I'm thinking of just posting up my unedited notes for any of my readers who are interested in seeing my report on the 2 hour 10 minute debate. I included the name and location of each citizen-questioner where provided, and I took the liberty of filtering out the crap in order to find the essence of their question (something you'll learn to do well if you ever work in the service industry). After each question, I'll assess its worth, followed by noting who Anderson Cooper allowed to address the question, and whether they actually addressed/answered the essential concern of the citizen's video file.

CNN/YouTube Debate 2007: The Democratic Primary Challengers

July 23rd, 2007

>Zack Kemp - Provo, Utah - Asks: How are you going to be different than the current president/congress?

. That's a stupid question. You don't have to even think to be able to swat it away. Doesn't require an answer.

>Davis Fleetwood - Grotoh, MA - For Kucinich: How would America be better off with you as president, as opposed to Obama or Clinton?

. Boils down to "Why are you here?" Terrible. Doesn't require an answer.

>Rob Porter - Irvine, CA - For Clinton: "How do you define the word 'liberal' and would you use it to describe yourself?

. No interpretation needed. For the record, she's a proud, 'modern American progressive.' Mike Gravel takes it as a chance to pounce on Obama for his special interest income.

>Saheed Badmus - Brentwood, MD - Blah blah partisanship; which Republican would you choose as a running mate?

. **Real Question #1**: Good question. Biden chose Hagel. Edwards said Hagel was a good choice, but didn't answer the question. Cooper didn't make him.

Scorecard for Real Question #1: 1 out of 7 answered.

>Will - Boston, MA - Is African Americans ever gonna get reparations from slavery?

. Edwards is not for reparations. Barack didn't answer if he was for or against reparations. Anderson asked if anyone on the stage was for reparations. Kucinich is. That makes one!

>Morgan G - Atlanta, GA - Would Katrina have been different if it hit a white area?

. Chris Dodd talked, but didn't answer. Bill Richardson talked, but didn't answer.

>Jordan Williams - Lawrence, KS - For Obama and Clinton: How do you answer the questions of whether you're authentically black (Obama) or authentically female (Clinton)?

. No answer needed. Terrible question. He's obviously black and she's obviously a woman. Nothing more than another snorefest chance for each candidate to sell him/herself.

>Mary & Jen - Brooklyn, NY - Would you allow us two ugly lesbos specifically to marry each other?

. **Real Question #2**: Kucinich says yes. Of course he does! Why not ask someone whose position is less-known from the get-go, Cooper? Dodd doesn't want them to be married. Richardson doesn't want them to be married.

Real Question #2 Scorecard: 3 out of 7 answered. I'm stunned.

>Rev. Reggie Longcrier - Hickory, NC - To Edwards: Why is religion used to deny gay Americans their full and equal rights?

. (Wants to end discrimination. Feels conflict. Doesn't support gay marriage.) Didn't answer question. The question was "WHY?" Does Reggie think his question was answered? "Not like I would liked to have heard it." Anderson asks again. Edwards finally says he will not use religion to determine human rights when he becomes president.

>Anderson Cooper - Atlanta, GA - To Obama: Why is a ban on gay marriage different than a ban on interracial marriage?

. Doesn't answer. LOL, I wouldn't answer, either. Make a YouTube video if you want your question answered, Anderson!

>Some idiots in Darfur - Darfur - What will you do to make Darfur safer?

. Cooper solidifies by asking if they'd commit troops. Terrible question. No answer analysis needed. So the YouTube debates are supposed to require our candidates to answer questions from non-voter, non-citizens? Fuck that.

>Anderson Cooper - Atlanta, GA - Shane Childers from the Citadel was the first US troop to die. Everyone clap for him and the other 11 Citadel grads who died in Operation: Endless Terror.

>Barry Mitchell - Philadelphia, PA - How do we pull out _now_? (if that's possible)

. Obama said he'd have combat troops out by Mar 31 of next year, with a diplomatic solution to pull up the slack. In other words, he didn't answer the question. Biden says we can't: it would take a year alone just to physically remove our footprint from the country.

