Ed, as to what impact the trade pacts from the Clinton and Bush administrations have on our economy...the answer is complicated.

Frankly, it depends on who you ask. Whomever you ask, though, 1 answer is constant... it has fundamentally changed America's economy. Before the trade era, America's economy was industrial. People worked in plants and auto shops, generally for "the man". Now-a-days, we live in a service oriented economy b/c overseas gives cheaper labor than does America's workers. What this leaves for American's is the opportunity to start their own business. Whatever service people need, someone has at least 1 good skill they can offer. Offer it! Work hard and profit. That is why out economy works so well. In recessions, lower taxes and lower interest rates gives people a better chance to borrow and begin begin something of their own. In high times, we need lower taxes and higher interest rates so people can get a larger return on their earnings. Some economists argue that higher taxes are better in bad economic times, but I disagree. In my view, America can never ever prosper by government hand outs and government businesses. Don't believe it...look at the railroad transit industry and the DMV. Don't even start with the public school systems and the waste of spending there. Anyhow, back on topic, what brought on the change in our economy was the signing of the New Deal. Every economic expert knew it would happen this way. As America outsources, we do help to build foundations for other nation's economies. Someday, in nations where our large corporations hire workers with no benefits, lowly wages and large profits for themselves things will change and workers there will fight for their rights. Some will say "now, the playing field is equal." Yes, true. But, on a larger scale, those people will now have a shot to make a life for themselves. This is essential to building a truly global and equal economy.

When asking some how trade affects America, they will say "I worked in textiles my whole life, and so did my family. That's all we know, and what's happening is awful." Well, to them, it is. But if you ask a tobacco farmer they will tell ya CAFTA is the best thing since sliced bread. They are now allowed to produce large amts. of tobacco by getting big contracts from companies overseas. There, tobacco is still a big market and isn't as regulated by gov'ts. Other farmers are also very thankful for CAFTA. Also, consumers should be glad these trade deals take place. For instance, how many producers of oranges are there now? Just think about the # vs. when tropicana had the orange juice market to themselves. They could charge out of the rear end for orange juice, but now they have to match up against competition. This ends in lower prices for restaurant owners and consumers in general. These examples are just a few that came to my mind, but there are many more. If Edwards, Hunter or any of these "anti-trade" candidates want to debate trade, pro-trade candidates should welcome this debate.

I love policy discussion more than the usual bashing of Bush, Republicans and democrats. It's refreshing.

Thank God For Edwards. It's about time someone cared about the working poor in the US.

Is'nt taking care of the poor a part of our christian heritage? How come no one seems to care? Why does both parties ignore the poor and pander to the rich?

Remember the saying, "There but for the Grace of God go I." We are supposed to care for our neighbors, because it is the right thing to do.

Question: Will you retract that quote caught on a live mic that you wish to have a smaller pool of candidates running for the Dem nomination? Calling for the elimination of other candidates is yet another example of your apparent exclusiveness to go along with your big, secluded house and fancy haircuts. This is strike three now and runs directly counter to your very central message - inclusiveness.

You may dismiss all this as nonsense but voters look at character and can smell a rat faster than they can read your (noteworthy) health care plan.

Given the current political climate, is electability still a campaign issue?

Boko- Ever since Bush came down against federal funding for embryonic stem cell research (August 2001), Republicans have been blasted as "anti-science" for the last six years.

This did not mean the research couldn't be done, only that someone else had to pay for it. The bottom line was this: Like millions of Americans, the President has a moral issue with the creation of nascent human life for the purpose of experimentation.

But, why use embryos? when adult stem cells have already yielded several treatments for disease including bone marrow transplants for cancer patients, pancreatic islet cells for diabetics and blood cells for people with leukemia.

"Also, in recent months, a number of researchers have begun to assemble intriguing evidence that it is possible to generate embryonic stem cells without having to create or destroy new human embryos.

The gathering consensus among biologists is that embryonic stem cells are made, not born -- and that embryos are not an essential ingredient.

That means that today's heated debates over embryo rights could fade in the aftermath of technical advances allowing scientists to convert ordinary cells into embryonic stem cells."

Stem Cell Advances May Make Moral Issue Moot

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/05/AR2005060500872.html

proudtobeGOP says "scientists have discovered that cells extracted from amniotic fluid and placentas could also provide pluripotent stem cells that seem to do what embryonic cells can.. do you still advocate using taxpayer dollars to pay for destroying human life, a practice which seems more and more unethical given the recent advances?"

