Review: 2008 Democratic Presidential Debate

Jovial quips interspersed with political rhetoric and bits of hypothetical policy changes characterized this debate involving the eight major Democratic Presidential contenders. George Stephanopoulus moderated the event. The Iowa Debate platform included Senator Hillary Clinton D-New York, Senator Joe Biden D- Delaware, Governor Bill Richardson D- New Mexico, Barack Obama D-Illinois, John Edwards former United States Senator for North Carolina, Dennis Kucinich D- U.S. Representative for Ohio, Mike Gravel former U.S. senator for Alaska, and Chris Dodd D-Connecticut.

Many topics of contention were addressed. Iraq war and the current policy of the Bush administration plus health care, took center stage. Barack Obama's experience, or lack or it, was sidestepped by the other candidates. Merit pay for teachers and the revamping of the "no child left behind" initiative brought about agreement and the proverbial disagreement with conditions from the group. As usual direct questions were not answered. Global warming, alternative energy, farm policy, political experience, trade agreements and the failed politics of Washington were all bantered about as issues to be addressed. Unfortunately, policy issues need to be based not on vision and ideology, but on performance. As the Bush administration wallows in a quagmire of its own making, the Democratic hopefuls would do well to watch and learn.