Missed the debate...any reactions??

[DJcairo]

[JI7]

1. it was GREAT

lots of bush bashing. especially by gephardt with his "bush is a miserable failure" line. and john kerry did VERY well also. cspan will probably air it sometime. check with them to see if you can watch it then.

[PAMod]

2. For the most part, it was a unified front

There was some Dean bashing by the desperate, but otherwise, it was a positive event.

All of them did well and showed that each has vision.

[thom1102]

3. My thoughts... in a nutshell

Lieberman was the first to attack (and went for Dean) Dean was allowed to respond and thought he knocked it out of the park. I was impressed with Edward's and Moseley-Braun' demeanor. Both were eloquent, reserved and civil, without resorting to shrieking. Kucinich came off as extremely angry and a bit hysterical. Sharpton was unable to attend due to east coast weather delays. Kerry was funny and relaxed. Dean started off shaky, but seemed to find his voice as the debate went on. Lieberman struck me as a man who is on the ropes looking for the easy cheap shots (was the only one who got booed). Graham was unremarkable, and Gephardt was on the stump (kept refering to * as a miserable failure, which was great, but his responses seemed canned while delivered with fire).

Winners: Braun, Edwards, maybe Kerry
Loser: Lieberman. (I wouldn't be surprised if he withdrew very soon... I expect his poll numbers to continue to plummet in the coming days)

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Deanie, and while I thought he did fine, he could have, and should have done better.

[tedoll78]

5. I like it..

when the crowd booed JL. And Dean's just standing there smiling through most of the attack, lol..

[UnapologeticLiberal]

12. I don't

I got pissed off at the Young Dems Convention when some people booed when they showed a video of Lieberman's son doing a pitch for him (his daughter was supposed to come in person but she couldn't because of the power outage). I just think we are hurting ourselves when we boo any of our candidates, especially with the press around. Boo Bush, don't boo other Democrats, even if you think they are Bushlite.

[CWebster]

22. Lieberman

and the DLC crowd he rides with deserve to be booed out of the party for the way they sabotaged and almost rendered the party useless in most desperate times demanding outraged voices.

[UnapologeticLiberal]

30. Not on national television!

This looks really bad for our party.

[George_Bonanza]

31. Hear hear!

I'm with you, UL. I hate the fact that so many people are just dumping on Lieberman because he seems so runty and vulnerable. Yes, he's quite conservative, for a Democrat, but HE'S STILL A DEMOCRAT. Last time I checked, he was still very reliable on important issues like the environment and abortion rights. He's probably my last choice, but I hate it when people want Bush to be re-elected should Lieberman win the nomination (unlikely IMHO) so that his brand of conservatism will ruin the counrty, allowing whatever replacement radical ideology to replace it.

Four more years of Bush = more civilian and military deaths in Iraq, possibly another terrorist attack on U.S. soil because of international hatred, possibly a North Korean offensive due to Bush's callousness, deaths in places like Liberia and North Korea because Bush can't help or just ignores them, more jobs lost, more people falling below the poverty line... Must I go on? To me, it's very selfish of people to think like this because I'm betting they're not the ones low on money or fighting in foreign countries. To me, they're saying that they're willing to let many people suffer and die just to satisfy their anger. Pure bullshit.

[chimpymustgo]

7. Good summation, thom. Kerry, Edwards, Braun looked terrific.

nt

[gottaB]

19. Best uses of humor

Edward's "Hasta la vista" jobs was amusing, but it seemed like he was laughing at his own joke. That's a no-no.

Braun's bin Laden joke didn't come off well. It usually goes like:

"When's the last time you heard the name Osama bin Laden? Think about it. Bin Who? Bin Missin'." She rushed it last night.

Kerry was genuinely funny imo, but not outrageously so.

Sure missed Sharpton.

Gephardt, though, showed the best use of humor. When he first said "This president is a miserable failure" he was absolutely humorless. For a moment I thought that's all he had to say. He said it again, and then expounded. But I thought his timing was great, just like a comedian. Letting pauses hang, words sink in. I'm going to remember that for a while.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[virtualobserver]

6. that might have been the best performance from Kerry....

that I have seen.
Excellent job.

