[UPDATE: That was the strongest I've ever seen Bill Richardson, very impressive. Edwards was really slashing tonight, not sure if that helped him or not based on audience reaction (some boos, some cheers). Hillary held her own, I thought, and Obama did very well. I've got to say, both have now stumbled over illegal immigration with unclear answers. This is a tough issue, no doubt about it. Others did fine, I'm just not sure they can really gain any traction in the short time remaining before Iowa. We'll see. Oh, I kind of missed the comic relief of Mike "Grandpa Simpson" Gravel. Where was the ol' coot?]
[UPDATE #2: Scanning around the progressive blogosphere, the consensus seems to be that Hillary did very well, holding her own against some tough attacks (particularly towards the beginning). Also, I see several mentions of Richardson having his best debate so far. Obama and Edwards did fine, one question is whether they attacked Hillary too hard and turned off the audience at all.]
[UPDATE #3: Is it just me, or do the newspaper headlines mostly seem to be a variant of "Clinton fight back?"]
December 10, 2007 - Los Angeles, California
CBS announced a debate in conjunction with the California Democratic Party; potential moderators are Bob Schieffer and Katie Couric.
December 13th, 2007 - Johnson County, Iowa
The Des Moines Register and Iowa Public Television will host a Democratic debate in Johnson County, Iowa
November 15, 2007: CNN in Las Vegas, NV
December 1, 2007: The 6th Brown & Black Forum for Democratic Presidential candidates from Des Moines, Iowa
December 10, 2007: Democratic presidential debate hosted by CBS News in Los Angeles, CA
December 13, 2007: Democratic presidential debate sponsored by Des Moines Register and IPTV, Johnston, IA
December 17, 2007: CNN and Politico.com host a Democratic presidential debate at the Kennedy Library in Boston
2008
January 6, 2008: The Des Moines Register and Iowa Public Television host a Democratic presidential debate in Johnson, IA
January 15, 2008: The Caucus of African American Nevadans and Impacto host a Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, NV
January 31, 2008: CNN and the Los Angeles Times host a debate of the Democratic presidential candidates in California
Edwards is guaranteed to go for Hillary's jugular again, but expect questions about his statement about not promising to support Hillary to come up later tonight.
Hillary may get questioned about the plant thing.
Edwards gets a nice round of applause.
Obama gets a HUGE round of applause and cheering.
Hillary also gets a HUGE round of applause and cheering.
Kucinich does NOT get a huge round of applause and cheering. Must be the aliens. :)
Richardson...mediocre reception.
Joe Biden...crickets chirping.
Hillary: "This pant suit is asbestos tonight." The American people know where I've stood for 35 years. I've put forth very specific policies. One of the most important elections in our country's history. Need President who is ready to lead from Day #1.
Obama: Sen. Clinton is a capable politician, but what the American people are looking for is straight answers to tough questions, and that is NOT what we've seen out of Sen. Clinton on a host of issues. Took two weeks to get a clear answer from her on drivers' licenses. Also, serious disagreements on Soc. Sec. We need a different kind of politics. Break out of gridlock and partisanship.
Clinton: I hear what Sen. Obama is saying. When it came time to step up on universal health care coverage, he chose not to do that. I have a universal health care plan that covers everyone, been fighting against the special interests for more than 15 years. The people who we're against will not be giving up without a fight. We need someone tested and ready to lead. [applause]
Obama: I do provide universal health care. She thinks problem is that people haven't mandated health care. The problem is people can't afford it. [applause]
Clinton: I cannot let that go unanswered. Need to level with American people. Obama's health care plan does not cover children. He does not mandate kind of coverage I do. There's a big difference between Sen. Obama and me.
Obama: Hillary states that she wants to mandate health care coverage, but she is not enforcing this mandate. The problem is people can't afford it.
Edwards: Nobody on this stage is perfect. The issue is whether we can have a president who can restore trust. [applause] This president has destroyed that trust. Sen. Clinton says she will end the war, but also keep combat troops there. On Iran, she voted with Bush and Cheney. On Social Security, she said she wouldn't do anything about cap on Social Security taxes. She said she will bring change to Washington, while defending a system that is rigged and corrupt. We have fundamental differences.
