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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

I am pretty sure these ‘journalists’ were not always such a bootlicking sycophants.

Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls 2 years from now.

People identifying as christian while ignoring christ and his teachings is a strange thing indeed.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

Republican also-rans: four mules fighting over a turnip.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

We’re watching the self-immolation of the leading world power on a level unprecedented in human history.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

“I was told there would be no fact checking.”

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

Donald Trump found guilty as fuck – May 30, 2024!

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

Petty moves from a petty man.

Celebrate the fucking wins.

Second rate reporter says what?

Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

Decision time: keep arguing about the last election, or try to win the next one?

“woke” is the new caravan.

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You are here: Home / Politics / Debate Open Thread

Debate Open Thread

by Tim F|  January 5, 20087:24 pm| 157 Comments

This post is in: Politics

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Catalogue the embarrassments so that I don’t have to.

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Previous Post: « Steelers Open Thread
Next Post: Something Good From Huckabee »

Reader Interactions

157Comments

  1. 1.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 7:26 pm

    Um, I’m watcing and ….. is this an SNL skit?

    Who are these morons?

  2. 2.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    Who are these morons?

    The GOP’s greatest hits!

  3. 3.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    Paul was on the right track in connecting terrorism to American foreign policy, but it’s simplistic to say that’s the only connection, and that makes it easy to make him look silly.

  4. 4.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    I liked Huckabee’s comments to Romney: “I supported the war before you did, and I supported the surge before you did.” Mittens got all ferklempt about that.

  5. 5.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 7:30 pm

    Now they’re all being assholes and interrupting Paul. What the hell is the moderator doing?

  6. 6.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    Now they’re all being assholes

    Dude, you are looking at professional assholes, the best in the world.

    These guys are the Kings of Assholia.

  7. 7.

    D-Chance.

    January 5, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    What debate… who the Hell is watching a damn debate during NFL playoffs?

  8. 8.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 7:43 pm

    Huckabee just confused the historical function of the Declaration of Independence with that of the Constitution, then said that the most important thing is that the government recognize that our rights are derived from God. That sounds nice, in theory, but the consequences would be awfully unpleasant.

  9. 9.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    who the Hell is watching a damn debate during NFL playoffs?

    I’m in the UK, so even though I’d love to watch the Steelers, getting the necessary channels is prohibitively expensive. The Super Bowl is shown on Freeview however, so maybe I’ll get lucky.

  10. 10.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 7:47 pm

    McCain asked: “Where do people come to get their healthcare.” By that argument, even Asian countries like India and Singapore have the best healthcare, and that can’t be right.

  11. 11.

    Andrew

    January 5, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    They’re all assholes. Romney looks like an especially smarmy asshole. Ron Paul is coming off a bit stupid. Giuliani is a child. Thompson looks like he needs a nap. Huckabee is a huge asshole but is coming off much better than the rest.

  12. 12.

    Krista

    January 5, 2008 at 7:49 pm

    Dude, you are looking at professional assholes, the best in the world.

    Keep firing, assholes!

  13. 13.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 7:50 pm

    Good lord, can you believe these lying cocksuckers?

    Romney is a fucking liar. If what he says is true, why haven’t the Republicans done it (solved the heathcare crisis) while they owned the government lock, stock and barrel?

  14. 14.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 7:51 pm

    Ron Paul just made my point about medical tourism. He is however using an argument that has the conclusion of going to the gold standard, but I can’t have everything, can I?

  15. 15.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 7:53 pm

    Tax breaks for healthcare?

    These are people who are voted for by folks who see Jesus’ image in a mayonnaise jar, and think the earth is 6000 years old.

    Somebody with a big hook needs to come out and jerk these motherfuckers off the stage and bring in another set of candidates.

  16. 16.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 7:53 pm

    Everytime Ron Paul makes the others cringe I do a shot…

  17. 17.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    Krista Says:

    Dude, you are looking at professional assholes, the best in the world.

    Keep firing, assholes!

