That's entertainment
The dorkiness that is my family: my inlaws, who don't get CNN, came over to our house to watch the Democratic Debate last night, and I hung up on a pollster who called me during the debate: "I don't know who I'd vote for tomorrow, because the debate is live tonight. Call me back at nine!" Of course he didn't, and now my voice will never be heard. Alas.
God, I love debates, and this one was great. It's so interesting to see how they place candidates on the stage and where the questions go. Gravel is way out on stage left (hehe), and he gets only one or two lowball questions that he can use to slam the other candidates. Kusinich, opposite him on far stage right gets a few more. Obama and Clinton-- or 'Hilary' as the men on stage call her, leaving us to guess if that's familiarity or disrespect-- share center stage and the majority of the questions. Edwards and Richardson flank them. Edwards gets several questions, but Richardson only gets ones about Darfur and immigration (because he's a diplomat and hispanic, so that's all he knows about, apparently). Dobbs and Biden are lost in between the center and the extremes. When the candidates are seated for the second hour of Q&A, Gravel and Kusinich are so far to the edges they barely make the screen, while center stage is shared by the Woman, the Black Dude, and the Hispanic Guy. Sounds like a bad joke.
Was Richardson wearing leather boots? And a hairpiece? That man needs so much help with his stage presence. How can you be the most qualified person in the room and look like such a goofball?
Edwards needs to get a room for his great and t00by Obama!love. He did not stop plugging the man. Either he's going to make a play for a shared ticket with Barak, or he's going to lay him down by the fireplace. Not sure which. But I propose the John Edwards drinking game: three drinks every time he uses the word "mill," two for every time he disagrees with Hilary, and one for every time he kisses Obama's ass. And ten points if someone mentions his hair.
Hilary (it's okay for her supporters to call her that, or someone addressing her, but not to speak about her in the third person on stage-- the vote was cast by Senator Clinton, Mr. Edwards!) gets the most interesting questions posed-- or not posed-- to her. She gets a lot about foreign policy and diplomacy, some about health care, and *none* about the budget. I guess women still don't do maths, eh boys? I'm glad they asked everyone what they would do with former President Clinton, but I think she should have opted for the snarky response there: "He can fetch my slippers," or "I'll use him to screen the interns-- anyone he likes gets the axe," or, "I hear American Idol might be looking for a new host." But the gem of the evening was when they asked her and *only* her if President Clinton was wrong to institute don't ask don't tell. Like there's a right answer to that ever. Like they'd ask anyone else. I don't recall W being asked to weigh in on his daddy's decisions.
Richardson gets mega points for his answer about Darfur, and a ton and a half for being the only candidate to turn the question at hand (gay persons in the military) to address hate crime legislation and domestic partnerships/civil unions. Kudos, Bill. Unfortunately, his top plan for his first 100 days is to improve education which, while important, isn't quite so pressing as, I dunno, a *war* that needs to stop yesterday.
The night again belonged to Hilary, who proved why she's the best in debates again and again. Asked if English should be the official language, she clearly and concisely sketched out the difference between *national* language (which the US has as English) and *official* language (which, if we made English would deny people the right to a translator in hospitals and such). I didn't even know there was a difference, and I feel like I understand it perfectly now, after her speaking for about 20 seconds. Brilliant. She's a little weak on her Iraq voting record, and I'd love to see her more liberal, but she doesn't have the traditional presidential anatomy, and I'm willing to give her liberal points just for that.
And, increasingly, I think she could take out any one of the Republicans in a national election.
God, I love debates, and this one was great. It's so interesting to see how they place candidates on the stage and where the questions go. Gravel is way out on stage left (hehe), and he gets only one or two lowball questions that he can use to slam the other candidates. Kusinich, opposite him on far stage right gets a few more. Obama and Clinton-- or 'Hilary' as the men on stage call her, leaving us to guess if that's familiarity or disrespect-- share center stage and the majority of the questions. Edwards and Richardson flank them. Edwards gets several questions, but Richardson only gets ones about Darfur and immigration (because he's a diplomat and hispanic, so that's all he knows about, apparently). Dobbs and Biden are lost in between the center and the extremes. When the candidates are seated for the second hour of Q&A, Gravel and Kusinich are so far to the edges they barely make the screen, while center stage is shared by the Woman, the Black Dude, and the Hispanic Guy. Sounds like a bad joke.
Was Richardson wearing leather boots? And a hairpiece? That man needs so much help with his stage presence. How can you be the most qualified person in the room and look like such a goofball?
Edwards needs to get a room for his great and t00by Obama!love. He did not stop plugging the man. Either he's going to make a play for a shared ticket with Barak, or he's going to lay him down by the fireplace. Not sure which. But I propose the John Edwards drinking game: three drinks every time he uses the word "mill," two for every time he disagrees with Hilary, and one for every time he kisses Obama's ass. And ten points if someone mentions his hair.
Hilary (it's okay for her supporters to call her that, or someone addressing her, but not to speak about her in the third person on stage-- the vote was cast by Senator Clinton, Mr. Edwards!) gets the most interesting questions posed-- or not posed-- to her. She gets a lot about foreign policy and diplomacy, some about health care, and *none* about the budget. I guess women still don't do maths, eh boys? I'm glad they asked everyone what they would do with former President Clinton, but I think she should have opted for the snarky response there: "He can fetch my slippers," or "I'll use him to screen the interns-- anyone he likes gets the axe," or, "I hear American Idol might be looking for a new host." But the gem of the evening was when they asked her and *only* her if President Clinton was wrong to institute don't ask don't tell. Like there's a right answer to that ever. Like they'd ask anyone else. I don't recall W being asked to weigh in on his daddy's decisions.
Richardson gets mega points for his answer about Darfur, and a ton and a half for being the only candidate to turn the question at hand (gay persons in the military) to address hate crime legislation and domestic partnerships/civil unions. Kudos, Bill. Unfortunately, his top plan for his first 100 days is to improve education which, while important, isn't quite so pressing as, I dunno, a *war* that needs to stop yesterday.
The night again belonged to Hilary, who proved why she's the best in debates again and again. Asked if English should be the official language, she clearly and concisely sketched out the difference between *national* language (which the US has as English) and *official* language (which, if we made English would deny people the right to a translator in hospitals and such). I didn't even know there was a difference, and I feel like I understand it perfectly now, after her speaking for about 20 seconds. Brilliant. She's a little weak on her Iraq voting record, and I'd love to see her more liberal, but she doesn't have the traditional presidential anatomy, and I'm willing to give her liberal points just for that.
And, increasingly, I think she could take out any one of the Republicans in a national election.