Some comments as I listen in to tonight’s debate:
- We start off with Obama and Edwards being given the opportunities for an opening salvo against Hillary. They seem to focus on her alleged Republicanism or her waffling on Social Security, both of which Hillary seems to have good, polished answers for. I’m semi-disappointed that they haven’t touched some of the old Bill Clinton-era scandals that she had some contact with.
- Gee, no one wants to pledge that Iran won’t get the bomb while on their watch. Instead, everyone seems to take the safe way out (keep the country safe, work to keep Iran from getting the bomb…). That’s a wise response, since pledging that Iran won’t get the bomb is something that can’t be guaranteed…but it’d be nice to see someone have the cojones to take such a stance while acknowledging the difficulty of making such a promise.
- OK, Richardson makes the pledge…but his response seems too idealistic. However, while I was expecting a nutty response from Kucinich, he instead earns a hat tip for chiding the media in engaging in a bit of sensationalism here.
- Hillary dodges a question on notes between Bill and Hillary being held out of public inspection at the national archives…and Obama finally does a decent job using that as a launch pad for a rant against the status quo, including an invocation of some of the fun of the 90’s. Edwards tags along by raising Clinton’s funding from lobbyists.
- Impressive rip by Biden against Giulianni. “There are only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, a verb and September 11.”
- Wow, a whole segment on Social Security? Finally!
- Hillary declines to acknowledge the severity of the Social Security. Obama gets a big hat-tip for invoking actuarial work in his monologue.
- Segment on oil prices — the candidates seem to go after profiteering and speculation. Edwards raises sacrifice and conservation, and a few folks point to saber-rattling towards Iran. How come no one mentions the weak dollar?
- Dodd gets a nice bit of spotlight to preach energy independence.
- Nice question to Edwards on federal subsidization of folks who live in harm’s way. Edwards, takes his time working through the warm and fuzzies, and slamming the FEMA response in New Orleans, but seems to avoid being pressed on the idea of “unlimited” federal aid.
- Why the heck are they asking a good question on the state of medical care in a 30-second lighting round format? I’d be interested in hearing longer answers; 30 seconds is barely enough time for a soundbite. And, I feel nicked from all the attacks on insurers; socialism isn’t the best answer here, folks.
- Clinton dances around on reports of her support for New York’s 3-tier drivers license scheme and the undocumented immigrants issues in general. Props to Edwards and Obama for pressing her on the subject.
- A UFO question to Kucinich, and asking Obama about extraterrestrial life? Well, that seems a bit out of place. Props to Obama for deflecting the question by professing a desire to support life on earth before worrying about extraterrestrial life.
- And they wrap up by asking about Obama’s Halloween costume. I stayed up for this?
Oy!
OK, perhaps I’m feeling a bit punchy and overly harsh, seeing as how it was an early morning for me today, with the daytrip I needed to make up to Boston (in spite of the Red Sox parade, even).
Or, maybe I’m reacting to the ability to draw a comparison to a town-hall session I caught driving home this evening, where POTUS 08 on XM spent an hour with high schoolers asking questions of Huckabee. (I may disagree with many of his positions, but it was refreshing to hear a little more in-depth answers at a relaxed pace, rather than the three-ring circus I just sat through.)