In about 8 minutes, the Des Moines Register’s Democratic Debate will start.  I’ll be doing what I can to live blog it–after the debate is over, I’ll move most of it to below the feed.

And if you’re interested, the Dodd Campaign will again be doing their talk clock:

Let’s go below the fold to read the re-cap…

12:55–The Democrats have just taken the stage at Maytag Auditorium.  We’re almost ready to begin.

1:00–Wolf Blitzer and Candy Crowley say that the debate needs to be positive, yet at the same time Obama and Clinton have to fight each other hard.  Which one is it?

1:01–Here come the introductions.  Looks like they’re again looking at the issues Iowans want to hear about.

1:03–First issue: Would it be a priority of your administration to balance the budget?  Yes or no, and why.

Obama: Focus on the spending fundamentals first.  We have to overcome the special interests clogging up the system.  Can’t dig ourselves out of the hole in one or two years.

Richardson: As a Gov., he has to do it.  It would be a major priority of his administration.  He would advocate for a line-item veto for the president as well as a constitutional amendment to balance the amendment.  Emphasis on paygo policies in legislation.

Biden: Don’t have to make a choice of balancing the budget and the policies we want.  It is about priorities.  Eliminate wasteful Pentagon spending to make up for the costs of our priorities.

Dodd: Federal gov’t is much different than a state gov’t.  We need to be growing our economy.  We require flexibility.

Edwards: We have to get rid of the structural deficiencies in the American economy by protecting jobs and growing the middle class.  Corporate power and greed have taken over the American gov’t.

Clinton: It is a priority for me.  Go back to the 1990s and see the successes we had.  We can’t fix it in one year.  The results will take a while.

Follow-up: When are tax increases necessary?  And which priority is worth paying for?

Richardson: Get rid of the tax breaks for the wealthy.  Balance the budget, with exemptions for emergencies, war, and Social Security.  His priority would be ending the war in Iraq to promote fiscal responsibility.

Edwards: Tax policy in America has been established by big corporations and wealthy Americans.  We ought to be doing is getting rid of tax breaks for companies and the wealthy, and we have to help middle class families.

Clinton: Restore the tax rates in the 1990s.  Keep the middle class tax cuts, but increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthy.

1:12–Question: Assuming we will still have military expenses in Iraq, how will you pay for your policies that you proposed?

Biden: The point is that we shouldn’t buy into the Republican paradigm on spending.  You can pay for these initiatives with the right priorities.

Obama: Every proposal put forward so far has a plan to be paid for.  Close tax loopholes that house tons of money in the Cayman Islands.  Restores fairness to tax code and puts money in Americans’ pockets.

1:15–Richardson: Detailed $57 million in defense reductions.  We’ve got to recognize that the Iraq war has drained our military.  We need to take care of our veterans.

Dodd: Frame this as what is fair, responsible, and pro-growth.  The middle class is falling behind.  Expand the child tax credit to take kids out of poverity.  Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit.

1:17–Question to Richardson: China is called the US’ banker.  How do we manage our complicated relationship with China differently than now?

Richardson: We have to view our relationship as a strategic competitor.  Be tougher on trade, human rights.  We also have to make sure China is trading with us on an equitable basis.  We have to recognize they’re a major power, and we need a strategic relationship with them.

Dodd: Competitors play with the same rules.  This is an adversarial relationship–intellectual copyright fraud, etc.  We’re tired of a conversation that its business as usual.  We don’t have the same access.  We need to be tough, loud, and fair.

1:20–Question to Clinton: Is too much money going to entitlements?  And is it a problem?  If so, why?

Clinton: It is a problem, particularly with Medicare and Social Security.  Medicare shoul dhave the right to negotiate for lowest drug prices.  We’ve got to have a health care reform that will bring costs down.  For Social Security, when she’s president she’ll convene a bipartisan committee.

Biden: They will be a problem if we don’t act.  Lift the cap on social security and it’ll be solvent for all youth.  With Medicare, there are a lot of reforms needed, like focusing on chronic disease and preventative wellness.

1:22–Obama: Prevention and cost-savings are important for Medicare.  If we went back to obestity rates of 1980s, we’d have an extra trillion dollars for MEdicare.  We have to change how business is done in Washington.

Richardson: Universal health care is a right for all Americans.  We’ve got to eliminate the health care bureaucracy.  We’ve got to elminate junk food in schools, mandatory phys ed, and more research on ailments and chronic disease.

1:24–Obama and Edwards Campaign statements.

Obama: Quick request for Iowans to caucus for him at the end of a speech that basically says I’m rising to the challenges our country faces.

Edwards: Rise up together and fight against big corporate interests.  Oops, statement flub.

1:26–How should we alter trade policies with the countries that violate human rights, etc?

Biden: We should build in human rights policies into trade legislation.

Richardson: Human rights are a fundamental tenant of American foreign policy, and trade policy.  Impose trade sanctions when countries don’t hold elections and don’t honor human rights.  We’ve got to specify that nation’s we trade with follow international core labor standards.  And environmental standards.

