NPR-Iowa Public Radio Democratic Radio Debate - Thread#1

[zulchzulu]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16843353

Find a station near you that streams or just turn on your radio:
http://www.npr.org/stations/

[zulchzulu]

1. Here we go! n/t

[BeyondGeography]

2. Starting right now...

Topics are Iran, China and immigration.

Nothing else.

Should be interesting.

[polichick]

3. Wow, three great topics...

Iran, China and immigration.

[Andrea]

39. Two good topics and one insignifficant one

Who cares about immigration when our constitution has been torn to bits.

I'm VERY disappointed in NPR leaving that topic out.

[polichick]

47. In terms of the election...

Immigration is huge this time around ~ but Dems assume any of these candidates will restore the Constitution.

[Andrea]

51. It would be foolish for anyone to assume that.

Immigration is only huge if we let the Rs use that to overshadow the much more important issues.

[polichick]

54. Which of these candidates wouldn't restore the Constitution?? nt

[Andrea]

61. I have serious doubts

So many have said so little about it, that it seems they either don't know what has been going on, don't understand the significance of it, or are willing to let it slide in hopes THEIR power will be greater than a president's power should be, just as it has been for Bush.

Dodd has spoken out and done something about it. Kucinich has, too. Who else? I really like Edwards and Biden, but they haven't reassured me at all on this issue. I haven't heard Obama acknowledge it. In fact, he said that Bush hadn't committed any impeachable offenses. That's absurd. I'm afraid Hilary has been so embraced by the right-wing media and has been shoved down our throats so much that I'm afraid she is in collusion with them I know I'll get flamed for that, but think about it. Why do all the Republicans want her to be the candidate?

[polichick]

65. They seem to be concentrating on "foreign" threats. nt

[quinnox]

4. listening and preview of comments in thread...

Wow what a great response by my candidate... my candidate is doing awesome... your canididate is sucking... your candidate is losing... etc.

[MadBadger]

17. forget the sarcasm icon?

[zulchzulu]

5. Everyone except Richardson is there due to a funeral

[Beaverhausen]

6. dang- my computer speakers are not loud enough

I can hardly hear anything.

[Beaverhausen]

7. Are they all together in one room?

[cali]

10. Your public radio station isn't carrying it? n/t

[Beaverhausen]

11. I'm listening on the web and can hardly hear it.

did they say if they are all together?

[zulchzulu]

19. Headphones maybe?

I hope you get to listen...

[Beaverhausen]

30. Don't have any. If all my co-workers would just be quiet I could listen

Fat chance that will happen!

[bunnies]

31. Yes.

At the beginning they said they are all sitting at a V shaped table.

[BeyondGeography]

8. Straight question to Hillary: Is Iran still a threat?

No straight answer.

Gravel says straight out Iran is not a threat.

Obama says Iran continues to be threat to some of its neighbors in the region (better answer).

[Beaverhausen]

9. Give this thread some recs, OK?

[youthere]

12. Love how Biden is keeping it focused on Bush's ineptitude.

[K Gardner]

13. Which is exactly where the focus should be! Good for Biden. n/t

[kevinmc]

14. Biden nailed it n/t

[youthere]

15. Good for Dennis bringing up that he's been saying this since 2005!

[K Gardner]

18. DK did good.. now let's hear the dems who voted for Kyl-Lieberman..

try to weisel out of that vote.

[Jennifer C]

16. Biden and Kucinich

:thumbsup:

[Paulie]

43. Yeah...

I'm starting to like the combo.

[zulchzulu]

20. Hillary attacking Edwards and Obama...on Iran...they are responding

[BeyondGeography]

21. This moderator is a hard-ass

Wants straight answers to his questions, no deflections...which is good.

[liskddksil]

22. he should moderate the tv debates

Actually letting everyone talk as well

[K Gardner]

23. Hell yes, LOL.. forcing honest answers, not sound bites ! n/t

[gateley]

24. K&R

[cali]

25. Edwards tied to avoid answering whether he made the

statement about Iran that Clinton quoted.

[K Gardner]

29. Clinton totally dodged the question on her vote, however. n/t

[K Gardner]

32. Oh, and she's still avoiding personal responsibility for her vote.

She's doing the carrot response, like Bush did today. She's quoting bush !!