>Mother of soldier deployed in Iraq - Is the perception true that Democrats are putting politics before conscience? Is the reason we're in Iraq because the Democrats fear they'll be blamed for the loss if they end the war?

. **Real Question #3**: Clinton doesn't answer either question. Kucinich answers: "Yes. It is politics." "The Democrats have failed the American people... it's a phony excuse to say you don't have the votes." Dodd starts yelling to avoid answering the question. Richardson doesn't answer it, even though he speaks.

Real Question #3 Scorecard: 1 out of 7 answered.

>John Cantees - Huntington, WV - Mike Gravel said "the entire deaths of Vietnam died in vain" do you want to defend that statement? Are you gonna flip-flop, Mike Gravel?

. Hell no! Gravel shouts, "THEY DIED IN VAIN!" You can go to Hanoi now and get a Baskin Robbins ice cream cone. We now have MFN trading status with them! Anderson could move things on, but he asks Obama his own question: "Are the Iraq troops dying in vain?" This gives Obama another chance to platform a little more on Iraq. Coop softball to Edwards: Did they die in vain in Vietnam? Edwards says no.

>Tony Fuller - somewhere (I was getting the tea kettle) - Should women be required to register for Selective Service?

. Dumb question. Who the fuck cares? Dodd says yes. Clinton says yes. Obama says yes to service, but not in combat roles. Edwards doesn't really answer, but says there's no question women can serve. Gravel says he filibustered to end the first draft (street cred!), but thinks women should register if there's another draft.

>John MCalperin - Okinawa, JPN - To Clinton: How would you be taken seriously by states which view women as 2nd-class citizens?

. Well, she's already had high-level diplomatic meetings in 82 countries, so fuck it. Stupid fucking question.

>Stephen Sorta - Diamond Bar, CA - Within your first year, would you meet with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, and North Korea to bridge the gap?

. Damn stupid hypothetical. Obama would. Clinton will not promise to meet with the leaders of these countries in the first year. Edwards would meet with each of them, with a few preconditions.

>Gary Berry - Grandfather, father, and oldest son died in the military. By what date after Jan 21st, 2009 will US troops be out of Iraq? Do you have any family members serving?

. **Real Question #4**: Dodd already stated he wants them out way before that, but doesn't answer about his family members. Cooper stares blankly and switches to Richardson. Richardson ignorantly answers he'd get the troops out in 6 months. Senator Biden doesn't answer the question at all. Clinton doesn't think it's possible to get them out without even having a plan. She's all for getting a plan going right now. Kucinich says we can get out right now; we can't wait until the next president takes office. So, nobody addressed the second half of the question. Yay, Anderson!

Real Question #4 Scorecard: 3 out of 7 answered 1/2 of the question (missing the "date specific" part, but ah, well); 0 out of 7 answered the other 1/2 of the question.

>Sheena Currel - South Carolina - Who is your favorite teacher, and why?

. Mike Gravel talks about his favorite teacher. This is a retarded fucking question. Don't let little children ask questions. Obama talks about his favorite teacher. Biden talks about his favorite teacher, trailing off at the end. Edwards talks about his favorite teacher, while also muttering "kid from North Carolina whose daddy worked in a mill," for good measure.

>Randy McGirr - Trona, GA - I have no idea. You need to see what he's asking by looking, but CNN started the question with a wide view. I think it's about No Child Left Behind.

. Richardson says he would scrap it (NCLB), and advocates a $40,000 minimum wage for teachers. Biden says he made a mistake voting for it, and would scrap it. Wow, honesty! First instance of a huge national issue being dumped on Bill Richardson by Anderson Cooper.

>Mike Green - Lexington, SC - Would you send your kids to a public school or private school?

All of Edwards' kids have gone to public school. Clinton says Chelsea went to public schools K to 8, and had to go private when becoming president. Obama says his kids went to a private school because he taught there, and because it's 5 minutes from his house. Biden relates tha his wife and daugher were killed, so he sent his remaining kids to a Catholic school. Kucinich sent his to public school. Gravel's kids had a combination of public and private. Dodd's were straight up public.

