The Democratic Debate: Pathetic

 What path now, Democrats?  The road ahead once shone clearly, but after last night's debate and the quick and easy spin of the glitterati it has grown dark and misty.   I watched the entire debate and followed the post-debate spin.  Only one word now describes the Democratic candidates, save one.  That word is - pathetic.

 Follow me below the fold if there is a measure of pathos left in your soul.

  Pathos is the greek word root for pathetic.  It describes a feeling of "sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others."   It seems to me that once upon a time this was an emotion that one could clearly associate with the Democratic Party - but after November 16, 2007 - no more.

 On that date two things happened - one, the aspirants to be the nominee of the Democratic Party for the office of President gathered in shiny, shimmering Vegas - a  city dedicated to high rollers and big money - gamblers and gamers - suitcases of cash and dancing showgirls.

 There was another thing that happened.  The USDA issued a report.  It seems it was not read in many quarters,  for there are parties and supporters and well, we have to accessorize.  However,  in the dark night of gathering winter a small girl shivers - her blankets not enough to keep her warm against the winter that will be particularly bitter as energy prices spike.  This night, though, it is even worse.  This night, she had no dinner and only a half a weiner for lunch.  She was what we used to call hungry.

Now however, the USDA reports in our Orwellian times, she  lacks "food security."

  http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

 But the most shocking thing is that she is not alone.  Oh no - not by a long shot - she has 35 million - let that sink in - 35 freaking million brothers and sisters who suffer from - hun - no, sorry - lack of food security.  But please don't let your mind wander to that image - after all - we must choose twixt diamonds or pearls.  And, please, please - don't think about that family, whose health "insurer"  just informed them that their child's form of aggressive lymphoma was not covered because - well - just because.  Then there are the 47 million who have no health "coverage"  at all.  But please - help us choose between diamonds and pearls

 And on this November 16th could any of the 7 Dwarves even mention the hunger security report.?  No.  None even joined John Edwards in his clarion call to change the course of our Titanicesque insider celebration of excess and glittering jewels.

To my mind, though - it showed only one thing - the Democratic Party - once the party of pathos - is now just pathetic.

•  I agree...the Dems

  were pathetic last night. The Extremely Annoying Wolf Blitzer didn't ask anything about Katrina, which is still causing a great deal of suffering, and New Orleans, and none of the candidates had the moral courage to bring her up themselves. Not even Edwards.

  by Louisiana 1976 on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 09:29:09 AM PDT

  •  I know - we have to stop playing their game

     it is a game that leads to the loss of a whole city - but we can turn our eyes.

     However, the day is coming when we can hide no more - for the bell will toll for us - and you can mark your calendar as the day you marked your decline.

    by Boxer7 on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 09:33:49 AM PDT

•  What Timmeh Gives

  The Wolfie takes away.

  by Edgar08 on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 09:29:23 AM PDT

•  CNN

  http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/

  I say we ignore this sham and wait until the next real debate on 12/10 in LA.

  by Daaaaave on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 09:35:44 AM PDT

  •  If you got a jewelry question - in a sea of hunge

     in a sea of hunger would you not scream at how irrelevant that was.

     One of us - me, just an ordinary American who cares deeply about my country, its future and its citizens - or HRC is way out of touch with reality.  More and more - I am beginning to think it is me - let them eat cake - and pass me the pearls.

    by Boxer7 on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 09:41:53 AM PDT

    •  It certainly wasn't an obvious attempt

      to capture spin at the end of the debate saying, "Hey! Look at me! I'm so friendly and approachable and I have a great sense of humor. I'm your girl!"

      by Daaaaave on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 09:52:35 AM PDT

    •  Agree 100%---

      when so many more important things including hunger could have been asked about....

      Such a question would have been (though still trivial) more appropriate at a "Let 'em eat cake" GOP convention--but I guess nobody at such a convention would wear diamonds or pearls (except maybe Rudy in costume!) :)

      by Louisiana 1976 on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 10:48:30 AM PDT

•  Its not the party; the country doesn't care

  35 million may seem like a big number, but its only ~10% of the population.  The other 90% either don't care, don't see them or both, and they've let their respective parties (Dem & GOP) know that they dont necessrily want to pay for them either through increased taxes.

  Also, despite campaigning for the middle class and the uninsured since 1992, it hasnt really done anything for the Democrats.  It appears the people who would benefit economically from Democrats, actually voted against their economic interests and voted Republican.  Its one of the greater ironies of our times -- so what does one do, to help others, if the needy voters are unwilling to vote for themselves?

  by dcrolg on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 09:53:02 AM PDT

  •  I know - but not even a mention

     I mean - the debate and the report were same day events.  Not even a mention???  