[cali]

41. sure. they're both being dodgy, but now Edwards is saying

that it was a mistake to designate the IRG as a terrorist organization when until September he supported that view.

[Clintonista2]

26. so what do you guys think they are saying to eachother during the break?

[MadBadger]

27. why cant all commercials be silly music?

[Clintonista2]

28. LOL!

[liskddksil]

35. I love the marches

lol

[BeyondGeography]

33. Lieberman!

Step away from the computer.

[zulchzulu]

34. Ewww...Lieberman soundbite...

[polichick]

36. Great, they're giving Lieberman air time! nt

[jefferson_dem]

37. Hillary defending her support for K/L.

Now playing a clip from Lieberman, who shares her position.

[polichick]

38. What more proof does anyone need that this is all about...

...the Israel lobby??

[K Gardner]

40. Oh man, this is bad...this changed their behavior??? C'mon Hill ..

They never had NUKES !

[ilovesunshine]

111. Yeah, the bill that Obama didn't vote on. Too funny!

[polichick]

42. Good for Gravel - pointing out our constant unfair aid to Israel. nt

[zulchzulu]

50. I'm glad he's there

We need to hear his opinion.

[polichick]

56. Me too...

Wish they'd give him and Kucinich more time!

[Adelante]

90. Oh, me, too

I've missed his speaking out.

[liskddksil]

44. Hillary talking about outrageous charges that cross the line

From the campaign that attacks peoples kindergartend essays, funny.

[K Gardner]

46. I kinda noticed that too, a bit ironic.... n/t

[K Gardner]

45. Good point that K/L raised the price of oil ? $25/barrel? wow.. n/t

[gateley]

48. This will really bite Hillary - and the others and media will make sure it does.

Do you suppose the person/people who encouraged her 'yea' vote will be looking for new jobs? I bet she's PISSED.

[zulchzulu]

49. Edwards sounded good pointing out who voted FOR K/L

Hillary appears to be wanting to play both sides of the Iran/Iraq issue.

She warned Bush...but in the end, supported him.

[zulchzulu]

53. Edwards going back on Clinton on Iran...

[K Gardner]

52. We are disliked so much because we are trusted so little Biden is sounding

very presidential. Edwards and Obama are sounding very reasonable, as well ! I wish we could hear this on TV, along with MILLIONS of voting Americans.

[K Gardner]

55. GTG pick up kids from school.. will listen in car and checkin later. TaTa ! n/t

[Cameron27]

57. Dennis is always great.

[gateley]

58. Biden Doctrine: Clairty.

[BeyondGeography]

59. Foreign policy doctrine question

Obama: If a child in the Middle East can't read, that's a potential threat.

Got vision?

[Ninga]

67. Edwards doctrine comprehensive, with great amount of consideration to USA's regard

as viewed by the rest of the world, what our role is and how we repair our reputation.


Now. HIs deep anaylsis of dynamics in China gives examples of how we can engage them across the board in all areas.

[zulchzulu]

60. On to China..

[Clintonista2]

62. Anbody know if they are going to talk about gay marriage/gay rights?

[Ravy]

63. Ah, China.. here we go!

[zulchzulu]

64. Will Edwards or others mention the China MFN vote?

[gateley]

66. NPR Has a live blog going - here's the link if you're interested

http://www.npr.org/blogs/news/

[Clintonista2]

69. thanks.

[zulchzulu]

68. Obama sounds good...mentioning solid points...

[zulchzulu]

70. Kucinich vote against China MFN...finally...

[BeyondGeography]

71. Obama remembers to say "he or she" re, the next President

a little thing, but smart. (Imagine the outrage if he only said "he."!)

[BeyondGeography]

72. Biden calling China midgets and overrated

Insulting, from the Chinese point of view. That sets a great tone for the relationship under Biden. Dopey Joe strikes again.

[gateley]

74. Dodd on China doing a great job! nt

[polichick]

76. That is a problem. nt

[jillan]

78. Then why is Obama quoting him right now?

[BeyondGeography]

84. LOL...He updated Biden's 10-20 year-old perspective

[jillan]

89. sounded more like a parrot to me . . . .

[BeyondGeography]

92. Biden showed right there why he would be a total adventure as President

Time to update the "Joe is the only adult in the room" meme. If you missed it, you missed it.

[jillan]

96. And Obama showed that he is unable to think for himself.

[polichick]

99. Looks like Biden has the ideas/wisdom, and Obama more diplomatic words. nt

[jillan]

102. yeah - someone else's words!

