"quoting legislation i wrote in jan."

do the dems fear the war will be blamed on them by R spin machine?

hillary:  since the election of 2006, dems have tried repeatedly to win r support for the simple notion that we need a timeline...now.

i asked the pentagon if they had a withdrawal plan, was told i was unpatriotic.

kucinich:  "yes; we've failed the american people...we should tell pres. bush no more funds for war...use it to bring our troops home."

dodd:  "there is no military solution to the civil war in iraq"

"The lives of our troops are more important than George Bush's legacy"

-dms

"we've lost our moral authority."

richardson:  "the lives of our armed forces are more important than the legacy of george w. bush"

"the time has come to bring the troops home.  no politics - just get it done."

Note:  I didn't mean to make the first comment actually.

Gravel:  "I like the question, and I don't get very many of them.  I tell ya, its a setup question.  Our soldiers in Vietnam died in vain.  You can go to Hanoi and buy a Baskins Robbins..."

there's only one thing worse than a soldier dying in vain; it's more soldiers dying in vain.

"There's only one thing worse than soldiers dying in vain; that's more soldiers dying in vain".

-dms

"i never think that troops...who do their mission for their country are dying in vain.  but i do think the...leadership...should have plans"

edwards:  basically same response.  real question is "what is going to be done to stop this war?"  "while the iraqi parliament is on vacation, will g. bush be on vacation in crawford?  ...we must make him change course"

Our soldiers died in VietNam in vain.  You can go to Hanoi and get Baskin Robbins.  what did all of those people die for, what are they dying in Iraq for now?

Obama:  our soldiers have done all that has been asked; carried out extraordinary missions.  Re Clinton:  good that she is asking plans from the Pentagon, but the time to ask was  before we went in.  Both repubs and dems have to take responsibility (for the war).  I never think that troops like those coming our of the Citadel are dying in vain..

Edwards: don't think that any of our troops have died in vain.  the question is what is going to be done to stop the war.  Iraqi parliament are taking a month's vacation - is G. Bush taking a month's vacation?  need to turn up the heat and (make him change course).

"elections should be about the shared experience of service."

clinton:  "i do not support a draft"; i think our all-volunteer force has worked splendidly.

Dodd:  yes, its the fair thing to do.  "I'm an advocate of universal national service."  ??
Clinton:  "I do."  Clinton has introduced legislation for a national service academy.  "We need to do more to support public service."
Obama:  "There was a time when african-americans were not allowed to serve in the military. ... I think if women are allowed to register it" would give them responsibility for the nation.
Edwards:  mentions a story of a brave woman
Gravel:  "I'm the guy that filibustered" the draft.  "What's the difference?" on whether women should be drafted.

all say they don't support a draft.

got to look at more ways for public service - got to get young people back into public service; student loans deferred/forgiven.

Obama:  speaking of when African Americans weren't allowed in the service.  women in the service - (not for combat) - sends a (message to women).

Edwards:  anybody who has questions regarding women (in combat needs to meet Sally ?Barnes?  she flew in the first mission for this war?)

Gravel:   (G. Bush doesn't have the boots on the ground for Iran...women should be allowed to serve in combat areas)

How do you feel that you'll be taken seriously by states that regard women as 2nd class citizens?

As First Lady, met with many foreign leaders/dignitaries/etc. I believe that there isn't much doubt that I can be taken seriously. Other countries have had women Presidents; they are taken seriously.

-dms

would you be willing Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and N. Korea to bridge the gap that divides our countries?

Obama:  I would.  the notion that not talking to countries as a punishment is ridiculous.  Reagan, JFK constantly spoke to the Sov.Union.  have the obligation to find areas to potentially move forward.  need to talk to Iran and Syria; tell them we are not going to be a permanent occupying force - they need to help create stability.

Clinton:  won't promise to meet them in the first year; will have a diplomatic effort.  doesn't want to be used for propaganda purposes.  will use a lot of high-level envoys.  won't have the president meet with castro and chavez...until we (see) what the way forward will be.

Edwards:  before meetings take place, need diplomacy so that the meetings won't be used for propaganda.  its not enough to meet with bad leaders.  

yes...bigger question:  what will the president do to restore our moral authority?

will you have all of our troops out of iraq?

"i've been pushing...so come januayr, i'd hope that'd be copmleted."

richardson:  6 months; no residual forces.  clinton wants 50k residual forces.  "our troops have become targets."

there IS a civil war; there IS sectarian conflict.

let's get real.  "it will take a min. 5 - 10k troops just to protect our civilians there."

talking up funding for mine-resistant vehicles.  