Clinton: I respect all of my colleagues on this stage. I don't mind taking hits on my record, but not attacks right out of the Republican playbook. The American people know where I stand. In 2004, Sen. Edwards wasn't for universal health care. Edwards throwing mud, we need a positive agenda for America.
Edwards: It's fair for people to change based on what they learn. There's a difference between that, and saying two contrary things at the exact same time. For instance, Hillary said she was for Peru trade deal and wanted moratorium on trade deals. All of us are going to be fine after this debate, the question is will America be fine? There's nothing personal about this, it's about what America needs to be. When is our party going to show backbone, courage...
Dodd: We Dems have a job to do, unite this party. People wonder if anyone in Washington is paying attention to them. American people want us to come together, lead the country. [applause]
Richardson: It seems that John wants to start a class war, Barack wants to start a generational war, Hillary doesn't end the war in Iraq. Fundamental questions: do our plans end the war, create jobs and economic growth, etc. Let's stop this mudslinging on character, trust. Let's debate the issues that affect the American people and let's be positive. [applause]
Driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.
Edwards: No, but we need comprehensive immigration reform.
Dodd: American people want clarity. I strongly support immigration reform. Drivers' licenses are the wrong thing to be doing.
Obama: Yes. Will fight for comprehensive immigration reform.
Clinton: No.
Kucinich: I take issue with your description of people as "illegal." Cancel NAFTA and renegotiate trade agreement with Mexico. Give people a path to legalization and work to make sure you don't criminalize their status any further.
Richardson: Yes, and I did it. Congress also failed miserably to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Law enforcement people said it's a matter of public safety. More people insured. Traffic fatalities have gone down. States have to act when Congress and President fail to act. Secure borders, path to legalization...
Biden: No.
Kucinich: Union movement is essential to upholding human rights. I'm the candidate of workers in this campaign. A Kucinich Administration will be a worker's White House. From the working class, I remember where I came from. Disagree with Teamsters on drilling in Alaska.
Richardson: Want to be the education president. Key is strong teacher. We underpay teacher. Minimum wage at $40,000 per year. Junk NCLB. Pre-school for every child. Full day kindergarten. Science and math academies. Art in the schools. Deal with huge college loans. 2 years tuition: 1 year national service.
Clinton: I support school-based merit pay. We need to get more teachers to go into underserved urban, rural areas. You need to weed out teachers who are not doing a good job, they should not be teaching our children. We're in the 21st century, need to reimagine education system.
Biden: Does teacher improve themselves outside the classroom, get extra degrees. Who makes the decision on merit pay? There should be teaching excellence, demand more from our teachers in school and after school, have to pay them more. 16 years of education is what our kids need.
Peace.
Biden: Don't maintain same level of aid to Pakistan. If Musharraf doesn't take off his military uniform, take away military aid, use that leverage. Move from a Musharraf policy to Pakistan policy. I'm the only one who's laid out a detailed plan. Need to increase economic aid that make difference in the lives of ordinary people over there.
Richardson: Of course I'm worried. We got our principles wrong on Pakistan. We told Musharraf, "Security is more important than human rights." With me, it would be the opposite. Unless you restore the constitution, hold elections, end state of emergency...go after terrorists on his border, I would condition assistance. Need to be on the side of Democracy and human rights, that preserves U.S. interests. It's not just what Halliburton wants, it's also about our values of freedom and equality. Our strength as a nation is our values.
Edwards: Basic goals. Make sure extremists are under control. Support democratic reformers. Make sure elections take place. Make certain nuclear weapons under control. Pakistan is example of our ad hoc policy that will not work over long run. Need long-term international effort to rid world of nuclear weapons.
Obama: The concepts of human rights and U.S. national security are complementary not contradictory. Pakistan's democracy would strengthen our battle against extremists. I will do everything to keep nuclear weapons out of hands of extremists.
Dodd: National security is most important. The security of the country is #1. Be careful what you wish for on free elections in some of these questions.
Clinton: I agree with that completely. First obligation is to defend America. There's a connection between a democratic regime and heightened security for United States. We are now in a bind, partly a result of failed policy of Bush Administration. Have to figure out how to navigate this. White House refused to send high-level envoy.