    I knew I was surrounded by assholes.

    And props of course for working in a spaceballs reference, especially since the modern republican party is their equivalent.

  18. 18.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    Romney says he supports healthcare mandates, but then argues that he doesn’t. If it were anyone else, I would say that he didn’t know what ‘mandate’ means. Since it’s Romney, I know it’s because Romney can hold two opposing positions simultaneously.

  19. 19.

    Andrew

    January 5, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    He is however using an argument that has the conclusion of going to the gold standard, but I can’t have everything, can I?

    He had me up until the gold standard bit.

    I’m still up for a seigniorage system plus an extremely progressive income tax that kicks in around the 75% percentile and a carbon tax. A girl can dream.

  20. 20.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    McCain, one of the free-market pushers here, is suggesting that Americans be allowed to import drugs from Canada. That’s pretty damned ironic.

    And if these people are upset about pharmaceutical companies overcharging Medicare for medications, why did they vote against allowing direct negotiations with those companies? Ass-holes.

  21. 21.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    January 5, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    Romney is a fucking liar. If what he says is true, why haven’t the Republicans done it (solved the heathcare crisis) while they owned the government lock, stock and barrel?

    Unlike the prescription meds bill, where they opened the Treasury to their corporate masters, they ran out of time before tapping the insurance industry into the feeding trough.

    I’m glad that the last gang of Republicans were fiscals conservatives, or we could have been fucked over mercilessly. It appears they did have mercy on us by failing to “solve” healthcare.

  22. 22.

    Doug

    January 5, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    The clip of the night will likely be where Romney is lecturing Huckabee to the effect of:

    Mitt: Don’t characterize my position.
    Huckabee: Which one?

    For my part, I’m enjoying the spectacle of the Republicans (other than Paul) tying the albatross of Bush’s foreign policy ever more firmly around their necks.

  23. 23.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    Good god, I could take the first six people I see in line at Safeway and ask them to solve the healthcare dilemma, and they’d to better than these sorry lying pissants.

    Where are the questions that expose these fuckers?

    Health care costs are too high because too many people get free care?

    WHATHEFUCK? Surely that kind of mendacity and stupidity cannot go unchallenged?

  24. 24.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:08 pm

    McCain just stole a page out of Huckabee’s playbook by calling illegal immigrants “God’s children.” Romney disagrees, because Mexicans bear the Mark of Cain (I may have heard him incorrectly).

  25. 25.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    This Illegal Immigration issue is going to kill them.

  26. 26.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    Giuliani just said that “We should stop illegal immigration at the border.” I was thinking we should stop it maybe somewhere around Kansas, but it does make more sense to stop it at the border.

  27. 27.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    Omg, this whole immigration question has been a trainwreck….and the train is on fire and moving at a high rate of speed!

  28. 28.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    Oh, yes. Now Romney and McCain are fighting over whether McCain’s plan is amnesty or not. Completely pointless semantic bickering, but it makes them look like asses, so I’m fine with it.

  29. 29.

    Andrew

    January 5, 2008 at 8:14 pm

    I think we need to develop some sort of repulsion barrier that stops illegal immigrants 2000 miles away from our border.

  30. 30.

    Krista

    January 5, 2008 at 8:14 pm

    If it were anyone else, I would say that he didn’t know what ‘mandate’ means.

    I’m sure Larry Craig could explain it to him.

  31. 31.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    Wow, Guilliani sounded reasonable for a second there….I think I need to stop drinking…

  32. 32.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    If it were anyone else, I would say that he didn’t know what ‘mandate’ means.

    I’m sure Larry Craig could explain it to him.

    POTD!

  33. 33.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    Guilliani sounded reasonable for a second there.

    Yes, but he’s using the “this is a complex issue” defense, which will never fly with the current crop of Republican primary voters.

  34. 34.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    “We should stop illegal immigration at the border.”

    It’s the Taco Bell strategy: Make a run for the border.

    Are these crazy fuckers going to send out buses and goon squads in the dead of night to round up and deport millions of people?

