The Dems

[Viki]

OK, I'm a political junkie, I confess. You knew it was going to come to this some day when way back in college I ran - and won - as a Kennedy delegate, collecting over 300 signatures for a left winger in a Republican stronghold. I also worked as a publicist for a candidate who was running for the Allentown school board as an out lesbian back in the 80s. She didn't win.

Anyway, none of that should peg me. I'm strong on the social good, especially for children and and the elderly and I've paid my dues in inner city ministry long enough to always care, but I've also got a Libertarian streak a mile long and I possess a nonpartisan crap detector.

So, I really kind of surprised myself, not when I watched the entire MSNBC-hosted Democrat debate last week, but when I actually found myself enjoying it and even ROOTING for a few folk.

Here's my score:

HILLARY: You go girl. Someone finally coached you effectively enough that you got your vocal hygiene together sufficiently that you could hit the lower registrars. Good voice and good points. Nice job. Really.

BARACK OBAMA: I was decidedly not impressed and I thought I would be. Way too soft spoken, clearly out of his element. He doesn't have too much time to play catch up, but he's got a strong base that will buy him some.

BIDEN: Best line of the night, "Yes." Wonderful.

BILL RICHARDSON: Ooooh, I know he's better than that, the camera really doesn't like him, say?

JONATHON EDWARDS: I really, really wanted to like him, but he kept wimping out. I bet he's a great guy and a wonderful husband.

KUCINICH AND GRAVEL: Loved the comic relief.

DODD: Snoring ...

OK, what did you all think?

And, the Republican debate is May 3, 8 PM eastern time, but I'll miss it live, traveling back from NY. I promise to catch it on the net somewhere and start another thread. Fair is fair!

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Loved Biden's response. Still wouldn't vote for him though.

Mrs. Clinton was credible but I'm afraid that if she wins the primary, the net effect will be to galvanize the knuckle-draggers out there to put down their beers, hoist their big ole butts off the sofa, and vote in the General. I shudder to think.

Bill Richardson comments on gun control... Hmmm That is just a non-starter for Democrats and I just do not see why we need to start devouring our own young over the subject when surely the Republicans will be so much more effective stirrin' up a "cold-dead-fingers, flag-waving, phallic-symbol-of-our-fathers" stink over it than we could ever manage...

I'm still liking Obama.

Thanks for starting this thread.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Hillary. Polish, polish and more polish. The woman knows what to do and how to do it.

Barack: Shades of a good orator. Too young?

Edwards: Yep. Wicked nice guy. Nice guy.

The others? That's the way I think of them. The others.

Didn't honestly think any of it was an auspicious start.

 

[wallyb]

And what about Al?

Will he?

Won't he?

Should he?

 

[PeterPan]

And what about Al?

Will he?

Won't he?

Should he?

Personally I hope he does... not particularly enthused about any of the others... didn't see this debate so can't comment on what they all said but...

I saw Obama give his convention speech live in 04 and have been expecting big things from him since... but so far his senate career hasn't been very insipiring... great speaker... action so far... *shrug* hopefully will get better with time

Like Edwards the most out of all of them... but would much rather have Al >_<

 

[SkyMedik]

I would vote for Al without much hesitation. As long as he doesn't pull out a pocket-version of the Constitution and wave it like a bible.


HILLARY: Handled herself well. Probably most eloquent on stage. Finally convincing me she's not just riding coat tails. Buckled down and admitted wrong vote on Iraq.

BARACK OBAMA: Seemed like he stumbled a bit. Not overt, but noticable. Also felt he dodged questions a little better than the others, especially about inappropriate donations.*However* I enjoyed his books and share his views on many things.

BIDEN: omg that one word had me on the floor for five minutes. Before that I would have said: Who?

BILL RICHARDSON: Who?

JONATHON EDWARDS: All around, if he has a true shot, I will vote for him -unless Al runs.

KUCINIC: Who?

GRAVEL: Who?

DODD: Who?

