After Edwards and Obama praised each other for offering plans aimed at “universal health care†for all Americans, and tweaked each other over whether the other guy’s plan really would do that, Clinton stepped in to say she is “thrilled that universal health care is back on the national agenda. … The important thing is not the plan. We’re all talking about pretty much the same things. What’s important is what I learned in the previous effort is you have to have the political will†to battle back against opposition from insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
Some of the candidates have debate-related features up and running at their websites:
Dodd’s site may be the most active — with live blogging, live video and live “talk clocks†that will measure how much time each candidate gets.
Edwards’ site also has a discussion thread, and has posted some photos from the debate site.
Some of what she has said:It’s sometimes risky going after a rival during a debate. But it’s the only way to make distinctions. Former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) took on the two frontrunners at once in one of the more provocative exchanges over the recent Congressional vote to provide more funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During this back-and-forth, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) threw his first punch.
Firedoglake is Live Blogging with Scarecrow on the Democratic Debate. You might also what to read the Pre-Debate.
Funny question about how to use Bill Clinton. Bill appears to be getting several job offers tonight. Can’t hurt Hillary, who doesn’t need to say anything. Others simply focus on Bill’s strengths, instead of the vulnerability he presents for Hillary if you take 10 years to write a 600 page book.
This one made me giggle…The John Deeth Blog is doing a Democratic Debate: Couch Potato Liveblog
Show of hands: would you take Osama out if it killed civilians? All hands go up except Kucinich, but all compete to offer qualifiers. Clinton gets hers out first. Edwards: Returns to Pakistan question; if Musharraf goes, we have no idea what’s next.
Health insurance next. Edwards favors mandatory health insurance for everyone, even if taxes have to be raised. Hillary says she isn’t sure if taxes need to be raised because we’ll be saving huge amounts by other changes. Obama stresses savings through changes even though some will not have insurance. Kucinich wants a no-profit health care system.
On Mandatory Military ServiceSen. Gravel–We should have incentives for those who serve: every year you serve you get 4 years of free schooling.
Sen. Dodd–Against the draft!! I joined the peace corp because an American President asked my generation to.
What is the definition of rich, in terms of income level?
Sen. Obama--People making over $250,000 a year–I am talking about going back to the tax levels during President Clinton administration.
[img_assist|fid=4154|thumb=0|alt=debate pic 3]
And from the right…
Democrats clash on Iraq — Democratic presidential candidates clashed on Sunday on Iraq and over the security of the country since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
Random Thoughts on the Democratic Debate from Decision ‘08 — Ye gods, that was just about unbearable. The more I see of these debates, the more convinced I am that they are an almost completely useless contrivance. But I’ll plow ahead
Democratic Debate CNN — Yeah, I know, the Dems??? We must understand the other side, to fight them. Here’s the play by play:
Thoughts of the Day — It’s easy to ignore my thoughts on tonight’s debate, I am an outspoken Republican who is very unimpressed with any Democrat who is running for 2008. It is in this sense that I bring my opinion…
What is Fox saying? Democrats Debate Terror (personal interjection) - "I’m shocked the Fox headline has the word Terror in it."
Post debate bloggers are saying…
If I had to vote tomorrow based on the information I have now, I’d have to go with Edwards. I see him as a smarter Jimmy Carter. But thank goodness, we all still have about 18 months before the polls open! — read more from Coffeegrounds
The discussion was largely controlled by the Big 3, however, who fielded questions on a number of foreign policy matters (Iraq, Iran, Pakistan) and a handful of domestic concerns like healthcare and veterans’ benefits. Biden occasionally broke through the clutter but the other second-tier candidates struggled to distinguish themselves. — Democratic Wrapup — by Chris Cillizza
Obama — ‘More dangerous world because of Bush’
Clinton — ‘We don’t have a president… willing to change’
Edwards — ‘Using Congress power to fund is way to end war’
Clinton — ‘This is George Bush’s war. He started it’
Clinton — ‘It is the Iraqis who have failed to take advantage’
Richardson — ‘For health care, ‘focus on prevention’
Kucinich — ‘Only one way - Medicare for all’
Biden — ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ ‘is not a rational policy’
Kucinich — ‘This war has degraded our service ability’
From CNN - Clash In Iraq — Democratic presidential hopefuls traded barbs over the war in Iraq Sunday night in New Hampshire, with former Sen. John Edwards blasting two rivals for not taking the lead on a recent war spending bill.