The structure of this debate is the fairest of all, and all debates with this many people should be structured like it...both Republican and Democrat.

Portland made a mistake...they should have taken Durant.

It seems curious why politicians and the media continue to ignore two specific core issues:
1) Our monetary policy: The Federal Reserve (which is neither Federal nor a reserve) has usurped the money-making powers of Congress by issuing "fiat" currency and has put our economy in the hands of the global banking elite that have no allegiance to any sovereign nation. We have a huge (how many trillion$ was that?) national debt looming and the dollar continues to be in jeopardy internationally. As long as the Fed continues to print money, it seems we will continue to be told that all is well until the collapse of our economy is realized. We no longer have any idea of the value of our gold reserves because no one has found the need to do an audit! What's next, the "Amero" and the New World Order? Solution: THE ELIMINATION OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND A RETURN OF THE MONEY MAKING POWERS TO CONGRESS AND U.S. TREASURY.
2) Our murky tax policy: Due to the questionable nature of the ratification of the 16th Amendment, and the fact that Federal taxes on wages and individual income have been historically ruled as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (1st Amendment), we have been enslaved by a seemingly illegal system that keeps the middle class on the road to oblivion and the poor beyond hope; not to mention driving a good portion of our economy underground. The solution: A NATIONAL SALES TAX AND THE ELIMINATION OF THE IRS. This fair tax plan has been proposed by none other than Sen. Richard Lugar (among others) who have set out to save the economy and thus return America to the progressive nation it had become before 1913.
If the American people do not have the courage to confront the current admistration's monstrous world vision (which uses the above two devices to great length) we will be relegated to a "fiefdom" within the next decade. If you think this cannot happen here, world history is not on your side - just wait (silently) and see. It certainly appears that this "watchful waiting" is the course our Fourth Estate has chosen. You won't see these issues "above the fold" in establishment news or hear them on the tongues of main stream politicians. Example: Barak Obama, when given an open door to weigh in on the fairness of our tax system, squandered the opportunity by elaborating on how the taxes should be better distributed! This shows either a play to the classes, or a complete ignorance of our tax system. Much to my surprise, however "unmedicated" Mr. Gravel may have appeared to some, he reflected the most workable knowledge of the core monetary problems of the new millenium that will ultimately determine the fate of our nation.

Dudley was so unstoppable that his team lost to G-town? Doesn't make sense, Chris. I'm seriously starting to question your judgement. :)

No Jared Dudley comments!!?!?! Yes - Dudley (Let's Go Eagles!) is the steal of the draft, and will bring energy, offensive rebounding, and leadership to the Bobcats - exactely what they need. Sean Williams was another great BC pickup by the Nets, as long as he can stay off the pipe.

jojo: I did not say Richardson was anything but "improved" and how could he have been worse considering his prior showing? All things considered though, I think Hillary keeps her advantage with women, possibly a small gain. Whether Richardson has "improved" enough in his overall campaign to bring him up in the polls and overtake Edwards for third place in the next few weeks is still a hard thing for him.

lylepink, we must have not been watching the same debate. The guy is qualified, I'm not denying that, but Richardson is just really bad at improvising and getting his thoughts together to make it presentable, even in the context of this debate. There will not be another format as generous as this one was.

Some of Richardson's answers were really awkward. I think he meant to say "needle exchange" for starters, and then he thinks we ought to tell insurance companies what to do? Yeah, right...that'll help.

Hillary did good-- Richardson improved, possible to gain top three position--Edwards about finished--others, as expected.

i liked dodd's tax prescriptions the best

i liked dodd's tax prescriptions the best

Hillary, (cough) Botox... plus a little too aggressive, but overall pretty good.
Biden good as well.
Richardson looked better than in the 1st 2, but still a little awkward.
Stick a fork in John Edwards.
Obama was good, looked comfortable and played well off the others... also sounded the least scripted.
Earth to Kucinich!
And Gravel looked off his meds.

Gravel looked silly in those khakis, and to judge from surfing the far leftwing blogs, lost what little credibility he had with the far left tonight. Richardson continued to look pretty darn bad.

Clinton once again looked competent and had detailed knowledge of all the issues. Obama continued his gradual improvement (sorry other commenter, I saw it), and as you pointed out CC, is doing the vision thing. The question is what will sell better to the democratic base in 6 months. This race is not over yet.

Nothing in particular to say about anyone else.

Every candidate got to answer every question. That is more than can be said for every other debate so far

First a hint of idealism: Will there ever be a question about our crumbling national infrastructure in any of these debates???

Now onto more neutral observations: Chris, note Gravel's extremely awkward closing moment of the debate. Is it over for him? I mean, grassroots support got him on CNN after his rocky debut in the spring, but how long will his airtime be granted to him from the profit-seeking debate hosts?

And have you noticed how Kucinich always says "workers rights" and then "human rights"? As honest a guy Dennis can be, it's the most scripted talking point coming from all candidates.

Finally, wasn't this format, for all its flaws in controlling time, the fairest is could possibly be? I know its PBS and viewers were down (allowing for intros to be milked in the beginning), but elements of format could be borrowed by the cable news. After all, the prior debate was 2 hours, allowing room for a "down-the-line" kinda forum, no?

Okay, thats all. Let the Oden era begin in Portland.

That guy from Alaska cracked me up. He reminded me of Ross Perot's running mate. Like his choice of pants though. Really sets him apart LOL.

It's president Hillary Rodham Clinton for me!