We need a debate or two, as it's reasonable to suppose voters who never thought they'd matter may not have been paying attention to the first 18. But if they aren't allowing the candidates to question each other, or answer at length and in depth ("Please describe your plan for health care in depth. You have 15 seconds."), or we talk about who's likeable, I won't be calling for any more.

Funny how Obama said he did not have more time for debates and his campaign and supporters stated that there have been enough debates but now debates are being scheduled. Perhaps the polling showed that refusing debates looks bad?

HILLARY WANTS DEBATES B/C SHE CANNOT CONVINCE OR EXPRESS HERSELF WELL TO THE NATION IN RALLY'S AND TRIES TO DEMONSTRATE IT BY TRYING TO HOVER OVER OBAMA. WE NEED TIM RUSSERT NOT WOLF BLITZER (FAVOURS HILLARY...THOUGHT DEBATE #18 WAS JOKE BY BLITZER). COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CAN BE ANYBODY...IF WE ARE GOING TO BASE ELECTABILITY ON EXPERIENCE SO BE IT B/C DEMOCRATES WILL SWITCH VOTES TO McCAIN!!!

I hope there will be more debates and ask other questions besides the usual rehearsed ones. To correct the writer of this article this is only their 2nd debate. The other debates included 3 - 4 other folks. There is a difference.For e.g.
1. What are your plans for making the dollar stronger than the euro?
2. Do you support Abstinence Only education?
3. What is your priority on your first day...not a whole slew of unrealistic goals for the first day, but what is the number one thing on your agenda that you want to change before everything else?

How can I obtain tickets for the Obama/Hillary debate at UT Austin on 2/21/08?

No, Hillary begged him for five debates, so she could show off her memory, which means absolutely nothing. She isn't a leader, but a badgerer.

You would think the adult wing of the Democratic party and Howard Dean would have been able to knock some sense into the candidates so that the focus could turn toward protecting the ballot box. As Pogo said, "We has met the enemy and it is us!"

Bottom Line:

It looks like you got some vote fraud hanky-panky, and selling of votes going on in the democratic caucuses. Obama seems to be doing disproportionately well in the caucuses where it is easier to commit vote fraud, and sell votes. Obama has not been doing as well in the non caucus primary's where you can't cheat the vote as easily.

I smell a pole cat. I smell the Karl Rove vote fraud machine at work. This looks like past presidential elections where most voters leaving the poles said they voted for the other guy. But Bush still won. No wonder Obama thinks the republicans have some good ideas. Apparently a lot of republicans are voting for Obama in the democratic caucuses.

The insurance companies, and medical industry that have been ripping you off, and killing you are determined to keep you, the American people from having good universal health care. So it seems they are supporting Obama. Along with the republican vote fraud machine.

This looks like a great story for a team of aggressive investigative reporters. Or maybe some good documentary film makers like Michael Moore, or Oliver Stone.

If I were the Clinton's, I would focus like a laser bean on what has been going on in the democratic caucuses. No wonder the Republicans like Obama so much. Looks like he's their man in the democratic caucuses. http://prorev.com/2008/02/in-search-of-obama.html

I'm absolutely convinced now that Hillary Clinton is your best choice for good universal health care coverage. And HR 676 (Medicare For All). "Single payer, Tax Supported, Not For Profit, True Universal Health Care" free for all as a right. Like every other developed country in the world has. See: http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676.htm

"HR 676:
For church goers: less money to insur. companies and more to the church- lots more.
Srs on Medicare: save way over $100/wk. Because no more medigap, long term care & dental insur. needed. No more drug bills."

They really think you are all stupid, inattentive cash cows... It may be time to bring back Bad Bill, Good Bill.

Eric, he turned down her once-a-week suggestion, but agreed to do two--he never said he wouldn't do any debates. Every candidate knows refusing to debate looks bad--they don't need polls to tell them that.

