Expert's predictions on tonight's debate... what are your predictions?

[wyldwolf]

Political observers agree the time has come for them to begin trying to bump each other out of the race. Two debates last month produced little in the way of skirmishes.

"They're going to have to start differentiating themselves from the pack," state Democratic Chairman Jim Pederson said. "They're down to having to stake out ground of their own."

This gives pointers to 7 of the 9 dems. Worth a read...

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/1009debate-preview.html

If you could give advice to your top 3, what would it be?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. I Predict Gep And Dean Might Come To Blows....

If Gep accuses Dean of wanting to kill Medicare one more time the former physician might put a headlock on him...

That would be great t v....

[wyldwolf]

2. then I hope Dean give him the smack down...

... I believe the article is right in it's points. Too bad Sharpton doesn't get a mention. He'll probably steal the show again.

[KittyWampus]

11. That WOULD Be Great TV, LOL

Maybe we'd get more people interested in Politics if the candidates would just rumble a bit more...

Great visual though, Dean with Gep ina headlock :D

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. I read that in a magazine

I forgot which one...

Not a violent headlock... Just enough to restraint him and give him some "head noogies"....

[bushclipper]

14. Or a wedgie?

[dutchdemocrat]

16. What about a ginch pull

You know where you get the undies from the back and pull up real hard... The only way to sort that one out is to take you pants off and redress.

lol

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. A different format will be used tonight...

A change in format is expected to make for a livelier debate tonight among the nine Democratic presidential candidates.

A portion of the 90-minute event will feature 40 undecided Arizona Democratic voters sitting in the front rows, asking unscripted questions of the candidates.

The nine presidential contenders will step away from their lecterns and be lowered from the front portion of the Orpheum Theatre stage to sit eye to eye with voters in a town-hall setting.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1009debate-format09.html

[wyldwolf]

6. Sounds good... anyone going to a debate party?

[wyldwolf]

4. article: Who needs to do what...

• Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina must establish an identity stronger than the bright fresh-faced candidate who was received warmly as one of the earliest entrants but has faded.


• Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut will have to prove he can be a Democrat's Democrat despite supporting Bush's tax-cut and war policies.


• Similarly, Clark may have to explain away his GOP leanings; but most of all, he'll need to inspire confidence that he has a platform addressing domestic problems. Why he said in a previous debate that he would have voted to allow the invasion of Iraq also may come under scrutiny.


• Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts needs to project warmth and aggressiveness, most likely toward Dean. How a war hero deals with a retired general also may be revealing.


• Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri has to show flair and impart a vision of progressive leadership beyond the confines of the party he has served tirelessly for decades.


• Dean must keep his cool under sniping from other candidates and play on his populist momentum without seeming too far left to beat Bush.


• Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, the Rev. Al Sharpton of New York and former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois must explain their candidacies in such compelling terms that voters accept them as full-fledged contenders.

[JNelson6563]

10. should be fun!

• Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina must establish an identity stronger than the bright fresh-faced candidate who was received warmly as one of the earliest entrants but has faded.

Well to Edwards I would strongly suggest he go further out on the limb re: Iraq. In a recent interview pretty much all he'd say was "it's a good thing Saddam is out of power." Is there a person in America who disagrees with this???

• Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut will have to prove he can be a Democrat's Democrat despite supporting Bush's tax-cut and war policies.

Rots of Ruck Joe.

• Similarly, Clark may have to explain away his GOP leanings; but most of all, he'll need to inspire confidence that he has a platform addressing domestic problems. Why he said in a previous debate that he would have voted to allow the invasion of Iraq also may come under scrutiny.

He'll have to be clear and certain. I think this is a very important appearance to the Clark campaign.

• Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts needs to project warmth and aggressiveness, most likely toward Dean. How a war hero deals with a retired general also may be revealing.

Yes, I think this will be very interesting. I recently saw John be very witty (Iowa) and he was a lot more likeable. Humor becomes him, I hope he uses more of it.

• Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri has to show flair and impart a vision of progressive leadership beyond the confines of the party he has served tirelessly for decades.

Gephardt too needs to put in a good appearance tonight. His anger needs to seem a little less contrived IMO.

• Dean must keep his cool under sniping from other candidates and play on his populist momentum without seeming too far left to beat Bush.

Agreed. He will be under fire. He needs to appear as if it rolls off his back. Maybe a massage and a low dose of Xanax before the debate? haha Just kidding. He does need to appear somewhat more easy-going now that more than just the pissed off base is watching.

• Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, the Rev. Al Sharpton of New York and former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois must explain their candidacies in such compelling terms that voters accept them as full-fledged contenders.

I wish them well and welcome the excitiment they add to the mix. I hope Kucinich can appear a bit more relaxed so he is taken more seriously.

I hope they all do well as they are all a reflection of our party. This was a good article, thanks for posting it.

Julie

[bushclipper]

12. won't someone give Sharpton and Mrs. Braun some advice?

I hate it that the article ignored them.

[JNelson6563]

17. Frankly I personally wouldn't

as I think they do a fabulous job! Especially Sharpton! Braun is always very eloquent and articulate. I think her performaces at these forums show her to be a real credit to her gender.

I do not see what advice I could possibly give them. I look forward to seeing them tonight!

Julie

[Dogmudgeon]

5. My own 2000 milibucks ...

Clark and Dean win overall, but each will make at least one major gaffe -- Clark from being new to the process, Dean from letting his passions overwhelm his critical facilities.

Kucinich acquits himself well, picks up support.

Sharpton and Mosely-Brown each do much better than expected, picking up some support; CM-B, with her depth of experience in practical as well as political matters, is likely to be a contender for a cabinet post.

Edwards holds his own, probably finishing above the next guys in my list, who are ...

Kerry, Lieberman, and Gephart; they will be the net losers.

As far as I'm concerned, they're all excellent. Even "Holy Joe" does pretty good once you get his nose out of Bush's trousers. Instead of having nine mediocrities running for president, we have nine outstanding leaders. We need suffer no shame.

--bkl

[wyldwolf]

8. Holy Joe?

to me, he often sounds like someone's nerdy father trying to sound hip.

Right on Sharpton. As always, he'll get the best lines in.

[9119495]

15. You're right and

remember the money. These guys combined are bringing in nearly as much as Bush so during the general election the gap won't be so great...unless they try to destroy each other. I got some positively nasty anti-Dean (but also anti-Kerry, and Edwards) mail from Gephardt. It made me sick. If he goes on the attack, he will only waste everyone's money and alienate future supporters.

Still, there are nine good candidates and most of them I think could be easily envisioned in the white house.

[bushclipper]

7. Some feel the issue that will cause the most vitriol is free trade...

Here is a good article on that..

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/142445_cronkite05.html

[wyldwolf]

9. That does seem like the big issue..

..good article. Walter Cronkite, of course.