Tag Team
Yes, I watched last night’s debate. Yes, I did shots of Crown Royal. (I’m in training for next Tuesday’s Primary Drink-off.) Yes, I thought Hillary won. Here’s why.
First and foremost, because I’m pro-Hillary and am blinded by my undying love for her. Second, because she’s better at debates. And third, and probably most important, because Obama got pummeled by Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos.
The first hour of the marathon 15-hour debate centered around Bittergate, the Rev. Wright, flag lapel pins, and some guy from Weather Underground. (At first, I heard “Supper Underground” and I thought, why, how delightful!)
Hillary just had to sit back and smile. Were they tougher on Barack than on Hillary? Yes. Have they been tougher on Hillary 90 percent of this election? Fuck y*eah. This debate wasn’t for us voters anyway. It was for the superdelegates.
The general consensus among the punditry? Poor performance by Obama. The other consensus? It doesn’t matter. I think it does. Let’s say that last night’s debate has an impact on next Tuesday’s primary, and Hillary wins by a larger margin than expected. And this helps her win Indiana on May 6. She’ll never win North Carolina, but if she wins Pennsylvania and Indiana, she’s still in and will take this to the convention.
Let’s say Obama still wins the nomination. One of Hillary’s arguments has been that he hasn’t been fully vetted — that things from his past will continue to come out and hurt his campaign in the general. I don’t think that the stuff that has come out so far matters much. But, don’t think for a minute that the Republican machine won’t throw everything they’ve got at him. Forget the kitchen sink. We’re talking every household appliance.
You saw how miffed he got during the debate when asked the tough — and in his mind, trivial — questions. He was on the defensive. Never, EVER, go on the defensive.
Enough debating for today. I. am. spent.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:25 am
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=311659
April 17th, 2008 at 11:27 am
the ultimate inequity was when the moderators repeatedly suggested they “owed” clinton time because obama had been given more time to talk cumulatively.
of course, his “time” was all spent responding to non-issue related sensationalism. and her “catch up” questions were all substantive.
i’m sure he would have loved to see clinton get “equal time” if it was spent on equally pointless mudslinging questions.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:43 am
There was a nice Mavericks game on that they actually won. The debate never got better, so I watched me some American Idol. I hate American Idol. Some blond C&W chick got the boot. Fortunately, Buster Keaton’s “The General” came on to salvage the evening’s TV viewing.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Re: 1. Anon
Oh, yeah. That article reminded me of this: “Clinton made a bad moment worse by bringing up Hamas and Minister Louis Farrakhan in an obvious attempt to link Wright — and by extension Obama — to groups and individuals who do not get an especially free ride in U.S. media. ”
Nice, Hil.
Sorry, PL, I can’t get past that with the response “But the Republicans will use that in the fall …” It shows an utter lack of class.
Something she hasn’t figured out yet? It gets her nowhere. Not in the polls, not in delegates.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
And btw, I watched most of the debate … and I didn’t see any pummeling. What I saw were patient responses by Senator Obama to stupid questions, and his occasional exasperation at their stupidity perfectly expressed.
Fortunately none of this is resonating with voters, at least according to the polls. I think it’s been so overdone that people are sick of it, don’t believe it, and just roll their eyes. For that, at least, we have Senator Clinton to thank.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Re: 5. Don’t Mess w/ Pink
Does eye-rolling count as exercise? It should be compatible with jumping to conclusions and steps up and down off the soapbox. The key to weight loss, though, is to quit eating my words.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
“Over at the famously rude Wonkette politics blog (now under new ownership) the gloves were off in a live blog by Jim Newell: ‘Wow, George Stephanopoulos just asked an embarrassing question: ‘Does Jeremiah Wright love America as much as you?’ Seriously. Because if he doesn’t, then he cannot be your Secretary of Black that you obviously intend to make him.’”
“Wonkette readers were quick to make their feelings clear. ‘Whichever candidate wins, I hope they launch airstrikes against ABC headquarters,’ wrote one, while another commented: ‘These are the worst debate questions in the history of this whole stupid campaign.’ By half-time, another commenter was moved to write: ‘Holy fuck. I just put my kids to bed and started watching the miserable shit sober. No can do. Bye bye tv assholes!’”
Hee.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Re: 7. Jesus B. Ochoa
Despite all appearances to the contrary, ABC will live to see another day. Now, CBS, that’s a different story…
/say goodnight katie
April 17th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Re: 6. treehugger
Well said. I am still recovering from the debate and have no such cleverness today…
April 17th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Goodnight, katie
April 17th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
“One of Hillary’s arguments has been that he hasn’t been fully vetted…”
and THE argument against Hillary is that she has been fully vetted. And you can’t mask the stink on her vet with all the Crown Royal in the world. Seriously, W was fully vetted also. Means nothing.
April 17th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Nothing is going to the convention.
This will all be settled by the fourth of July.
April 17th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
It was a truly a shit*ty production. Even George’s attempts to rough Hillary up were very difficult for me to watch. He probably went home and cried himself to sleep for fear that she would come to him in his dreams and rip him a new ass*hole.
Net effect – more fundraising success for Barack. All I can say to the racist mother*fuckers like Sean Hannity is “bring it.” It’s time for a good ass whoopin’ this November.
April 17th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Re: 13. The Other Guy
Seriously. That was THE worst debate I have ever seen. I practically threw my shoes at the TV with each subsequent question…these guys are journalists? Sheesh. Hillary can have that garbage.
Two memorable moments for me: 1) when BO took the high road instead of digging the knife in on Bosnia. Shows class. 2) When Hillary said she wanted an umbrella defense pact with other Middle East countries against Iran. Very interesting.
April 17th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Re: 12. Fled The Asylum
Dream on.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Re: 14. Outsider
Re: umbrella defense pact. Yes, that was new and no one picked up on it, including me, wanting as I did for the damn thing to just be over. All I can do now is pick my chin up off the floor and revert to Princess Bride dialogue: I do not think it means what she thinks it means.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Re: 15. Pink Lady
I’d offer a wager, if you didn’t already owe me like a half dozen “these are not talking point” t-shirt’s earned over the last 3 years.
After Montana and South Dakota, the herds of wild superdelegates will migrate to whomever leads in popular vote and/or pledged delegates.