  35. 35.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:19 pm

    Thompson is looking more and more like Senator Palpatine to me.

  36. 36.

    demimondian

    January 5, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    Personally, I think they should support the Bush Doctrine — we’ll slaughter them indiscriminately over there so we don’t have to stop illegal immigration at the border.

  37. 37.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    Huckabee will solve the illegal immigration problem by making it clear to illegal immigrants that they’ll be deported if they don’t come forward. That’s a novel solution, since illegal immigrants aren’t deported now.

  38. 38.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    Why not Oboma?

    Yes…do tell…

  39. 39.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    Huckabee will solve the illegal immigration problem by making it clear to illegal immigrants that they’ll be deported if they don’t come forward.

    In a night of complete malapropisms and stupidities, that may rank as the best.

    Amazing, just amazing, that a sentient being could utter such an absurdity.

  40. 40.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    OMFG Mittney is making the Vote for Obama speech again!

    What a goon!

  41. 41.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    Romney: Vote me over Obama, because I stand for change and Obama stands for….not…change?

  42. 42.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    Romney: Vote me over Obama, because I stand for change and Obama stands for….not…change?

  43. 43.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    Thompson: Obama is a LIB-UR-ALL!!!11 OH NOES!!111

  44. 44.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    Thompson: Vote me over Obama, because Obama is a liberal.

  45. 45.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    Fred Flinstone: The change we need is to return to the principles this country was founded on.

    So, I guess Habeus Corpus is back on the table?

  46. 46.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    Thompson is running for president in 1980.

  47. 47.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    GHoullianni: WAR WAR WAR WAR!

  48. 48.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    McCain makes a coherent case as to why he should be chosen over Obama. Not necessarily convincing, but certainly coherent.

  49. 49.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    Rudy says Obama has “never run anything.”

    I think he just got Obama another 500k votes in November.

    People are so enraptured by the performance of all these guys who have run something. They’ve gotten us right where we are today.

  50. 50.

    demimondian

    January 5, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    “Let me say, Mr. Romney, that we disagree about many things, but I do agree that you are the candidate of change.”

  51. 51.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    Huckabee is winning this debate! Holy Smoke!!

  52. 52.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:36 pm

    McCain: If we send our money overseas, bad people might get it.

    Solution: Let’s stop buying stuff?!?

  53. 53.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    Watching Thompson stumble through this half-asleep has made it worth it.

  54. 54.

    Michael D.

    January 5, 2008 at 8:38 pm

    Fred Thompson is REALLY sucking in this forum. I mean REALLY sucking.

  55. 55.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 8:39 pm

    I am so glad I am not watching this, I somehow imagine I would wind up stupid if I did…

  56. 56.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:39 pm

    Thompson: “We’re not a nation that regulates the profits or losses of our economy.”

    Has this man no idea what the Federal Reserve does? What about the fact that the government bails out the airlines all the time? He might think we ought not to do those things, but it’s a bald-faced lie to say that we don’t.

  57. 57.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:40 pm

    Huckabee says that we should “untax innovation.” What’s the running tax rate on innovation these days?

  58. 58.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    Oh thank God! It’s over!

  59. 59.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    Interesting that the Dems let their candidates walk out onto a stage already occupied by the Repubes.

  60. 60.

    douglasfactors

    January 5, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    Gotta say, having all ten candidates mingle on stage was kind of cool.

  61. 61.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    Huckabee is winning this debate! Holy Smoke!!

    If by winning you mean bamboozling a few stupid people, then …. yes, winning.

  62. 62.

    douglasfactors

    January 5, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    Huckabee is winning this debate! Holy Smoke!!
    If by winning you mean bamboozling a few stupid people, then …. yes, winning.

    There are other definitions?

  63. 63.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    Huckabee did come off as the most genuine candidate, in that he didn’t seem to be speaking from or searching for talking points. He was folksy and positive, even though he sometimes spouted lots of nonsense.

