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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (519602)	1/5/2004 9:12:09 AM
From: tonto	Respond to of 769670

As pointed out during the democratic debate: "The reality is, everybody on this stage is talking about spending money," he went on. "There is a tension between spending money and reducing the federal deficit. We should be straight with people about that."

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (519602)	1/5/2004 9:50:14 AM
From: Hope Praytochange	Respond to of 769670

Rivals in Debate Take Aim at Dean By ADAM NAGOURNEY Published: January 5, 2004 Mark Kegans for The New York Times jOHNSTON, Iowa, Jan. 4 — The Democratic presidential candidates repeatedly pummeled Howard Dean at a debate here on Sunday, in a raucous series of exchanges on taxes and trade that reflected how tight the Iowa caucuses have become 15 days before the vote. For two hours, during a blustery afternoon snowstorm, seven of the nine contenders took advantage of what is likely to be one of the most prominent platforms left before the Jan. 19 caucuses. They promoted themselves, laid out the themes of their campaigns and attacked their opponents, underscoring the pivotal nature of the contest. The debate also highlighted an emerging subplot here: the fight for No. 2 — or, in the tradition of Iowa caucuses, with their wide field and first position on the calendar, No. 3. Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, a low-voltage presence in past debates, repeatedly took on Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri. The two clashed in particular over the depth of their opposition to free trade treaties, an issue that Mr. Gephardt has made a centerpiece of his appeal in a state where there is strong opposition among Democrats to pacts like the North American Free Trade Agreement. Still, the candidate of the day was, once again, Dr. Dean, the former governor of Vermont. When the candidates were offered an opportunity to question one another, four turned their fire on Dr. Dean, leaving no doubt about the pressure they feel to block him from a victory here that could propel him to his party's nomination. "My question, not surprisingly, is to Howard Dean," said Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut. Mr. Lieberman noted that Dr. Dean had declined to release all public papers from when he was governor, and pressed him to settle the issue here, before the cameras at a television studio on the outskirts of Des Moines. "The people of America, who are judging your candidacy for president now, have a right to know what you did as governor to determine whether you're suitable and capable of being president of the United States,"' Mr. Lieberman said. "I have in my hand the memorandum of understanding between you and the secretary of state, which makes very clear that all it takes to open up your records, Mr. Governor, is one stroke of a pen." But Dr. Dean brushed aside the entreaty from across the stage (he was too far away for Mr. Lieberman to walk over). He said a Vermont court would decide the question, which he defined as protecting the privacy of individuals who had written him. In particular, he cited Vermonters involved in the dispute over his signing of legislation allowing same-sex civil unions. "Governors seal records for particular amounts of time — in my case, some of the records — to protect people's privacy, to protect the privacy that was given to advisers," Dr. Dean said. "That is an unsatisfactory and disappointing answer," Mr. Lieberman responded. "Why should you have to force a judge to force you to do what you know is right?" A moment later, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts cited a series of pronouncements on foreign and domestic policy that Dr. Dean has made and then backed away from as evidence of Dr. Dean's potential weakness as a Democratic candidate, or as a president. "When you were asked by The Concord Monitor about Osama bin Laden, you said you couldn't prejudge his guilt for September 11th," Mr. Kerry said, scrunching up his face and turning incredulously to Dr. Dean. "What in the world were you thinking?" Dr. Dean responded by citing the primacy of law. "As an American, I want to see Osama bin Laden get what he deserves, which is the death penalty," Dr. Dean responded. "But I was asked that question as a candidate for president of the United States. And a candidate for president of the United States is obligated to stand for the rule of law."