[DrFunkenstein]

27. Check Him Out At Boston

http://www.johnkerry.com/av/

He was ripping that night. I almost wish that he started in Boston and ended in SC. It was truly inspirational. I had heard may of the lines before, but never spoken so passion and fire.

[NJCher]

8. CMB

Yes, she was very good tonight but I've seen and heard her other times and she was great then, too. I like her positions on the issues, her demeanor, her positions on the issues, in short--everything about her.


Cher

[gottaB]

20. I liked everything but her outfit

It was too sombre (and just a little dookie with the accessories). Is this her new fall look? Or just an Albuquerque moment? Her spring and summer wardrobes have been perfect for her. She needs more color, or to accent with color.

Her carriage was great--and that smile! She was on message, and her positions were sensible and popular. One of these days the press will see her for the contender that she is.

:toast:

[surfermaw]

32. Ms B. very impressive

Lady like, and speaks in the fashion of FDR...simple and clear

[Qutzupalotl]

25. She's good. If she doesn't get the nod,

she'd make one hell of a press secretary. Think about it. Warm and personable, very articulate and knowledgeable, with just the right amount of humor. Former senator and ambassador. Just try to throw her a curveball.

[HPLeft]

9. Very Entertaining

Of course, I'm a sucker for Bush-bashing - and hence just loved Gephardt's trashing (with extreme prejudice) of Dubya. I thought Kucinich was strong until he mentioned cutting the military budget - which is the equivalent of a Presidential death wish in 2004. I thought Senator Kerry was pretty good, but a little too rehearsed at times, a little too on message. Still, he looked very presidential. IMHO, Dean struggled getting words out at times. He looked awkward to me, and maybe Lieberman's direct assault got to him.

[blm]

10. Kerry has sounded like that for over 30 years.

That IS him.

[sandnsea]

16. The funny guy that smiles?

I really like that best, the seriousness is good because we're in a terribly serious time; but the humor would help dispel that 'ghoulish' notion about him. I thought he was absolutely the most Presidential, but I'm going to try and not say that too much. Everybody was very good.

[Fleshdancer]

11. I hate the format of this debate

The candidates only had a minute to respond, 1.5 minutes max. It drives me nuts to have a format like this when they are asked questions like "millions of jobs have been lost, what do you propose to strenghthen the economy?" Yes, please tell America in one minute how you are going to pull our economy out of the toliet!

I, like most DU'rs, liked all but Lieberman. CMB was wonderful and Gephardt did suprisingly well. I think Dean will puzzle the political pundints because he didn't come across as angry, anti-war, or too far to the left like they prefer to portray him.

I like what they have to say, but I really will be happy when some start dropping out of the race...that's the only way I see these debates getting any better. Hmmm. I wonder if they could split them up into small groups every so often so we could get more indepth debates.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. Or an alternative suggestion

Since no one has dropped out yet, split up the debates by topic: one on the economy, one on foreign policy, one on social issues, etc.

This would allow the audiences to get a better idea of each candidate's positions in each of these areas without requiring them to speak in sound bites.

[JI7]

14. problem with that is

some of the debates are sponsered or targeted to a specific audience. such as this one was aimed at latino audience. so they would want a discussion of a variety of issues with a focus on the one setting up the debate. as you can see with this one where many questions were asked about "latino issues" with the immigration, lack of insurance for latinos, etc. another one might be set up by a labor union who would focus on workers rights mostly. of course all these issues are important to all of us, but you get the idea of why that may not work.

[sandnsea]

17. And Edwards actually did best there

I really liked how he personalized his plans to the Latino community. He cared enough to know or learn the unique cultural problems they faced. That's one reason I think if Edwards could get a little more attention, he could really take off. He doesn't talk in generalities and people respond to that.

