I have to admit when I first heard about this I just thought, wow that’s cool real live presidential candidates are coming to Connecticut for a debate. Alas, as I soon learned, it was actually going to be proxies instead. But still, an interesting format all the same. Having watched various televised debates, heavily scripted as they are, this would be a more free flowing debate style. One of the proxies, representing the Obama campaign is Norwalk’s Lex Paulson. Lex serves as the 4th CD chair of the Barack Obama campaign. So quite the Norwalk connection tonight. I’m not sure of Republicans in Connecticut are going to do something like this, but assume that its one of those regular presidential campaign.

I’m not sure how often I’m going to update stuff tonight, but stay tuned for periodic updates, but if anyone has a question about any of these campaigns post a comment and I’ll see if I can get an answer.

The moderator is Marie Cocco, a nationally syndicated political columnist from the Washingtonpost. I’ve been reading her column since her Newsday days, and this was a great opportunity to meet her.

The first question is about national healthcare and are the candidates too chicken to talk about it.

The proxies are:

Richard Brodsky- Representing Hillary Clinton
(Current 92 State Assembly New York)

David Stevenson Representing Denis Kunicinich

Kim Hynes- Representing John Edwards

Lex Paulson- Representing Barack Obama
(Chair 4th Cd- Obama Campaign)

Jim Sullivan- Representing Chris Dodd

Everyone fields this with the mention of whatever policy the candidate is espousing. Only the Obama campaign mentions the need for approaching a bipartisan solution. There’s a follow up to that about how that didn’t work in the early 90’s.

Question 2: Afghanistan is approaching catastrophe because the Tailban is in control of more than half of the country. SOme believe the Nato presence should be doubled to 80k, how would each candidate handle it?

Only the Kucinich campaign suggests that there should be no troops in Afghanistan. Edwards, Clinton say that debating troop levels is not something any campaign would debate, and then each speak to the use of troops in foreign policy. Obama says that is should be both a diplomatic solution and a troop increase to fight terrorism. The Dodd campaign says it needs to draw down troop levels.

For Dodd; why should Democrats think Dodd is running anything more than a vanity campaign.

Dodd: Mentions Kerry being also an asterix at this time, and that Kerry and Dean were proof of how things can change in Iowa. (Sullivan has recently gone to Iowa for the Dodd campaign) Claims that people want to talk to Dodd.

For Obama; when Bush was first elected he wanted to change social security. He didn’t win that battle, because Democrats proved that social security as we know it, is ok. So why did Obama start an intramural fight about that?

Obama: He didn’t. But that conversation needs to happen.

For Edwards; In 2004 has the leg up over Dean. Democrats in 2004 didn’t believe he was the best candidate to be president, given the primary and the general election, why makes it different now?

Edwards: He is different now, is speaking from his heart not his consultants. He leads in Texas with 30%, and has learned from his mistakes.

For Kucinich; same question as Dodd basically, the campaign is not gaining traction why not support another candidate.

Kuncinich: The media doesn’t cover all the candidates enough and so it reinforces the lack of campaign strength.

For Clinton; character issues because Hillary doesn’t say what she really says about the issues. How can she overcome this in a general.

Clinton: She has been under attack far longer and more viscously than anyone since Eleanor Roosevelt. Because she is the front runner, she is under constant attack and has survived. Used the example of Clintons senate experience and the growing popularity in New York.

We are now on audience questions, but I chose to spend some time to revise what my question is going to be. I should mention that MattW is blogging this live over at MyLeftNutmeg.com” and Aldon Hynes is blogging over at Orient Lodge.

New Question about domestic security and terrorism.

Clinton: We have to address centers of powers diplomatically. Terrorism is not uniquely associated to poverty.

Kucinich: Poverty does breed terrorism. We have to make better decisions regarding port security.

Edwards: Adds to the port screening issue, and says that the starting points on immigration and other policies.

Obama: We have to secure our ports and that our intelligence agencies have been compromised. We’ve compromised our leadership in Democracy, no torture etc.

Dodd: Implementing the Baker Hamilton report about 9/11 is the first place to start. The first responders in the was of terrorism were firefighters and they stand with Dodd.

New Audience question, would your candidate support raising the age to qualify for medicare?

Clinton: Has not called for raising the age, and supports the 55 year buy in.

Kucinich: Retirement age needs to keep pace with longevity. America needs to be a leader in nutrition of children.

Edwards: Everyone would be covered under Edwards, so the eligibility age would not matter. Reminds that US longevity is not the best in the world.

Obama: Its an issue that comes up but isn’t talked about in depth. There are new facts and that should be that taken into consideration and the retirement age and longevity should be brought into play.

Dodd: Has put forth a universal healthcare to cover everyone.

Now onto the blogger questions:

Aldon asks about median income disparity in Connecticut citing Darien and Waterbury. 150k versus 11k respectively. How will your candidate address issues of income equalities.

Dodd: Raising the standard of living across the globe and in America, it comes back to issues of education.

Obama: Not this bad since the gilded age. Democrats know how to change quality of life, and Obama has shown that he has worked to organize with the poor.

Edwards: This is his issue, he’s been working his entire life working for the poor and coming from a poor family. He has specific steps to end poverty in 30 years. Universal preschool …

Kucinich: ???

Clinton: Clinton wold provide leadership to the party and nation on

Matt asks about Executive branch over reaches, which would be relinquished?

Clinton: It’s not the matter for the president to surrender, its for the congress to assert its powers.

Kucinich: Congress doesn’t reassert its power by giving a blank check to Bush for Iraq. It’s a good place to start.

Edwards: Restore American civil liberties immediately upon taking office. Congress is part of the problem.

Obama: THe power to wiretap with out warrants, restore habeaous corpus, no more secret meeting sin white house to write energy policy.

Dodd: You will get constitution back, and agrees with others have said.

I ask about regional environmental issues following the recent months of floods, wildfires, and drought?

Dodd: Was recently in California, we have to be in a position in the country to help people in need, we can’t do that because of the money we spent in Iraq.

Obama: Agrees that its a resource issue and that we need to create a better sense of priorities. They are a symptom of a global changing climate, Obama wants to reduce carbon emissions.

Edwards: The world is in crisis, capping greenhouse gas pollution and get all countries to reduce carbon emissions.

Kucinich: Protecting environment and reducing reliance on Oil. Spend dollars on

Clinton: There are no regional environmental problems there are global problems that affect regions. A president has to be in a position to address that, and working with global problems, the flooding in China is the same problem as the drought in Georgia.

And now they sum up with a minute of closing statements.