  64. 64.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    If by winning you mean bamboozling the Republicans a few stupid people, then …. yes, winning.

  65. 65.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    They’re scared shitless of Obama…

  66. 66.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    They’re scared shitless of Obama…

    Then they won’t need two girls, one cup

  67. 67.

    Doug

    January 5, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    Republican orthodoxy just hamstrings these guys. The Republican code says “amnesty is bad” — so we’ll just spend an hour bickering over what the meaning of “amnesty” might be.

  68. 68.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    myiq2xu Says:

    They’re scared shitless of Obama…

    Then they won’t need two girls, one cup

    I promised I would behave myself…

  69. 69.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:00 pm

    I promised I would behave myself…

    I didn’t promise shit

  70. 70.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    So, who’s taking odds that nothing of interest happens in the first 45 minutes of the Dem debate?

  71. 71.

    Johnny Pez

    January 5, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    Are these crazy fuckers going to send out buses and goon squads in the dead of night to round up and deport millions of people?

    Yes.

    SA2SQ

  72. 72.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:03 pm

    So, who’s taking odds that nothing of interest happens in the first 45 minutes of the Dem debate?

    Fixt

    I’ll wager an almost new Henway

  73. 73.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    myiq2xu Says:

    I promised I would behave myself…

    I didn’t promise shit

    That’s why I ain’t sayin shit.

  74. 74.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    Good opening question for Hillary.

  75. 75.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    Are these crazy fuckers going to send out buses and goon squads in the dead of night to round up and deport millions of people?

    They better have the buses wait at the border cuz they’ll be bringing most of them back.

  76. 76.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    So, ABC News is smuggling nuclear material into the US without being caught?

    No wonder we don’t try to catch Bin Laden, he doesn’t work for ABC News.

    Jesus.

  77. 77.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    btw myiq, stayin dry in your neck of the woods? I am seriously considering building an ark.

  78. 78.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    Obama is sticking to his guns on invading Pakistan if they did not take care of bin Laden and were capable of doing so. Edwards tried to do the same thing, but was less elegant about it.

  79. 79.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    Edwards just doesn’t have a good speaking style. His thoughts come out unorganized.

  80. 80.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    That’s why I ain’t sayin shit.

    You said enough – I never saw a video that made me want to puke before. Or claw my eyes out

  81. 81.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    I like how, when Richardson was speaking, they cut to a woman in the audience who seemed to be spaced out, because that’s exactly the kind of feeling he was giving me.

  82. 82.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:12 pm

    btw myiq, stayin dry in your neck of the woods? I am seriously considering building an ark.

    Ever seen Waterworld?

  83. 83.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 9:13 pm

    Edwards just doesn’t have a good speaking style.

    Yes, good thing he didn’t become a trial lawyer.

  84. 84.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:14 pm

    myiq2xu Says:

    btw myiq, stayin dry in your neck of the woods? I am seriously considering building an ark.

    Ever seen Waterworld?

    Yeah, it’s been that way here. Had the distinct pleasure of walking about 6 miles in it last night because I didn’t want to wait an hour for the next bus.

  85. 85.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    Edwards just doesn’t have a good speaking style.

    Yes, good thing he didn’t become a trial lawyer.

    Nice hair though.

  86. 86.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    Yes, good thing he didn’t become a trial lawyer.

    Shouldn’t have quit his day job.

  87. 87.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    Yeah, it’s been that way here. Had the distinct pleasure of walking about 6 miles in it last night because I didn’t want to wait an hour for the next bus.

    Up here you would be wading or swimming.

  88. 88.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    TheFountainHead Says:

    Edwards just doesn’t have a good speaking style. His thoughts come out unorganized.

    Maybe he is just realizing that this will be his second failed run for the presidency.

  89. 89.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    Richardson is completely out of his element here. Obama and Clinton don’t look dumb on Pakistan because they don’t say much, but Richardson seems really naive about the role the Pakistani military plays in the government, and how Musharraf is 1) no longer in the military, and 2) not the reason the military wields so much power.

