Tonight's debate (D)

Posted: Monday, July 23, 2007 9:15 AM by Domenico Montanaro

The New York Times curtain-raises tonight’s CNN/YouTube debate from Charleston, SC. “People have sent in more than 2,000 online videos to YouTube.com, where they are posted… A scan of the videos submitted to YouTube shows most video-makers taking a straightforward approach, sitting at home and talking directly into the camera. The questions cover expected topics like health care, student loans and the crisis in Darfur, though some are asked in a provocative way. And many veer into unexpected territory.”

The Columbia State also tees up the debate.

The Washington Post notes that this is the first “official” Democratic debate. “And already, debate fatigue is setting in. The Democratic contenders have taken part in three ‘unofficial’ debates this year, on top of numerous other ‘forums’ sponsored by various political constituencies. The schedule is only going to get more demanding…”

In advance of tonight’s CNN/YouTube debate, Biden yesterday released a YouTube whacking Giuliani. Also, per his campaign, Biden will be holding a press conference at 11am with Force Protection Inc. and Protected Vehicles, Inc., two South Carolina-based companies, to provide an update on the production of mine resistant vehicles.

Also in advance of tonight’s debate, the RNC will be running this radio ad on Charleston radio stations that hits Clinton and Obama: “My Name is Emory ‘Trip’ Bellard and I am a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2004, Senator Barack Obama said a quick withdrawal from Iraq would be ‘a slap in the face to the troops.’ In 2005, Senator Hillary Clinton rejected ‘a rigid timetable that terrorists could exploit,’ and last year said she didn’t think it was a smart strategy to set a date certain for withdrawal. But now, Clinton and Obama are calling for the precipitous withdrawal of America from Iraq regardless of conditions on the ground and regardless of the consequences of a defeat for the United States. This debate is taking place in the Citadel, whose mission is to achieve excellence in the education of principled leaders. When these candidates are in South Carolina Monday, the question I ask is, what happened to your principled leadership when it comes to the War on Terror?”

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Comments

Hillary Clinton the first women President of the United States...hillaryclinton.com ."see why"

Lucky Lou (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 9:49 AM)

Emory ‘Trip’ Bellard needs to start getting his facts straight. Neither Clinton or Obama has called for a "precipitous withdrawal of America from Iraq."
'Trip': Your Rovian talking points are showing!!

Howie Martin, Seattle, WA (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 9:53 AM)

Biden is the only democratic candidate that has the guts, credentials and voting record (FOR funding our troops) that can put any republican in its place. You want to guarantee a democrat in the white house. Vote for Joe. That was a great call to Guliani and he consistently wipes the senate floor with McCain.

Scott H, PA (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 10:07 AM)

If they are serious about this debate, I hope they took out all the really weird and stupid videos out. You know, the people that jumps around like they took too much acid and went wild.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 10:09 AM)

The RNC should have researched that radio ad before putting it up, as being against a "precipitous withdrawal" is actually a line from Obama's Iraq policy both in 2004 and today; as a matter of fact, he has critized a precipitous withdrawal, in those words, far more than any Republican. Obama's withdrawal plans have been always strikingly consistent with military recommendations by General Abizaid, allowing a good eight to ten months for withdrawal to occur; if we make the right choice here, maybe we'll end up with a President who actually listens to generals, instead of one who only claims to.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 10:12 AM)

Feingold- one of few politicans who had the guts;when it was considered political suicide; to be against this insane war from day 1. He's a class act and the state of Wisconsin is better off for it.

juan,ft lauderdale,fl (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 10:17 AM)

Lucky Lou / rudy guliani president of the united states, hillaryclinton.com ."see why"

MK,MO (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 10:31 AM)

Mr. Bellard is so full of BS he must have been stuffed by Dick Cheney. Saying in 2004 that we should not have a quick withdrawal from Iraq and saying in 2007 that it is time to start planning a withdrawal schedule does not sound quick or precipitous -- that is about 4 freaking years of people dying for nothing. I hope no one ever asks Mr. Bellard to do something quick; they will be waiting a looong time. Is that the best the Republican have -- debating semantics? Playing word games? Pathetic. How about the real issues of why we are there, what are the goals, have the goals been reached and are they reachable, and when and how we should leave?

nuanced (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 10:49 AM)

Gee thanks, CNN. It's too early for the Pacific Coast.

Sierra, San Francisco (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 10:55 AM)

IT'S HILLARYCLINTON.COM, IT FREE AND FUN!

Lucky Lou (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 11:22 AM)

IT'S HILLARYCLINTON.COM, IT FREE AND FUN

Nope. Neither free nor fun.

Lucky Strike (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 11:42 AM)

Tonight's Debate (Yawn)....... Who Cares?

Dave M., Miamisburg, OH (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 12:02 PM)

...(Yawn...Yawn

Don, Germantown, OH (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 12:39 PM)

Hmm a democratic debate? Isn't it time for another public scare then? This has been the pattern.

Gillian, Atlanta, GA (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 12:40 PM)

I expect that Hillary will clearly win this debate just a she has the three others. Eight candidates, three debates and one winner every time - Hillary!

And how about those polls!!

csh (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 12:54 PM)

Yes, it begins at 7 p.m. E.D.T, don't miss it.Now check out hillaryclinton.com , for information on your next President.

