Full disclosure: This debate snuck up on me, and I was only able to catch some of the highlights this morning. From all the reactions, it appears that this debate has been the best Democratic debate so far, and from what I saw, I agree.
The main difference is probably the questions. The Youtube-submitted videos included several questions that usually don't make the cut but were able to bring out some differences and information about the candidates that we usually don't see. For example, we learned that every Democrat will draft your daughter along with your son for the next war. If we need a draft. Which we as a country have needed about every 40 years or so, on average. Anyway, the next one the daughters get to go. Chris Dodd said, "sure, send women, what's the difference". Folks this is the best example I've seen of liberal ideology over common sense and nature.
On another question, about saying something nice to the candidate on your left, John Edwards definitely had the gayest response of the evening when he joked that he "wasn't sure about that [Hillary's] coat." Much yuk-yuks all around, but this was probably telegraphing some annoyance that all the men had to wear standard dark suits while Hillary Clinton, as a woman, could stand out with a bright pink jacket. An ability she used to full effect.
This morning the discussion seems to be centered around whether Barack Obama killed his campaign with his promise to meet "without precondition" the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea. This was in itself a problem for the Democrats, but for the general election, where he can now be portrayed as your standard Jimmy Carter dictator appeaser. Which hurts his electability, which does come back to hurt him in the primary. Not fatal, but bad, very bad.
Bill Richardson has the best resume and looks good on paper, but on poise he comes up far, far short, especially sharing a podium with Barack and Hillary, who both look presidential and are remarkably polished. He did better than he has done, but not good enough, not by a long shot. Right now it's all Hillary and Barack, with Edwards definitely running for VP.
Good debate, brought out some interesting differences, which is what it's all about right now.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 2)
16. Bill Richardson killed it talking about guns. He actaully said all the guns are from low level people in the GHETTO !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think he hates the GHETTO !!!! Maybe he is racist to his own kind seeing the ghetto is prominitly of black people and spanish people . He should be owsted from the race , just as Imis was from talk radio. Where the hell is al sharpton and Jesse Jackson when we really NEED them ???????????????????????
mike at 6:27PM on Jul 25th 2007