  90. 90.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    myiq2xu Says:

    Yeah, it’s been that way here. Had the distinct pleasure of walking about 6 miles in it last night because I didn’t want to wait an hour for the next bus.

    Up here you would be wading or swimming.

    So I’ve heard, just glad I am not where that levee broke.

  91. 91.

    Doug

    January 5, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    They all look exhausted when they’re not talking.

  92. 92.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    Jags up 21-7 @ 8:34 in the 2nd Qtr.

    John Cole is chugging Laphroiag and cussing

  93. 93.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    January 5, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    Hillary seems to be a little run down and her eyes look tired. She’s still more coherent than any of the Republicans, though.

  94. 94.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    They all look exhausted when they’re not talking.

    Honestly, how could they not?

  95. 95.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:25 pm

    Jesus Christ. Richardson just claimed that terrorists already have nuclear weapons, and that he would negotiate with the Soviet Union.

  96. 96.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:25 pm

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford Says:

    Hillary seems to be a little run down and her eyes look tired. She’s still more coherent than any of the Republicans, though.

    Hard to look upbeat when you are down 12 pts in the polls in NH and realizing you are NOT inevitable.

  97. 97.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    dslak Says:

    Jesus Christ. Richardson just claimed that terrorists already have nuclear weapons, and that he would negotiate with the Soviet Union.

    He been sippin from old Thompson’s bottle again?

  98. 98.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    Ginson just threw Clinton a rope…

  99. 99.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    dslak Says:

    Jesus Christ. Richardson just claimed that terrorists already have nuclear weapons, and that he would negotiate with the Soviet Union.

    and just think this is the guy who’s been kissing hillary’s ass to be her running mate…

  100. 100.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    He been sippin from old Thompson’s bottle again?

    That would be Old Grandad?

  101. 101.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    Shouldn’t have quit his day job.

    Made so much money, didn’t need a day job.

  102. 102.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    Obama’s response was spot freakin’ on though, so basically she took Charlie’s rope and wrapped it around her neck…

  103. 103.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    myiq2xu Says:

    He been sippin from old Thompson’s bottle again?

    That would be Old Grandad?

    Old Spice?

  104. 104.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:32 pm

    Now Hillary’s just attacking Obama, without making any points.

  105. 105.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    Edwards is bitchslapping the Hildebeast.

  106. 106.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    Edwards is out to DESTROY Hillary!

  107. 107.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    Old Spice?

    Ensure

  108. 108.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    Edwards is doing Obama’s dirty work, associating Hillary with the status quo.

  109. 109.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    Hillary angry! Hillary smash!

  110. 110.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    HRC in meltdown. Oh shit, she looks bad.

  111. 111.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    Hillary is PISSED!

  112. 112.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    Shorter Hillary Clinton: You two can’t deliver on any of your promises. I won’t make any promises, so that voters won’t be disappointed.

  113. 113.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    Poor Richardson.

  114. 114.

    null pointer exception

    January 5, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    Obama/Edwards will work out nicely.

  115. 115.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    Question now is will Hillary pull a Lieberman?

  116. 116.

    mitch

    January 5, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    Edwards is doing Obama’s dirty work, associating Hillary with the status quo

    Damn, no kidding. He came out guns-a-blazing straight at Hillary.

  117. 117.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    What the hell is Richardson on about?

  118. 118.

    null pointer exception

    January 5, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    It’s looking like Obama-Edwards vs. Clinton-Richardson

  119. 119.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    They got what they wanted, they got Hillary pissed off.

    I am surprised she took that bait and reacted the way she did.

    Major points off.

  120. 120.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    Edwards is kicking ass and taking names right here.

    He’s not my favorite, but he is looking damn good.

  121. 121.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:40 pm

    Damn, no kidding. He came out guns-a-blazing straight at Hillary.

    It’s smart campaigning. She’s currently the more formidable opponent. If he really believes in what he says, Obama is also closer to his views than Clinton.

