Alpha Donkey: The Democratic Race for the Presidential Nomination

90 minutes, 8 contestants - it is the American Idol for presidential hopefuls.

Barack Obama (IL), Hillary Clinton (NY), John Edwards (NC), Bill Richardson (NM), Chris Dodd (CT), Joe Biden (DE), Dennis Kucinich (OH) and Mike Gravel (AK) put up a united democratic front (well, not so much Gravel) and played well together while trying to convince America that they're each the best candidate for the nation's highest seat of power.

The issues ran the gamut from the ever-popular Iraq to abortion and gun control. For the most part, the candidates were in agreement with only some variation.

On Iraq, the Super 8 agreed that we, as a nation, need to bid the Iraqi people a fond "adieu". Both Clinton and Biden believe that freedom for Iraq lies with Iraq, while Kucinich supports ending occupation by ending funding. Richardson put forth a plan of withdrawal by the end of the 2007 calendar year. He also stated that other countries could take over the security of Iraq.

Why is Iraq still so incapable of maintaining their own security? Because America won't allow them, even though the general consensus it to leave. But I digress.

"The war is already lost!" You gotta love Mike Gravel; he's a true firecracker. He voted to de-fund the Vietnam War and he holds the same position towards the Iraq war, which he thinks, like Senator Reid, is lost already. According to Gravel, all soldiers have "...died in vain." He wants to criminalize American occupation and make George Bush a felon if he stays. This is the true highlight of the evening because Gravel actually has the chutzpah to bring it to pass. He's articulate and confrontational, in a grandfatherly kind of way. He would definitely give Dick Cheney a run for his money.

On universal healthcare, Barack Obama wants subsidies for the poor and a pool where everybody pays; John Edwards still believes the way to pay for that is to raise taxes as well as abolishing the taxes for the rich who earn $200k or more.

Bad John Edwards, nobody wants to hear that you intend to raise taxes, but kudos for your honesty anyway.

Bill Richardson won't increase taxes, but he will do away with HMOs, which is a step in the right direction. One of the biggest hindrances in healthcare today is the mountain of red tape and endless bureaucracy that the insured have to bob and weave through to access the benefits that they can barely afford to pay for in the first place.

What was refreshing to hear was the sudden interest in mental health parity laws. With mental health parity laws, everyone can access mental health benefits and, as part of a universal healthcare system, the stigma surrounding mental health or substance abuse related issues might be minimized allowing those who need the services to access freely.

There was a little dig into Edwards about that $400 haircut, but the truth of the matter is that he can afford it. Was it in error that it came from campaign funds? He said it was, and I believe him.

I would have liked to hear more about campaign finance reform; Obama receives honest money, he says, from honest folks. I have no problem there, but that is not rule of the land.

Most, if not all, of the candidates were pro choice and had varied views on the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a ban on partial birth abortions. Obama wants to focus more on the cause and less on the reaction. He wants to decrease circumstances that would lead to women having to make the tough decision of abortion. Dodd stated his disappointment in the decision while Biden believed the rationale for the decision was "intellectually dishonest."

Overall, good stuff to see. No violent attacks, and best of all, the Republicans are up next on May 3^rd.

I can hardly wait.