1:29–Dodd: Talk about the universal human rights, and they should be a fundamental part of all of our policies.  If you’re going ot do business with the US, then you’re going have to talk about human rights.

Edwards: Human rights should be central to how the US engages with the rest of the world.  Again, an attack on big corporations who got rich quick in China and brought us dangerous toys and other goods.  Outsourcing jobs must be stopped.  Corporate power and profits can’t run American policy.

Question to Clinton: Should NAFTA be scrapped or changed?

1:30–Clinton: It should be changed.  We’ve got to focus on smart, pro-America trade.

Obama: NAFTA needs to be amended.  Labor and environmental agreements need to be enforcable.  Back to trade and human rights.  It is harder for us to be in favor of human rights when we have situations like Guantanmo when we aren’t even true to our own ideals.  Nice connection.

Dodd: Economic sanctions on Darfur passed unanimously in the Senate last night.  Work is happening.

1:32–candidate statements.

Biden: This election isn’t about change, but action and pragmatic solutions.  It is time to raise this country up.

Richardson: Thanks the people of Iowa for putting us through this very good process of electing us President.  The Iraq War wasn’t discussed in previous debates, but we’ve got to focus on it.  IT is the fundamental issue of this election and it impacts all of the other arenas we want to focus on.

1:34–Question: What would you do to turn energy independence into a net benefit for the US?

Biden: It is going to take a while. Invest in other areas because corn ethanol won’t take us all the way.  That was a brave statement, but brief.  The bottom line is that the PResident has to make this a moral crusade, and Americans should be ready to sacrifice.

Richardson: It is going to take an energy resolution.  He regrets that the Senate killed the energy bill that would’ve given more tax credits to the industry.  Mentions a fleet of flex-fuel vehicles.  Americans need a president to ask them to sacrifice for the greater good.

1:37–Dodd: Good steps in Iowa thanks to Vilsack, Culver.  We can’t wish ourselves out of the problem.  We need a corporate carbon tax, and he’s the only one to propose that.  We need to tax the carbon that’s killing this process–Gore and Bradely have called his plan the most bold.

Clinton: It is imperative that we address this issue.  How we do this will affect the average American.  We need a cap and trade system, while investing the money in research in development and cushion the costs passed onto the American consumer.  We’ve got to enlist the American people in a new-age Apollo program. “This has to call for a new form of American patriotism.”  Damn good line.  Definitely sounding presidential.

Obama: This is a moral imperative.  I went to Detroit and challenged the automakers; we’ve got to challenge folks.

1:40–This is great rhetoric for the candidates, but there haven’t been barbs to one another or significant contrast between the candidates.  Is this going to be antoher love fest or will the candidates challenge one another?

1:41–Edwards: The obstacles to the change are oil and power companies, the entrenched interests.  We need a president to ask Americans to be patriotic about something other than war.  He also wants a cap and trade system.

1:42–Clinton to Washburn: Do you want us to raise our hands about global warming?  Lots of laughs.  Good moment for Clinton.

Question: None of the senators were there for the amendment to the farm bill that would’ve encouraged more conservation.  How would you have voted for it?

Dodd: I would’ve voted for it.  Congrats to Harkin for leadership on the farm bill.

Obama: Lower and cap the subsidies.  Not a very clear answer, and doesn’t really address the question.  Washburn follows up, but says he probably would’ve voted against it.

Biden: Would’ve voted for it.  And voted for the same way today that Barack did.

Clinton: Referring to the Lugar-Lautenberg bill.  Following Harkin’s lead, and would’ve voted against it like he did.  Voted for the same amendment today that all the Senate Dems did today.

1:47–Candidate statements now.

Clinton: Everyone wants change.  Everyone on this stage wants it, some hope for it, some demand it.  Wow, pretty direct barb to the candidates.  She’s the first to do that.

Dodd: Thanks Iowans for letting us campaign here and welcoming us here.  Campaign on positive results with a record of achieving results thatbring people together.  It is what he’s done for the last 26 years.

1:49–Question: Please describe the key features of what you see as the best school system int he world.

Edwards: Get the kids young.  We need universal pre-k for 4 year olds in America.  We need a national teaching university.  Wealthy suburban schools get what they need, not the others.  One Ameican school system.

Richardson: Make education as one of his top priorities.  Universal preschooling for kids under four.

1:52–Question to Richardson: How should voters look at New Mexico and judge your record?

Richardson: We’ve improved in numerous categories.  And we’ve lowered the achievment gap with tough demographics.

Obama: A lot of good ideas have been mentioned.  Change NCLB so that we’re not just teaching to a test.  I’ll get parents reengaged in putting a sense of interest in their children.

Dodd: Education is the key priority to achieving American success.  It takes leadership that talks about this every single day.

Clinton: The presidnet has a certain bully pulpit to do what Chris, Barack, and others have said.  Let’s use the dollars we spend on education strategically, like fully-funding whatever we ask local communities to do.

Edwards: You’ve already asked me, but I’ll answer again and elaborate thanks.

Biden: The reason my wife isn’t here today is because she’s teaching.  There are four things we have to do: 1) start early, 2) smaller classes, 3) more teachers and pay teachers better, and 4) provide access to college.