  122. 122.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:41 pm

    Edwards is kicking ass and taking names right here.

    He’s not my favorite, but he is looking damn good.

    Yeah, but he’s looking like Obama’s attack dog doing it.

  123. 123.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    Shorter Hillary Clinton: You two can’t deliver on any of your promises. I won’t make any promises, so that voters won’t be disappointed.

    Funny, and … true.

  124. 124.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    Why aren’t y’all watching football?

    What are you guys, communists?

  125. 125.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    The “has the Surge worked” question answered itself when the report mentions that there have been no political solutions, and that Patreus said those were necessary. It could have been phrased better.

  126. 126.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    Yeah, but he’s looking like Obama’s attack dog doing it.

    Maybe, but it’s a smart move. He needs to shave points off her lead.

  127. 127.

    myiq2xu

    January 5, 2008 at 9:44 pm

    Halftime 21-7 Jags

  128. 128.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    With Hillary out of the picture, there’s no longer an establishment candidate, and Edwards is hoping he can pick up the support of some of the establishment once she’s gone.

  129. 129.

    Krista

    January 5, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    Yeah, the ads are starting to get more pointed too — I noticed that Hillary’s definitely trying to use Obama’s talking points against him. I don’t necessarily have anything against her, but it really kind of reeked of desperation.

  130. 130.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    Obama’s response to the Surge question was fantastic.

  131. 131.

    TheFountainHead

    January 5, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    Edwards is channeling Bill Clinton.

  132. 132.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    Edwards did a good job of addressing the issue of doing what the military wants: “It’s the president’s job to make policy decisions.” Damn right. It’s time to stop deferring responsibility for fixing bad policy onto the military. It’s not their job.

  133. 133.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    dslak Says:

    With Hillary out of the picture, there’s no longer an establishment candidate, and Edwards is hoping he can pick up the support of some of the establishment once she’s gone.

    Edwards is supposed to be the “anti-establishment” candidate thus his populist schtick. If he did that he would be signing his own campaign’s death warrant.

  134. 134.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 9:52 pm

    If he did that he would be signing his own campaign’s death warrant.

    He needs more support to win, and it has to come from somewhere. Basically, I think he’s toast no matter what, but I’m simply offering some plausible scenarios for success he might have in mind.

  135. 135.

    null pointer exception

    January 5, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    Whatever their flaws may be, this Democratic field looks a thousand times better than the sorry Republican field.

    P.S. Where’s Kucinich?

  136. 136.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    dslak Says:

    If he did that he would be signing his own campaign’s death warrant.

    He needs more support to win, and it has to come from somewhere. Basically, I think he’s toast no matter what, but I’m simply offering some plausible scenarios for success he might have in mind.

    True enough, then again maybe he does just hate hillary or he and Obama have something worked out.

  137. 137.

    Dreggas

    January 5, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    null pointer exception Says:

    Whatever their flaws may be, this Democratic field looks a thousand times better than the sorry Republican field.

    That’s why the repubs were the opening act.

  138. 138.

    ThymeZone

    January 5, 2008 at 10:04 pm

    No doubt about it, the GOP field looked like something out of South Park compared to the Dem field.

    Like, that was the joke lineup, here’s the real one.

  139. 139.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    It’s the endless yammering about the meaning of ‘amnesty’ that thoroughly established the GOP debate as a joke. You can’t have an effective debate if you’re paralyzed by a word.

  140. 140.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 10:09 pm

    Richardson is deviating from Clinton’s script in saying that youth isn’t a detriment.

  141. 141.

    Krista

    January 5, 2008 at 10:12 pm

    The sad thing is, though — what percentage of citizens actually watch these debates and/or research the candidates’ positions and/or pay attention to anything beyond what they hear in passing on the radio or TV talk shows? That’s what scares me about Huckabee — he’s a religious nutbar, but I’ve been told that he comes across as very humble and likeable. How many voters are energetic enough to scratch the surface to see the soft, crazy centre of the Huckabee bar?

