THE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE WASN'T BAD-- AND ABOUT A BILLION TIMES BETTER THAN WHEN THE 10 OLD WHITE REPUGS GOT TOGETHER TO LICK BUSH TUSH

I liked watching the debate this evening. I think all the Democratic candidates seem ok. After 7 years of Bush and his rubber stamp Congress and the brain dead media that's seemed part of the regime, any of these candidates would be a breath of fresh air; yes, even Hillary.


I don't think I'd feel comfortable voting for Gravel (a little crazy and out of it) or Biden (sleazy and dishonest... a bit of a tawdry political drama queen) but I went in with great enthusiasm for Edwards, Obama and Dodd and I still feel that way. Feeling that Hillary will probably be the eventual presidential candidate, I am always concerned that she make a good impression. I think she did, basically-- especially with what she said; she sounded a little strident early on. But she presented herself with charm and humor and as a uniter and a leader. I'm not so certain she's completely believable for people who pay close attention, but for a low-info viewer, she won and made a good impression.

My favorite question was the very last one, about each candidate's first 100 days priority. Clinton won that one when she said, simply, "Bring the troops home." But all the candidates had good answers.

Mr. Edwards said the next president’s single greatest responsibility would be to re-establish our moral authority in the world. Mrs. Clinton: “Bring our troops home.” Mr. Obama agreed about bringing the troops home first, “then moving on health care.” Mr. Richardson said he would upgrade the schools, including setting a minimum wage of $40,000 for teachers. Mr. Biden would end the war in Iraq and defuse a possible war in Iran. As he said that the next president would be “left with no margin for error,” Mrs. Clinton was nodding in agreement. Most of these comments seemed to underscore the earlier consensus that Bill Clinton could be useful on the world stage... Mr. Dodd, with just a few seconds, said he would restore the constitutional rights in our country on his very first day as president.

UPDATE: MORE DEBATE STUFF

Dan Balz and Anne Kornblut have a rundown in the Washington Post that tried to make it a little more dramatic that it seemed to me. As Hillary said, the real difference is between the Democrats and Bush, not between the Democratic candidates. I guess everyone's favorite line was when Hillary brought up Cheney: