Alright, now I finally have a half hour to finish watching...
So summing up briefly:A high school kid asked about the draft, whether every one should have to do some form of national service. All candidates propose some sort of financial incentives for service but nothing mandatory. Nothing too controversial.
A guy asked what the candidates' definitions of "rich" were in terms of their proposals to roll back the Bush tax cuts for the rich. Obama defined it as $250,000/year, stressing that it would only be going back to Clintonian level taxes, nothing confiscatory. Edwards said $200,000/year and also brought up his universal college program for those who graduate from high school with decent grades and work 10 hours a week.
Another guy asked how to deal with the deficit. Richardson mentions how he had to balance the budget every year as governor and (unwisely) highlighted his support for things like a balanced budget amendment and a line-item veto. Obviously everyone wanted to cut earmarks and corporate welfare. Richardson also, annoyingly, called himself a "pro-growth Democrat," implying the others are what, anti-growth Democrats?
Kucinich talked about ending the war, getting out of trade deals, health care for all, and creating environmentally friendly jobs. Not so sure how the last three are supposed to reduce the deficit but whatever...
Would candidates vow to veto all spending bills containing earmarks as president? Dodd wouldn't support a blanket ban. Gravel went off on the other candidates again for supporting expansions of programs with huge looming fiscal disaster on the horizon. I guess there you have it: don't expect any expansion of health care coverage under President Gravel. He's really not worth my commentary though, he's just ridiculously unhinged in all these debates. Biden was absolutely right, if you really wanted to get rid of earmarks you'd implement public financing of elections.
What to do in your first 100 days in office? Edwards would travel the world to reestablish respect for America...he kind of forgot to say end the Iraq war unfortunately, which of course Obama and Clinton mentioned. Richardson had some smart education proposals like universal preschool, full-day kindergarten, and a minimum wage for teachers. Dodd would restore constitutional rights.
And there you have it! I don't think it really changed the dynamics of the race. I hope there's more excitement and less "packaged" rhetoric in future debates.