Didn't ask ME, but I have two things to say about that.
1. Any magical "transformation" of amniotic/placenta cells into stem cells, or cells with stem-like capability, is still a long way off. There is a lot of testing still to be done, and meanwhile, the need for stem cell-derived therapies is immediate and urgent. I'm sure many of you have friends or family members who could benefit - and in some cases avoid death - if stem cell therapies were widely available and researched now. (I do, too.) Instead, we have allowed many Americans who could have benefited to die - just so the frozen embryos could remain frozen. (That, by the way, is the quality of 'life' Bush is protecting - at the expense of living, breathing, thinking Americans - with his policy.)
2. These frozen embryos - "God's smallest children" or some BS like that - are unceremoniously discarded after not being used for a period of years. But that's apparently OK?

Would Asset Building be a key part of your strategy to eliminate poverty in the country/?

Do you agree with the analysis of class structure in the book "A Framework for Understanding Poverty" whose author was profiled recently in the New York Times magazine?

Economists almost universally believe in the lowering of trade barriers as working towards economic growth. As a resident of Shanghai, I've firsthand seen the ability of the free market and globalization to pull millions of people out of poverty. Keeping all this in mind how can you maintain such a stance against free trade?

Why did you hire two bloggers for your campaign with proven records of hatred of the Catholic Church and practicing Catholics?

Why didn't you fire them immediately when they posted anti-Catholic diatribes? Would you have been so lenient about hatred for Judaism or Islam?

Many Democratic Candidates have said they want to reduce abortions. To accomplish this end, would you support the supportive programs in the Pregnant Women's Support Act sponsored by Rep. Lincoln Davis and more than a dozen other Democratic Reprsentatives?

Some of the right wing posters keep asking about how Edwards would pay for his populist programs. Simple. If we stopped spending our blood and treasure on boondoggles like Iraq and Afghanistan, if we stopped sending our jobs to Indian and China, if we stopped replacing Amercian workers with alien guest workers, and if we rolled back the tax cuts we give to the wealthy, we would have plent of money for populist programs. Furthermore, given that we spend roughly 9% of GNP on health care while most of the world, with much much better health care, spends about 3% (due to honest competition and price cutting by a national HMO), Mr. Edwards would *save* the country billions. Furthermore, removing that burdon (and the employee retirement burdon) from private business, taxing the snot out of CEO's getting multimillion dollar compensation packages, and reigning in excesses like sock options to boards supposedly overseeing companies, would make our businesses internationally competitive.

The NIE report said that al Qaeda has set up a safe haven along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border from where the terror network's leaders can operate, several U.S. officials said.

The NIE analysis addresses al Qaeda's resurgence in the tribal areas of Pakistan, where President Pervez Musharraf last year gave primary responsibility for controlling the border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan to tribal leaders.

And that's worked out real well... let's give them some more US taxpayer money [the presidents wants $75 million for them this year] so they can build more nukes for bin ladin to use on us.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann continued to stand by President Bush's military surge in Iraq, two days after returning from a congressional trip there.

Security conditions in Iraq prevented Bachmann from meeting any Iraqis, leaving the Green Zone or staying in Iraq overnight. She and other congressional members were required to wear full body armor, including Kevlar helmets, during the entire trip, she said.

The delegation's visit was harrowing at times. While visiting with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker at the U.S. Embassy inside Baghdad's walled, high-security Green Zone on Friday, mortar blasts landed inside the American-controlled territory.

"This recorded message played four times while we were there, asking us to move away from any windows, to get on the ground and move to the center of the building," Bachmann said.

Mr. Edwards, in the 2004 election you said: "When John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going to walk. Get up out of that wheelchair and walk again."

Since President Bush was re-elected, we've seen remarkable advances in the science and therapeutic uses of stem cells drawn from adults and children, and the blood from umbilical cords --

and scientists have discovered that cells extracted from amniotic fluid and placentas could also provide pluripotent stem cells that seem to do what embryonic cells can.

President Bush has issued an executive order that directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the NIH to ensure that any human pluripotent stem cell lines produced in ways that do not create, destroy, or harm human embryos will be eligible for federal funding.