DO YOU SEE HOW ANDERSON COOPER IS STRONGLY DEVOTED TO GETTING ANSWERS FROM EACH AND EVERY CANDIDATE ON TRIVIAL, SILLY, NON-ISSUE QUESTIONS?

>Anne Laird - Pennsylvania - Have you talked to your children about sex and used medically accurate and age-appropriate information?

Edwards says "yes," claiming the Edwardses have taught their children all they need to know. Obama had a chat with his kids about it. I would say that's two non-answers.

>Jackie Broyles and Dunlap - Murfreesboro, TN - No idea. They talked about Al Gore like rednecks. It was really just CNN using the "bash Al Gore whenever possible" clause in their contract with Satan.

. Biden says "I think the people of Tennesse [just] had their feelings hurt."

>Greg Hamel - Minneapolis, MN - A stupid question about global warming using snowmen. I'm not addressing this.

>Stephanie Mackley - Berkely, CA - How is the US going to decrease its energy consumption in the first place? How will you influence Americans to conserve?

. **Real Question #5**: Gravel says, get up a fair tax. We can alter climate change if we become a saving nation as opposed to a consuming nation. Chris Dodd says he'd tax carbon emissions on corporations. OK, wacky guys are out of the way, What about Hill and Obama?

Real Question #5 Scorecard: 2 out of 7 answered.

>Anderson Cooper - Atlanta, GA - How many of you took a private jet to get here today, by a show of hands?

. Gravel took the train. I think everyone else flew in via private jet. Damn you, Anderson, I told you to address your questions in the form of YouTube!

>Hillary Clinton - Talking Out of Turn, U.S.A - "I want to address the issues [about global warming]!!!!"

. Anderson Cooper stares blankly.

>Shawn Jackson - Ann Arbor, MI - What do you think of nuclear power?

. Edwards doesn't favor nuclear power. Obama platforms, doesn't address nuclear power directly. Clinton platforms, and then says she's agnostic about nuclear power.

>Melissa Compagnucci - San Luis Obispo, CA - Why can't I vote the same in every state? What are you going to do to fix that?

. **Real Question #6** Fuckin A! A REALLY good question! Richardson would push the whole country for verified paper trails. That was it?!?! That was it!?!? The first we've ever heard on this question, and nobody has to answer it except MISTER 1%?!?!?!? FUCK YOU!!!!!!!! FUCK YOU, CNN!!!!!!! BTW, though, Melissa Compagnucci is hot, 23, and single, so I'm suddenly distracted. FUCK YOU, though, CNN! This is the second instance of a major national issue being dumped on Bill Richardson.

Real Question #6 Scorecard: 1 out of 7 answered.

>Cecilia Smith, Ashanti Wilkins - Pennsylvania - If you're elected to serve, would you be willing to do this service for the next 4 years and earn the minimum wage?

. Gravel would. Senator Dodd couldn't live on the minimum wage with 2 daughters. Edwards says yes. Clinton can. Barack admits that they all could manage it because they have a lot of money. Richardson would. Biden's net worth is 70,000 to 100,000, so he'd do it if he had a 2nd job. Kucinich would work for the minimum wage.

AGAIN, ANDERSON COOPER IS DETERMINED TO PEEL OUT EVERY POSSIBLE ANSWER ON A QUESTION OF THE TRIVIAL.

>Nancy McDonald - Wilmington, Delaware - What's up with people who don't pay the social security tax, with incomes above $97,000? (I think that's what she said)

. Stupid fucking question. Dodd would raise it. Obama is equivocal.

>Fulano del Tal - San Juan, Puerto Rico - Asks a question with sunglasses on. Would you choose to raise taxes or reduce benefits to fix SS?

. **Real Question #7**Richardson doesn't answer. HA HA! This is the third pressing national issue Cooper has dumped on Bill Richardson before moving right along.

Real Question #7 Scorecard: 0 out of 7 answered.

>Remy [incomprehensible]- McLean, VA - Would you reduce taxes?

