| 9:20pm update: Senator Clinton argues for diplomacy w/ Iran, echoing Obama's remarks. She argues she's trying to put pressure on the President Bush administration. She argues that no one can "reign in" President Bush without support of the Republicans (making the case that we need to work with Republicans). "When you go to the table to negotiate...with a regime, you need carrots and sticks."
Edwards jumps on her remark to "maximize pressure" on Bush -- that she gave him exactly what he wanted by voting for the resolution. "The way you put pressure on this administration is you say no." Raises the point that the resolution was written in the "language of the neocons." Much, much better this time around.
9:25pm: Richardson says, "I'm the only one who's negotiated" with other countries...and several on stage immediately say, "that's not true." Doesn't look good for Richardson. He talks about how he knows the region, stresses diplomacy, but is a little scattered. He talks for about 2 minutes, and only acknowledges about 2 periods. Sorry if that's nitpicky -- but it really bothered me. He's got tremendous credentials on this, but his message wasn't clear.
Kucinich is speaking, arguing that "these policies of preemption license the war." That even planning the war in Iran is illegal. "When is this Democratic Congress going to stand up to the President"...and invoke impeachment. Ugh...until this incredible line: "we need to challenge him on this war, we need to challenge it at the core." Incredible line.
Russert asks the dumbest question, "Will you pledge to prevent Iran from making a nuclear bomb." Clinton pledges...three times...that she will do everything she can. For some reason that's not good enough for Russert. Russert pressures her, as if she's not answering the question. This guy is a total hack and needs to get his massive ego off the stage.
9:30pm: Biden and Dodd argue that Pakistan is the most immediate place to look. Richardson reinforces that he's the most skilled in diplomacy...a great message, but again, not delivered very well.
Side comment: We've wasted almost 8 minutes on this "do you pledge" question, and it's a total waste. What do you expect Obama to say? "Oh, no Tim, I want Iran to have nukes." Give me a break.
Kucinich calls out Russert: "the media did take us up to Iraq." Well said. By the way, don't forget to see how much everyone got to talk: "Dodd Talk Clock."
9:35pm: Clinton asked point-blank if she opposes the war in Iraq. She answers "yes." Great question, guys.
"Excuse me, Hillary, do you support health care?"
"Why, yes, I do."
"Thank you for clearing that up."
Thirty-four minutes in, and we're still on Iraq and Iran. I know it's the biggest issue, but there is little new material being stated here. These debates -- until they get into details of other issues -- are little more than a test of, "can you not say anything dumb for 90 minutes."
9:40pm: Edwards...got to say...does a great job articulating his difference. "Need to end combat missions, need to get combat troops out of Iraq." Then he says Clinton was going from "primary election mode" to "general election" mode in the campaign. Edwards says we should all be in "tell the truth" mode, and not be shifting our argument based on what election we're in. I think that may be the best line of the night.
Clinton responds to Edwards: If we leave troops in to go after Al Qaeda in Iraq, then we should have them there. Argues that she wants to withdraw troops, but make it as safe as possible and be responsible as possible. I think she was making a good response, but saying we need to leave troops in Iraq to go after Al Qaeda is a bad, bad, bad argument. The American people don't agree with the Iraq war, and are upset that Bush lied to them to go to war, and that one of those lies was that we knew there was a link between Hussein and Bin Laden. Clinton may have walked a bit further into the war hornet's nest...we'll have to wait and see.
(First break of the night - Spurs winning by 10.) |
