answer rejected by Biden on basis that dead. Ginsberg.

question a failure

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:40:16 PM EST

Hillary, did governemtn in any way fail them? Yes, visited Columbine with BILL and gun control good.

Richardson, you are NRA's favorite candidate. Richardson: I am a westerner and the vast majority of gun owners are law abiding. Need to deal with mentally ill not getting guns and instant background checks, fund states. Fund mental health -- parity!!

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:43:06 PM EST

Biden been around a long time in case you did not know.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:44:39 PM EST

Edwards, which taxes would you raise for it? The ones on the rich, but a big time out for a passive/aggressive dig at others and mention this is about plans, not rhetoric. I have a plan.

Obama, how would you pay for it? Let me tell you my plan, first, as long as we bulid the movements (black infant mortality is bad, too).

Hillary. I have the experience of having crafted a plan, but the corporations made people nervous, I'm ready to try again. Control and decrease costs for all.

Richardson, how could you do it without raising taxes? He says I am a governor. I deal with everything. Principles: no new bureaucracy. prevention. deal with inefficiencies and bureaucracy first via info system, save billions.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:50:14 PM EST

Right off the bat I feel that Hilary Clinton has fallen into the expected pitfall that she seems aloof at times.  Maybe it is just me, but her apparent lack of passion in her first speech was very off putting.  Contrary to Clinton, Mike Gravel seemed very fired up and passionate about the issue being discussed.  Instead of `stepping lightly' when answering the question at hand (as most the other candidates have) he came out with a fire and brimstone speech that called out his fellow candidates' inaction.  I personally love Gravel, but his passion will most likely turn off the average person who is watching this debate.
    Hilary Clinton was the first person to actually take the focus away from what Bush is currently doing now as President to what she will do if elected President (i.e. in regards to ending the war in Iraq).  Bill Richardson was the first person to actually provide a logistical plan to end the war in Iraq.  Dodd also discussed a logistical plan to end the war in Iraq, but I don't feel it was nearly as poignant or convincing.
    Now in regards to awful responses...John Edwards' response to the question about his privileged lifestyle was painfully cliché.  I am sure you cam from a difficult background Senator, but you are a multi-millionaire (several times over) now and it hard to say that you haven't lost some touch with your roots.  Bill Richardson also had an awful response in regards to why he held back on the Gonzalez situation because he is "Hispanic."  He really attempted to step around the question, but failed miserably and looked foolish.  Though I am sure that some people liked Obama's usage of a story involving him speaking with a mother from New Hampshire about the war in Iraq; he runs an awful risk of falling into the cliché.
    I am going to provide a precursor to my final comment: I am a Republican.  With that aside, I came into this debate having a high opinion of Obama but so far have been let down, as he is attempting to avoid making a mistake (obviously a strategic plan for a top tier candidate).  
    Off to watch the rest of the debate...

by Kyle Overs on 04/26/2007 07:50:41 PM EST

Biden, why you in SC where NAACP says boycott? Clyburn, leader of black caucus, historic black college . . .

Obama: Confederate flag should be in a museum. Black, rural, inner city poverty. Hilary mentioned this is going to be a change election.

MISTAKES
Gravel: potted plant. I won't hold their youth and inexperience against them.

Hillary -- I do not have enough time: Health care and believing Bush.

Obama: Letting Schiavo thing happen in Senate.

Biden: underestimating arrogance of Bush

Edwards: to vote for this war.

Dodd: war in Iraq.

Richardson: I am impatient and aggressive, e.g. minimum wage.

Amnesty for illegal aliens?
Hillary: for comprehensive . . .

Brain drain?
Biden. Whatever.

Dodd, welfare recipients drug tests? No.

Edwards. Why are gas prices increasing. Demand. Cap, invest, coal tech, cars, be patriotic about something other than war.

Kucinich. Affordable health care premiums? I live in an old, cheap house. Bill #676.

Fora all: First thing on first day
R: get out of Iraq, day 2 energy policy, 3 climate change

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 07:59:43 PM EST

Obama, most important allies? EU/NATO. Japan, the east. Need relationship with.

Williams, you did not menstion Israel. Nobody suffered more than the Palstinians. Williams dragged up out of context.

Biden, threats? North Korea, Iran, Russian totalitarian move. Jettison regime change and pre-emption. Sounds great.

Gravel. We have no enemies. Who are you afraid of?MIC controls our culture and our governemtn.

Edwards, Russia friend or foe? Have moved to complete autocracy. The question is how to change dynamic of the world -- world must see force for good again.

Richardson nobel peace prizer, how you do different with Russia? 1) startegic interests: loose nucs, Chechnya, energy, democracy. FP precepts: no stubborn, power w/o diplomacy is blind. Darfur.

Hillary: Guiliani softball quotes. She points out the hyping of fear by Bush et al. Put that myth to rest.

Dodd. How has this label worked??

Is there a GWOT? Raise your hanfd if there is one?