"we don't want more loss of american and iraqi life when we withdraw.  we need to recognize that it will be complicated and we need to start it now."

points to the other candidates and says you can't claim to have always opposed the war when you have votes that supported it.

(WTF is this???)

Obama:  5th grade teacher; just coming back to the US and felt out of place.  she had lived in Kenya; showed me how my experience was valuable.

Biden:  priest in HS.  (audio was bad on my end; couldn't catch what he said).

Edwards:  HS english teacher; showed me someone from NC can go and do anything.

would you scrap the whole thing, or just revise?

rich.:  i'd scrap it; it doesn't work.  it's not just an unfunded mandate, but one-size-fits-all doesn't work...the worst thing it does is...penalize districts that are not doing well.

teacher min. wage of 40k/yr

it was a mistake...i would scrap it.  

Richardson:  scrap it, doesn't work, doesn't emphasize teacher training, disabled kids.  takes districts and schools that aren't doing well and takes away funding.  key to good education is a strong teacher.  40000/year for teachers.  emphasize science and math - kids not scoring well in these areas - major federal program for arts in the schools.

Biden:  this is a mistake.  talked to Paul Wellstone at the time, but voted for it because he talked to Kennedy.  Scrap  it and do a major overhaul.  His wife is a teacher and says its not working.

Edwards - all of his children went to public school

Clinton - Chelsea went through 8th grade, then (private because of security concerns).

Obama - his kids went to public schools; he taught at a public school.  

Biden:  went to private school (Catholic school - because of wife and daughter being killed)

Kucinich - for public schools

Gravel - both public and private schools

Dodd:  daughter goes to public school (kindergarten)

"we need better competition in education."

"i would not scrap it entirely; accountability is important."

Edwards:  we've had 4 children; 2 youngest are 9 and 7.  have been through the whole experience.  youngest children - signs of inappropriate touching, older children - proper education.

Obama:  references Romney; 9yr and 6yr old daughters - tells them to come and talk to the parents (inappropriate touching issues...)

everybody's wondering if al gore will run again.  what we wanna know is - does that hurt ya'll's feelings?

who was the ass who said he thought TN's feelings just got hurt?

Kucinich:  global warming vs. global warring - need to move to sustainability, conservation.  snowmen and the planet shouldn't be melting.  Iraq oil - privatizing - its about the oil.  connects to the defense policy.

global warring = global warming

reliance on oil connected to our defense policy

tax on what is spent, not earned.

dodd:  50 mpg standard by 2017...entire fleet of federal automoblies would be hybrids.  corporate carbon tax..."you've gotta tax polluters."

Gravel - change tax structure; fair tax where you're taxed on what you spend vs. what they earn.  the system is now corrupt.  will take the nation from a consuming nation to a saving nation.

Dodd:  50 mpg standard by 2017. federal automobiles would be hybrids.  corporate carbon tax.  move away from fossil fuels.  he drives a hybrid

AC asks how many took private plane to get there.  all but Kucinich and Gravel raises hands.  Gravel said he took the train and the bus to get there.

Edwards - doesn't favor.  its extremely costly and an enormous amount of time to build.  need to find fuels that are renewable and clean

Obama - we should explore nuclear power as part of the mix.  increase fuel efficiency on cars.  series of different approaches.  we've been talking about this for decades.  Cheney's energy policies - met with oil and gas 40 times.

Clinton:  strategic energy fund; no tax breaks for the oil cos.  fuel efficiency for cars and energy efficiency for buildings.  (nuclear) can be a win-win if we do it right.

richardson:  push whole country to verified paper trails

Richardson:  would push the country to verified paper trails; close to 10 states that do this.  close to 50% of eligible voters vote.  need same day registration.  repubs must stop suppressing minority voters.  depoliticize justice dept.  a verifiable paper trail will help turnout voters.

would you be willing to do this service the next four years for minimum wage.

gravel:  yes i would.  but we don't need a minimum wage; we need a living wage

edwards:  yes

clinton:  sure

obama:  well, we can afford to work for minimum wage

paid min wage?

Gravel:  yes, but we need a living wage.

Dodd:  increase to 9 or 10 dollars

edwards:  yes

clinton:  sure

obama:  most on this stage have a lot of money; most folks cant

Richardson: yes

Biden:  couldn't afford it , but if got a second job,  yes.

Kucinich:  need to increase the min. wage; yes, he'd work for min. wage.

