People are using the intermission to (1) push the Draft Al Gore movement, (2) pimp filibusterforpeace.org, and (3) call for impeachment. Gotta love MoveOn!
Next up, Hillary Clinton: Asked, “What is the best and fastest way to get out of Iraq?” Clinton responds by touting the legislation she has introduced that (1) guarantees funding, training, equipment for the troops, (2) stops escalation, (3) insists on “real benchmarks” for the Iraqi government, and (4) convene international conference to forge a stable future for Iraq.
Says she will end war if elected. “It is time once and for all to end our involvement in Iraq.” That statement is followed immediately with a feisty question about Clinton’s recent statement that she supports a continued American presence in Iraq. What would the American troops be there for? What would they be doing? And how many of troops are we talking about exactly? This multipart question gets the first round of applause of the night from the crowd.
Clinton responds that we would have a limited presence for a short period of time. No permanent occupation, no permanent bases. Just some troops to train Iraqi security forces, protect the Kurds, and determine what the American interests in the region are (and protect them afterward). The crowd here doesn’t like it. Someone shouts, “Shouldn’t take more than 50 to 80 years!”
Clinton has strong rhetoric about bringing the troops home, but people here don’t seem to think she has the ideas to back it up.
Chris Dodd (senator from Connecticut): “I believe we should begin redeploying our troops this evening.” Finish the redeployment by March 2008. We need a surge in diplomacy, and we need to tie this whole fiasco to a new energy policy.
Energy independence for America is a huge focus in Dodd’s answers.
Dodd says we need to rebuild our relationships around the world so America can be a force for good across the world. Believes, obviously, in the power of the United States.
Obama’s our last candidate.
