Let's hope that what happens in Vegas really stays there. I watched the entirety of the debate last night--with the exclusion of the Lou Dobbs Illegal Aliens pre-debate show. (Seriously, is Dobbs' brain scrambled eggs or what? Here's to hoping a delivery of a swift kick to the mouth arrives soon for him.)
The Debate. Was it is obvious to anyone watching who CNN corp has crowned as their queen for the nomination? Seriously, why not just call last night's debate what it really was--the Hillary Rodham Clinton roll-out. Or the HRC Forum of Debate. Or, the All-Hail HRC and Damn-you-if-you-try-to-downgrade-our-sister Happy Hour.
If you were fortunate enough to miss the debate, then you are just one hell of a lucky dog. Allow me to spare you the agony and the aggravation. The establishment's candidate, HRC, was all diamonds and pearls last night. (yes, this was the final question asked of Queen Hillary--if she prefers diamonds or pearls.) For the record she answered she'd take both. Greedy woman. Not only does she take both diamonds and pearls--she took up the bulk of the precious minutes these 6 candidates had to state their positions with calculation and intention. And CNN and Wolf were just more than happy to sit back and let it play out as such.
Don't look for Vid links--just go to CNN or YouTube or freakin' anywhere if you want to see this travesty for yourself. This is basically what went down to any skilled debate/political viewer who's been following this race from its inception last year:
*
Hillary controlled the floor and debate (
Wolf Blitzer did not)
*
HRC was given softball questions--pitched underhand and all.
* HRC was given the opportunity to rebut statements made about her by other candidates on stage immediately. By a ratio of 2 to 1. Other candidates weren't so lucky--they were promised by Wolf, "Senator Edwards, we'll give you a chance to respond." And of course, the chance never came as HRC prattled away like a 12-year-old girl just given phone privileges--and the debate moved on, naturally controlled by HRC. What else?
* Poor
Dennis Kucinich. I just thought I'd say this here. We love you Dennis! You nearly brought the house down at the mere mention of Impeachment. People cheered and clapped their hands and whistled. Here's to hoping Congress gets a clue.
* HRC was not only given softball questions, she was actually asked to make a "sell-myself" statement by Wolf as a hypothetical response to the naysayers of her campaign--and this came at the end when the 100 "peasants" sitting up front had the floor time to ask their own personal questions. There's Wolfie, prodding HRC to open up her vast chasm of wisdom and take the floor once again...
* The debate pretty much made all the other candidates look like schmucks in comparison to queen
HRC--they were literally robbed of their usual pizazz and distinctive stance. How? I don't know--maybe it was all the HRC supporters bused in en masse from parts unknown, filling up the Nevada venue. (No, I don't know this for sure--just a hunch.)
Obama and Edwards were both booed when they attemtped to draw distinctions between themselves and Hillary. Unbelievable. Something is very, very wrong with that picture. I've never seen this in any debate. How can people ultimately distinguish amongst the various candidates if they don't know where they stand firmly on the issues? (for the record, HRC was booed too (a little) when it seemed like she just wouldn't shut her pie hole.)
Enough with the HRC roll-outs. I'm itching for the real-deal, no-holds-barred debates of yore. I want to see people pulled from their comfort zones and made to answer serious questions. Enough of this charade.
No more freebie campaign advert soundbites courtesy of the greatest HRC supporter. CNN News Network.
Yeeesh, give other people a chance, would ya.