. This is the dumbest question imaginable. It was just included so CNN could show a guy singing a dumb song and making a joke.

>Marcus Benson - Minneapolis, MN - Will taxes rise if a Democrat takes office?

. Kucinich says no, for him. That's gotta be a lie. How would he implement his social reforms?

>Mark & Joel Strauss - Davenport, IA - What are you prepared to do to fight Alzheimers?
>Charity Woods - South Carolina - How do each of you plan on addressing chronic disease and preventative health in your health care programs?
>Kim Friedrich - Mastic, NY - I have no health insurance and pull off my wig. What would you do to make low cost or free preventative medicine available to everyone in the country?
>Mike Snarley - Morgantown, WV - I can't read his question. CNN has a wide angle and he's holding up signs.

. Ha ha ha! No direct questions from viewers on health care allowed! Ha ha ha! I'm skipping any answer given by any candidate, because they're not even addressing the YouTube users on a question by question basis.

CNN Producer: "Let's show a medley of complainers and then let you stump on your health care plan."
Candidates (in chorus): "Cool. We're down with that. Medical issues are deeply personal, and we'd love to detach ourselves from taking direct questions on this issue from voters."
CNN Producer: "Ha ha, that was a close one."

>Lucia Brawley - Los Angeles, CA - Does your health care plan cover undocumented workers?

. Dodd rebels! He goes back and addresses each question from the health care medley (until Cooper cuts him off, that is)! Dodd wants stem cells for Alzheimers, nutrition reform for diabetes... cut his mic! Dodd says he'd cover the undocumented workers, I think. Richardson would cover undocumented workers. This is the ONLY immigration question, and it is the 4th huge national issue dumped on Bill Richardson by Anderson Cooper.

>Cris Nolan - Mundelein, IL - For Clinton: Some nonsense about political families, like Bushes and Clintons, etc.

. Gravel says the Clintons sold out the Democrat [sic] party to Wall Street. "They're the people who brought you what you have today." "The money comes from the bankers on Wall Street! They're lock stock & barrel in their pocket!" Obama gets brought in, somehow, and platforms on special interests.

>Zennie Abraham - Oakland, CA - Holds up a quarter and asks what "Liberty" and "In God We Trust" means to the candidates.

. This is really devolving to sheer, terrifying nonsense at this point. Dumbest question ever.

Stephen Marsh - Thousand Oaks, CA - Am I wrong in fearing a Democrat administration will pay lip service to the very religious, and snub secular voters?

. Edwards starts talking. I can't blame him. There was no real question. Obama does the same.

Jered Townsend - Clio, MI - Says, tell me your position on gun control, while brandishing his huge "baby:" an enormous automatic rifle.

. Richardson wants to attack poverty and do background checks and blah blah blah. "Tell me your position" is not a question, BTW. Biden: "If that's his baby, he needs help." "He made an admission against self interest; I don't know if he's medically qualified to own that gun." LOL! Doesn't really answer the question, though.

Jason Koop - Colorado Springs, CO - For all questions. Look at the candidate to your left, and tell me one thing you like, and one thing you dislike about that candidate.

. Mike Gravel has Chris Dodd. He likes Chris Dodd, but I guess what he doesn't like is that you can see some bad in Chris if you "follow the money." Chris Dodd has nothing negative to say about Sen. Edwards. Edwards has Hillary. He loves what she's done for America, but he's not sure about her coat. Hillary admires and loves Barack, and won't disparage him. Barack likes that Bill Richardson has devoted his life to public service. Doesn't like the fact that Bill doesn't like the White Sox. Richardson loves Joe Biden. Biden has been friends with Kucinich for 25 years. The thing he likes best about Kucinich is his wife. Kucinich loves that Gravel exposed the Pentagon Papers.

NOTICE HOW ANDERSON COOPER WILL TRACK DOWN AN ANSWER FROM EACH CANDIDATE WHEN IT COMES TO A FRIVOLOUS, POINTLESS QUESTION.

That's about the most fitting conclusion I can come up with, right there.