Anyone watch the Dem debate?

[ProfJohn]

So did anyone watch the big debate?
Eight candidates is what I read. That left each of them with only 11 minutes worth of time to make their points.
And I assume they can?t ask direct questions of each other as well.

So I am guessing it was one sound bite like speech after another with very little depth of belief being shown.
?I think this war is a tragedy and do not think American kids should be dying for a war based on lies, but I only have 60 seconds so I am not going to tell you how I would do things differently if elected.? Etc.

 

[her209]

I saw a glimpse and changed the channel when Hillary came on...

 

[Zorba]

I watched the whole thing. The only person I was impressed was Bill Richardson, I thought everyone else sucked. The former senator from Alaska was funny because he is pretty much off the rocker .

Hillary spent way too much time bitching about Bush, I can't stand Bush but 2008 shouldn't be about him - he isn't running. I don't think Obama really said anything profound.

BTW: You should add another vote of: "Who was you favorite candidate at the debate?"

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Think it's on YouTube yet? I want to see Gravel ramble on...

When Alaskans think one of their own politicians is a loon, you know there is something special about him.

 

[daveymark]

some snippets

click the video tab

plus, snippets are playing on msnbc channel now

rofl @ clinton alluding to blaming the Virginia Tech massacre on Bush

of course, everything is Bush's fault? :laugh:

I actually liked some of what Gravel had to say during the debate

 

[ProfJohn]

I think I could almost live with Richardson, but I would need to hear more about his stance on issues.

We really need someone down the middle instead of a left or right ideologue.
We could use someone to bring us together, but I don?t know if that person is out there.

And let?s face it the two most successful Presidents of the last 40 years (Reagan and Clinton) were both highly disliked by the other side.

 

[slash196]

Joe Biden gained some ground, Bill Richardson fell flat, Hillary and Obama stayed pretty much neutral, no one else is a viable candidate. I'm surprised they even let Gravel on the stage.

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
I think I could almost live with Richardson, but I would need to hear more about his stance on issues.

We really need someone down the middle instead of a left or right ideologue.
We could use someone to bring us together, but I don?t know if that person is out there.

And let?s face it the two most successful Presidents of the last 40 years (Reagan and Clinton) were both highly disliked by the other side.

If I had to vote for two of those 8, it'd be Gravel w/ Richardson as the VP

edit: scratch that, Gravel sounded a little too looney in the after interview with chris matthews..."I was hiding under a rock!"

Richardson FTW

 

[tomywishbone]

I have a few questions:

-How many of the combatants were validated mass murderers?

-How many of the combatants have destoyed an entire country?

-How many of the combatants were insane?

 

[Balt]

I tried to watch some of it, but couldn't stomach more than a couple of minutes. I have my doubts that I could vote for any of them, and I definitely won't vote for the person I think is going to win the Dem nomination.

Also the guy yelling about nukes was really irritating.

 

[theeedude]

Very strong field, IMO. Edwards, Richardson, Clinton, and Obama all looked ready for primetime.

 

[fskimospy]

It's the primaries... I think we should have as wide a range of candidates as possible to choose from. "too many" really isn't possible.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: eskimospy
It's the primaries... I think we should have as wide a range of candidates as possible to choose from. "too many" really isn't possible.

I agree 100%

I like that they invited pretty much everyone. Even Gravel... It might be early but it's imporant to give the candidates an even field to debate on and this far out everyone has a shot. It's a great platform for everyone to get their message out.

 

[Farang]

The entire debate is available at MSNBC.com.

I thought Biden got a chance to show he is smarter than everyone else. I know he isn't going to catch up but if I had to make a choice for president I'd throw him in office.

Hillary and Obama were sharp and showed why they are the top tier. Nothing spectacular but they were on top of the questions and didn't stumble.

Richardson fell flat. He got nailed with the Gonzalez question and appeared weak when he let the journalist cut him off.

These things are pointless.. like beauty pagents. I want more Gravel because he is the Ross Perot of the race, it is always nice to someone in there who will call it as they see it.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
So did anyone watch the big debate?
Eight candidates is what I read. That left each of them with only 11 minutes worth of time to make their points.
And I assume they can?t ask direct questions of each other as well.

So I am guessing it was one sound bite like speech after another with very little depth of belief being shown.
?I think this war is a tragedy and do not think American kids should be dying for a war based on lies, but I only have 60 seconds so I am not going to tell you how I would do things differently if elected.? Etc.

did you?




if this was a drag race, four would be gone, but instead it tiers, fabricating a 'totem pole' to rank them.

top is either Obama or Clinton, you choose

bottom is Kucinich or Gravel, color them gone.

stuck in the middle are everyone under Edwards

Richardson, Biden, and Dodd . . oh my!

