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...which ones didn't you like?
It would be fun to discuss the specifics.
E opens with a statement that SH was a threat. Support not having SH in power. Don't support the blank check.
R: but that disarms troops. What next?
E: He'd have to come back with bill not loaded with pork, and he'd have to come up with a plan that worked.
R: Your hometown paper calls 87 bil vote as desperate blah blah blah
E: That isn't true. This message is consistent.
R: What would you do in Iraq?
E: Asking for ssistance without relinquishing control is what B is doing wrong. UN in. Use NATO force. Need to present Iraq as international effort moving toward Iraqi self rule.
R: French don't want to participate. What if NATO says no? Pull out?
E: France will want to participate. We won't have to pull out. The case for this action was not made to UN, Nato the way it should have been. This region of world is vital to Europe. Not going to let it go to seed.
R: More troops in Iraq?
E: McCain's perspective, I understand. I'd give deference to generals who say they don't need more troops. But for security, like to see more. Need to be international.
R: Where to find more troops?
E: Ok, here's the perfect example of what's gone wrong. The Turkish fuck up. If we had made the case right, and if we do, we will get the international face needed for success.
R: should B apologize to FR?
E: No. we need to go to ALL our friends and make the argument for Iraq being foothold of democracy in ME, etc.
R: If they say no, we're there alone?
E: They won't say no.
R: Lead up to war. IWR. Quotes E's statement. You believed nuclear threat. And you got booed in Cal.
E: A decade of efforts by SH, senate intelligence committee had a ton of info on this. About booing, I think it's enormously important for candidates to stand behind what they believe in, even if they know the audience will not be receptive.
R: Blank check?
E: no.
R: Where are WMD's
E: The intelligence we were given has been born out. Now we have an enormous responsibility to look into discrepency. Need to find out cause. Were we mislead. Incompetence. Misleaders will be held accountable. If our intelligence gathering is inadequate, we neee to fix that or we're really fucked.
R: Quotes statement about WMD. Why weren't you more demanding for evidence of nuclear threat.
E: You can't pick any one isolated piece of evidence. We had a decade worth of evidence nobody is talking about.
R: But without evidence, what was the threat?
E: We knew he was trying to acquire weapons. Unique threat, obvious and serious.
R: France wanted more inspecitons. Should inspections have gone on.
E: We don't have benefit of hindsight. I did what I thought was right at the time. We've lost lives in a cause which I thought was right. I will not say this isn't important ... so long as this ends up in Democracy.
R: Was march the right time to invade?
E: Timing was Bush's choice. I would not have done this the way Bush did. I would have built the coalition. But I still stand by what I did.
R: Patriot Act. CBC debate quote: advocate revision of patriot act. Wash Post wrote editorial criticized your vote on the act. called it a good bill. voted against all four Fiengold amendments. You're ignoring your record. Do you regret your vote.
E: There are provisions (information sharing, techology updating, money laundering) that NEVER get talked about which are good. These are teh ones that are bad: sneak and peeks without DP protection, ability to go into libraries and book stores without DP protections. Step back. This is abigger issue. Arresting Americans on American soil without any DP, which contradicts foundations of American civi liberties. Change these
Russ was imposing on national gov't that they meet state law requirements. We need national legislation. Response was not to have Feds have to meet 50 different procedural requirements.
R: JD has never actually sought records from libraries. It's wrong for you to say it has been done.
E: We don't know what the JD has done and the JD has admitted that they've been "in touch with libraries." They won't say what their authority was. It's a chilling effect. Needs to change.
R: Biden, Feinsteing say it's good. Has anyone complained to you about PA.
E: There are 34 reported abuses to Inspector General.
R: Is it wrong to vote 87 bil, to criticize PA to make yourself more palitable.
E: I've never wavered. I stand by what I've done, and I've been consistent.
R: Is the economy good?
E: short term up a little. All long term indicators are down.
R: tax policy working?
E: I can't tell you how much I care about taxes, and it really distinguishes me from the other candidates. Bush is doing something very radical ... shifting burden on to middle class in a very dramatic way. Not fair and it's very bad economic policy. To grow the economy, we have to take the burden OFF the middle class.
R: how much would you repeal?
E: repeal breaks for top two brackets. Raise cap gains rate for people earning in top (2) brackets. Get rid of corporate subsidies.
R: Your vote for 92 tax cut
E: that wasn't the vote on teh components. That was a vote on the framework. When the framework was filled in, the components shifted the burden to the middle class.
R: so you would support a tax cut?
E: back then the situation was completely different. And there are things we could have done, cuts which would have increased wealth, encouraging saving. these are things we need to do now.
R: balance budget how?
E: Not only do things I just told you. Bigger picture: we have to reduce defecit, but he have to make investments which result in long term growth, and those two things are at odds. We need to increase spending where it produces long term growth.
R: balance budget by raising taxes?
E: taking burden off middle class, means lower taxes. But people who are doing really well might have to take up some of the slack (but we'll have a wealthier society as result).
R: Dean's opt-out on public funding?
E: I'm staying with campaign finance system. Dean is making a mistake. Sending exactly the wrong signal. If it's a matter of principle to stay within the system and we should deviate.
R: what do you think about Dean?
E: Like him personally. We've had run-ins. I've expressed myself to him publicly and personally on these issues. On flag - repeats the Sharpton-Edwards analysis. Condescension and elitism is very dangerous for Democrats. All Democrats want to be treated with respect, not be talked down to.
R: Flag to You?
E: devisive symbol.
R: convicted felons get vote back?
E: of course. do the time. once out. get your rights back.
R: trial lawyers? 51% of your money came from law firms. JD looking into allegations.
E: There was ONE incident MONTHS ago in Little Rock. I'm proud of my work as lawyer fighting important battles agains negligent corporations. I'm supported by people who appreciate those battles and that kind of work. The other half of money is from all types of people. I do agree with weeding out claims without merit.
R: Gun manufacturer liablity?
E: I'm against limits and it has nothing to do with being a lawyer. No class of anybody should get special treatment.
R: Gay adoption yes, CU a state matter? Why reservations?
E: CU is a state law issue. But it's very important that Fed Gov't recognizes that all people get same protections under federal law (ie, where Fed Gov't confers benefit to married people, it should be conferred domestic partners).
R: Full faith and credit for overseas gay marriages (eg Canada)
E: Up to states. If it were my state, probably say no 'cause don't support gay marriage.
R: abortion and gun control?
E: different. Gun control: interstate commerce angle makes it a national concern.
R: you're the top spender in IA and NH, but you're in 4th place in IA and tied for 3rd with other in NH and you're way behind.
E: I've seen more polls than just these two. I'm moving up dramatically in all the polls I've seen. And I'm in the lead in SC and very close to top in OK. My bus trip in NH has been great.
R: You're behind Clark in SC?
E: In only one poll. I'll win SC.
R: You don't like the president.
E: Guy has no contact with regular Americans. Comes from a different background, which explains lack of perspective. I'm out among the people daily. He's never out there. He's pretending that he understands people.
R: what do you think people think of your attacking him?
E: look at the guy. I'm telling the truth about him. "jobless recovery"? Come on! These people are out of touch.
R: ecoomy or war on iraq aside, people like Bush as a person.
E: I don't know him. He seems personable enough. But when it comes down to voting, it's going to come down to more than just liking a guy. This guy is going to have a miserable record to run on. Lost jobs AND has driven us into defecit, which is quite a remarkable feat.
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