Obama if we learned cities hit tonight by Al Q how would you change military stance overseas? Preparation unlike Katrina. Intelligence. Then keep globe on our side.

Edwards, same question: be certain knew who, and act to punicsh. Find out how got through homeland security. Use tools beyond bombs.

Hillary. Same. Having been a senator during 9/11 . . . . Move as swiftly as is prudent, retaliate. If nations gave material aid, quickly respond.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 08:15:45 PM EST

Not even Gravel would join the "impeach Cheney" group!!!

Dodd: civil unions for gays differ from gay marriage? Your own family? I have daughters!! Distinction is (incoherent).

Biden, what plan on climate that is hard? Barack and I . . . and I have a plan for Iraq. Cap now.

Richardson. Castro and Cuba. He goes to the if attacked by terrorists question. Butts into the question that was only for the top three (Hillary, Edwards, Obama).

Gravel. Nuclear energy. I started the nuclear critique, the Alaska pipeline. I want to answer the question on the war.

Obama what done in personal life for environment. Organized 3000 volunteers to plant trees. teach my daughters.  Goes back on the terrorism.

Kucinish attacks Obama!!! On Iran. A big FU from the Obama camp to Kucinich.

Obama 30 sec. rebuttal. I think a profound mistake to start a war with Iran. They are the largest state sponsor of terrorism. No contradiction between strengthening alliances and saying it is a threat if they have nucs.

Gravel: scaring Iran has not worked and the US is the biggest NPT violater.

Edwards who is your moral leader. My lord is important, my wife, father . . .

Hillary, is Walmart overall good or bad? A: Mixed blessing. Reinforces image of her as triangulator.

Biden. Is there a winner here? Hillary. Happy talk about no use of force. Balkans, Darfyur, Afghanistan.....

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 04/26/2007 08:35:18 PM EST

Just a few thoughts on the debate:

Kucinich's comment that "we are auditioning for the presidency" came across as an ironic and telling comment on the notion of the politician as a entertainer seeking to please the crowd with skillful illusions.  Of course, he most likely intended this metaphor to refer to the candidates' competitive demonstration of their skills and experience in vying for the role of president.

Dodd:  "This administration treats diplomacy as if it were a gift to the enemy".  I agree that diplomacy should always be attempted before force, but when one is dealing with terrorists and anti-American regimes, diplomacy often fails, in which case it DOES end up being a gift to the enemy.

When asked to reassure voters on his personal integrity despite accusations of borrowing from others' speeches and being a "gaffe machine", Biden merely stated "Yes".  This was obviously intended as a display of confidence, but it could just as easily be construed as an unwillingness to  respond to such accusations.

by Caroline452 on 04/26/2007 08:56:58 PM EST

Hillary Clinton:

Strengths:

• fairly well spoken (she talked slow and was easy to understand)
  
• Seemed poised up until her statements to end the debate when she got a little sharp
  
• Clinton basically just needed to not lose ground as a front runner and she definitely did not lose ground overall.

Weaknesses:

• she voted in favor of the Iraq war in 2003 and Edwards brought this up and made her look a little foolish
  
• she is a woman and America is not yet ready to embrace a female as President of the United States
  
• point was brought up that Clinton did not voice her displeasure about the war until it started going back for U.S.

Barack Obama:

Strengths:

• very well spoken and charismatic
  
• brought up good point that he has always been against the war and voted against it unlike Clinton
  
• his stance on abortion was that it, "is up to the mothers to make the choice, but America should focus on ways to prevent women from ending up in that situation"

Weaknesses:

• he was attacked by Gravel more often than Clinton was attacked
  
• Occasionally seemed like he was unsure of what to say, but not that often

John Edwards:

Strengths:

• appeared genuine, southern accent probably was good for the southern audience in south carolina
  
• brought up the point that he caem from a poor faimly and knows what it is like

Weaknesses:

• voted for the war
  
• was very hesitant to say who is his "moral leader"

Dodd and Kucinich

Very forgetable. I don't remember too much of what either of them had to say; especially Dodd.

Kucinich did ignite a small argument with Obama at the end which made things interesting about nuking Iran.

Joe Biden:

Strengths:

• seemed one of the more intelligent of the candidates
  
• said the first funny thing of the debate when he answered his question with "yes"

Weaknesses:

• a little arrogant
  
• was a little long winded

Bill Richardson:

Strengths:

- had the most eclectic views of all the candidates

Weaknesses:

- Did too much counting

Gravel:

Where do I begin with this guy? He at least started controversy and wasn't a "niceguy" like the rest of the candidates. However, he came across as crazy to me and a little too radical. He made the point that the Senate and House should pass a law making the war in Irag "illegal" instead of just a resolution which was interesting.

Overall, I think the debate was a little boring because no one attacked each other all that much. Most of the criticism was levied at George Bush and being in Iraq.
Obama is my favorite and he proved that he can hang with Clinton and also that he is a legitimate Democratic nominee for President.

by deacon09 on 04/26/2007 09:15:40 PM EST