Oh...and while I'm not naive and realize there is a huge bloody mess going on in the world..the gay topic deserved more on than one question in 90 minutes. We are, after all, 10% of the populous. *sigh* Yeah I know. I'm biased.

 

[Viki]

We are, after all, 10% of the populous. *sigh* Yeah I know. I'm biased.

Sorry, those numbers were probably grossly overinflated; more reliable figures put it at somewhere between 3-5%, but what do we do with all those folk who in their lives look straight enough, but are getting something queer on the side?

In any event, more on the topic, why am I not surprised that we represent such a large proportion of a truly teeny, tiny minority: those who actually watched the darn debate. I hear that's less than 100,000 folk. Somebody do the math!

 

[SkyMedik]

Point well taken, Viki. I guess that Kinsey(?) scale or whatever doesnt count much in the polls...lol....

100,000 is horrifying. Really and truly. I vote we alter the constitution - if you aren't up to snuff on the topics, DON'T VOTE.

 

[NewJersey]

The only one up there I'd even consider voting for is Barack Obama...well Richardson too.

God help us all if Hillary is the nominee.

 

[Viki]

Did anyone else see the surge Hillary took in the polls this week? The new numbers have her beating everyone!

 

[wallyb]

I'm afraid I'm going to become

apathetic
with all the polling stuff so early on.

 

[NewJersey]

Did anyone else see the surge Hillary too in the polls this week? The new numbers have her beating everyone!

I'm hoping these numbers are just name recognition. How can people think she can actually win a nationwide election? Her "will not vote for Hillary" numbers are usually past 50%. I'd definitely vote for the Republican (depending on the candidate of course) before I'd vote for her; or I would probably vote for a 3rd party candidate.

I hope her political numbers change in the breeze as her convictions do.

 

[Viki]

I'm hoping these numbers are just name recognition. How can people think she can actually win a nationwide election? Her "will not vote for Hillary" numbers are usually past 50%. I'd definitely vote for the Republican (depending on the candidate of course) before I'd vote for her; or I would probably vote for a 3rd party candidate.

I hope her political numbers change in the breeze as her convictions do.

On the other hand, listening to Joe Scarborough this morning he was practically having a love fest over her. His remarks include: the most qualified of all the candidates, has bloomed in her senatorial career, has a lifetime of challenging experiences which she has weathered and overcome; clearly won the Dem debate; is not the same Hillary a lot of Republicans freaked at seven years ago; told a story of how the top generals in the country think she is the ONLY person in the senate who understands the way the military mind works ... it went on and on and on; I thought he was just drafted as her campaign manager!!!

 

[wallyb]

I'd definitely vote for the Republican (depending on the candidate of course) before I'd vote for her; or I would probably vote for a 3rd party candidate.

I hope her political numbers change in the breeze as her convictions do.

And none of the republican's are flip flopping

By the way I think we need to delineate a difference between
someone changing their stance on a topic after revaluating the issues
and someone who changes to court votes.

 

[NewJersey]

And none of the republican's are flip flopping

By the way I think we need to delineate a difference between
someone changing their stance on a topic after revaluating the issues
and someone who changes to court votes.

Never said none of the Republicans aren't flip flopping. But I don't believe Hillary has one conviction and when she opens her mouth, she says what she wants the crowd to hear. Believe what you want, I just don't think she has any sort of convinctions. I don't believe for a second her "let's have a conversation" theme. Can you tell I can't stand her? As much as I love Bill, I will never vote for his wife.

 

[Viki]

Never said none of the Republicans aren't flip flopping. But I don't believe Hillary has one conviction and when she opens her mouth, she says what she wants the crowd to hear. Believe what you want, I just don't think she has any sort of convinctions. I don't believe for a second her "let's have a conversation" theme. Can you tell I can't stand her? As much as I love Bill, I will never vote for his wife.

She was just on Joe's morning show, airing this week on MSNBC. He's no Don Imus, but she was looking good.