Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Jacqueline Beery, Kendallville, IN — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:04:21 GMT

I really enjoyed watching Super Tuesday's schedule today. It was informative to hear the candidates give longer answers and react to the audience. Overall, I would say Mrs. Clinton did the best! Everyone else is chasing her!

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

ellec, Seattle — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:44:02 GMT

I agree with the democrats. Our government needs to change, not continue on with the same ideological path. According to the Borgen Project, we have already spent $340 billion on the Iraq war. Endorsing other campaigns as fruitless as the Iraq war is a mistake.

To really get at the root of national security, global poverty needs to be addressed. The problem isn't terrorism, it's the extreme poverty that people live in that fosters the ideology. Coupled with our foreign policy, no good can come out of it all. If our government really wanted to halt terror, war and genocide, it would spend money on helping lesser-developed nations grow economically. Supporting the Millennium Development Goals to end global poverty would be more beneficial than starting wars all over the Middle East and creating more anti-Western sentiment.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Garry Norris, Ogden, Utah — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:27:12 GMT

Senator Edwards ......................

At least part of what you said is true.

"there’s never going to be peace in Iraq.”

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Kim Buike, Everett, Wa — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:12:08 GMT

The only accurate part of Clinton's statement is where she says several times "I don't know." For the rest, none of them mention the consequence of their proposed immediate troop withdrawl on Iraq, the Iraqi people or the region. An immediate substantial troop withdrawl will result in a massive bloodbath for which America will be blamed which the new Democratic president and congress and media will attribute to the outgoing administration. A win-win for the Democrats no matter what and a lose-lose for America and the world. The "party first at all costs" approach of the democrats is sickening. I don't like how the war is going but at least the President is behaving as a Commander in Chief instead of a political party sycophant.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

sohan Pieris - Honolulu Hawaii — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:16:33 GMT

All 5 candidates are SPOT ON. They are echoing the same idea of withdrawl in different ways. I believe we need to have a small presence in the area, but please get our men & women out of 'their' civil war.
Impeach Bush,Cheyney & Rice in the process too.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

John Doe, Seattle, Wash — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:24:02 GMT

You guys really think a US embassy will actually survive in Iraq without a standing army? Um....didn't these candidates live through the Iran hostage crisis?

Notice no mention as to what will happen to the Iraqi people after withdrawal... just pandering to the voters who want our soldiers to come home. In other words, leave and let the Iraqis sort out the mess the US put them in. Whether you agreed with the war or not, it happened and now there is a big mess. Quit and leave, yeah...there will be peace on Earth for sure.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Mario in Atlanta — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:37:04 GMT

What a bunch of ignorants!
Are we going to fight Al Quaida in our streets?
Please, open your eyes and be Americans first, then Democrats or Republicans.
I am not attacking anybody, just trying to open their eyes.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

David Jones, Corona, California — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:43:09 GMT

It scares me to death that one of theses people could actually become our president. If we think that the militant terrorist will walk away amid some "political" solution, then we are only asking for constant attacks on America and our interests. I hope we can all see we are dealing with a group of fanantics that will never compromise. We need to constantly take the battle to these people and not sit back and always be reactive, as the group above will be in the future!!

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Lynard — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:05:51 GMT

only bill makes sense, but do you see sense prevailing, i don't. america even lies to itself from the president down. i have been dissappointed in the republicans, i thought they were religious and truthful, but they have proven to be liars and out to steal; kill and destroy ( hypocrites )

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Derek, Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:13:49 GMT

Hillary Clinton seems to have a better understanding of Iraq than the other candidates. (Joe Biden would probably have given a better response had he been in the forum) Nonetheless, just because one candidate responded better than the others does not mean that it's the best response.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Matthew NJ — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:16:33 GMT

They all want the troops out which by my account is better than where we're at now. I can't imagine how anyone who says they support our troops recommend that they stay in harms way when it is clearly not the answer to use force in this situation.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

J Dyer Plant City, FL — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:37:59 GMT

Holy wars have always sprung up in the middle east, no one today can not say that G.W.Bush has done nothing but start a holy war, you can not establsih democracy in a day, month, year to some religous group who has never had it. Again I ask the question has there ever been a country not have a civil war when starting a democracy?

