Letters to the Editor
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I think the problem is they are both right.
Obama is correct, Hillary learned the wrong things from the Attack Machine. But Hillary is right in her understanding that the game hasn't changed in 16 years, and the machine will be just as filled with venom for whomever the nominee is.
Here is where electability comes in, for whatever else you say about these controversies, Obama has deflected much of the damage with the skill of dancer, where as Hillary has walked into every broadside heaved at her.
In truth, Obama is teflon, and Hillary is cast iron. She has the strength to take a hit, but it always sticks, and Obama, though lightweight always comes out clean in the end.
Either candidate will get hit on all these issues and more, (and few that people will just make up out of whole cloth, he's a musilm, and she's a man baby!)no matter what. The question isn't just who is going to be able to weather the storm, but who will enter the office with enough skill to rally the country and the congress to their side to get things done.
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Life Story vs. Ten Point Plans
We have two campaigns. One, Hillary, focused on plans and solutions. Obama's campaign, by the words of his own strategist, focused on the story, the Obama life. So, as far as I am concerned his campaign constructed the quality of the debate, his story. It has to be discussed, everything in his life should be on the table.
If you watched that Charlie Rose interview he talked about how voters are not interested in ten point policy plans, great, so, lets talk about your connections, your friends.
Good thing they did not really embarrass him by talking about his alleged experience in FP from being a kid in Indonesia.
Frankly what has fizzled is the Hope, Change and Unity notion. It's sort of flat at this point.
PS. why is everyone saying that Hillary had to save him? One thing I love about Hillary, she is the only candidate I remember who I know can take care of herself. Obama always looks startled and drones on and on saying nothing.
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Don't you see it?
The media do not care who wins the election. The media care about revenue.
Shouldn't it be clear to everyone in America by now that the person who gets "attacked" by the media the most is the one who's winning?
Of course Charlie tried his best to throw darts at Obama last night. Obama's winning, and if there is a sudden late-game shift to Hillary, guess how many papers and commercials that will sell? Charles Gibson and ABC don't care who the next President is ... they care about their yachts.
All debates should be on NPR. Period. Then you wouldn't have 50+ minutes of fluffy nonsense solely designed to create conflict by the people with the most vested interest in conflict.
From this perspective, last night was nauseating.
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What do you expect?
Of course it was devoid of substance. When the most reactionary, right wing network on the air throws a debate between the Democratic candidates, their job is to make them look as bad as possible. I understand it was mission accomplished.
You couldn't pay me to watch ABC network news. It's trash.
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Lost some respect for Obama
I didn't watch the debate since I never watch anything shown on corporate television just as I wouldn't eat any junk food or inject heroin. However, after reading about the debate on Huffington Post and Salon this morning, I must admit that I lost some of the respect I had for the candidate I support-Barack Obama. He should've had the courage and integrity to get up and say:'this is trash, instead of discussing the incredibly complex and serious problems our nation is facing, you guys turned it into a Jerry Springer show. I have too much respect for the American public to participate in this nonsense.' Then he should've had walked off the stage. He would have received a huge boost in his popularity and nailed both the primary and the general elections. Hillary is trashy and I never had any respect for her, so she was perfectly at home in that debate, but Barack should have never been part of that trashy experience.
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What is with the Tri Color on the podiums?
That looks to be a French flag image on the podiums and not an American one.
It would seem that the MSM is already stooping to equating the Democrats with the French.
While enticing and seductive, I shall stick with Nader.
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William Shapiro Decoding Ring
If Walter Shapiro writes that both candidates fizzled in Philly, you can bet your dwindling IRA that Clinton cleaned Obama's clock while picking his lunch out of her teeth after drinking his milkshake.
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where was the cage?
The next ABC debate should be in a caged ring--UFC politics--we could call it "ultimate fight debates."
Target the lowest possible audience and most visceral instincts. Remember, deep down everyone is an animal. Have Cheney and his "dark" bride Condi as the MC/card girl.
This country gets exactly what is deserves.
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The problem facing the Democrats...
The problem facing the Democrats is that nobody in the mainstream media wants to talk about the past 14 years of Republican failure, and would rather focus on mundane sh!t like flag pins and words your pastor once spoke.
Sen. Obama has proven time and again that he is more than able to stand up for himself when attacked. The upcoming Republican onslaught will be no different. Sen. Obama will put them in their place while showing the rest of the world how a real leader takes care of business.
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ooooo...people are not happy
Hi Folks, With respect to all of you, who so ably share your insights on this lively letter stream---I'm telling you---the show today is over on the ABC News letter thread. Seriously, go read a few samples---it actually made me feel proud.(unlike the debate, which I am still trying to wash off)
There is no way to properly evaluate last night's 'debate'. The format was so front-loaded with pap, filled with vapid journalistic showboating and Hollywood camera angles(Chelsea Clinton bathed in soft light-ad nauseum)--how can we possibly hold either candidate responsible for anything done or said in this demeaning environment?
When was ABC NEWS bought by Ruper Murdoch? Sad.