To Eric above: I doubt that Obama is as vested in the polls as your dear hillary, who recently has taken to using the word "vetted," (as in, "I've already been vetted"). A word that has been around for years, but apparently poor hillary just discovered it, judged by the hefty number of times she has repeated it in the last few weeks... Perhaps Obama wishes to use a debate forum to put to rest the factual inaccuracies that the clintons enjoy spinning, e.g. the latest being when Bill told a group that Obama said the 90s were no better than the years under Bush. (At least NBC had the political honesty to announce (after showing Bill) that Obama never said any such thing, ever. I wish that Obama would call her bluff. There's quite a palpable difference between small-town Arkansas politicians who are street-wise,and this very polished and gracious Illinois senator.

who is this "jacksmith" that keeps repeating the same boilerplate message ad nauseam on all the blogs? Jack, buddy, I know you are trying to protect poor hillary, but you have your facts all wrong. Go home and study some more before the next exam.

Eric: Hillary badgered Obama for weekly debates hosted by Fox network. Rubert Murdock (of Fox network) donated to Hillary's campaign and held a fundraiser for her. Most people smelled a couple of rats and a setup. Obama wisely settled for more neutral territory.

Extraordinary!

After the weekend sweep, Clinton must now either debate, or adopt the "wait and see" approach for Ohio and Texas that worked so poorly for Guiliani with Florida.

In the meantime, the Obama momentum will build and will be hard to stop.

Obama is becoming even more self-assured and Presidential in his rallies. One cannot help but become hopeful and enthused about the debate.

If you can't make it to an Obama rally, you can find the entire Obama rally setlist--from "City of Blinding Lights" to which he takes the stage to "Signed, Sealed, Delivered"--the entire setlist!--on Itunes, here:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=273867065&s=143441&v0=575

Obama has released his financial records. Hillary refuses. What's she hiding?

Meanwhile, Bill is making shady nuclear deals with third world tyrants.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/us/politics/31donor.html?ex=1359435600&en=23a4d96223965ebf&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

How does one attend a debate? If one cannot afford a debate do voters stand outside the LBJ Library?

Are you just an uninformed voter or simply a HRC campaign poser willing to distort the facts? I will assume the former and give you the benefit of the doubt, but please read the following information gathered from the Library of Congress. Feel free to check these records for yourself; better still, read a little more, and try and stay current before posting asinine comments:

Clinton v. Obama on Legislative Experience: Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term (6yrs.), and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law, (20) twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years. These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress (www.thomas.loc.gov), but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you:
1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after John A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton's bills are, more substantive.
16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it, the fact's straight from the Senate Record. Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize. During the first (8) eight months of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced 233 regarding healthcare reform, 125 on poverty and public assistance, 112 crime fighting bills, 97 economic bills, 60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills, 21 ethics reform bills, 15 gun control, 6 veterans affairs and many others. His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included
**The Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
**The Protection against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more.

In all since he entered the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096. An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no legislative record. . . . My last point: Obama needs name recognition; he needs to be among the people, so people feel like they have access to him. HRC's debate challenge is more about the fact that her campaign is running low on money and she gets free air-time without spending anything. Would you give up the chance to see 20,000 voters up close and personal to be on a televised debate? No way!

Obama, stick to your guns. Debate on your terms, not Hillary's! Go Obama 2008!

Excuse me? Caucus votes are sold? Puh-lease! Whine, whine, whine on Clintonites; Rove wore that one out!

Time for the new century where we say:
YES WE CAN

SI SE PUEDE

How do you get tickets to this?? I want to go and support my candidate!

Oh, and they are airing the debate on freaking UNIVISION - um, I thought it was obvious that if he needs to connect with hispanic voters, its the best place, state-wise, and time to do it. It will air in spanish (translated of course) and on CNN International, as well as CNN. This is not brain-science, but common sense. She wants a debate bad, and he waited for one that will work in his favor - he never said NO to debates for the guy who wrote it. His manager said they will not design their campaign around Hilarys' schedule - which by the choice of UNIVISION - its something that their camp can use to connect to the "latino" vote. Hopefully it works. If not I don't care - we need Obama in office. If his Kenyan roots and international life as a child or atypical last name doesn't get people to understand "he gets being the outsider" then nothing will for the latino vote. I'm black and spanish myself, and I just dont get why latinos (though Im not mexican but spanish speakers all over) don't go for obama. I guess they have to "get to know him" Again- I hope Univision does the trick. If not, all my friends in san diego back home will vote Obama - we all liked him since 2007!

