How's the Debate?

by: Matt Stoller

Mon Jul 23, 2007 at 20:20


PoliticsTV has all the clips.

I'm really enjoying this one, and I found the other debates unbelievably boring/annoying.  The youtube questions are bringing an amazing candor to the discussion.

What do you think?

Matt Stoller :: How's the Debate?

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How's the Debate? | 19 comments
I am digging this (0.00 / 0)
one the best.  It has changed the tone.  Cooper is not spending a lot of time talking.

I am loving watching the CNN feed with the NV voter live response graph laid on top.  Plus I have a chat screen going with people who are watching the same feed.  Totally geeking out.

I agree (0.00 / 0)


New Jersey politics at Blue Jersey.
Obama and Nukes (0.00 / 0)
Ouch...talk about how to get me to instantly lose respect.

On twitter: @BobBrigham
Obama on "bipartisanship" (0.00 / 0)

Oops--Hit enter by mistake! (0.00 / 0)
Obama's strategy these days seems to be to blame a lot of problems on Dems and Repubs equally, so that he can seem like he's the true outsider.  That's really turning me off.

On other fronts: Every debate performance by Hillary makes me like her more, and I personally liked her answer on the "liberal" question, even though it might have seemed a little evasive. 

Edwards is a little long-winded on some of the questions, but I think he's still strong as ever, and is outperforming Obama. Full disclosure: I love John Edwards.

Chris Dodd is performing really well tonight; Richardson and Biden not so much- but Biden's personality is coming through a little more this time, and I think it only helps him. 

I personally think Gravel provides an important voice in the debate, and his answers seem to be resonating with the audience; I don't hold Kucinich in the same high regard.

All in all--I think this is a great debate format, and I am prouder than ever to be a Democrat. Andersoon Cooper is annoying me a little bit.

[ Parent ]
OBAMA (0.00 / 0)
I thought his answers regarding talking to Iran and Stria were right on. Clinton to me would be doing what Bush is currently doing.

I thought his answers regarding the special intersts for healthcare was great. So did the un-decided voters in NH in which they measured the feelings of people by the electronic devices hooked up.

I noticed the MSM the inside the beltway crowd has a different take on the debate then the focus groups in NH and NV.

[ Parent ]
obama (0.00 / 0)
Obama/Edwards/Clinton are all doing well tonight.
Hey! (0.00 / 0)
This ones good!!! Kudo's to youtube/CNN!!
The final question; Dem unity (0.00 / 0)
The merits of the final question can be argued, but I liked it.  I could be wrong, but I think it's a really positive thing that Democrats, for the most part, are demonstrating something of a united front to the nation, even while debating each other.  What do others think about this? 
After the Dodd answer (0.00 / 0)
Which came early in the love/hate congo line, I don't think anyone could've taken any shots without looking bad. 
[ Parent ]
On Unity (0.00 / 0)
yes, but it wasn't with just that final question... Hillary and a few of the other candidates were very much also presenting the united front with a few of the other questions. Of course it plays into Hillary's strategy of presenting herself as the leader of the pack, but I still like it. 
[ Parent ]
Best debate (0.00 / 0)
Much better than the previous ones.  Excellent format.  Watching the republicans in that format should be quite interesting.
agreed (0.00 / 0)
they are going to have about 20 minutes of "why haven't you bombed _____ yet?" questions
[ Parent ]
Couldn't tell you (4.00 / 1)
Maybe one day there'll be one that isn't on cable and isn't scheduled before people on the West Coast get out of work. Maybe one day.

John McCain opposes the GI Bill.
The youtube questions are great. (4.00 / 1)
No stupid reporter-trying-to-be-clever "gotcha" questions.

However....

I continue to hate watching debates, because of the *horrible* format where candidates are asked different questions.  So I get to compare Hillary on Darfur vs. Obama on health care vs. Edwards on Iraq, etc.

Until they start asking the same questions to all of the candadates, so that we can genuinely compare positions, these are a waste of time--designed to make voters vote on "impressions" of candidates and how they carry themselves rather than on real issues.

You Tube's kind of blowing (0.00 / 0)
your average reporter ?'s out of the water, huh?
  Agree w. those who've said the format is still too fluffy. It did seem like the trickier ?'s got left to the lesser candidates on several occasions.
  Guess they've decided that one suit is Givhan-proof on HRC, cause that was the 3rd color we've seen it in. I'd feel sorry for her there, if she wasn't sounding so confident.
Best debate so far. (4.00 / 1)
At least there was a question which showed a clear difference among the top 3 candidates - the question of would you in the first year visit the Presidents of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea. 

Clinton showed it would be the same old same old, you must kowtow to American might before you can meet with our President.  Sending only emissaries would send the clear message that nothing has changed despite electing a woman President.

Obama in agreeing to meet unconditionally would say to the world this is a very different leader than in the past. Interestingly enough, by bringing up the potential propaganda opportunity that an in-person visit by Clinton might offer these unfriendly World leaders, she highlighted an distinct advantage an Obama Presidency has.  No matter how Iran and Syria might try to spin it, a young Black President who has actually lived in a Muslim country would be a powerful propaganda weapon for our side.  That image alone would help dispel quite a lot of notions the Arab world  has of America.  A picture is worth a thousand words and that picture would speak of equality and opportunity for all.

John Edwards seemed completely unprepared for the question both agreeing with Barack and Clinton at the same time.  I thought it was one of his worst moments in the debates, one of the few times he seemed unsure of himself.

insigthful comments on the debate from Jill at Feministe (0.00 / 0)
"Initial Debate Thoughts" by Jill at Feministe

http://feministe.pow...

Better Questions (0.00 / 0)
Same tired answers.

Only stand-outs were Gravel and Kucinich because they have nothing to lose.

The rest are like plastic dolls waiting to be sold to the consuming public as the next big thing. 

Be careful, don't say anything that might rock the boat.


"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

How's the Debate? | 19 comments
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