Presidential Candidate Forum at YearlyKos

Hillary, Obama, Edwards, Richardson, Dodd, Kucinich, and Gravel (how do you spell that?) are at Yearly Kos answering questions from moderators and questions submitted online.

The Supreme Court, healthcare and the deficit have been covered so far. Richardson admits he "screwed up" in a previous debate about who he'd appoint to the SC (used Justice White as a model who voted against choice). Hillary points out that every Democratic candidate for president is for universal healthcare, which distinguishes them from the Republicans.

Two of the candidates (Obama and Richardson) said there needs to be pay-go in government. That hasn't been passed by this Congress? Sure thought that was the new way we were operating.

There is a little bit of pandering going on (Dodd bringing up O'Reilly which got cheers and "thank God there is a Daily Kos" - seriously, he said that. That's silly).

Edwards is pretty fired up. He says that real change is going to mean not negotiating with those that won't ever agree to give up their power (ex: pharmaceutical companies). Wow, he's saying politicians shouldn't take a dime from lobbyists. The Democratic party is the party of the people. Cheers!

Gravel is calling bullshit on how his opponents onstage are good at dramatic statements to get everyone riled up. He doesn't think they are saying anything new from four years ago. Accuses them of saying things based on "how does this affect my election". And, how does their answer affect the special interest money they receive. Didn't Edwards just call bullshit on all of that, too?

Ha! One of the moderators just made a slip of the tongue and was referring to President Bush and said "President Clinton".

Hillary's plan for Iraq as President: 1. decrease funding 2. have a plan for troop withdrawal and redeployment 3. put real pressure on the Iraqi government which the Bush administration has not done.

Kucinich: Impeach Cheney. (cheers)

Kucinich and Richardson: Get out now. (Richardson says that is his one point plan.)

Gravel rambles. Something about cloture - go on and on until you get the votes on Iraq. If they aren't getting the votes, you must not want to do it. He sounds like a grampa on the radio. Oh, Lord - "we don't need to be in all of these countries." He said that. People are chuckling.

Obama: we need to hunt down those who perpetrated 9-11 (um, sounds like Bush . . . and Kerry.) We have unleased civil war in Iraq. He said other stuff, I zoned out.

Edwards: America is not safer because of Bush. Hammering on Bush. We need a new way of framing this discussion. I'll find these people and will stop them. There has been no long term strategy to keep America safe. War on Terror - a bumper sticker, not a strategy or policy.

Hillary: the world opinion of us is more anti-Bush, rather than anti-America. There is a global war on terrorists. We need better diplomatic strategies, and not go to the military strategies first. Bush is waging a war he does not know how to wage. She emphasizes again that there has not been a long range strategy on terrorists.

Kucinich raises the spectre of neocons.

China - a menace? China - a trade partner?
Obama - if we are there debtors and they are our bankers, then we don't have the leverage we need. We need to put pressure on them in terms of human rights and trade. I zoned out again. I'm not sure why he does this to me!!

Dodd advocates universal service of people - not mandatory. Triple Peace Corpy, for example.

Edwards gets called on his New Hampshire debate comment that it would be dangerous if Musharraf is displaced. He says he met with Musharraf and asked what could change with the way Pakistanis hate America (dude, there is a reason for that - see: U.S. support for mujahadeen in Pakistan in order to run the Russians out of Afghanistan). Musharraf said their kids need a good public education (rather than being educated in madrassas). We need to ratchet up our diplomatic leverage with Musharraf.

New question: If elected, will you hire an official White House blogger (all raise their hands). Gravel will be The Blogging President, Edwards will have Elizabeth be his official blogger. :)

50 state strategy: Hillary will have one. Blue voters in red states. Rural voters. Gives example of how she won her NY Senate race by going all over the state.

Bill Richardson: We need a candidate that energizes voters. But he is not so much energizing me.

I haven't heard a lot here that is different from what I have heard from these candidates before whether in person or in a debate. This format seems to have the right balance of formality and casualness. They get to go over their alloted time a little and they can raise their hand to respond to comments from their opponents.

Edwards says he is not taking lobbyist money.

Hillary says in her 35 years of service she has a record of not been influenced by lobbyist contributions. There is booing and hissing and she says, I've been waiting for this! That's why I'm here! Lobbyists represent nurses, teachers, corporations, etc. - real Americans. She thanks the progressive blogosphere movement for what they are doing to change things. Yes, she will take lobbyist money.

Dodd: we have to have public financing for elections. People stand and cheer.

Obama gets all over Hillary: Washington lobbyists have disproportionate influence and the healthcare lobbyists are an example.

Kucinich: nails Edwards on taking money from hedge funds.

Finally, this gets interesting. Edwards won't take money from Washington lobbyists. Since he needs to raise money to run a good campaign, he'll take hedge fund money. Until we have public financing of elections. (muse has curious/confused look look on her face). Edwards asks the audience, "who is represented by Washington lobbyists". Points to three people. Bullshit. More people (and their interests) are represented by lobbyists than they realize.

Dodd gets impassioned by things that are obvious. Where are his real solutions? Policies?

Hillary seems to be the only one that recognizes that solutions are complicated. Lots of cheerleading stuff going on from the others. She has her own applause moments that get a good reaction from the crowd. She is also self deprecating and funny. "John and I are having a vigorous agreement."

Edwards seems about ready to burst a blood vessel throughout this whole thing.

Are we safer? Lots of finger pointing on this - Hillary said we are safer! We are not! No, he said that! Kucinich: we'll be the light of the world. Well, that killed that whole discussion.

Richardson gets some funny stuff off: I'll be a member of the executive branch.

We're done!

My favorite thing is that some of these folks really showed their personality. I would say this got vigorous before it ended!

Hillary smokes everyone because she has plans and understands the complexities of what is going on. Edwards is a man on a mission that all Democrats can agree with. I wish he had lightened up. Obama is getting better, but his lack of experience shows all the time. Richardson - why isn't he stronger? He has more punch lines and platitudes than the real stuff I want to hear. Gravel needs to don a sweater and sit by the radio and go quietly into the night. Kucinch, geez, personality of a turtle (no offense to the man-marrying box turtles). Oops! Forgot Dodd. Why is he running?

Now see, this was way more like a real debate than that silly YouTube "debate". The candidates got to challenge each other, respond to their opponents remarks and request time for follow-up.

Good job, YearlyKos organizers!