    Maybe we don't care - and maybe everything will be okay in all those middle  class worlds - no draft, no war, no disease, no climate change - but when the bell tolls for them - they will have no where to turn - for it is now too late.

    by Boxer7 on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 10:01:58 AM PDT

    •  I'm with you -- sadly, it will be too late.

      It sucks -- The have vs have-not gap is just going to get wider: wait until the boomers die off and leave their estates to their kids.  Its been estimated that over a $1.5 trillion dollars of wealth will transfer.  That's simply breath-taking.

      by dcrolg on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 03:14:26 PM PDT

•  I was looking for compassion and genuineness

  last night. and to me, only Biden and Kucinich displayed that.  so, if I could pick my dream ticket today (w/o the Gore factor that is) it would be Biden/Kucinich. the husband said they did this because they know they don't have a chance and could speak freely.

  I was disgusted by many things the first of which was the way the damn thing started. start out asking why one candidate said something "bad" about another candidate? what the h*ll was that about (CNN!!!!)??? 25 or so minutes wasted on that crap. I didn't watch to hear that!

  the "big three" spent most of their time giving campaign speeches. and while I do understand that they needed to do that to some extent, did y'all notice how many times Wolf had to say "so to rephrase the question" because none of them actually answered the questions!!

  I was also disgusted with how little time Kucinich got to speak.  he didn't get his first opportunity until a half hour into it! and then Wolf kept cutting him off!  ACK!!!!

  Joe Biden had the best sense of humor last night too which put him into my top slot.

  that's all, them's my thoughts for now.....

  by Mom to Miss M on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 10:18:38 AM PDT

•  The scroll

  Edwards was the only one to mention anything about poverty. He had to do that after being offered a chance to go after Clinton, he smoothly change the subject and referred to the cnn scroll. I wish he could have gone more in depth, but no time to talk about reality we have to discuss whether the middle class begins at 96,000 or below. Pathetic indeed.  Surprised?

  Nice diary Boxer7

  by LaEscapee on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 10:25:16 AM PDT

•  I didn't see it

  I don't have cable and I have a dialup connection so I can't watch videos on my computer. What I do see here today is a lot of whooping from Clinton people claiming how bad Edwards was; maybe he was, maybe he wasn't - I have to consider the source. But before I get to the point of your diary I want to say this: (for the moment, let me assume that Edwards didn't do well, which is something I can't attest to, not having seen it myself) is my hair on fire now? Am I screaming "pile on!"? I can't really yell at the media (though I would like to) because it's as bad to everybody, although the lower tier people really do seem to get the shaft. No, of course not. If he's a tough as he claims to be (and so far, seems to be) he will deal with it, because it's going to happen. Nobody gets a pass.

  But I also have a question: what kind of questions were asked about issues specific to the West? Were there any questions about eco energy, or even mountaintop removal (which is supposedly an East Coast issue, but only because it hasn't migrated yet)? Is there a transcript somewhere?

  I'm curious. There are a lot of issues that are important to me that probably weren't even brought up. This is a race on sound bites, but it has never been otherwise in my memory. Important decisions on things like war and health care get decided on simplistic reductions like "They're going to raise your taxes!" or "Are you safer now than you were before 9/11?"

  The John Edwards campaign planted this question.

  by Tyrannocaster on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 10:43:20 AM PDT

  •  But now I'm finding out a bit more

    and it does sound like "pathetic" is an appropriate word in many ways.

    by Tyrannocaster on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 11:32:27 AM PDT

•  Dems debating Republican talking points?

  How can you decide which is the best candidate for a Democratic Nominee...when they are forced to debate Republican issues...? There was "no time" for Democratic issues to be debated...CNN asked the questions and they were decidely right wing talking points....no wonder the Dems looked a little bewildered..all except Hillary..she looked real comfortable debating Republican issue....wonder why that is? (I also noticed she brought her own "approving crowd" with her)

  by chabuka on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 10:47:32 AM PDT

•  please keep in mind that

  you should always use first and last names in tags.  I've edited for you.

  by aggieric on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 10:49:35 AM PDT

•  Bad performance by bad candidates

  I said months ago that the Democratic candidates for president were damaged goods. I was wrong. Actually, they are pathetic.

  by Dump Terry McAuliffe on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 11:03:31 AM PDT