Richardson has done it. Period! Hillary, Obama, and Edwards have done nothing. These folks are applying for a job. Would you seriously hire them if you had to compare their resume to Richardson's? Hillary failed this country the day she gave Bush the authorization to attack Iraq.

Successful balancing of a budget,should ensure that US re-empowers itself as a manufacturing nation. The only way to 'encourage' companies to keep jobs,is by ensuring that there is a balace of trade and imports.This in turn ensures a broader financial base to address taxes,health care,education etc…because addressing the above ensures that there is finance to do it. Encouragement takes effective 'laws',and since the current administration seems to have lost the plot concerning internal stabilities,maybe all senators need to consider my miniscule input,as I've already had the poor fortune of seeing the economy in SA erode because of corrupted policies on trade,and imbalance of imports.US is a much larger economy , but the model for economic slowdown is easy to see as more lose jobs,or companies close each day.It may seem slow in happening, but it is happening.There is still a chance to rebalance before its too late,but it does require implementation of new solid laws and strategies to ensure stability. US businesses cannot just 'keep jobs' if profitlines cannot allow it,and competing against all forms of piracy,unfair labor practice,imports that make a quick buck and cause suatained joblosses,billpassing that allows loopholes to devious business etc etc. 'Taking other steps' is quite vague.Saying its 'critically important that we grow the economy' would probably not mean lots to the many that lost their jobs this am.The world's nastiest teacher is 'hindsight',but foresight seems elusive to politicians.The debate was interesting to watch,but determining 'leadership' was probably as elusive as 'foresight'.

How come there hasn't been more focus on Bill Richardson? He made more sense than anyone during the debate.