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CD8 debate blog and reader chat

Here's a transcript of the reader chat that accompanied the May 23 debate among candidates in Arizona's 8th Congressional District: Democrat Ron Barber, Republican Jesse Kelly, and Green Charlie Manolakis.

3rd & 7 37yd

#AZ08 manolakis calls 4 camels instead of horses for border patrol. Will someone up the ante to Gila monsters?

by roddmcleod via twitter 5/24/2012 2:32:20 AM
Why didn't Obama build the fence with the trillion dollar stimulus, that was shovel ready jobs

by dhallstrom 5/24/2012 2:32:46 AM
Ron Barber took 2 shots on January 8, 2011, and recovered.

by Carolyn 5/24/2012 2:32:57 AM
Give the Mexicans a cash crop-- marijuana-- and you solve several problems at once-- drug violence, illegal crossers, increased trade, decreased incarceration of users in the US. Tobacco, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals are addicting, cause health problems, and kill people-- and are legal.

by Pamela 5/24/2012 2:33:23 AM
What does Barber getting shot have to do with his qualifications to represent the district? Nada.

by justsaynotobho 5/24/2012 2:34:09 AM
Kelly: the american people have sacrificed enough .... It's fed govt that needs to make sacrifices. Circles back to energy policy #AZ08

by Josh Brodesky via twitter 5/24/2012 2:34:11 AM
The fence is a stupid waste of money. Republicans need to come up with new ideas.

by Pamela 5/24/2012 2:34:12 AM
@StarNet: Kelly on border security: a double-layer fence is needed. It worked in San Diego, he says. #TexasMinutemen are the answer!

by McGauley via twitter 5/24/2012 2:34:41 AM
Kelly is right about the fed govt needing to sacrifice

by Virginia edited by John Bolton, StarNet night... 5/24/2012 2:34:49 AM
Why would you want to be PART of the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Mr. Kelly if it is nothing but a big bad zero ?????

by The Man 5/24/2012 2:35:20 AM
How can a double layer fence be called a waste of money when it is PROVEN to work?

by justsaynotobho 5/24/2012 2:35:24 AM
Thank you Kelly! Wow. Does Barber have any ideas of his own?

by Aaron M. 5/24/2012 2:35:33 AM
Democrat Ron Barber, left, works with a defective microphone prior to his opening statement as Republican Jesse Kelly chuckles and Green Charlie Manolakis sits ready during the U.S. Congressional District 8 special election debate at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, Wed. May 23, 2012, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell/ARIZONA DAILY STAR

by Johanna Eubank, tucson.com 5/24/2012 2:36:03 AM
RT @StarNet: Kelly on border security: a double-layer fence is needed. It worked in San Diego, he says. #AZ08 // What about a moat w/ crocs?

by pamsiegelzarte via twitter 5/24/2012 2:36:09 AM
barber seems tired

by arizonamerican 5/24/2012 2:36:20 AM
Barber: american people have sacrificed enough. Cites middle class, students and vets. Says budget must be addressed. #AZ08

by Josh Brodesky via twitter 5/24/2012 2:36:31 AM
The double fence has worked for San Diego! The stats are there. Go Kelly!!

by Aaron M. 5/24/2012 2:36:54 AM
Kelly says the federal government has put the country into debt. Hello, what about the Wall Street crash? That was caused by greedy businessman. Obama and Congresional Dems are trying to fix the financial mess caused by the irresponsible Republican-controlled government under George Bush.

by Pamela 5/24/2012 2:37:20 AM
What sacrifices would the candidates be willing to ask Americans to make? Kelly: "The American people sacrificed enough. It's the federal government that needs to make sacrifices." Later he adds, "It's the federal government that created the $16 trillion debt," not the people. "It's the government that apologizes for our nation overseas."

by Norma Coile, Arizona Daily... 5/24/2012 2:37:29 AM
kelly seems animated...but wish we had a video feed to see the intrapersonal dynamics :(

by arizonamerican 5/24/2012 2:38:19 AM
Anyone have any links to these so called San Diego crime stats?