  142. 142.

    dslak

    January 5, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    Obama says that words can inspire change. Richardson compalins that “This is typical Washington bickering,” indicating that he didn’t pay attention to anything Obama said.

  143. 143.

    wasabi gasp

    January 5, 2008 at 11:54 pm

    The way Hillary responded to the likability question was super cute. I wanna do ‘er.

  144. 144.

    sparky

    January 5, 2008 at 11:56 pm

    where’d everybody go?

    and no comments on Richardson’s Whizzer? oh well.

    FWIW I think Edwards did the best here, going away. brave, too: if it were me, i’d never poke the Hillary the way he did unless i was wearing Kevlar.

  145. 145.

    Off Colfax

    January 6, 2008 at 12:59 am

    I wouldn’t poke Hillary with a 20-foot pole, three meter-thick sheets of titanium alloy, and a phaser set to “Extreme Makeover”.

    That woman gets mean when she gets angry. And the more it looks like the carefully crafted plans of the last 10+ years are going into the crapper, the meaner she looks. Look how many times she had to steer her expression back into general congeniality after Ed-ama (Or will it be Ob-ards?) slapped her with a zinger.

    I feel sorry for her mid-level staffers after the next two weeks are finished. A) They’re going to be out of jobs soon afterwards. B) They have to deal with their own personal Chernobyl spewing out radioactive filth.

    Yet another reason why I never was going to support the Clinton44 (Wo)Mandate.

  146. 146.

    The Other Steve

    January 6, 2008 at 12:59 am

    Shorter Hillary Clinton: You two can’t deliver on any of your promises. I won’t make any promises, so that voters won’t be disappointed.

    The Conservative party in UK used that as their campaign slogan like two years ago.

    It didn’t work.

  147. 147.

    The Other Steve

    January 6, 2008 at 1:03 am

    Tom Brady for President!

    too bad he’s not old enough

  148. 148.

    Robert Johnston

    January 6, 2008 at 1:13 am

    Tom Brady for President!

    too bad he’s not old enough

    After seven years of the President ignoring the Constitution and no one doing anything about it, who can tell anymore?

  149. 149.

    Ninerdave

    January 6, 2008 at 1:17 am

    “Ronald Reagan” Rudy’s new 9/11

  150. 150.

    Zuzu

    January 6, 2008 at 4:13 am

    I’m torn.

    I have to get a Dem ballot to vote in the primary here in California, because I refuse to officially join a party.

    Was planning to vote for Dodd, just to do my part to puncture the perceived “inevitability” candidate.

    So much for that plan.

    I am suspicious of Hillary, and suspect her people may have in some way undermined Kerry in ’04. Just a suspicion.

    But I value competence and I do think she is the most competent and experienced of the remaining field. Though I like Obama, I just don’t think he has the substance, and neither does Edwards.

    It looks like the California primary may now count for something. Do I want to help save Hillary because I think she’d be the best candidate, or do I want to send a message about my mistrust of her tactics?

    What to do.

  151. 151.

    Zuzu

    January 6, 2008 at 4:14 am

    I’m torn.

    I have to get a Dem ballot to vote in the primary here in California, because I refuse to officially join a party.

    Was planning to vote for Dodd, just to do my part to puncture the perceived “inevitability” candidate. Plus I like him.

    So much for that plan.

    I am suspicious of Hillary, and suspect her people may have in some way undermined Kerry in ’04. Just a suspicion.

    But I value competence and I do think she is the most competent and experienced of the remaining field. Though I like Obama, I just don’t think he has the substance, and neither does Edwards.

    It looks like the California primary may now count for something. Do I want to help save Hillary because I think she’d be the best candidate, or do I want to send a message about my mistrust of her tactics?

    What to do.

  152. 152.

    sparky

    January 6, 2008 at 9:21 am

    I give the H credit for fooling some of the people all of the time. what exactly is the basis of her experience? being first lady? lawyer for wal-mart? her own resume refutes every one of her arguments about change.
    or maybe we’re thinking of the invade Iraq authorization that she STILL refuses to say was a mistake.
    the only experience i see here is the GWB experience: never admit a mistake when you are King (or Queen).

