Liveblogging The Democratic Debates
Posted by Kyle E. Moore on Oct 30, 2007 in Uncategorized | 129 comments
Well folks, we’re just minutes out, and it’s time to get this show on the road. I’m currently trying to get things set up on my end, so while I wait for the webcast to begin you can read the preview here.
Also, the way this works is simple. We do the liveblogging in the comments section, so you’ll have to go there and keep refreshing to get the latest updates. Further, you are free to contribute I just have some simple rules.
-Please be relatively polite.
-No spamming.
-Stay on topic. Quick forays like, “Hey how are ya?” are fine, but I don’t want to talk about what your kid is dressing up as for Halloween. That’s what email is for.
With that said, let’s watch some debates!
nevermind… Edward’s “toothfairy” bite was brilliant, I take it back.
You know, Mick, you bring up Timmeh’s hard case against Clinton, and you know, I’ve listened to Matthews, and I’ve listened to Olbermann, and now Timmeh, and you know, I think MSNBC as a whole is turning on her.
And Hillary is not answering the attacks. And she’s seething.
I wish they’d stop asking experience questions. They’re stupid.
Obama is now being asked to talk about his own inexperience, and he’s going on what is a big work for him. he’s working the bipartisan angle, which is good on, he’s again attacking Hillary, and another solid answer.
Well, she’s the front-runner. That’s what they do.
Richartson can take his positive “let’s be nice” and stuff it.
Well, you know, the experience question in this context was to put obama on the spot.
Richardson, you know, he’s taking issue with people attacking Hillary, and he’s pretty much just going ahead and putting up a big sign that says, “Please don’t invite me to anymore debates,”
Okay, you said it quite well.
you know, I’m with you on this. Months ago, I was of the same opinion as Richardson. But the thing is, Hillary is such that, she gets the nomination, we will be voting for a Republican or a Republican. Remove Hillary from the field, and I’m all about let’s play nice.
Good point. Take her out and we got something.
Sorry, I was distracted.
Biden: He uses a noun a verb and 9/11
Beautiful!
He’s saying what needs to be said about Rudy Giuliani.
This answer! Biden… This is what has puzzled at least me is that he delivers answers like this, and yet he gets no traction in the polls.
Timmy is DRILLING Hillary on this, and called her on a blatant contradiction on lifting the cap.
And she is dodging again. This is not the best performance of Hillary during a debate, a lot of these questions are pissing her off, and she’s having less and less control
“I am not repeating republican talking points.”
Obama just raised his hand… this should be good.
Biden bragging about being better than Richardson is like measles bragging about being better than diptheria.
Now Russert just quoted Bill Clinton, and drills Hillary on Republican talking points.
Man, you gotta think that she’s going to lose her top tonight.
HAHAHAHA
Come on, man. There’s no significant problem with SocSec and Obama knows it. Mistake.
You know, Mick, one thing that is interesting, though, Biden, Obama, they’re learning, they’re attacking the republicans, they’re unifying, Obama is… Obama is quickly turning this into his best performance so far.
Told yah. He left her her first real opening and she’s filling it up. Still sounds mad, tho.
Hillary Clinton: Fiscal responsibility is turning into her Giuliani 9/11.
HAHA, to coin a phrase.
obama on Mitt Romney’s flubbing his name.
Great opening on Mitt Romney’s flip flopping ways.
This was a softball of a question, and he answers it well.
I don’t know if H is actually going to lose it but I agree with you – she’s rightn on the edge, definitely flirting with a meltdown. We should be so lucky….
Second break…
Okay, Hillary is getting pissed, this has turned into a shooting gallery, and while Obama looked like he was going to punt early on, he’s come out swinging after everyone got warmed up.
Edwards, meanwhile, started off strong and aggressive, but as Obama went up, it’s felt as though Edwards went down.
I think she’s too disciplined to break on stage, but anyone who has been paying attention will not miss the fact that she’s slipping, and I think that’s going to play in the analyses that we’re going to see over the next few days.
It’s also important to note that Dodd is still inflicted with the meta answers, and resume filling that has plagued him thus far, and Biden is still showing much of that flare that should have him higher in the polls than he is.
Feels more like a back-and-forth to me. I don’t think Obama is as strong as you do, and I’m betting you don’t think E is as strong as I do. Cumulative score: Even-stephen.