Was it just me or were any of you surprised to learn during the Larry King show last night that the Obamas do not live in Washington, DC. Barach commutes!!

Michele Obama is in Chicago doing her lawyer thing while he runs back and forth between home and the capital. Could explain why he misses so many votes. Of course, she did say that she would be willing to move to the White House.

I do agree that it is easier to win caucases because timid, less well educated persons can be intimidated by the elite. It may cost more but voting by ballots allows people to vote in private without undue pressure from others.

DK:

Where he lives makes no difference - how many votes has John McCain missed, and he lives in DC, which includes the last vote on the stimulus package.

Obama will avoid any confrontation he can with her. She's obviously better prepared for the situation as well as the job.

Someone above called her a "badgerer". I guess if she was a man it would be called smart, tough, and astute? Give me a break. Hillary's got this one. Wherever Obama is going she's already went to and come back.

Does anyone know how we can attend?

Yep!! time for a new, even more superficial century. Doesn't matter who has more knowledge or more capable of providing details about one's plans. Just give me the guy who wears a suit well, and reads well from a telepropmter. The Milli Vanilli candidate. Performs well on stage, but no substance. Not the real deal. Hillary had no chance. Bashed by conservative talk forever and now the Obama network (Matthews, Olberman, Fineman, et al.) Doesn't matter that she is the brightest candidate out there. She is an "uppity" ambitious woman. Hillary, you deserved better.

Jeesum... I've seen that "legislative record" post on SO many sites... all totally slanted towards Obama, of course. Well, I did my own research and posting replies to those posts. Feel free to borrow:

Please note the bias of listing Clinton's "more substantive" bills at the bottom of the list. And whether the Republicans or Democrats have the majority is a definite factor in whose bills finally pass, especially in attempting to override Bush's veto.
Some versions of the post circulating first say Obama has authored 820 bills in his first 8 yrs of elected service, and then end it with "since enter the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096."

Obama's Senate record:
110th Congress sponsored 113; co-sponsored 375
109th Congress sponsored 152; co-sponsored 427
- Hide quoted text -

Although the post says, "to save you the time," I was curious, so I decided to go to the trouble of looking up bills sponsored/co-sponsored by Senator Clinton on the Thomas site.
Here's the search tool - you can do the math yourselves:
http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d108query.html

107th Congress 2001-2002
sponsored 161 bills co-sponsored 495
108th Congress 2003-2004
sponsored 138 bills co-sponsored 688
109th Congress 2005-2006
sponsored 177 bills co-sponsored 720
110th Congress 2007 -
sponsored 150 bills co-sponsored 477

A few of the bills passed into law
S.1422 : A bill to provide for the expedited payment of certain benefits for a public safety officer who was killed or suffered a catastrophic injury as a direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty in connection with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Note: For further action, see H.R. 2882, which became Public Law 107-37 on 9/18/2001.

S.1622 : A bill to extend the period of availability of unemployment assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in the case of victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Note: For further action, see H.R. 3986, which became Public Law 107-154 on 3/25/2002.

S.2496 : A bill to provide for the establishment of investigative teams to assess building performance and emergency response and evacuation procedures in the wake of any building failure that has resulted in substantial loss of life or that posed significant potential of substantial loss of life, and for other purposes.
Note: For further action, see H.R. 4687, which became Public Law 107-231 on 10/1/2002.

S.1425 : A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize the New York City Watershed Protection Program.
Note: For further action, see H.R.2771, which became Public Law 108-328 on 10/16/2004.

S.272 : A bill to designate certain National Forest System land in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
Note: For further action, see H.R.539, which became Public Law 109-118 on 12/1/2005.