Richardson: One American death is too much. The surge is not working. Less possibility of political solution. Benchmarks not fulfilled...failing grade even by Republican math. Over 3,800 troops have died. Get the troops out in a year, leave no residual forces behind. We have a responsibility, political compromise, donor conference, all-Muslim peacekeeping force, etc. The money we've spent in this war should be spent in America.
Kucinich: No, the occupation is fueling the insurgency. I'm the only one on this stage who voted against the war, who voted against funding the war, who has a plan to bring troops home now. Tell Bush, we're not giving you another dime. Role that our aggression against Iraq has played in destabilization of Pakistan and other Muslim countries...
Obama: American troops doing a magnificent job, but overall strategy has failed. No change in behavior among Iraq's political leaders. I'm going to bring this war to a close. Regional diplomacy, talk to friends AND enemies. People are on 2, 3, 4 tours of duty...enormous burden. We've gone from horrific violence to intolerable levels of violence.
Edwards: America's trade policy has been a complete and total disaster - NAFTA, CAFTA, etc. Bigger picture of what's happening with America. Powerful corporate interests have taken over this government. We got NAFTA which we didn't need, we did NOT get universal health care that we DID need. Corporate Democrats...mistake to allow China to operate unfettered. It was right to bring them into WTO, wrong not to hold them accountable.
Blitzer: Was Ross Perot right in debate on NAFTA.
Clinton: NAFTA did not do what many had hoped. We need to have trade relations that are smart. It's something that every parent should be worried about -- food, toys, etc. We should not permit any item to be imported into our country until we're sure they're safe. NAFTA was a mistake to the extent that it did not deliver. Trade timeout. Evaluate trade agreements. We have to get broader than that. Enforceable labor and environmental standards.
Dodd: People are switching positions. We are in a global economy, need to expand markets. Moratorium on trade coming out of China.
Obama: I have not changed positions on Peru. I am opposed to CAFTA. Japan sends its own inspectors to China, if you don't adhere to regulations, you can't export to Japan. Why doesn't United States do that? We should have said we will review this every single year.
Biden: It's about a President who won't enforce the law. We have power on existing agreements.
Richardson: The future is renewable. The answer is not in regional sites. Turn Yucca Mountain into a national laboratory. Find a way to safely dispose of nuclear waste. There is a technological solution. Oil, coal and nuclear get most of subsidies. We need energy revolution in this country. 80% reduction in greenhouse gases. American people need to sacrifice a little bit.
Hillary: I'm not exploiting anything, just trying to play the winning card. People are not attacking me not because I'm a woman, they're attacking me because I'm ahead. [huge cheer] If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen...I feel very comfortable in kitchen. This field of candidates is exciting -- a Latino, an African American, a woman. I am thrilled to be running to be first woman president. From time to time, there may be some impediments...important for women to aim for the glass ceiling. I'm not running because I'm a woman, but because I'm the most qualified. Fathers drive hours to bring their daughters to my events. 95 year olds say, "I want to live long enough to see a woman in the White House."
Wolf: Do any of you believe Hillary is playing gender card?
Edwards: Every candidate should be held to exactly the same standard. There's nothing personal about this. There are differences between us. Sen. Clinton defends system, takes money from lobbyists. [boos]
Clinton: There is a deep concern about this president. Oppose a rush to war, started speaking out back in February. There is no legal authority whatsoever. Have aggressive diplomacy with Iran. Bush Admin. has allowed the situation to fester. Immediately begin negotiations. Get them to the table. Ratchet down the tension. Prevent them from becoming nuclear power. Get rest of world to help us. Iranian Revolutionary Guard has assisted in killing American troops in Iraq, I believe they ARE a terrorist group. Carrots and sticks.
Edwards: Such a crucial issue. It's important to stop Bush, Cheney and the neo-cons. Vote on Revolutionary Guard was a key opportunity to do that. We've seen this movie, we've seen how it turns out. Stop this president from moving forward on Iran.
Obama: Language of resolution said we should maintain forces in Iraq with eye towards blunting Iranian influence. Gives this Administration an excuse to perpetuate failed strategy in Iraq. This was a mistake. Change mindset that got us into war. I will meet not just with our friends but with our enemies. It was a mistake to miss the vote, one of the hazards of running for President.
