I arrived at Dartmouth Hall approximately one hour before the debate is supposed to start since I figured perhaps there would be tons of people trying to see it on remote viewing and I wanted to get a seat. But I was actually the second person here. The first person is another nerd with a laptop.
On my way here, (Dartmouth Hall is one of the buildings ringing the Green, a wide and right now frozen field in the middle of campus), I noticed a news truck with a huge satellite dish in front of the Hanover Inn (the inn is right across the Green), a bus painted with blue stripes and stars with the ABC news logo next to it, and another truck with satellite dish at the intersection to the Hopkins Center (the Hopkins Center is right next to the Hanover Inn). Many people with various signs were waving and chanting in front of the Hopkins Center.
The debate which is taking place in the Moore Theater at the Hopkins Center is titled "Every Woman Counts" which I assume will be quizzing the various candidates on their stances on various women's issues. It's going to be moderated by Claire Shipman, an ABC News correspondent.
Well, more later.
[originally posted at 3:37 PM]
Okay, so the camera is showing Moore Theater which is now mostly full. As for Dartmouth Hall, there is probably around 20-30 people even though this can seat 150. Perhaps more people will show up at the last minute.
Oh, and if you don't want to read my live blog posts on the debate, you can actually watch it on Dartmouth TV now. It'll be broadcast to the rest of the country on ABC, CNN, etc. tomorrow.
[originally posted at 4:24 PM]
Oh crap.
Dartmouth Hall is now empty because somebody was handing out the last tickets to actually go to Moore Theater. I now curse myself for being too slow.
[originally posted at 4:28 PM]
(very brief notes, may be misspelled, summarized, i.e. I can't type that fast)
personal comment: the reception is really bad (purposely?), correction it's Kucinich and not Edwards - I find them hard to tell apart
70% undecided voters in NH are women
domestic violence
breast cancer
affordable health care
half have not heard candidates on these issues
candidates: Dean, Lieberman, Kucinich
Q (moderator): Why should women vote for you?
candidates introduce wives in audience
Dean: because what done for [Vermont] (citing statistics), minimal wage, child care subsidized
Lieberman: do better job than Bush, give US fresh start, women suffer under current leadership, tax cuts to people who don't need them
Kucinich: a story - statue of woman with arm outstretched to protect child in House, Iraq (?!), education of children - universal program with 50% cut in Pentagon, health care
[originally posted at 4:48 PM]
Q (Emily, a gynecologist): Affordable childcare?
D: Citing what he has done in Vermont, universal childcare, subsidizing, 20% bonus for home childcare, educational component, president's proposal for welfare is "ridiculous". Calls it "Anti-child-supervision" bill. President doesn't have any idea because old white men with pot-bellies signed bill.
L: need childcare because now more single parent household, check website for details, Bush is trying to screw low income families for healthcare, increase tax credit so low income people could get childcare, childcare training, repeal Bush's tax cut on high income.
K: Talking about when he was growing up, mother took care of kids but now mothers working and most money goes to childcare--create educational program (60 billion dollars), pay for by 15% reduction of Pentagon
(somebody in Dartmouth Hall is clapping after K's speech, strange)
D: damage to kids before age 3, changes at that critical time
[originally posted at 5:01 PM]
Q (Carson, a Dartmouth student from California): What will you do about violence against women?
L: epidemic against women, terrible effects on next generation, speak out, encourage women to speak out, criminalize violation of restraining orders, national network for safeplace homes, train courts and police to deal with this problem, raising sons, consequences of today's entertainment, ex. Grand Theft Auto
K: how much change do we want? notes his vote on a bill on domestic violence and schools--teach peace-giving to help men understand violence against women is wrong, too late if at emergency room or safe house, intl department of peace [personal note: what the hell is he talking about?]
[that same guy is clapping]
D: many programs already done at state level, make sure enough money to keep this running, male role models, drug and alcohol abuse also needs to be addressed.
[originally posted at 5:09 PM]
Q (McClain, a female resident in Hanover): What will you do for nominations in Supreme court?
K: Roe vs. Wade, needs someone with courage and not afraid to help America with expanded view, stand up to corporations, intelligent, heartful, spiritual, dedicated, seek to overturn Patriot Act
D: in Vermont 50% appointees are women, hardworking, not looking for party, treat women with respect (not Scalia), uphold and not rewrite Constitution, role model Ginsburg and somebody from Vermont [I missed the name], current court is too far right
L: don't want one that decides national election (audience laughter), need impartial, don't like Bush's litmus tests, filibuster presidential nominations, don't pack court with ideological, good example: David Suiter
[originally posted at 5:18 PM]
Q (Margaret, a chairperson in some women's organization): What would you do to close gap in salary between women and men?
D: (missed first two reasons), need affirmative action, everybody tends to hire people like themselves not because everyone is sexist or racist,
L: needs to be addressed on legislative level, everybody's rights, move toward equality
K: (another notable pause) talking about his own staff, raise up wages so that they were equal, executive order that every govt contract abide by equality and opportunity, women and social security, return retirement back to 65 so people can get more income at an earlier age
[personal note: K's not taking into account baby boomers]
[originally posted at 5:36 PM]
Q (moderator): When will we see a woman president?
D: 2012, Hillary
L: 2012, Braseau (sp?)
K: blabbing about feminine perspective in oval office and don't need to wait whether 2008 or 2012...(moderator cuts him off)
Q (a woman from Newport who was first woman in city council): Which women would you appoint to cabinet and why?
L: Need experienced women.
K: as mayor of Cleveland made sure women were in staff, ex. director in EPA
D: floating names will be foolish, somebody from Atlanta, Ann Richards
L: need women in defense and treasury
Q (from audience, missed her organization): Sex discrimination in education, etc?
K: sign executive orders to enforce it, too much emphasis on men's sports
D: Title IX, story about women's basketball
L: in favor of enforcement of Title IX
[originally posted at 5:38 PM]
Q (network against domestic violence): More specific on ending domestic violence? Systemic solutions?
D: Funding is critical issue, programs in state (Vermont), women testifying, education
L: reactivation and expansion of existing legislation, continued funding of progs in federal govt, courts and police
K: look at attitudes of men and boys and deal with that, want women to feel protected, make sure if crime committed that treated seriously by courts
Q (continued): programs are very underfunded
K: supports that
Q (moderator): economy and jobs?
L: grave and national matter needs to be addressed
Moderator: last question, thanks for coming
[originally posted at 5:42 PM]
Summary of my thoughts on the debate:
Dean mostly referred to what he had done as governor in Vermont.
Lieberman talked about what he has done as senator, against Bush's policies, what's good for America in general.
Kucinich paused a lot of times before he spoke about what should be done (in a very generalized way). I had the feeling that he bs-ed a lot of stuff.
[originally posted at 5:45 PM]
Additional remarks: Addressing women's issues? Pfft! One hour is way too short to probe any candidate's stance on the questions being asked. I didn't get a feel for anything, especially since the answers were being limited to one minute each. Answers were too general and repetitive and I came away being more annoyed than enlightened.
Addendum: This guy actually got a ticket to go see the debate but gave it up for somebody who is a real democratic enthusiast. I would have just gone for the experience (I don't side with any party) but hey, to each his own.