Fair enough
thirty second limits on questions.
Biden: Gotta remember, this is the most comncise I think I’ve ever heard him. On the hustings, he a windbag.
Standard answers to a standartd question (tho I liked E’s promise to investigate oil companies – nice touch).
Are people doomed to paying more for energy costs this winter: down the line
Dodd: Low income energy assistance, rebates, and reinvestment. And he just did the “go to my website” which turned into something of a gaffe for Kerry.
Biden: Foreign Policy
Edwards: DoJ investigate oil companies. Ask for mutual sacrifice. Good answer
Clinton: I have no fresh ideas, so I’m just gonna attack Republicans. Note, these folks have notepads, Hillary’s notes? Attack Republicans: Fiscal Responsbility…. OOOH Ownership society language.
Obama: much of the cost is risk, lower rhetoric. Fuel efficiency. Good answer.
Kucinich: Iraq War. Attack the administration. Constitution international law… Only slightly touches on the cost of oil. I word. Broken record, and while I appreciate the I word, I don’t like it here.
Richardson: percent percent percent, I think I’m falling asleep.
Kind of strange question for Dodd on making the compromise between people’s needs and protecting the environment.
Yeah, and he blew it. He’s writing his own jackety blurbs now.
“jacket”
Bottomless pits for survivors of natural disasters for Edwards? Not exactly directly answering the question, but the idea of a national family is resounding, and one I can get behind.
“surge in New Orleans” very nice sound bite for Edwards.
Williams still trying to pin him down on whether there should be limits, and I think Edwards kind of sort of agreed that there should be no limit.
Hillary on alternative minimum tax. She’s calming down, and kind of signalling more taxes for the rich, less for mid and lower classes.
I do not like her invoking dying military personnel in this subject, it does not belong, and she’s fishing here.
No he didn’t, he just blew past it with a cliche. Mistake.
And hey, she looked at her notepad and started attacking Republicans.
She’s fishing, dodging, and refusing to be specific – again.
It is a cliche, i’m not going to call it a political mistake though.
Obama gives I think a good answer on taxes, and I’m going to take this moment to say something.
Usually, people rag on the moderators, but tonight, I’m giving them a big win. Williams and Russert are not letting go, they are spending as much time as they can to hold these candidates down and get them to answer the questions.
You know, I’ve thought kucinich has had good performances before, good political performances as well as good progressive performances, but tonight he is channeling the absent Mike Gravel in that he’s broken record repeating Impeachment. I like the idea, but it’s not Giuliani 9/11, it’s not Clinton Republicans/fiscal responsibility, etc.
Edwards, though, i like what he has done with the connection of Wal Mart lobbying against container inspections, and the way lobbying against regulations has resulted in the dangerous Chinese imports.
I’ll agree, overall. They’ve asked some dumb questions but by and large they’ve done better than I can remember in the last 8 years.
Biden gets points for mentioning race.
Lightning round on education.
Richardson wasted his entire thirty seconds saying “this is what I would do” and Williams had to repeatedly cut him off.
Kucinich, wastes time describing a statue, goes over.
Obama: money in schools, increasing research grants, nice tie to the money for wars, and not spending enough on incentives for education.
Clinton: Pre Kindergarten. For once, she actually answers the question pretty decently.
Edwards: universal pre k. Nutritional healthcare needs. National teaching university. Incentive pay to teachers willing to pay… God, he’s good for it.
Biden: proposed longer school in 97. Minimum sixteen years of education. Focus on socially disadvantaged.
Dodd: Senatorial answers. Fills his resume, and hey, at least his autobio is being worked on.
Final break, and then we got the last fifteen.
The lightning round wasn’t a huge success. Education. Figures. 30 secs ought to be enouigh to discuss that topic, don’t you think? LR – Bad Idea. The other way was working better even if not everything gets covered.
yes he does, though race is tricky for Biden.
Okay, we are almost done, I’m going to say, since I won’t have time for final remarks tonight, I think Edwards and obama come off winners, Hillary comes off a loser. Biden still deserves to be in the debates, but everyone else kinda needs to go at this point.
I agree, education is not seen often as a big emotional political issue, but you know it deserves better than thirty second answers, and to all the candidate’s credit, (and maybe to Hillary’s discredit considering she was done in thirty seconds), they all should have gotten more time on this.