Democratic Debate Open Thread II

MSNBC took a break...so we'll start a new thread. This is really a debate. And, in fact, Hillary Clinton is being attacked. Her vote on the Kyl-Lieberman Iran resolution (written by neocons according to John Edwards) has given her opponents the fodder. And, it's not just coming from Edwards and Obama, but Dodd and Biden have been very strong, too.

At this point, I'd say Edwards is having a good night.

9:42 PM: The question is electability. Brian Williams quoted Rudy to challenge Hillary. She uses the GOP "obsession" with her as proof of her electability. Russert followed up on her experience question wanting her to allow the National Archives to release her records from the Bill Clinton years. Apparently, Bill Clinton wrote to the archives asking them to not release any correspondence between Bill and Hillary. She actually did not answer the question that she would allow it. Somehow, it's not her responsibility. Obama went right after her on that one. He also said the GOP is obsessed with Hillary because that's a fight they've had and want again.

Edwards also said the Republicans want to run against Clinton. He also turned it into a question on the influence of money in politics...and how Clinton represents the status quo. He represents change.

9:51 PM: Brian Williams asks Obama the experience question. Obama knows how to get things done, he says. He will also stand up to special interests. And, he reminds us that he stood against the war in 2002. We need principled leadership and that's what he'll give us.

9:53 PM: Richardson is hearing a holier than thou attitude towards Hillary Clinton, which he thinks is getting personal. We need to be positive he says -- as Richardson tells us he trusts her, but doesn't agree with her on a whole litany of issues. That sanctimonious thing doesn't really work.

9:56 PM: Dodd -- we need to elect a Democrat...a Democrat that's electable. Hmmm.

9:57 PM: Edwards lets us know he's not pure...none of them are, but disputes Richardson's assertion that the attacks are personal.

9:59 PM: Biden isn't running against Hillary Clinton, he's running to be the leader of the free world. Biden smacks Rudy Giuliani hard. Rudy is genuinely not qualified to be President. Every sentence Rudy speaks has a noun, a verb and 9/11. Good line.

10:02 PM: Russert starts a new subject -- Social Security. Wants to know if Hillary has different positions on lifting the cap intimating she answers one way publicly and another privately. She, of course, disputes that contention and gets into the good work done in the 90s. She's going to appoint a bi-partisan commission. She does not advocate raising the cap. Acting like Social Security is in crisis is a GOP talking point according to Hillary.

10:05 PM: Russert asks Obama about Social Security. Obama wants straight talk from all the candidates -- which means Hillary Clinton, p.s.

10:08 PM: Hillary returns to her solution of a bi-partisan commission. She doesn't want decisions to be made in a vacuum, but only after we've gotten back to fiscal responsibility.

10:09 PM: Obama gets the question about Mitt Romney's confusion of calling him "Osama" instead of "Obama." Obama isn't worried because he has confidence in the American people -- and he discounts what Mitt Romney says. He's going to respond to swiftboating forcefully. (Methinks Obama may have too much confidence in the American people).