The Democratic Debate
April 17th, 2008 at 12:03am Mark Noonan
Good take on it from Reid Wilson:
For two candidates who profess to be most concerned with bringing their country and their party together, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton spent more time at last night’s debate raising issues that divide the Democratic electorate than those that unite them. Last night’s encounter, which marks nearly two dozen times the two have shared a stage, focused more on political questions than policy discussions, an indication, perhaps, that the intended audience was not Pennsylvania voters but rather the several hundred super delegates who have yet to publicly endorse a candidate.
I think Wilson’s right about that - the audience is the un-committed super delegates and both Hillary and Obama, unable to knock each other out in the primaries, are gearing up for a pre-convention scrimmage on delegates, which might end up as a nasty floor fight at the convention. While Hllary has been damaged goods from day 1 (”Clinton” has its good points and its bad points, right?), the bloom is definitely off the rose for Obama by now - Wright and “Bittergate” have utterly wrecked the squeeky-clean and “new” persona Obama had built up…while he has many gifts and strengths, he’s no longer the “un-politician”. Now, for the super delegates, it comes down to a calculus of whom they think will do best in the fall and/or whom can reward them most for their vote - both now and long, long into the future (and it isn’t necessarily a President who can be most rewarding - while our Democratic readers will hotly dispute me on this, for a lot of senior Democrats its really all about their own personal power and wealth - and if they can secure more of both for themselves, they’ll do it, even if by so doing their party suffers).
As for what, exactly, will happen over the next few weeks - well, ya got me; other than a prediction of a Hillary win in PA, I’ve got no clue about the upcoming twists and turns. It’ll be endlessly entertaining for all Republicans, it goes without saying - but what will come out of it at the end, I don’t think anyone can really predict.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats
11 Comments
1. ww | April 17th, 2008 at 4:21 am
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2. ww | April 17th, 2008 at 4:22 am
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3. Plantation Owner | April 17th, 2008 at 6:17 am
I did not watch the Democratic press conference last night……
When are these people going to allow themselves subject to a REAL DEBATE????
….and not some fluff piece????
4. phnx | April 17th, 2008 at 7:06 am
The super delegates have a tough choice:
Select Obama, who has no chance of winning once his far left wing positions are scrutinized in the fall,
or select Hillary,who is more electable despite her bagage.
Selecting Hillary will alienate the african american vote which has been a solid base for the dems. If even a small portion of this block fail to show for the dems in November, they lose.
My bet is that they select Obama, knowing they lose in November. This way they preserve the party, and bank on the future left swing of the country as baby boomers age, retire and demand more government handouts, because most of the baby boom generation has failed to save for retirement.
Obama will be elected President but not this time around, unless the country swings dramatically to the left.
5. Some Assembly Required | April 17th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I thought the debate went fairly well with a couple exceptions. I felt all Hilary did was Bush Bash for the most part. When she wasn’t doing that she was refering to her husbands presidency. Thats all fine and dandy but she was not president, she was the wife of a president.
She made a few good points on Iran but I felt she showed how good she is at political maneuvering, especially with regards to the DC gun ban.
All in all I thought Obama was very presidential. I’d really like to see a debate between him and John McCain. I think Obama would surely show just how ’senile’ McCain is especially when it comes to the economy and Foreign policy.
phnx, the economy will be the hot button issue for this election. It is in this area where McCain falls short to both Hilary and Obama. Also, McCain and his ‘flip-flopping’ will be another huge issue come the election. The Dems are not even really focusing on him yet, but once they get their candidate I’m sure voters will be reminded of his constant flip flopping, this public finance fiasco which is going on and don’t think the ‘affair’ with the lobbyist is put to bed yet either Especially if Hilary is the nominee. I personally do not believe neo-cons have a leg to stand on in this election. All the dem candidate really would have to do is stand up and say ‘I’m not Bush’. That could very well be enough (70 - 80%) of the population to seal the deal.
6. Bull | April 17th, 2008 at 9:22 am
SAR,
“i’m not bush”
isn’t that what kerry ran on? bush is not running this year.
mccain is not the ideal candidate, but this election will truly be the lesser of two evils. i think mccain is center enough to beat either of the two far left candidates.
7. Some Assembly Required | April 17th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Bull, your right he did, but he was also branded a ‘Flip Flopper’, which was bad enough but to top the cake his War Record was ripped to shreads. People actually wore Purple Bandaids at the Conservative convention mocking him (They support the troops, as long as they don’t run for president as a dem candidate). Talk about a complete slap in the face to the troops. AND, the economy was no where near what it is now. By that logic alone McCain does not have a leg to stand on.
I do agree McCain is a far cry from what Bush is, but I do not think he will be able to distance himself far enough from Bush. His policies on Iraq and making Bush tax cuts permentant will lead to his demise.
8. Plantation Owner | April 17th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Why don’t they answer some real questions:
1) What is the maximum amount of a person’s income anyone should ever have to pay to the federal government in income taxes?
2) What percentage of total individual income is earned by the top one percent of income earners?
3) Do you think the top one percent of income earners are paying their fair share of income taxes?
4) What percentage of total income taxes collected by the federal government is paid by the top one percent of income earners?
5) What does the 10th Amendment to the Constitution say?
6) Do you think the 10th Amendment is obsolete?
7) Identify one government program where you believe government spending could be decreased.
9) Should control of the education be returned to the local level?
Maybe they are asked the fluff questions simply because their constituents are incapable of understanding both the questions and answers!
“Democrat” was once used as a derogatory term that meant - “those who cater to the ignorant masses.”
In this case, that would 100% correct! The daily talking points that are spoon fed to their constituency makes it obvious!!!!
9. Diana Powe | April 17th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Plantation Owner,
Why don’t they have the questions being asked of them at the debate be someone with enough integrity to not waste the public’s time by asking the kinds of asinine questions that were put to them?
10. SEW | April 17th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I’m with DP! Barry Jesus Obama is the Democrat candidate I want running for POTUS. And please, no more asinine questions about self described ‘friendly’ relationships with terrorists, and other asinine questions. Let’s talk HOPE, PEACE and CHANGE and other serious issues.
11. Diana Powe | April 17th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Asinine questions like any question about wearing a flag pin…