S.1283 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a program to assist family caregivers in accessing affordable and high-quality respite care, and for other purposes.
Note: For further action, see H.R.3248, which became Public Law 109-442 on 12/21/2006.

Rather than trivializing her record by clumping resolutions honoring deceased Americans into the same category as bills passed into "law" maybe we should add some of the amendments she sponsored that were agreed to by the Senate, for example:

S.AMDT.2066 to H.R.3061 To provide funding for services for children relating to crises.

S.AMDT.2082 to H.R.3061 To make funding available under title V of the Public Health Service Act for mental health providers serving public safety workers affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

S.AMDT.155 to S.CON.RES.18 To establish a deficit neutral reserve fund for influenza vaccine shortage prevention.

S.AMDT.3147 to S.CON.RES.83 To restore funding for the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Contact Center

S.AMDT.4361 to S.2766 To require that Congress be apprised periodically on the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

S.AMDT.4868 to H.R.5631 To make available from Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide, certain funds may be used for community-based programs that provide mental health and readjustment assistance to members of the National Guard and Reserve and their families on their return from deployment.

S.AMDT.1106 to H.R.2360 To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress regarding the vulnerability of certain facilities and measures to provide greater security, and for other purposes.

S.AMDT.328 to H.CON.RES.83 To strengthen our national food safety infrastructure by increasing the number of inspectors within the Food and Drug Administration to enable the Food and Drug Administration to inspect high-risk sites at least annually, supporting research that enables us to meet emerging threats, improving surveillance to identify and trace the sources and incidence of food-borne illness, and otherwise maintaining at least current funding levels for food safety initiatives at the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture.

S.AMDT.516 to S.1 To provide for the conduct of a study concerning the health and learning impacts of sick and dilapidated public school buildings on children and to establish the Healthy and High Performance Schools Program.

With regard to the post on Senator Obama's legislative record, there are only 2 bills that he personally sponsored and that became law: 1] bill that sought to promote democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 2} a bill that name a post office. You can check this out in the Congressional records.

If any of you think that healthcare coverage under Hillary or Barack is going to be any better than it is now, than you are in for a big shock. Hillary's in the pocket of big pharma, et al. for over $3.6 million, Barack for almost $3 million. There is no way we'll get a single payer, universal healthcare system with either one of them in the White House. That's why they're kowtowing to the industry. Hillary with her mandated health insurance, Barack with his "affordable" health insurance. What a joke! And so transparent! And so in denial of what the majority of Americans want: single payer, universal health care. Unless somebody better comes along, I'm not voting for any of 'em.

Huh? Kathy, bills "agreed to by the Senate" are NOT the same as bills passed into law. For one, bills that are NOT passed into law, cannot be enforced. Big problem, I think.

Also, here is the NY Times on Barack Obama's record--bills passed and sponsored.

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html

From Daily Kos:

http://openthread.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633

More:

http://gizmodo.com/355698/senate-gives-telcos-free-pass-on-warrantless-domestic-spying-program

In “I Refuse to Buy into the Obama Hype (now a supporter),” Grassroots Mom (at Daily Kos) writes of Obama:

I was blown away as I started going through his record. I've already mentioned his bills on health care and energy. In addition he had introduced bills on Iran, voting, veterans, global warming, campaign finance and lobbyists, Blackwater, global poverty, nuclear proliferation, and education.

She concludes:

Finally, Obama appears to have a better record last year in the Senate on getting his bills and amendments passed than does Clinton. I've listed everything that passed the Senate for each them at the end in boxes. But check out Thomas.loc.gov for yourself.

Obama is a leader. With bigger majorities in Congress, much of his agenda should sail through. He can inspire this country to change course on so many things, from health care to global warming, where attitudes have to be changed first. I remember Bill Clinton's endless laundry lists of small, focus group approved initiatives. For those who say Hillary will not govern like Bill did, I respond that the people who were doing the market testing of his proposed policies were Dick Morris, of course, and Mark Penn, who is now running Hillary's campaign.

http://openthread.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633

If someone else than the Debate-Team should receive this: Please transmit it to the right Team! The Team caring for the Texas Debate that afternoon! I hope that there are public Questions from the audience allowed and wished.

