LIVE BLOG: THE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE

Welcome to The Blue State's coverage of the Halloween week Democratic debate from Philadelphia, which runs two hours.  We are experiencing temporary difficulties with our chat window, and do apologize.  As a last ditch effort, I will live blog it.  Just keep pressing refresh for updates.  Feel free to comment as well:

• And so concludes our live blog.  Sorry again about the chat window not working.  But we made the most out of it.  We will definitely fix those technical difficulties beforehand next time.  SO WHO WON THE DEBATE?
• 11:02: Barack Obama will be Mitt Romney for Halloween.
• 10:58: Why is Russert asking if there is life on other planets?
• 10:57: Kucinich says he saw a UFO (No joke!)
• 10:55: Obama and Edwards are double-teaming Hillary on the former First Lady's answer about drivers licenses for illegal immigrants.
• 10:50: Obama on air travel: "This is a problem that has been building for a long time" ever since deregulation took place.  "Anyone that has been flying commercial has known that service has gone down."
• 10:47: Obama says the reimbursement systemz for Medicaid and Medicare are not working properly.
• 10:40: Pretty much every candidate feels that children need to go to school longer.  Edwards proposed that children's health care should be free.
• 10:33: KUCINICH: It is time for the Democrats to move on the issue of impeachment.
• 10:29: OBAMA: "We've got a tax code" filled "with corporate loopholes."
• 10:22: The moderators are now focusing almost entirely on domestic issues.  Each of the candidates are given 30 seconds.
• 10:18: Edwards explained that America can be patriotic about other things in America besides war.
• 10:17: Edwards says he would use the arm of the Justice Department to investigate price-gouging on the part of oil companies.
• 10:12: They are on their second of two commercial breaks.
• 10:11: Obama says he is not fearful of Mitt Romney's swift boating of Obama's name.
• 10:09: Clinton claims there is little difference between herself and Obama on Social Security.  However, there actually is a difference.  Obama wants to raise the Social Security tax cap from $97,000 to $200,000.
• 10:07: Obama accuses Clinton is giving convoluted answers on Social Security.  OBAMA: "I am not fearful to have a debate about this (social security) with Rudolph Giuliani."
• 10:01: Biden is slamming Giuliani, saying that he is not qualified to be president.  As far as what Giuliani ever talkes about, it's always "a noun, a verb and 9/11."
• 9:59: Edwards again was strong, saying that we are not going to look our children in the eye and hand this mess over to them.
• 9:51: Edwards had a few great lines -- confronting Clinton on her defense industry connections.  Furthermore, Edwards courageously said that the 2008 race isn't about any of them.  It is about the next generation of children being better off than their parents.  Excellent!
• 9:49: I just got back into the room as Obama laid the smack down on Hillary for not releasing records, and prolonging the secrecy of the Bush Administration.  And then now Edwards is laying into her.  Edwards says that if you want the status quo, then vote for Clinton.
• 9:39: Commercial intermission.  I'm taking a quick break.
• 9:38: CLINTON: "I stand for ending the war in Iraq, and bringing our troops home."  (That's spin.)
• 9:36: EDWARDS: "We should be in tell the truth mode."  Edwards is really slamming Clinton!
• 9:34: CLINTON: "We've got to get the Iraqi government to understand its obligations, because there is no military solution."
• 9:31: Kucinich calls for the US to fully participate in the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
• 9:30: Richardson wants an international agreement that we use diplomacy first.  RICHARDSON: "I went head-to-head with Saddam Hussein. ...I've done it (diplomacy)."
• 9:28: Chris Dodd says Pakistan more dangerous than Iran, especially if Pakistan falls.
• 9:26: BIDEN: "President's make wise decisions" based on "the situation they find themselves in the world."
• 9:24: CLINTON: "I intend to do everything I can to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb."  She was then challenged by Russert.
• 9:23: KUCINICH: "We need to reject" war against Iran.  "There is no basis for it whatsoever....When you say all options are on the table, you are licensing President Bush." (Excellent, Kucinich!!!)
• 9:21: RICHARDSON: "I am the only one up on this stage that has negotiated with a foreign country."  Kucinich interrupted in response, "That's not true."
• 9:19: Edwards slamming Clinton, asking, "Has anyone read this thing?" -- pertaining to the Iran vote.
• 9:18: Clinton is defending her Iran vote, saying that it gives Bush "carrots and sticks" to confront Iran.
• 9:18: CLINTON: "We will not permit him (Bush) to go take offensive action against Iran."
• 9:16: OBAMA: "This kind of resolution (Iran war resolution) sends the wrong message" to the world.
• 9:15: BIDEN: The Administration's actions have "driven underground every moderate in Afghanistan and Pakistan."