[zulchzulu]

106. I think both have the right ideas but Biden is trying to be muscular

I like Joe, but Barack seems to say it "better".

[polichick]

115. They each have different skills, that's for sure...

"Joe is right" on so many things ~ he just needs a little help when it comes to talking about them without offending people.

Obama has lots of words (usually too many) and is very diplomatic ~ but he has a slow, uneven way of speaking that can be frustrating to listen to.

Guess nobody is perfect...

[1corona4u]

108. yeah they all do...

[jillan]

79. Now Edwards quoting Biden.

[1corona4u]

97. Yeah, nice try,,,

he didn't mean they were midgets on a physical/mental level, he meant of a trade level. DUH.

[BeyondGeography]

104. DUH..."overrated" should have clued you in

So you agree Biden fairly sneered at China's stature, metaphorically speaking, of course.

[1corona4u]

112. You know, I have never agreed with you...

on a single, solitary issue, and I am not going to argue with you on this. You took it wrong, as usual.

END OF DISCUSSION.

[BeyondGeography]

113. That's funny

Thanks for the laugh.

[jillan]

73. Clinton, Obama, Edwards all sound the same. Same talking points.

Then Biden - or Dennis - or Gravel chime in, and the conversation steps up.

[Ninga]

75. Although I love Edwards.....Dodd is magnificent, Secretary of State material for sure!

[zulchzulu]

77. Biden would stop all importing of toys from China?

I'd like to see that...

[gateley]

80. After the "Joe is Right" spot, I didn't think I'd hear ANY of them refer to Joe

again in a debate setting, but it seems to be happening here and there.

[Ninga]

81. Ah HA....finally...Edwards brings up big corporate America....drives DC...and

brings up local economy.

[liskddksil]

The President will say buy American, buy local

Awesome

[Ninga]

86. Edwards comes full circle and ties China to big corporations. A very important and key fact.

[gateley]

83. I liked the local economy point -- and I totally agree. Biden ended his statement

with saying this is 'corporate driven' - wish I could have heard him expound on it more.

[jillan]

82. Obama and Edwards ----

Are they parrots?

[maximusveritas]

85. Gravel running for President of China

ranting as usual

[BeyondGeography]

88. When is the China caucus?

[Clintonista2]

91. Gravel is unpleasant. n/t.

[1corona4u]

105. Yes, he is, which is why he doesn't have more support....

to volatile.

[MadBadger]

87. Did somebody just shut down Mike Gravel?

[zulchzulu]

93. So who "won" the first hour?

I don't think anyone did...

[BeyondGeography]

95. The listeners

[zulchzulu]

101. Good point...I agree

[cali]

109. amen! this is a strong argument for getting rid of the live audience

as well as the lousy moderators.

[BeyondGeography]

94. Scale of 1 to 10: How many times better is this debate than CNN does Vegas?

[MaineDem]

98. Eleven! n/t

[zulchzulu]

100. 8.5

The time to answer is still too short for my tastes, but it certainly is civil compared to the Debate-O-Drome in Vegas. Maybe it's not having a lot of cameras and lights to add to the madness.

[Ninga]

107. How about a million times better. Thanks NPR...too bad C-Span didn't cover it.

[liskddksil]

110. Hopefully as the saying goes

What happened in Vegas stays there

[gateley]

103. Just checked Dodd's site - didn't see his Debate Clock. Do you think the time

allotted to the candidates has been equitable? Initially I thought it was going to be, now I'm not so sure....

[Ninga]

114. Balancing act w/China - human rights and trade. Edwards hold them accountable,

leverage.....balance....didn't happen under G Bush.....jobs are gone....every state...trade policy is catered to the interests of big business.....

US textile return? Trade policy has cost jobs...mill is gone....reason America has catered to corporate profits. Needs a trade policy that works.

[zulchzulu]

116. Clinton mentioned a company dealing with China...anyone know what company?

[1corona4u]

119. Probably Walmart...

since they import 18 BILLION dollars a year from China..

Wal-Mart's China inventory to hit US$18b this year ... Insiders point out Wal-Mart's imports from China have largely influenced the US trade deficit in ...

[zulchzulu]

117. Immigration issue up now

[Beaverhausen]

118. thread 2 here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3792154