Do you still advocate using taxpayer dollars to pay for destroying human life, a practice which seems more and more unethical given the recent advances?

I dare you to walk down a sidewalk in downtown Cleveland and not die of boredom. The most auto-centric city if I ever saw one. Ugh.

All you jerks who are asking questions about haircuts will deserve the next al-queda attack, coming soon from Pakistan.

It must be hilarious to our enemies to watch people in this country talking about trivial nonsense while they are plotting and training and planning, financed by the recent record opium harvest, unhampered and free to do whatever they want because the pakistani government takes our money and then does nothing. What will you do when the mushareff gov't falls, and bin Ladin gets nuclear weapons [likely within a couple of months]?

And do you really think mitt romney doesn't pay a fortune for his haircuts? Please -- he sees a hairdresser every single morning. Do you have any idea how much Rudy drops in a single night, with his little wifey, just for dinner? Over $2,000. What does that tell you about him? And what about Laura Bush's $700 haircuts? No one ever questioned her about them.

No, it's only Dems that the press likes to bash with this kind of nonsense. Fools, fools -- this is the way it happens. This is the way empires fall.

Senator, after extracting the US from Iraq, how will you extract the US from the Middle East, and the committment to support Israel in all its adventures and circumstances? Since we don't belong there in the first place, how will you encourage the UN and the remainder of NATO to become engaged in areas such as the Middle East where the US is rightfully and finally withdrawing its military presence?

zouk comes on exactly at 12:03 and then stays on all day -- i honestly think he punches a time clock.

zouk comes on exactly at 12:03 and then stays on all day -- i honestly think he punches a time clock.

"Please take your real questions to the GOPS. they are much better equipped to deal with reality."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

I'd like to ask him if he's going to try to subvert the debate process by only doing debates with "serious" candidates and what he considers "serious" to be.

Here's an appropriate question for Edwards - comb or brush? He may be able to answer that one without lying, for once.

The island of zouk has no fear of aggressors. we are not hampered by liberals in our law making body and long ago developed sufficient missile, bio, chem and nuke protection. Our stunning and pristine beaches are invasion proof. you should try it. first get rid of all the Libs that want to see you lose the war and die. then we would be happy to sell you the technology.

I am willing to answer any and all questions, even on Fox. Are those the "extraordinary measures" you meant? I guess when compared to Libs, actually answering tough questions is extraordinary.

John Edwards Vows To End
All Bad Things By 2011

... According to Edwards, his plan is composed of three steps. Everyday bad things, such as curse words and splinters, would be eradicated during his first six months in office. Next, very bad things, including child abduction, soil erosion, and resurgent diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, would be ended by the the end of 2009. Finally, extremely bad things -- plights such as genocide, species extinction, and virtually every form of cancer -- would take a full two years to wipe out

Peter dc, your questions are absolutely spot on. Chris, press John for specifics, regardless of question asked. In other words, 'You say you want to bring the troops home. Well duh, everyone wants that. What's your plan? Do they leave on Jan 21 2008 if you're president? How long for the drawdown?'

The other question about how to pay for his initiatives is also a good one. Specifics; 'you're going to raise taxes in addition to rolling back the tax cuts - which taxes? Do you see that endangering the current string of excellent economic growth we've enjoyed since 2003, when the 2nd half of Bush's tax cuts were enacted?'

PeterDc, we are Libs. we don't ask hard questions. that is why we are afraid to go on Fox. Imagine the audacity to ask a beloved ex-president why he didn't get the lead terrorists when he had the chance. We simply don't need to know.

Please take your real questions to the GOPS. they are much better equipped to deal with reality.

How do expect to overcome and excel in light of all of the attention and support that Hillary and Obama have gotten in this race?

My question: What, if any, role do you believe the pro-trade policies of President Clinton played in the U.S. economic expansion of the 1990s?

You're going to Cleveland (my old hometown) and not interviewing Dennis Kucinich? Come on...
http://political-buzz.com/

First let me say so far my favorite questions is:

Mr. Edwards:

Would you agree to a pre-emptive assault on the island of Zouk? Would you approve the use of extraordinary measures when questioning their king?

But seriously,

"Mr. Edwards on experience alone what makes you more qualified to be President than Bill Richardson?"

This question highlights the reality that experience is irrelevant to ego, which is how we ended up with George W. Bush in the White House. This would make a great topic some say CC.

