Clark wasn't as impressive as he should have been

[ALago1]

This was a big opportunity for him to attract more voters in New Hampshire, and he failed to stick his neck out and get noticed in my opinion.

That's not to say he did poorly, not at all. I just think he would have benefitted much more if he commanded and framed the debate in such a way to draw more attention to himself.

Agree? Just an average performance?

[Jerseycoa]

1. Agree he was average tonight

But he didn't have a hell of a lot of opportunity, either. I wish I had counted the number of questions each of them was asked. Bullshit debate all around.

[ALago1]

7. True

Way too much time was spent "defending" his record as a democrat and trying to make people understand that he is not responsible for what other people say and think (Moore).

[Kahuna]

16. It wasn't a debate.

It was utter nonsense.

[gulliver]

2. Better than the others, but just average for Clark.

I think Kerry did not convince anyone he can beat Bush. Dean had his usual solid performance.

[KittyWampus]

5. Clark Took 5 Bullets Tonight

[mikehiggins]

25. True enough, but he was still on his feet at the end of the day.

We heard everything they have to throw at us at the present and they have tipped their hands, IMHO, over what they are really scared of.

When the "deserter" story first surfaced in 2000 it was mild stuff; a rich kid used his position to stay out of the war and party hardy! Nothing here folks, move along.

That was four years and thousands of corpses ago.

The story about what Bush did--or actually didn't do--takes on a whole new significance when the man who abandoned his post then dared to send other soldiers to their deaths.

Thanks to the newsmedia's neglect this is actually a NEW story and it seems to me to be one that the Bush-lickers are scared to death of.

We'll see.

[deminflorida]

3. Well considering the questions he handled them pretty well....

FOX definently is going after Clark....

They fear him more than anyone on that stage.....

Notice that most of the Iraq War questions went to the candidates that supported the War...I think they threw on at Dean but he doesn't scare them as much anymore.....

[Tom Rinaldo]

21. Clark was not given expansive questions

Two of his questions were specifically about people questioning if he were a Democrat, one about his personal lobbying activities. The only question he received dealing with anything he intrinsically believed in was regarding the Patriot Act. Clark did great o that, talking about how ex-Attorney General Ashcroft will need to testify, and on how you can't defend liberty by attacking it.

Interesting point regarding Axion, how he expressed at the time of his involvement the need to protect individual liberties, and that he had he remained on the Board he would have sought A.C.L.U. review of their finalized screening software.

[Nashyra]

4. I think the questions that were formulated for

him were very divisive on purpose. The audacity of these pundits to say that he had to stick up for the resident. I hope it inspires him to check out the *'s records and when they can't find them ask the * to produce them. This will backfire, it was the Boston Globe that came out with the story in 2000.

[ALago1]

9. I was surprised when he said

that he never looked into the "Bush deserter" story. Maybe he has but doesn't want to bring it up so early, but it is absolutely true that W. is a coward who would look silly with Clark side by side onstage.

[Nite Owl]

12. I'm surprised he hadn't looked up the facts already on

something like this. I sure hope he does and keeps bringing it up. He did well but he had no questions to really answer that weren't defensive.

[madmax]

6. I watched him last night in a townhall meeting.

He was great.

The questions they asked him tonight sucked. These debates are sponsered by corporate media. They should be held in a University and have a mix of college student, prof's and press. Let's dump the 'opinion makers', as Gore Vidal calls them.

[tishaLA]

17. Yeah he was amazing in the town hall

these debates aren't his best format, with so much company on the stage. He works well with smaller groupings and elucidating his ideas in a more extended format.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

8. They're still ripping him apart now....

n/t

[madmax]

11. I can't listen....n//t

[kerry-is-my-prez]

10. You usually don't WIN debates - only lose them. People only really

take notice if someone really screws up.

[loudnclear]

13. I agree!!

He needed to get more bang for all his time up there.

[KAZ]

14. I think you're right.

Seemed a bit nervous. He begins to roll but the BELL seemed to throw him. Anyway, they all did well.

[Kahuna]

15. Oh please. He did great considering they were out to bury him..

And they didn't.

[ALago1]

19. They didn't

But don't you wish he flung the shit they threw at him right back in their faces and commanded the center of attention?

Thats what I call an "average" performance. Deflecting the attacks thrown your way but not making any other energizing headway...

[Democrats unite]

24. Thats what they wanted him to do...

& he was smart enough not to take the bait. I have nothing but admiration For Wesley Clark.

[jenk]

18. That's because they didn't ask the General a serious question

Clark should stomp a mudhole into Brit Hume

[Kahuna]

22. Now Sean Hannity is on doing the RNC/Drudge lie. and..

Bill Bennett is saying what Clark did by not denouncing Moore is worse than what Dean did.

[DoNotRefill]

20. He hurt himself....

with the Taliban in Iraq comment. Foreign policy is supposed to be his baliwick. I'm sure it was just a slip of the tongue, but still.....

[Kahuna]

23. Yeah right. You wish.

:eyes:

[DoNotRefill]

26. Come on....I'm being nice....

and trying to be non-partisan. Did you watch TDS from last night? The two-err-ten comment from the SOTU? Can you picture the pundits NOT giving Clark hell over the slipup?

Because I can't.

[jpgpenn]

27. well your opinion is totally different then mine!

funny how "opinions" go, isn't it?

[TexasSissy]

28. The next time will be better.

It wasn't bad. It wasn't great. But the questions posed to him were attack questions from right wingers. Wish he'd have called them on it. No damage done. He's a leader, not a professional debater. He doesn't talk about decisions as much as he makes decisions. But...the next time will be better.

[robbedvoter]

29. It was Faux vs Clark - he fended them well, brought AWOL back

stood up for Michael Moore. All his questions were personal attacks, all his answers stellar. My opinion.

[robbedvoter]

30. Moderate Independent opinion:

NEW FOX REALITY SHOW DEBUTED LAST NIGHT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: WHO WANTS TO BE AN ASS KISSING RIGHT-WING WONK

We Would Satirize Their Debate And Post-Debate Coverage, But They Are So Absurd At This Point They Are Their Own Self-Parody

by John S. Ashton
 
http://www.moderateindependent.com/v2i2debate.htm