Have been watching the Democratic debate, and I'm pleasantly surprised to see that a debate has broken out. It's the first one I've found worth discussing in detail, from a personal perspective. So here are my thoughts. Please share yours.
The invitations to attack Sen. Clinton as the front-runner have had an effect, as Obama, Richardson and especially Edwards have accepted those invitations. Clinton has taken some heavy fire and fought back gamely. I've heard my own thoughts expressed by John Edwards, Chris Dodd and Dennis Kucinich. None will likely be the nominee, but at least the Overton Window is being shoved in our direction.
Iran was, fortunately, the signature issue of the first part of the debate. Clinton gets a lot of deserved heat for voting for Kyl-Lieberman. Her response, that it somehow was about economic sanctions that were already in place, is whiny and unconvincing. She's tried to blur the differences with the other candidates while the others are about sharpening them. Only Biden and Dodd are showing her senatorial courtesy, sensing perhaps that they'll have to deal with her in the White House. The best line in the first part of the debate: Kucinich's charge that the Iraq war is illegal, and that Congress is derelict in its duty if it doesn't impeach Bush and Cheney.
Social Security was the centerpiece of the second part of the debate. The tiresome gotcha style of Tim Russert is annoying and disruptive, not to mention unilluminating. Clinton and Obama deftly parried the attempts to put talking points in their mouths on Social Security as well as on attacking Iran. The best line of the second part of the debate: Biden's put down of Giuliani's grammar as consisting of a noun, a verb and 9/11.
The third part of the debate started strong with a lot of mature, bold talk about energy, disaster rebuilding, and tax policy. It took a shart downward turn with the lightning round routine, which is forced and stupid: discuss education in 30 seconds please, and don't run over. On the discussion of my field, some good ideas amongst a lot of superficial comments and digressions (nursing, John?) Will you fight cancer -- please. Best line: Clinton's backflip and pirouette on driver's licenses for "illegal immigrants." Well, that was the funniest, anyway, though I doubt she saw it that way.
Overall impressions of the candidates: Clinton seems more programmed and scripted than I've seen her before. Obama's debate style continues to strike me as unfocused, as he continually steps on his big points with meaningless detail. Edwards shows flashes of brilliance ((especially on corruption) along with plenty of falling flat. Biden continues to rely on folksy one-liners (good ones, too). Dodd and Kucinich make the most of the few minutes they're allowed (though Kucinich's repeated harping on impeachment grew forced). Richardson makes good points in the most unimpressive possible way, true to form.
The winner of the debate? I'd say the Democratic party. Any of these candidates would clean up the floor with any of the Republicans. The loser? Tim Russert, with stupid and pointless questions. Did anybody see a plausible president up there tonight? Certainly Chris Dodd struck me as a much better potential Majority Leader than the one we've got. Use this diary, if you like, as a wrap-up discussion of this exciting and informative debate, including your opinion that I'm out of my gourd for thinking so.