A viable and bipartisan solution to Iraq - Biden, Ligar, Warner

http://balancingtheissues.com/iraq_solution.htm

Second on Shaun's comment about peter DC.

Senator, how do you pay for your Populist programs?

If there's no substantive plan to pay for them, won't they just skew the economy as the Economic Divide is closed, similar to the way the Bush Tax Cuts made the Divide worse?

Second on all the questions Peter just asked.

A commentator pointed out that this is the least experienced field of candidates for nomination for President in our history--Is that right in your view and does it describe you; how would you characterize your experience in relation to the job known as "the leader of the free world"?

I am a senior citizen and a vet. There are two items I wish someone would question John Edwards on.

One - For over four (4) years, we have been training the Iraq forces and supplying them with funds, equipment and other resources. These forces have been heavily infiltrated by the insurgents and have used these resources againist us. Why have you not focused on this in your arguments to leave Iraq?

Two - A lot has been made of your haircuts - prices of $300, $400, $1250. I believe that a man's personel traits are also reflected in his professional life. Can you explain paying so much for these haircuts? Sorry, I do not care if if these were your personal funds.
This issue will keep following you around until your either drop out or run in the general election.

Thank god at least some readers asked serious questions...

'What would you do in your first 100 days to make us safe against this attack?'

This is a good and substantial one. Now, if we could just get political reporters to be as sensible as regular folks and stop trying to outdrudge the sleazeball himself and stop talking about trivialities like houses and haircuts...

But I guess that's too much to ask.

Mr. Edwards, considering that you are running behind both Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama what differentiating factors/considerations do you think you can offer registered Democrats during the Primary season that will place you in a position to overcome each of them?

Followup: How will you parlay these factors/considerations into a message that both Democrats and Independents can get behind during the general election?

if you had to choose between senator clinton or senator obama who would you choose (chris dont let him give a non answer answer cause then i really wont vote for him)

Why is peter dc such a dick?

I was wondering if the Senator could get more specific about the prospected costs of some of his initiatives and where he would aquire that excess money. Simply "rolling back" the Bush tax cuts will not result in the kind of fiscal windfall to offset the cumulative costs of all of his programs, from energy to health insurance etc. Ignoring for the time being the costs of current military and foriegn policy operations, would the Senator, as president, stomach continued budget deficits in order to impliment his programs?

Osama bin Laden waited 8 years between his first attack on American soil and his second. If he is equally patient, the next attack will come in 2009, under a new President.

Are we safer?

What would you do in your first 100 days to make us safe against this attack?

Osama bin Laden waited 8 years between his first attack on American soil and his second. If he is equally patient, the next attack will come in 2008, under a new President.

Are we safer?

What would you do in your first 100 days to make us safe against this attack?

Mr. Edwards,

How would you balance defending America and protecting civil liberties at home?

What are the inherent dangers in the Bush doctrine of preemptive warfare?

In Ohio, lawmakers passed a bill regulating adult businesses. The regulation required a no touching rule and mandated these businesses must close at midnight. Ohio's Democratic governor wimped out, refused to veto the bill and let it become law. If elected President, would you have the chops to stand up to the religious right?

Please ask what he thinks of the War on Drugs? Does he think we need to rethink our appoach to dealing with drug addiction and drug related crimes? Shouldn't this be part of a war on poverty?

How has the country changed since the 04 elections and how are you addressing these changes with your current campaign platform?

Whom would you consider as your Vice-Presidential running mate and why?

Mr. Edwards:

Would you agree to a pre-emptive assault on the island of Zouk? Would you approve the use of extraordinary measures when questioning their king?

The poverty issue is motherhood and apple pie. The real issue for him and all of them is exactly how and in what time period would he reduce the US military presence in Iraq, and how would he simultaneously confront the terrorist threat and rebuild US influence and prestige in the midddle east. And the world, for good measure.

Try that one on him.

Peter, people never vote the bottom of the ticket.

Question:
You have said that the War on Terror is nothing more than a "Bumper Sticker." Do you mean it has been used as a club for political purposes or there aren't extremists who want to kill Americans in the world?

That is the bluntest form of the question, but it covers the gist. Feel free to mess with the language.