by ShortTimer 5/24/2012 2:38:20 AM
Barber says he agrees that the American people have sacrificed enough. Middle-class wages have stagnated, military has sacrificed in Iraq and Afghanistan, veterans who are coming home without enough help for PSTD or traumatic brain injury, students and the teachers trying to teach them have sacrificed enough because of budgets cut to the bone, he says.

by Norma Coile, Arizona Daily... 5/24/2012 2:39:06 AM
Students in schools have suffered? Teachers have suffered? Give me a break. If your in fear of your grandchildren being saddled with debt, stop letting the liberals suck out our taxpayer dollars through the state universities.

by justsaynotobho 5/24/2012 2:39:17 AM
Kelly is right on, class warfare does not work

by dhallstrom 5/24/2012 2:39:18 AM
Kelly takes exception to what he calls Barber's demonizing of oil companies. Kelly says it's not accurate to say that taxpayers subsidize oil companies.

by Norma Coile, Arizona Daily... 5/24/2012 2:39:51 AM
I just listened to a radio interview with Hunter Duncan he states all the stats and dynamics of the fence in San Diego.

by Aaron M. 5/24/2012 2:39:57 AM
Barber asks Manolakis: 1 hump or 2? #bordercamels #az08

by TucsonStar via twitter 5/24/2012 2:39:58 AM
good questions...unfortunately not a lot of good answers (read honest, uncalculated). Kelly comes closest to delivering straightforward responses

by arizonamerican 5/24/2012 2:40:01 AM
Profit is not a bad word, Kelly adds, repeating "This is not Russia."

by Norma Coile, Arizona Daily... 5/24/2012 2:40:23 AM
Class warfare has only begun. Just wait, if Vulture Capitalist Mitt Romney wins.

by Pamela 5/24/2012 2:40:28 AM
From Kelly all you get is that the Federal Government sucks and should get out of the way. So what would you actually DO if you are elected (god help us) and become part of the federal government ???

by The Man 5/24/2012 2:40:34 AM
Barber gets a laugh asking Charlie "one hump or two?" on his camel plan for border agents.

by Norma Coile, Arizona Daily... 5/24/2012 2:40:57 AM
Pay their fair share Ron? Tell that to the 50% of Americans who pay NO Federal taxes. #AZ08

by AZ_Wraith via twitter 5/24/2012 2:41:07 AM
#AZ08 I love when congressional candidates slip into presidential talking points!

by Johartz via twitter 5/24/2012 2:41:12 AM
Kelly: rosemont is a no brainer. Look at unemployment. We're the copper state. #AZ08

by Josh Brodesky via twitter 5/24/2012 2:41:27 AM
Class warfare has only begun if Obama is reelected

by Virginia 5/24/2012 2:41:28 AM
Yes to copper! Yes to jobs! Yes to prosperity!

by justsaynotobho 5/24/2012 2:42:00 AM
The copper mine is a win/win for everyone, Go Kelly

by dhallstrom 5/24/2012 2:42:18 AM
Barber: there are a lot of problems with mine. Big questions about h2o. Profits for rosemont will go to canada. #AZ08

by Josh Brodesky via twitter 5/24/2012 2:42:36 AM
Rosemont mine? Kelly supports, Barber opposed, Manolakis opposed #AZ08

by TucsonStar via twitter 5/24/2012 2:42:43 AM
by John Bolton, StarNet night... 5/24/2012 2:43:03 AM
Barber hasn't read ADS's own study that we literally have more water than we know what to do with.

by justsaynotobho 5/24/2012 2:43:20 AM
Except for Bank of America, Chase, and other corporatists, the 50% who pay no income taxes are the poor, and they pay a disproportionate percentage of sales taxes, fees, etc. That right wing talking point is a Fox News canard.

by Pamela 5/24/2012 2:43:27 AM
They have already answered the water issue, why doesn't Barber get up to date

by dhallstrom 5/24/2012 2:43:30 AM
@VoteJesseKelly is Barber reading off his hand? Did Jeff Rogers use permanent marker or is it smearing?

by JonJustice via twitter 5/24/2012 2:43:46 AM