Dear CNN / Texas Debate - Team

My name is Thomas Doettger, I’m 25years old and I live in Hannover, Germany

I have some questions to the Democratic candidates, maybe you can ask them those questions at the Texas -Debate on 21st of February.

At first I want to ask Ms. Clinton why she didn’t said “thank you for the support” to her Potomac, Wisconsin and Hawaian Primary voters? I mean she didn’t even mention them in her speeches after those primaries. Is that the way she treats her voters just a few hours or minutes after the end of an election? And is that the way she would treat her voters after a presidential election? Shouldn’t a politician be thankful to his voters? To the citizens of his country? Would you agree that a voter doesn’t exist only to satisfy the politicians at an election –day, but the politicians exist only to serve their voters? A politician needs to serve the voters and not the voters need to serve their politicians at an election. It is a privilege to be elected not a matter of course! What do you think about those things Ms. Clinton? Would you agree to me that a politician should act respectful and not irreverent to his voters?

Second I want to ask Senator Obama if he agrees to Ms. Clinton in her opinion to the Oil / Energy policy question? She said at her speech after the Super(duper)Tuesday that she wants to “give the Oil a chance”! Would you agree to it? And please explain me your plans for your massive Investment on the “green / renewable energy”- Field! I would say the only logic conclusion after all those terrible incidents (Iraq-war/ 9.11.2001/ Bush re-election) in the past 7 years, is precisely a refusal to the oil and all the consistencies and effects of it (Pollution / Violence / Lies / Corruption/ Terrorism). We need a new beginning, a new approach at the Energy policy. And we need that worldwide. That’s my opinion. And I clearly say that I don’t want to give the Oil another Chance again, I don’t want to give my future to it!

And you, the American citizens should not do that also, if you are clever.

Thanks for your time and efforts to understand my bad English. (Shame on me)

Greetings
Thomas Doettger

If someone else than the Debate-Team should receive this: Please transmit it to the right Team! The Team caring for the Texas Debate that afternoon! I hope that there are public Questions from the audience allowed and wished.

Dear CNN / Texas Debate - Team

My name is Thomas Doettger, I’m 25years old and I live in Hannover, Germany

I have some questions to the Democratic candidates, maybe you can ask them those questions at the Texas -Debate on 21st of February.

At first I want to ask Ms. Clinton why she didn’t said “thank you for the support” to her Potomac, Wisconsin and Hawaian Primary voters? I mean she didn’t even mention them in her speeches after those primaries. Is that the way she treats her voters just a few hours or minutes after the end of an election? And is that the way she would treat her voters after a presidential election? Shouldn’t a politician be thankful to his voters? To the citizens of his country? Would you agree that a voter doesn’t exist only to satisfy the politicians at an election –day, but the politicians exist only to serve their voters? A politician needs to serve the voters and not the voters need to serve their politicians at an election. It is a privilege to be elected not a matter of course! What do you think about those things Ms. Clinton? Would you agree to me that a politician should act respectful and not irreverent to his voters?

Second I want to ask Senator Obama if he agrees to Ms. Clinton in her opinion to the Oil / Energy policy question? She said at her speech after the Super(duper)Tuesday that she wants to “give the Oil a chance”! Would you agree to it? And please explain me your plans for your massive Investment on the “green / renewable energy”- Field! I would say the only logic conclusion after all those terrible incidents (Iraq-war/ 9.11.2001/ Bush re-election) in the past 7 years, is precisely a refusal to the oil and all the consistencies and effects of it (Pollution / Violence / Lies / Corruption/ Terrorism). We need a new beginning, a new approach at the Energy policy. And we need that worldwide. That’s my opinion. And I clearly say that I don’t want to give the Oil another Chance again, I don’t want to give my future to it!

And you, the American citizens should not do that also, if you are clever.

Thanks for your time and efforts to understand my bad English. (Shame on me)

Greetings
Thomas Doettger