1:58–Question: What realistically do you believe you can accomplish in your first year as president?

Obama: Call in the Joint Chiefs and tell them that in a safe and responsible way to end the War in Iraq.  Second, he’d call in new AG and review every single executive order by Bush and reverse those that have hurt american democracy.  Third, bring in leaders in health care arena to bring about universal care.

Biden: Bring in Joint Chiefts and tell them to launch the Biden Plan.  Insure for every child in America before the first you.  Implement preschool education problem.

Richardson: End the war with all troops out.  Pass universal health care and take a few years to implement.  PAss energy revolution.  And finally, as president, he would tell Americans that he would restore the constitution and govern accordingly.

Dodd: First thing is that he’d change the discourse in this country.  First day by executive power and he’d give us back our constitution.  It isn’t about ending the war only, but he’d engage in robust diplomacy.  And convene a committee on universal health care.

Edwards: The truth is that we’re faced with big problems.  He’d start a lot of things, but they won’t happen unless we have a president who calls on Americans to unite and take democracy and this country back.  Attacks corporations again.

Clinton: I’m gonna be busy.  Begin to end the war in Iraq.  The era of cowboy diplomacy is over.  Review exec orders and repeal the bad ones.  Ask Congress to send them the bills Bush vetoed so she can sign them.

2:03–Questions: Character and leadership are just as important as issues.

Question to Clinton: Would her presidency operate secretly?  How would you govern transparently?

Clinton: You have to have a strong communications strategy and I learned from my mistakes.

Oh, and at 1:59 PM, I just got my first press release about the debate from Dodd’s campaign attacking Edwards on the claim that “he’s worked for working families all his life.”

Question to Biden: You’ve flubbed about race a lot.  Do these gaffes indicate you’re uncomfortable talking about race or are people just too sensitive?

Biden: I started my life on campaigning for civil rights.  The point I’m trying to make is that minorities start off worse than others.  No one who knows him thinks I have problem with race.

Obama: I’ve worked with Joe Biden and I have no doubt about his commitment.  I’ll provide testimony that Joe is on the right side of the issues.

Question to Edwards at 2:08 PM: How will you accomplish your agenda calling these groups corrupt?

Edwards: I believe these companies are very well financed and people think that we can sit down with them and they’ll voluntarily give their power away.  He thinks that is a fantasy.  All of policies are dependent on winning the battle against corporations and special interests.

Question to Dodd: How much are you motivated by your run to restore your family’s name after your father’s censure?

2:10–Dodd: My family motivates me.  Public service is quite fulfilling and he can make a difference.

Question to Richardson: As energy secretary, there were security concerns.  In this era that Americans are fearful about national security, talk about that part of your resume.

Richardson: In my long resume, I’m sure I’ve made more mistakes.  I’ll stand behind my record as Energy Secretary.

Question to Obama: You have a lot of former Clinton officials advising you.  With relatively limited foreign policy advisers, how will you rely on Clinton staffers and bring about the change you propose?

2:13–Obama to Clinton: A statement about her advising him, after she mentioned that she wanted to hear this answer.  Lots of laughs.

Obama: Bush brought about our system of fear.  Those advising him will help him always protect America and restore our county’s dignity.

2:14–As President, would you use signing statements?

Clinton: I would use them as presidents before Bush did.

Edwards: I will go back to the way signing statements have been used historically.  And he’ll make sure all three branches of American government are equal.  GWB is not king.

2:16–Question: New Year’s resolution for 2008.

Clinton: Multi-part resolution. Spend time with family, exercising, and rebuild the optimism of Americans.

Edwards: Go beyond the typical political thinking, and realize that Americans are starving, dying, and struggling.

Dodd: I want to see our country regains its confidence, and its moral authority.  Caucus correctly.

Richardson: To lose weight, and I’m gonna do it again.  I wish the Congress and the President end their dysfunctional relationship and govern.  And I want to continue to stay positive.

Biden: Remember where I came from.  Remember when things were bad in his life, so that he treats others the way they should be treated when things are good.

Obama: Be a better father, be a better husband.  Remind myself constantly that this is not about me.  It is a strain on my family.  The only reason the sacrifice is worthwhile is that if I’m having an impact.  Don’t be timid and don’t be distorted by the fears oflosing.

2:21–Last question: What are the lessons from Iowa?

Clinton: Thanks to Iowans and she’s eaten her way across the state.  The intimacy is what matters.

Edwards: Caucuses are crucial because the caucusgoers get to see us up close, and can accurately judge an honest, sincere, and trustworthy leader.

Dodd: Enjoyed everything on a stick, the thing he’s carried away the most is the spirit of independence to make up their own minds.

Richardson: Iowans like underdogs and I like that best.

Biden: Iowa deserves to be first because Iowans take it so seriously.  People take it seriously no matter where you are with people treating you with respect.  Without you, this democracy is in trouble because its all about money.

Obama: The core decency of the American people.  Their instincts are good and when informed right, they make the right decisions.

2:24–And we’re done!