Thursday, January 31, 2008

Thoughts on the Los Angeles Democratic Debate

A few random thoughts on tonight's Democratic debate in Los Angeles...

1. I thought Senator Clinton had the advantage on the first few questions involving healthcare.

2. Senator Obama's answers on the Iraq war were concise, thoughtful, and better than Senator Clinton's. I thought Senator Clinton just didn't have a good answer when asked to justify her vote on the Iraq war (and this was the 18th Democratic debate so if she doesn't have a good answer by now...)

3. I love, love, love hearing Senator Obama say, "And that's what I intend to do when I'm President of the United States." He delivers that line with such authority -- every single person in the room (including himself) can picture him as President.

4. CNN is a lousy choice to host the debate. CNN is bought and paid for by "Americans for Balanced Energy Choices" -- a coal industry lobbying group. As a result there were zero questions on global warming and zero questions on energy policy (and we were forced to watch propaganda pieces touting coal fired power plants during commercial breaks). Debates should NOT be sponsored in the first place -- THE PUBLIC OWNS THE AIRWAVES. If CNN or any other network doesn't want to carry a debate for free, I think we should just put a padlock on their doors and tell them that their broadcast license will not be renewed.

5. This is becoming a really tough decision. The Democratic Party has two extraordinary choices -- the best choices we've had in a Presidential race since 1968. There are important policy differences between the two but we're really in good hands with either one.

Update #1:

An astute reader pointed out that when Senator Clinton is asked about the vote to authorize the war in Iraq, she should say: "Barack Obama was not in the United States Senate in 2002. If he had been in the U.S. Senate, he would have voted the same way I did." Case closed. The more I think about it, the more I think it's the only answer that would work.

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