[JI7]

18. yes, i always thought that

edwards is very appealing. his message is simple, but specific at the same time. and he is charmismatic, is very good in town hall type gatherings which bill clinton was the best at. and he is a total opposite of bush. this is why i say nobody should write off edwards at this point. especially since clinton was in about the same position at this time in 1991. and edwards has not declared officially yet. i'm waiting to see how things go after he does that within the next week or two.

[burr]

15. I agree...

divide and conquer, of course the candidates treated the forum like just another interest group. The Democrats divided the Hispanic community up on ideologic issues without shrub's participation in the debate...just what Rove wanted.

Will there be a gay Democratic debate, a Jewish Democratic debate, a Muslim debate, a Christian debate, a Japanese-American Democratic debate, a Catholic Democratic debate, a Protestant Democratic debate, an Orthodox Democratic debate, a Korean-American Democratic debate, a Cubian-American DINO debate, a Puerto Rico Democratic debate, a European Democratic debate, and last but not least the Native American Democratic debate.

Let us argue the varying issues important to each of these VERY DIFFERENT racial ALIEN GROUPs in our LAWFUL RED WHITE & BLUE MIDDLECLASS NATION!

[CWebster]

23. I must be reading your post wrong

because that sounds pretty offensive.

[burr]

26. Probably so...

I was merely agreeing with the poster that I was responding to. I believe it is wrong to have an entire set of forums for an ethnic group or interest group with the assumption that most in this group will have matching opinions on the different issues. It will be a presumption that the many in the group may find insulting and degrading. Like whites, blacks, or any other group..Hispanics want to be seen as Americans first and Hispanic last. Many Hispanics are black, white, native American..and I have been asked often why they are treated differently. I never have a good answer! How many whites wish to be seen as French Americans or Greek Americans before just being seen as American?

This is what their dream is, not to be treated as another isolated subgroup under the microscope, but as patriotic individuals in America.

I object to a limitation to the number of debates that are being held. But as long as there is a limitation, I think we should break the debates up into single issue debates. Make the candidates give all voters the specific details they can really use to make an informed decision, not just soundbites leftover from the last debates! These debates are becoming a turnoff..a combination of professional mud wrestling and a televised orgy of hellbending seduction, insults, and lies for the contributers and primary voters.

[CWebster]

21. Gephardt's night

Lieberman attacked Dean from the Right, Kucinich attacked from the Left. Dean was low-key and needs to occasionally bypass the stump speech and be more spontaneous.

Lieberman is a loser. Kucinich comes across as juvenile and inappropriately angry at the wrong targets. He reminds me of an insect although his intentions are good. For some reason when Edwards speaks I tune him out. Graham and Mosely-Braun were good. Kerry didn't annoy me as much as usual, except when his reptilian tongue came darting out and flicked about as he pontificated, sidestepping direct answers to specific questions. Gephardt's moment to shine.

[Qutzupalotl]

24. Gephardt really had the crowd cheering

as he used that "miserable failure" line three or four times. I had all but written him off as a caver, but now I'd enthusiastically support him if he's our nominee. Definitely had the fire. No wonder the unions are all behind him. He's tapped into their anger and is directing it to bringing down Bush. He did a lot for us all last night.

[DrFunkenstein]

28. If You Like The Phrase "Miserable Failure"

You would have loved last night's debate. Gephardt seemed to squeeze the phrase into every other sentence.

Things you can count on in life: Kerry will mention Vietnam, and Edwards will mention his parents worked the mills.

[JohnKleeb]

29. Thats good

BTW I think I know why Kerry mentions Vietnam, it was probably very important to him, Edwards well your background never leaves you. So if I ever run for pres I hope you all wouldnt give me hell for saying a few words about my ancestors or speaking a few words of Slovene.

[Mass_Liberal]

33. Lieberman= Bush- a bit

Lieberman is a worthless conservative. I'd switch him for Link Chafee (R-RH) any day! It was a great pleasure to see his attack on dean backfire. He's going nowhere fast.

[Cassandra]

34. You can still listen to it on PBS

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debate03/

Even the lowly version of Real Player that I have can play it perfectly. And you can listen in sections rather than having to run the whole thing at once.