Kucinich: Voted against PATRIOT Act..."that's because I read it." "You're owed an apology." People here voted for war, voted for PATRIOT Act, voted for China trade...now they have different position. Imagine what it's like to have President who's right the first time. President and Vice President are out of control..."it's called impeachment, don't wait, do it NOW!"
Biden: There is nothing in the PATRIOT Act allows profiling. I voted against funding Guantanamo...two leading candidates voted to fund it. What are you gonna do NOW?
Richardson: I'm the only one who's dealt with immigration issue directly. I'm a governor. Congress' approval rating lower than Dick Cheney and HMO's. I'm the first governor to declare border emergency. Stop demonizing immigrants. I'm against fence because it will not work. Secure the border. Punish those who knowingly hire illegal workers. Speak frankly to Mexico. Legalization plan, not amnesty...path to legalization that involves conditions.
Dodd: Speaks in fluent Spanish. Some sort of better security. False dichotomy - to be safer we need to give up rights. That's wrong.
Obama: Put an end to Bush raiding Social Security trust fund to pay for misguided war in Iraq. That will make some of the difference. I've been very specific. Don't privatize. Protect benefits. Adjust cap on payroll tax. Close the gap. Medicare is a tougher problem because of health care inflation. Universal health care plan.
Clinton: What I'm for. Get back to fiscal responsibility. 6 1/2 years ago, Bush inherited balanced budget and surplus. Bipartisan commission. Don't fix problem of Social Security on backs of middle class and seniors. Medicare should be able to negotiate for lower drug prices.
Obama: Only 6% of Americans make more than $97,000 per year. This is the type of thing I'd expect from Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani. This is too important to play with numbers. Top 6% is not the middle class.
Clinton: Lifting cap would be a tax increase. People would find that burdensome. Bipartisan commission worked back in 1983.
I understood her point but I disagree with her.
Biden: I'm answering the woman's question. I have taken on justices that show no balance. We have enough ideologues, enough professors. I want someone who ran for dogcatcher. Someone know knows what it's like to live life. Going to appoint a woman. Would not appoint anyone who didn't understand right to privacy.
Richardson: Diversity. Do you believe Roe vs. Wade is set in law? Do you support right to privacy?
Kucinich: Woman's right to choose and right to privacy. President has to be a healer. Make abortions less necessary and protect a woman's right to choose. We can do both.
Clinton: They have to share my view about privacy. Privacy is embedded in our constitution. Right to be left alone. The answer is yes. Sen. Biden deserves a lot of plaudits. Important to have President who understands the way our government is supposed to work, unlike Bush.
Obama: I would not appoint someone who doesn't support right to privacy. It's their conception of the court. Protect the minority, those who are vulnerable, those who don't have a lot of clout. People who have life experience, who understand what it's like to be on the outside.
Edwards: Recognize the right to privacy and Roe v. Wade as settled law. Importance of federal judges with backbone willing to stand up against popular opinion. Courage and strength.
Obama: I can unite country better, that's why I'm running for President. Convene continuous advisory meeting with Democrats and Republicans specifically on national security issues. Differences used to end at water's end. We've lost that because of polarization of Bush Administration. "America's back, we're ready to lead." Not just military force. Talk to our enemies not just our friends. Bipartisan approach.
Clinton: I am running to be President of entire country. Reach out to Republicans, independents, rural, urban...as did in New York. Look to find common ground. Listen to one another. Work with people who aren't in public life.
Biden: Start by ending the war. Over time you gain respect. Find me a Republican who doesn't respect my judgment. Would include Republicans in my administration. This isn't going to be that hard. I've brought them along before, don't buy into this premise that average Republicans don't agree with us, they're afraid to take on Bush.
Richardson: Cornerstone of my foreign policy would be diplomacy. I've always brought people together. Middle East peace envoy. Two-state solution. Adjustments in 1967 borders. Deal with settlements issue. Talk to Syria, Iran. It's called leadership and diplomacy. Need to be bold.
Obama was right to nail her that she sounded like Mitt or Rudy.