So far, the Democratic debate in Philly is three on one -- First Barack, then John Edwards, then Tim Russert going right at Hillary, on whether Barack plans to attack her (yawn), then on Social Security, on "double talk", and finally, on Iran.
So far, to no avail. She's a machine.
Now Russert is handing the hammer to Chris Dodd to give him a crack at Hillary on her Iran vote.
And now Biden is taking on the Iran vote, and he's doing the best job of arguing that Hillary's vote was "bad policy" that opens the door to Bush going to war. Best one liner so far: "actions have consequences; big nations can't bluff."
Now it's Barack's turn, and he's talking about talking to Iran and offering them "carrots." It's a bit boring, I have to say, but it's classic Barack.
Hillary's hit-back: "when you go to the negotiating table with a beligerent power like Iran, you need both carrots and sticks." She says she believes we should be engaged in active diplomacy with Iran now.
What's interesting is that Hillary seems to be running for the support of independents, and Democrats who want a tough president and who might be nervous about handing the reigns over to Democrats. Her strategy -- forget the boys in the room and run for the general. Smart strategy. She looks more and more centrist the more the others talk, and Kucinich and Gravel haven't even gotten started yet.
...and I thought this debate was going to be a snooze...
9:30 p.m. -- Barack just got off his best line so far, after Tim Russert asked a stupid question about whether the candidates will "pledge that Iran will not get nuclear weapons" on their watch. Said Barack: "we have been governed by fear for the last six years... " adding that the Republican candidates are continuing that process. He also said that, in moving away from the fearmongering of the right, "we have to stop acting like we're the weakest nation in the world, instead of the strongest nation in the world." Well done. Biden just made a good point, that Pakistan has hundreds, even thousands of kilograms of enriched uranium, and that it makes no sense to go to war with Iran to stop them getting a few kilograms. Bill Richardson is talking now, recounting his resume as a diplomat or something ... and ... well ... I'm not listening... 9:55 -- It's five minutes to ten, nearly a full hour into the debate, and Brian Williams has just asked the first question in this debate that wasn't an invitation to the other candidates to attack Hillary Clinton. Stunning. The question: "Senator Obama, what is your relevant experience to be president?" Barack is talking about his experience bringing people together. I have to tell you, I don't think that what the base is looking for is someone who can find common ground with Republicans. Just a thought. Now, Bill Richardson is stepping up to the plate. He just said he's hearing this "holier than thou attitude towards Senator Clinton and its bothering be because its bordering on personal attacks that we don't need." He is pointing out that he has differences with Mrs. Clinton too, "but its important that we save the ammunition for the Republicans, if we continue I believe, harping on the past..." and on Clinton's electability ..." and not focusing on the future ... the reality on the electability issue is that the last senator to be elected president was John Kennedy, that's 40 years ago. " He added that the Dems need to stay positive, and that he "trust Senator Clinton, he just disagrees with her." Coming to Mrs. Clinton's defense makes him look quite chivalrous. Now Dodd is stepping in, slapping down John Boy for condemning Hillary for taking defense industry money while he's forking it in from the trial lawyers. Meow! This thing is getting good!!! Hell, Chris Matthews was right -- attack politics is damned entertaining!!! 10:06 -- In the midst of the food fight over who is more of a take-money hypocrite, Joe Biden just got off THE line of the night. The set up is that Brian Williams quoted Rudy Giuliani pooh poohing Hillary's qualifications to be president -- that's what got the whole Richardson v. Edwards v. Dodd v. Clinton exchange rolling. Now, the payoff. Said Biden: "I'm not running against Hillary Clinton, I'm running to be the leader of the free world ... and the irony is Rudy Giuliani, probably the most underqualified man since George W. Bush to seek the presidency, is here talking about any of the people here. Rudy Giuliani -- I mean think about it -- there's only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, a verb and 9/11. ... there's nothing else. And I mean it sincerely, he is genuinely not qualified to be president. ..." This is why I love Biden. He really is the coolest mofo in the race. Hilarious! And with that, Tim Russert went right back to setting up attacks on Hillary, this time, on Social Security.
10:25 -- Now they're talking high energy prices. Chris Dodd, Joe Biden and even John Edwards managed to get through the answer without back-slapping Hillary. Edwards says we should conserve. Why does he irritate me so much this time around...? So far, it looks like the media got its self fulfilling prophecy on the food fight. A few liveblog choces: Labels: Democratic debate |