Dodd:  year of 2040, this comes to a head; opposed to privatization.  raise the level

Obama:  important option, don't privatize; preserve SS - do what Reagan and O'Neill did...

Richardson: needs a bipartisan effort; (diabetes - find cure).  Stop raiding the SS fund.  

Biden:  change tax structure; breaks given to those who don't need it.  we need more revenue; either raise taxes or take away cuts from those who don't need it.

Kucinich:  no rise in taxes; stop the top bracket cuts so that you don't borrow from China.  stop Nafta, WTO, etc. ...

boomer gen. ages.  how do you plan to combat this now?

2nd q:  how does each of you plan to address chronic health problems?

3rd q:  i've gone for years w/o h. ins. that would have allowed me take preventative med.  what would you do to make prev. meds. available to everyone in the country?

low-cost or preventative medicines; disabled.

Obama:  his plan has universal coverage.  problem is that folks desire coverage but can't afford it.  outrage that wealthiest nation can't afford coverage for all.  we've had plans before, but couldn't get it done; drug and insurance companies lobby.  need a president to fight that that don't have the power.  they can have a seat at the table, but can't buy all of the chairs.

Edwards:  universal plan.  obama's plan doesn't cover everybody.  millions suffer badly in this country.  recent poverty tour in western Virginia; met with someone with a severe cleft palate that wasn't fixed until he was 50 yrs. old - couldn't afford the procedure.  we must stand up to the insurance and drug companies.  should be outraged from these stories.

Clinton:  in a country as rich as ours this is a national disgrace.  I tried in the past; must need a national commitment; must stop being told by special interests that we can't do what other countries already do; decency and respect for all.

Dodd:  first of all-stemcell research; diabetes - schools have contracts with junkfood and softdrink companies.  re workers:  if they are paying part, they are covered.

Richardson:  it should cover everybody.  every american deserves the right to the best healthcare.  start with care for every kid.

in support of stem-cell research and takes a swipe at the co-opting of our schools w/ soda etc. obesity problem

richardson:  universal health coverage should cover EVERYBODY, including undocumented workers.  get rid of junk food in schools.  healthy breakfast for every child.  mandatory phys. ed.

how would you [hillary] represent the change we need?

hill:  well, i think it IS a problem that bush was elected in 2000...you know, i actually thought someone else was elected in that election

Clinton:  it is a problem that bush was elected in 2000.  thought that somebody else was elected in that election...   I'm running on my own merits; proud of my husband.  diversity in the dem. party - anyone on stage here would be better than the current party or any of the republ. candidates.

Gravel:  this is a serious problem.  Clinton and the DLC sold out to wall street.  clinton, obama, edwards - wall street and hedge funds.  analyze where the money comes from - the bankers on wall street, they are lock stock and barrel in their pockets.

obama:  question for the people who wants change - who has the track record to unifying the country.  who can overcome the special interests, fight for ordinary people.

Biden:  don't find anything inconsistent with my deep religious belief and my ability to do my job.

---
secular voters - being snubbed.  

edwards:  as POTUS - we will lift up all americans.  my beliefs are personally important, but is crucial for all to know that its not my job to impose my beliefs on the american people or policies affected by this.

obama:  proud of being a christian, forms what I do.  strong believer of separation of church and state.  religious independence.  we are under obligation in public life to translate religious to moral values.  ... what the founding fathers intended.

---

guns

Richardson:  instant background checks.  criminals and mentally ill should not get weapons; includes gun shows.  attack poverty and bringing people together.  ghettos - heavy gun violence.  

Biden:  I wrote the assault weapons ban.  we should be working with law enforcement to protect those who are incapable of knowing what to do with a gun.

don't like

Gravel:  do like Dodd; have a problem of where the money is coming from.

Dodd:  I like edwards and his family; has nothing negative to say.

edwards:  likes what Hillary and Bill have done for America; doesn't like her coat.

Clinton:  I admire and like Barack and all of the candidates.  what you see is how ready the dems are to lead.

Obama:  I like Hillary's jacket!  He Likes that Richardson has devoted his life to public service.  don't like that he likes the Yankees and Red Sox, but like the White sox.

Richardson:  like all that are here and any would be a good VP.  re: Biden - we disagree on Iraq, but he has devoted his whole life to public service; great contribution to civil service - would make a great Secretary of state.

Biden:  Dennis and I have been good friends for 25 years; the best thing I like about him is his wife.

Kucinich:  (no one is to my left!).  Gravel showed great courage during the Viet Nam war - pentagon papers.