  153. 153.

    skip

    January 6, 2008 at 9:45 am

    Is Harold Stassen still dead?

  154. 154.

    Zuzu

    January 6, 2008 at 3:35 pm

    sparky –

    I concede a lot on the disingenuity front, but I think it’s unfair to dismiss her experience while her husband was in the White House. The big criticism at the time was that she was TOO involved with policy issues, and while it might not be time easily classified on a resume, I don’t think anyone seriously thinks she was only hosting teas.

  155. 155.

    Dreggas

    January 6, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    Zuzu Says:

    sparky –
    I concede a lot on the disingenuity front, but I think it’s unfair to dismiss her experience while her husband was in the White House. The big criticism at the time was that she was TOO involved with policy issues, and while it might not be time easily classified on a resume, I don’t think anyone seriously thinks she was only hosting teas.

    No she wasn’t just hosting teas, she was doing corkscrew landings with…sinbad.

    Sorry she has NO experience, no more so than Obama. Her only influence the first go around was when she tried to saddle everyone with hillarycare and now that we see what version 2.0 is it’s nothing more than the gov’t forcing people who can’t afford health insurance to have insurance, just like we HAVE to have car insurance. Fuck that and her.

    She’s a goldwater girl, only difference is the big business she helps is the one still lining her campaign coffers, the health insurance industry.

  156. 156.

    Brachiator

    January 6, 2008 at 6:32 pm

    I concede a lot on the disingenuity front, but I think it’s unfair to dismiss her experience while her husband was in the White House.

    Being present is not the same thing as gaining experience. Should we be talking about Chelsea’s experience in the White House somehow qualifying her for public office? Does Monica Lewinsky somehow merit a cabinet post because of the time that she spent in the Oval Office (especially since she was there when Bill made some important phone calls)?

    The idea that somehow Hillary Clinton was magically co-governor and co-president is fundamentally absurd.

    The big criticism at the time was that she was TOO involved with policy issues, and while it might not be time easily classified on a resume, I don’t think anyone seriously thinks she was only hosting teas.

    No one has any idea of what she was doing, or the quality of her contribution. Hillary talks a good game, but it’s not as if she has any memos, policy drafts or co-presidential papers that she is donating to her library to back up her claims.

    Here’s the irony. I liked some of her statements during the debate, especially her nuanced discussion of how a pre-emptive strike against terrorists in Pakistan might unintentionally alarm India. It showed that she has been a quick study since being elected to the Senate, and perhaps even made good use of her White House years. But instead of linking this to good judgment, which is a more valid claim, she lost me when she kept making pointless and more exaggerated claims about her “35 years of experience” or her “lifetime of experience.” Her claim became even more spurious when Richardson could reel off the actual positions that he has held, and Hillary could only grasp more firmly onto her vague notion of “experience.”

    I have a fundamental distrust of people who have never held themselves out for elective office, or even been an appointee to a meaningful position, who have never been in a position where they were personally accountable for their decisions, who have been more policy wonks than someone actually responsible for getting something done, and who then practically demand that citizens vote for them to be president. You also learn something when you stand for election and are defeated and have to stage a comeback, as Bill Clinton and others had to do.

    I respect Hillary’s accomplishments in the Senate. I would vote for her over any Republican any day. But I do not accept that she has any special claim to competence or experience just because of time served.

  157. 157.

    grumpy realist

    January 6, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    Also, speaking as someone originally from New York, remember that the clown car politics we usually have going in our state (known as that permanent SNAFU up in Albany) means we’re desperate for anyone that looks half-competent. (There must be a motherlode of material buried up there that puts out stupid rays–no matter who we elect, get ’em up there and they suddenly go bats. Witness Eliot Spitzer’s meltdown this last year as Exhibito Uno.)

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