The global AIDS crisis is a frequent talking point in candidate stump speeches, and rightly so. It is a crisis of staggering proportions. 40 million people are infected with HIV, and most are in sub-Saharan Africa. The US has committed to spending $15 billion by the end of 2008 on a global AIDS initiative, and, in fact, we are on track to spend $19 billion during the first five years- a great accomplishment by any measure. This critical program will need to be reauthorized and increased during the next President's term. Due to an increase in the number of people who will need treatment, and increasing costs associated with people becoming resistant to first line treatment, the second five years of the program is estimated to cost $50 billion. This works out to an increase of $1.4 billion per year in funding for global AIDS. Unfortunately, when President Bush announced his plan for the second five years, he massively undercut his own program, and proposed to flat-fund the initiative at $30 billion over five years ($6bn/year, and we are likely to authorize spending of $6bn in 2008 alone). What I want to know is- will the next President make sure to fund the US global AIDS initiative at necessary levels- $50 billion over five years? Unless we do this, we will lose the critical ground we've gained in recent years combating the global AIDS epidemic.

Why do you think that people never focus on your substance and just resort to attacks on your house and haircuts? Do you think people are taking the issues of this campaign seriously enough?

1. If you couldn't even help John Kerry win your own state in 2004 what makes you think you would have a better chance today?
2. You are building a huge mansion. How does that square with your idea of helping the poor or conserving energy?
3. How can you claim justify your claim that you only joined the Hedge Fund to bolster your knowledge of economics? Wouldn't it have made more sense to bring together some leading economists to give you a course on world economics and the impact of hedge funds on the rich and how they are used as tax dodges?
4. For the past nearly four 1/2 years you have been doing nothing but campaigning. How do you account for the fact that you can't seem to rise above 3rd in any national polls and that you seem to be fading in most of them?
5. What will you do if you lose the nomination? Do you have any other plans?
6. You keep apologizing for your vote on Iraq in 2002 but if you were President do you kow how long it would take to actually withdraw the troops from Iraq while making sure that those that remain during the withdrawal phase are safe? Do you have a plan for the region once you withdraw troops?
7. What are your plans for dealing with the Midde East particularly the Israeli and Palistinian situation? Do you have a specific plan that you would put in place if you become President? Do you approve of using Tony Blair as our envoy there?

I would keep my mouth shut about my questions until the interview, so his staffers don't see the questions in advance and give him cheat sheets.

I would ask him what he would do about the resurgence and rise of the Taliban and al-Queda in nuclear-equipped Pakistan, where virtually ALL of the terrorists and would be terrorists are currently coming from.

(CBS) Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.

'I am still not sure that I believe it: The Iraqi parliament is going on vacation during the month of August.

The White House offers the lame excuse that, after all, Baghdad is hot in August - sometimes 130 degrees.

May I ask a follow-up?

How much hotter do you suppose it is if you are a wearing a helmet, full body armor, carrying ammunition and walking foot patrols through Baghdad?

The last I heard, that is how American troops are spending their August in Iraq.

For me, this does it.

God help the Iraqi people because there is not much America can do to help a government that leaves Americans dying in the streets while the parliament escapes to cooler climes.

Does this mean we should pull out immediately?

No. A sudden withdrawal could set the entire region aflame. The truth is there are no good options left. But from here on, we need to put aside the dream of building a democracy in Iraq and focus solely on what is in our national interest.

It won't be pretty, but for all our good intentions, about all we can do now is try to contain this mess, pull our troops back from the middle of this civil war, and concentrate instead on the terrorist threat that this country faces around the world.

As for what kind of government Iraq needs, let their parliament figure it out. They can get right on it when the Baghdad weather turns cooler. '

Do you think you might do some actual reporting on where Edwards stands on something Americans care about, say healthcare?

'This is one of the reasons why it's important to save Medicare from the ravages of privatization: (from Krugman today)

On the other hand, it's true that Americans get hip replacements faster than Canadians. But there's a funny thing about that example, which is used constantly as an argument for the superiority of private health insurance over a government-run system: the large majority of hip replacements in the United States are paid for by, um, Medicare.

That's right: the hip-replacement gap is actually a comparison of two government health insurance systems. American Medicare has shorter waits than Canadian Medicare (yes, that's what they call their system) because it has more better funding -- end of story. The alleged virtues of private insurance have nothing to do with it.

The bottom line is that the opponents of universal health care appear to have run out of honest arguments. All they have left are fantasies: horror fiction about health care in other countries, and fairy tales about health care here in America.'