Just your Lucky Lou (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 1:13 PM)

(Sigh) If only the act of entering through the gates of The Citadel could automatically confer upon these candidates the wisdom and principled leadership necessary to effectively lead our country.

Charlotte K., Paradise Valley, AZ (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 1:14 PM)

Now check out hillaryclinton.com , for information on your next President.

Went there, but there was nothing about Fred Thompson.

Lucky Strike (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 1:41 PM)

making sure the gingerbread house is not crooked and making sure the furniture is dusted twice a day is no qualification to be president. What has Hillary Clinton done to deserve to be president?????

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 2:23 PM)

Chuck, If memory serves me correctly back in Feb. everyone said no way anyone could stand up to the Clinton Money Machine. Afterall she had Bill and wasn't he the BEST. She would defintely have the MONEY GAME blah blah blah. How did that work out for you guys? You're probably smart to hold your fire.

Obama has been playing his game his way ( win or lose). Not the way you guys want him to. Do you think they had no idea Oprah would come in with the money in September, just when everyone else is about tapped out and its normally a slow quarter. If you'll notice he's not fundraising nearly as much so far this quarter or has events planned. I wonder what they know regarding the fundraiser???

I wonder what else they know...so continue on and you will look just as silly as those money predictions ( he beat her both quarters...want to take odds on the third) in the end.

Smart guy

Lyn, Silver Spring MD (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 2:44 PM)

IF YOU MISSED IT...JUST GO TO HILLARYCLINTON.COM , YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID !

Still Lucky... Lou (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 2:45 PM)

hillary has never dusted anything in her life, nor would she be capable of making a gingerbread house, she's always had servants for those tasks

MK,MO (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 2:48 PM)

God, what a decision! The deomcrats or the baseball game. Think I'll chose the game and check the yawnfest (I mean the debate) later.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 2:50 PM)

Yeah.How bout those polls? Todays RASMUSSEN and last weeks QUINNIPAC and IPSOS [GALLUP as well] polls show that the public dissatisfaction with Congress is not vested in the ''its because the GOP keeps obstructing stuff''.This always seemed to me to be a BS theory and my feelings are vindicated by these polls.Fewer than 20% of liberals and less than 17% of leftwingers and libertarians are satisfied with the new Democrat majority. Further,it is not the GOP who lost the debate over Iraq in the most recent Senate grandstand but Reid,who has been getting potshotted at by erstwhile Bush critics in the press,most notably the Washington Post,Boston Globe,and Philadelphia Inquirer.Reid,whose support in his homestate of Nevada is in total freefall,is making a frantic visit to his state in August hitting towns and cities in a whirlwind campaign in order to drum up support.
He will face an electorate angered with his serial ethical problems and those of his party as well as his botched leadership which has helped to produce the lowest support for his Congress in possibly American history,certainly in the last century slipping even beneath that enjoyed by Nixon at the height of Watergate.Next up. Cindy Sheehan vs.Nancy Pelosi which should be a real barnburner when Sheehan travels to Washington later this week.

Lee Holmes (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 3:28 PM)

I feel that it is important to every voter to watch all of these debates if they are a part of the party or not. It shows some of what the person might be thinking. It could also catch them off guard and reveal something that wasn't planned.

It is ashame that there aren't more parties that are out there and for them to have televised debates. I know that these two major parties represent many people but not all. There are persepectives that aren't cover by either party very well.

S. B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 3:31 PM)

'check out hillaryclinton.com , for information on your next President.'
.... Lucky Lou..... I'm sure it's a carnival of lies, a festival of deceit......

Does your site mention that Hillary voted for the Iraq war ?
Does you site mention Hillary opposed withdrawal time tables last year ?
Does you site mention that Hillary sponsored a bill against flag burning (a clear and present danger)?

No ? Why not ?
Hillary is a self serving opportunist !!
This campaign has just begun.
Hopefully, the American people are not idiots.

It's time to turn the page !
Obama/Edwards 08 !!
No more corrupt incompetent dynasties !!

Sierra, San Francisco (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 3:33 PM)

I've read Hillary Clinton's record:

1. congratulated two lacrosse teams on winning the national championship game
2. Named some federal land in Puerto Rico a national park.
3. named several post offices in the state of New York.

anybody think she is winnable now?

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 4:44 PM)

Is Biden the only candidate who has a thorough answer to every and any question? He seems to answer every question straight up and I haven't heard anything from him but an impressive response. In terms of looking presidential, he's up there with Hillary and Obama. I hear about all the stuff that he talks to much but what does that say about us as voters if we're upset with camdidates that give drawn out answers rather than dodge questions. I don't know, but this guy Biden, after taking a look at his record and watching him in the debates, seems like the real deal, irrespective of fundraising. Thoughts?

James, Boston, MA (Sent Monday, July 23, 2007 11:46 PM)

As these media-generated circus events come and go (one cannot call these debates), our young men and women in uniform are dying horrific, violent, untimely and all but useless deaths in the ruthless kill zone of occupied Iraq. And perhaps a million Iraqis have lost their lives during the US invasion and occupation of their sovereign land. The current candidates, with the brave exception of Mike Gravell and Dennis Kucinich, are mouthing politically-correct soundbites and bloviated platitudes, while simply ignoring the abysmal realities of this monstrous and vainglorious war. This invasion and occupation was the deliberate creation of a few evil, depraved and hollow men, and only human beings can stop it.

John Majeski (Sent Tuesday, July 24, 2007 1:50 AM)

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