Overdosing on Debates tonight
This entry was posted on 10/9/2006 7:22 PM and is filed under National, Virginia Politics.
I'm watching the Webb v Allen Virginia Senate debate now. Once that is done the Montana race between Democrat Jon Tester and current Senator Conrad Burns. All of this can be watched again later at cspan.org
Virginia Debate:
Allen starts out trying to frame Webbs comments for him
Marriage Amendment - Webb answers the question great. "It's not a religious issue, it an issue of fairness." The amendment is written horribly and I am going to vote against it.
Of course here goes Allen "The most important institution is the family. Activitst judges..." yadda, yadda, yadda. "I am strongly in support of it and will be voting for it."
Webb catches Allen attempting to make his positions for him again and calls him on it. Good job Jim.
Ugh..I can't keep up.
Jim recommends looking at the Brazilian model for energy independence. Allen all of a sudden says he has a plan for using more biodiesel in Virginia after taking more than 800k from energy companies.
Now the candidates are asking each other questions. Allen asks Webb the first question on Tax cuts. Instead of a straightforward question Allen gets tied up blaming Hillary and national dems and doesn't get to finish his question hehehehe.
Webb asks Allen how he could vote for 4 pay raises for congress but not for minimum wage. Allen dances around it saying he doesn't want to hurt small businesses. Oh, here he goes again "Jim, your friends Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry raise taxes. The death tax hurts small farmers." I'm gonna puke...... Jim rebuts on Allen not voting for a straight up vote and using aggregate numbers for taxes. Allen is acting like a twit. He is losing his cool.
There it is 9/11 9/11 9/11 - Allen want to know if Jim supports Habeas Corpas and Bush's wiretapping. Jim responds that we all want to be safe but we don't have any oversght from congress that the white house is not being forthright. There it is again Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, blah, blah, blah. Allen pushes on the habeas corpus again. Jim says we need to follow the geneva convention and need to have a moral high ground.
Webbs turn to ask now. Webb asks about the shitaku islands east of Taiwan. Allen looks dumbfounded. SNAP - THis is all about Taiwan, China and Japan. Allen says he needs to study up. After Webb explains the issue Allen states he would follow the current Taiwan policy.
Here comes the Foley/Hastert question - Should Hastert resign? Webb does not say yes or no but says there should be accountability in the Republican leadership and if Hastert knew something should be done. Allen states family values are important and people should be accountable.
What is it with Allen always starting out with "Susan and I"and then closing out with the same thing....
Here goes Allen again with Hillary Clinton in his closing statements. More of the same canned rhetoric from Allen.
What a great line by Webb in his closing - "I think people have listened to me tonight and really know how absurd some of the things that George Allen said tonigt really are." Webb talks about social justice and national security for people to 'come home' the the Democratic party.
Folks here is what I think. Allen looks slick and desperate. Webb looks a little uncomfortable but very confident in his answers.
NOW ON TO MONTANA
Opening statements...
The Libertarian candidate is slamming the Bush administration on torture, trials and overreaching.
Burns open focuses on getting resources for Montana state university 18 years ago. Burns is referring to himself in the third person already. That is all he talks about.
Tester starts out by talking about his being a farmer on homesteaded land his grandfather grew up on. Tester states it is the students and faculty that make the university great, not someone's name on a building. Tester is talking about student loans and pell grants. He is hitting Burns on education right out of the gate.
On to the questions...let's see if I can keep up.
Federal funding earmarks - Montana gets 33 million.
Tester D - does not support earmarks..period. They should go before the full senate and house committees.
Jones L - States similar position as Tester.
Burns R - Burns says he is proud of what he has done. The money is going to be spent somewhere, I want it to go to Montana. Burns is on the defensive.
Gas Prices and alternative energy plans
Jones - Nuclear is the cheapest energy. Claims they are the cheapest, cleanest and safest. Liquified coal. Stop Govt over regulation of energy
Burns - Passed energy bill last year that opened more land to drilling for oil and gas. Agriculture will have a role in energy independence for ethanol. Burns keeps bringing up the energy bill last year as a success.
Tester - America's energy indepence is critical. He would be using sunflower oil on his farm now if he wasn't running for the Senate. States need leadership to facilitate the growth in alternative fuels. Mentions trade deficit and homeland security and that Burns has taken more oil money than any Senator not from Texas.
Tester is really focused tonight. Jones as the Libertarian with no chance can say just about anything he wants. Burns is on the defensive here.
The impeachment question pops up - Tester says he will focus on issues and there will probably be investigations. Misplaced priorities in Washington. Need to focus on the future of our children. The corruption of the leadership has to be cleared up.
Jones states Yes, he has committed impeachable offenses and should be impeached. I am ashamed to say that noone in congress read the partiot act before it was signed.
Burns - President Bush took an oath to protect this county from all enemies. Wants to talk about the partiot act.. States we have not given up one freedom we had before unless you are a terrorist or suspected terrorist...Here he goes, he's gonna implode. The students are getting restless at Montana St. Burns is stating the intelligence groups will not be able to function. Then he mentions drug dealers and the mafia.
I'm done for tonight. I am spending too much time watching and not typing. I dont know how people live blog...it's tough!!
This was my introduction in this forum