Status Quo Debate a Victory for Obama

[MadBadger]

JOHNSTON, IA - There must be something in the water. Or maybe it's just in the moderator's water. But today's Democratic debate in Iowa was another snoozer, providing little by way of either substance or fireworks.

As with yesterday's debate, the frontrunner in Iowa, Barack Obama, emerged from the final debate without suffering so much as a scratch. Clinton took one not-so-veiled shot at Obama in her "free statement," saying that some people "hope for change" while she would work hard for it, but that was as close as anyone came to laying a glove Obama.

Clinton had her moments this afternoon; a humanizing, optimistic answer on energy independence; and asking the moderator if she wanted a show of hands on global warming - a clever play off of Fred Thompson's refusal to do so at yesterday's debate.

But those good moments were offset by the bad: a clunky reference to the "Lugar-Lautenberg bill" that brought back memories of Al Gore's "Dingle-Norwood" moment from 2000; telling Iowa voters that their Senator was "working like a Trojan" to pass agriculture reform; and an arresting off screen cackle at the mention of Obama's reliance on former Clinton administration officials for foreign policy advice that raised the unfortunate specter of the Dean scream in 2004.

As for John Edwards, his incessant warning that "corporate power and greed have literally taken over the government" came off as hollow. If Iowa voters haven't bought into Edwards' message by now, it's unlikely they'll be moved by what they saw today.

Overall, the takeaway from today's debate is that the status quo reigned, and as a result Barack Obama solidified his position as the leader of the field heading into the final three week stretch.

http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/12/the_demzzzzz.html

[FrenchieCat]

1. I only saw a small part (the end) of the debate, and so I will have to

watch it when it repeats.

I'm very glad that Obama did well.

[MADem]

2. There's that "cackle" word about Clinton, and that "incessant" word about Edwards.

But then, this is GOP/Time Magazine's "Real Clear GOP Politics" thingy that they CALL a 'blog' to make it sound cool, but it's just white noise from the rightwing machine. For that reason, take what they say with a grain. Or better still, watch yourself and come to your own conclusions.

I thought Obama did well, but I thought they all did well.

Is this the angle, or is Obama shorter than Edwards? I always thought he was the tallest guy in the room, maybe because he's so skinny:

[BeyondGeography]

4. Obama has the height advantage

but Edwards supposedly has a mean jump shot.

[MADem]

6. You sure? They look EVEN in this pic...

If he's taller, it's not by much....

Richardson looks like the tallest guy in the bunch, actually!

Hard to tell with these foolish pictures...I always thought Obama was WAY taller--I guess because he's so lean.

[BeyondGeography]

8. He's 6-2

which mostly reminds me that I never quite made it past 5-11.

[FrenchieCat]

10. If you look at where feet are positioned in the picture....

you will notice that Obama is standing back a ways from Edwards, and so that vantage point would make Obama looks shorter than he is because he is farther away from the camera.

John Edwards is said to be 5ft 11 inches tall
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1685647/bio

Obama is said to be 6ft 1.5 inches tall.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1682433/bio

[sandnsea]

3. The focus group said the exact opposite

Hillary was scripted and Edwards was authentic, he and Obama soared at points. So I guess this person might want to take another look.

[Adelante]

5. I actually liked this debate and liked the moderator

For the most part, the questions were on issues and were seriously posed, intelligent questions. It was a major break from the entertainment news channel assholes. The candidates all did very well.

[Beacool]

7. I hate, HATE, the word cackle!!!!

It's derogatory and sexist!!!! Who "cackles"? Only hens and witches. More machismo added to the grist.

[MadBadger]

9. OMFG. All you HRC supporters do is run around screaming sexism.

Get over yourselves.

[MADem]

11. This is a REPUBLICAN mouthpiece, though. That's why they used the negative Edwards language too NT

[redqueen]

12. Too bad they excluded Kucinich. (nt)

[Bodhi BloodWave]

13. Or he excluded himself

If he knew the rules and decided to ignore them then he is the cause for exclusion and not the paper, if he didn't know the rules tho i agree it was a pity he was kept out

But considering he was already excluded from an earlier debate on the same reason my money is on that he knew the rules and decided to ignore them

[redqueen]

14. The rules stated he had to have an office, not a storefront.

And Keyes was exempted from the rules... so :wtf:

[Bodhi BloodWave]

15. If keyes was exempted i agree with

your :wtf:

Do you know if Kucinich had that office when he was excluded from the other debate?