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN.LAKEVILLE,MN — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:24:19 GMT

MY SON IS DEPLOYED IN IRAC,AFTER BEING WITH HIS UNIT FOR ONLY 2 WEEKS HE HAS SEEN ONE SOLDER DIE AND THE OTHER HAD HIS RIGHT ARM BLOWN OFF.I AM AFRAID FOR HIS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL BEING.WHILE SPEAKING WITH HIM ON THE PHONE,I CAN ALREADY SEE A CHANGE.PLEASE BRING OUR BOYS HOME,I WANT TO SEE LIFE IN MY SONS EYES WHEN HE RETURNS.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Steve, Juneau, Alaska — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 06:21:35 GMT

I was extraordinarily disappointed with the Democratic Congress when it backed down Bush on withdrawal troops. Bush has loused up everything he has touched. When are the democrats going to get some guts?

In any event, I am glad to see some level of gutsiness on the part of the Democratic presidential candidates. Iraq was wrong. The adminstration lied. I am sure Bush and his oil cronies had numerous reasons for getting us in. I wonder if Bush just wanted to avoid what happened to his dad after Kuwait, and therefore "invented" a war to stay in power.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Sid Park, Holly Hill, Florida — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 06:53:53 GMT

I like what John Edwards has to say about alot of things, but hey John, you said that "the Taliban is re-emerging" and "Heroin trade is way up." Well then you should know sir that those two problems right there will cancel eachother out. The Taliban are against Afghanistan's producing opium, and in fact, opium production was almost completly wiped out until America stepped in. But keep on smilling!

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

FRANCISCO A. BRENES — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:54:34 GMT

Pleases iraq civil war is not a problem of USA. all soldiers have to return to the country usa. I the father to have a son on iraq now, in the army. name DEHAN ALBERTO AQUINO.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

GEORGE LEVY — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:00:43 GMT

All except Richardson talk like fools. We have
no more options in Iraq than in Vietnam,
where 3,000,000 hard core fighters surrounded
500,000 American troops, and we lost
59,000 dead. How is Iraq any different? We
occupied the Philippines for 50 years and
scored a complete failure at nation building.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Wayne McCoy, Gainesville FL — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:10:42 GMT

All well and good, but I think any troops we leave there should be for specific purposes and not just to prop up the Iraqi government. If we want to affect the outcome against al Qaeda and the insurgents, we need to get uniformed troops out and use special forces in local dress and not driving around in Humvees, so that the "enemies" have no idea where they are being attacked from nor by whom. "Terrorize" them, as it were.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Jenny Kilborne, Porftland Ore. — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:31:00 GMT

This is the democratic party? Good lord we are in trouble if these morons get elected.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Glenn Taylor, NM — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:25:15 GMT

Unfortunately all would not do what they say, because it would be impossible, under current conditions, to leave a small force or a force the region without protection.

We would need to stay or quickly pull ALL forces from hostile areas outside the world.

A President would not do that, only a democratic candidate would say it.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Dwight Reagan — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:09:03 GMT

Yes, I can understand the Democrat's war strategy - it is very simple. CUT AND RUN!!! No further spin or explanation is necessary. What a pathetic strategy!!

Dwight Reagan
Rochelle, Texas

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Gary Vassar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:48:00 GMT

I have been a democrat for decades, even as a candidate for state office once, but this is the most pathic group I've ever seen as candidates. Not a single worthwhile idea amoung them. I call them "do anythings" for the White House only. This year I will stay at home on election day or vote for Guliani a republican.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Williams, Edwin — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:04:00 GMT

All of these candidates must know that we have to make a change in the Middle East and the rest of the world and that doesn't mean running away. The internet has opened up Pandora’s Box showcasing the “has to the has-nots”. We have left the rest of the world alone far to long allowing ignorance to fester enabling dictators to take hold and grow deep, strong roots. This world is not as large as we might what to believe. Whoever has the power must help the powerless. United we stand, divided we fall.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

Michael Buie, Raleigh, NC — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:34:15 GMT

Edwards, then Clinton, gave the most definitive steps they'd take.

Matthews: Recap of presidential candidates at AFSCME forum

mike tyndall, morehead city, nc — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:28:20 GMT

I am ashamed to say that these people are the choices for the president of the USA! We need to disband the 2 party system if this is all the choice that we get! These people are more loyal to the democratic party than the USA. What ever happened to the persons that placed the USA over their political parties??? The way we're going, nothing will ever get passed that just benefits the people and not the special interests that both parties have, come on, lets get real!!