Lions and tigers and bears

top and bottom have been defined, four in the middle have to develop their charisma, which they had left home in a drawer it appears.

 

[FoBoT]

no need for me to watch the Democrats debate, I can only hope they nominate an unelectable person

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: Zorba
I watched the whole thing. The only person I was impressed was Bill Richardson, I thought everyone else sucked. The former senator from Alaska was funny because he is pretty much off the rocker .

Hillary spent way too much time bitching about Bush, I can't stand Bush but 2008 shouldn't be about him - he isn't running. I don't think Obama really said anything profound.

BTW: You should add another vote of: "Who was you favorite candidate at the debate?"

I was always amused when Al Sharpton was in the debates. Since he knew he wasnt in it to win, he would just rattle the cages of the other candidates, without worrying about producing any "I voted for it before I voted against it" type lines that would sink his candidacy.

 

[manowar821]

Dems and Reps are both liars and they're both evil.

 

[Starbuck1975]

I thought Kucinich was strong in that he already layed down the gauntlet on the war in Iraq, clearly distinguishing himself as one of only a few Democrats who opposed the war from the very beginning.

Obama and Hillary both gave the "I was before the war before I was against it" line, which does weaken their credibility on Iraq. "If I knew then what I know now" is kind of an excuse considering that there was plenty of skepticism about Iraq when Bush started to beat his war drum...that neither chose to question the President then makes me seriously question their authority to question Bush now.

Edwards and his $400 haircut just killed his candidacy. "I live a privileged life, but I haven't forgotten where I come from." Ha!!!

I thought many of the candidates chose to attack Bush rather than make a compelling case of how they will solve the problems that Bush helped to create. Kerry attempted to ride the wave of American discontent over Bush, but it wasn't enough to solidify a victory.

If Obama and Hillary are truly the front runners, they need to stop criticizing Bush and start articulating their vision for America...they are not running against Bush this time around.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Think it's on YouTube yet? I want to see Gravel ramble on...

When Alaskans think one of their own politicians is a loon, you know there is something special about him.

Gravel was hilarious

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: manowar821
Dems and Reps are both liars and they're both evil.

Then why do people stick with them?

Simply rally around a non-career politician for a change and give a chance at saving the Country.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
So did anyone watch the big debate?
Eight candidates is what I read. That left each of them with only 11 minutes worth of time to make their points.
And I assume they can?t ask direct questions of each other as well.

So I am guessing it was one sound bite like speech after another with very little depth of belief being shown.
?I think this war is a tragedy and do not think American kids should be dying for a war based on lies, but I only have 60 seconds so I am not going to tell you how I would do things differently if elected.? Etc.

Yes, I watched the debate. The election is a year and a half away, it was meant to "feel out" the candidates that are out. There will be plenty of time for "depth." Do you ever NOT bitch about something dem related?

 

[filterxg]

Richardson was flat and a little awkward, which is too bad because on paper he is my favorite. Biden gained a bit in my eyes, was the only one who seemed to have a real "personality." I've never liked Edwards, but given he had by far the toughest question did well. Barack was eloquent but didn't say anything. Hilliary was only slightly better.

The radicals Gravel and Kucinich did their job poorly, Gravel tried way too hard and came off nutty. Neither did a good job elevating the debate (ala Sharpton in 2004), and came off as idiots.

Did Dodd show up? Honestly he was by far the least memorable member of the debate.

 

[jman19]

BTW, my input on the candidates is as follows:

Richardson: Sounds good on paper, doesn't come off quite as well in person.
Hillary: Seems very shrewd. I don't care for her personally, but given all of the negatives about her she stood her ground fairly well.
Edwards: Looks better than he did in 2004, a bit more mature I think. Perhaps that experience did him some good.
Biden: Did OK, had some good answers, but I don't know if I like his record much.
Dobb: Not much to say about him really.
Gravel: Plain nuts, but its nice to see someone out there who isn't there to "play nice" and worry about his image.
Kucinich: I don't agree with his politics and surely would not vote for him, but I like him because I feel that he is very honest about what he believes.
Obama: Smart and a good speaker, but I felt his lack of experience shone through a bit in his answers. I don't think he is ready yet but could be a huge powerhouse in 2012 or 2016.

Looking forward to the Republican debate next. Oh btw "Prof"John, there will be something like 10 candidates at that one.

 

[Moonbeam]

I watched a few minutes of Senator Dodd and my head began to nod and I turned it off. Better than a sleeping pill.