Comments

[Tyler Bezio]

Obama and Edwards need to step it up in separating themselves from Clinton. A fairly sizable part of the Democratic Party isn't happy with Clinton and they are looking elsewhere. One of them, (I prefer Edwards), needs to shine above the others and get the support that has trickled down to the lower tier Candidates.

[George]

WHAT THE HELL IS WITH OBAMA!

I am officially jumping ship. He's fucking asleep. He speaks like 20 words per minute. Clinton is killing him. Kucinich is better than Obama. Kucinich had a great answer but no one cares because he's not Obama.

[Justin]

OBAMA IS ON FIRE!!! GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!

[Tyler Bezio]

I agree with you George, Obama isn't doing what his supporters all know he should be. Come join the Edwards boat, the water is comfortable

[MLP]

Really sorry about your difficulties. Was looking forward to another great evening here at BlueState.
Anyway, It looks like Obama is blowing his chance, but Edwards, Dodd and Biden seem to be stepping it up.

[George]

Kucinich again! WE NEED TO STOP UPPING THE WAR RHETORIC!

Yes!

[Andrew]

Obama is blowing it. He needs to make more pointed statements like Kucinich and Biden are doing

[George]

Edwards voted for the Iraq War. Why should I now trust him to be President? I dont need someone who learns a lesson. I need someone whose smart as hell to begin with.

Too bad i have no other realistic choice.

Obama sucks. He's a bust.

[George]

Obama is done. This is it for him. This is very sad for Obama tonite. He's got a zillion dollars in the bank - he might as well return to sender.

Wow - what happened to Obama. He's nervous as hell. He cant hang with the big dogs when it comes to winning voters who dont know him.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

Sorry again everyone about the chat. It didn't work at the last minute, even though the provider promised me it would. I tried a few others, but they didn't work either.

About Obama, let's judge him at the rest of the night.

Yes, Edwards is strong!

[Justin]

OBAMA is being clean, poinent - to the point, and is STRONG!

I AM ON BOARD -- OBAMA ALL THE WAY NO MATTER WHAT!!!

[Andrew]

Yes, we shall judge at the end. But Obama DOES seem nervous. It's like he doesn't have the balls to really attack Hillary or say something of real substance

[Justin]

OBAMA IS STRONG - He looks confident, and he is on top of his answers -- example - giving specific examples on how Hilary contradicts herself by supporting Bush policy on Iran with that recent resolution. I thought he also handled the STUPID question about 'pledge to not allow nuclear weapons" what a dumb question was that!!??? Obama answered it very well, honest, and to the point. Hilary is acting nervous about Obama and Edwards ganging on her -- you can tell she's faultering....

Keep the faith -- Obama is looking strong.

[Justin]

I don't want Obama to ATTACK Hilary.
That's politics as usual!

I want him to attack her flawed policy - which he is doing well.

I don't want Obama to be like everyone else.

That's why I'm voting for Obama

[George]

Clinton has no experience. She's a big mirage. She's an experienced wife of a really smart guy. Guiliani is right.

[Justin]

Hilary IS Bush Lite.

I'm ready for a big change. Obama is it.
Edwards is nice guy -- but too car salesmanish --

[Justin]

Tell Hilary how it is!

The Clinton blocked access to records until 2012 -- but Hilary won't lift the bank because it should be "left to the processes"

OH MY GOSH -- let's get over this!
Obama is strong -- good attack!!!!!!!

[George]

hillary can spin anything. amazing.

Great answer by obama there! THANK YOU! Get in her face! EXPOSE HER.

[MLP]

Okay, then.
Edwards/Obama or
Obama Edwards is okay by me!

[MLP]

"EXPOSE HER."

No, please, no.

[Andrew]

Obama's comments since the break have been strong. He's looking more confident.

[Tyler Bezio]

Go Edwards, I'm so glad he is showing the important issues here, the Lobbyists cannot go on with business as usual, they are killing our democracy. Go Edwards! Keep sticking it to them!

[Andrew]

Ha- Biden uses his minimal time to go after Rudy. That's great.

[Tyler Bezio]

Yeah, Obama is doing better...Have they even spoken to Gravel yet? lol not that anyone cares but have they?

[Tyler Bezio]

oh my god, can we push her off the stage? All she does is skirt questions and spin what she believes and is said. She never lets the facts get in the way of the truth...