I think Braun did exceptionally well in the debate

[KaraokeKarlton]

I also think Edwards did very well. I have to say that I see Dean as the big winner, though. He wasn't hurt and he did a really great job countering attacks from Lieberman, Kerry and Gephardt.

Back to Braun...she always makes a lot of sense and I really like her. I hope that Dean will find a great spot for her in his administration. Edwards, I have to say, sounded an awful lot like Dean tonight in his positions and comments. He chose not to go after Dean at all and even took some mild jabs at Gephardt. I'm thinking that Edwards is jockeying himself for a shot at VP or Attorney General in a Dean administration, and bringing Gephardt down a few pegs helps Dean in Iowa. Something tells me that Edwards and Dean might have some kind of understanding. They seemed to be kinda on the same team in this debate...and Braun seemed to be on that team as well because when she was giving some of the others a talkin' to, she agreed with Dean.

Did anyone else get this impression? And who agrees that Carol, Edwards and Dean really stood above the rest in this debate?

Personally, I like Braun and Edwards quite a bit and hope they end up with great and important positions under Dean. Edwards would be a phenomenal Attorney General and Braun is just a peach all around.

[Bombtrack]

1. other than her odd "just for the record" blurt

.

[dsc]

8. It was just the record

her point being that the record belied the answer she had been given.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

2. I love her smile

particularly since it seems to blossom onto her face whenever she says something particularly devastating. Kill 'em with kindness, indeed.

[Kathleen04]

3. Agreed.

Edwards and Dean had a synonymous 'I'm an alternative to old Washington politicians' message going on tonight.

[dave29]

4. Moseley Braun is fantastic

I was so happy to see her discuss the right-wing smear job on her. It was completely terrible what they did (and I guess unsurprising) - she is a phenomenal and courageous woman (not to mention a fabulous speaker), and no doubt has more to offer America. I only hope she gets the chance. She and Dean seem to be on very good terms - and have a healthy respect for each other.

[flaminbats]

5. Braun was at her best tonight!

The climax of the debate occurred when she seized the moment, and criticized the other candidates for their thoughtless campaign attacks. Her selfless response to the question on why vote for any of the Democratic candidates for President, the response to Kucinich to why we couldn't just leave the U.N. holding the bag, and her statement on how attending one funeral has wrongly changed public perception of her lifelong reputation as a defender of human rights..forced the others to show her the respect she deserves.

A year ago I would have never considered voting for her, but tonight..she was the best candidate on the stage! Honest, considerate, but strong. :thumbsup:

[KaraokeKarlton]

6. I agree that she was at her best

And she was definitely right on the money on every issue with the exception of single payer health care. It's not that I am against that, I just know it's pointless to try to change the system all at once. It just can't be done and in the meantime people go without health care. Dean is the one with the right approach because you have to come up with a plan that can actually pass before you try to make any huge changes. Bring the people into the system first and THEN argue about huge reforms. Other than that, she was spot on.

On another note about the debate...I really think Kucinich's unrealistic assertions that we can be out of Iraq in 90 days really hurts him and contributes to him not being taken seriously.t The same thing for the wanting to throw out NAFTA entirely. It can be reformed and reworked so it can work the way it was origninally intended, and Dean has the right approach with that too. That would also help curb illegals coming to the US because if they actually have worker's rights and decent pay at home they wouldn't want to leave their country and come here at the rate they do. That helps jobs as well, because it will force employers to actually pay more for the crappy jobs Americans don't want to do. I think if Kucinich took a more realistica approach about the things he'd like to do he'd be doing much better than he is.

[flaminbats]

13. This wasn't Dean's best debate.

Dean held his own, but he didn't score any points. One can argue that this should be the risk-free strategy of a front-runner, but nobody is really a front-runner until the first primary votes are cast. Dean is the candidate that I am presently leaning toward, but I know that he is at a very vulnerable stage in this process. The media has set high expectations for Dean's campaign, but if he fails to meet those expectations Lieberman, Clark, or Gephardt could easily take the lead.

I agreed with Dean's answers on health-care, our responsibilities in Iraq, and his response to Lieberman's lame attack for protecting private records as Governor. But it was a mistake for Dean to apologize to Edwards, for Dean not to defend himself when the audience laughed at his plan to balance the budget..because our kids won't be laughing when they get the bill, and it was a mistake for Dean not to raise a more serious question to the candidates..like "do they favor abolishing the Electoral College or how do they plan to make health insurance affordable to those with pre-existing conditions?"

Being the best candidate with plans on both issues, he would of had the upper hand in a response. And being nice will not eliminate the perception that Dean is an angry person, but rather it allows the others to present this message unchallenged. It is better to challenge them on the issues, and then make them look empty and petty when they respond with their personal attacks. This is what made Dean the front-runner, and it is still the best way for him to be nominated.

[last1standing]

7. She and Kucinich have the luxury of speaking their minds.

I do agree that Mosely-Braun, Edwards, and Dean all did wonderfully today, but it was easier for MB because there aren't literally thousands of people waiting to distort, and use against you every word you say. We saw Lieberman and Kerry doing that to Dean today.

[KaraokeKarlton]

9. I don't recall her ever saying anything that could be distorted

at least not that I'm aware of. As for the typical attempted distortion of Dean's comments by the usual suspects...Dean did a pretty effective job of smacking those down. Both Kerry and Lieberman looked absolutely pathetic in their attacks. Lieberman with his stupid "why are you forcing a judge to force you blah, blah, blah". He sounded like a total dork. And Kerry with his absolutely ignorant assertions that Dean was wrong for standing up for the concept of *gasp* due process of law. Kerry is trying to hard to sound like a bad ass terrorist fighting dude. In the process, he's sounding more like a smarmy little dick-tater than anyone I want in the oval office. :shrug:

[last1standing]

10. ANYTHING can be distorted.

But I agree that she sounded wonderful. I'd love to see her in a cabinet position when this is all through. I also agree about Lieberman, Kerry, and Dean.

[askew]

11. I have to agree with you.

Personally, I rated the candidates as follows:

1. Dean

2. CMB, Edwards

4. Gephardt


5. Kucinich


6. Kerry, Lieberman

I've always been impressed with CMB in the debates. I thought this was Dean's best debate and I think this was by far Edwards best debate. I really understood what his supporters liked in him today. He dropped a lot of his stump speech and just answered the questions. It made a world of difference. I do have to give DK credit for the best answer on the mistake you made in career. It was honest and funny. This debate actually allowed the candidates to show their differences in personality and some of their platforms. If we could have lost Lieberman, it would have been the perfect debate.

And I have to agree with DK losing points on the 90 day withdrawl of troops from Iraq. I just think his plan is unrealistic and comes across as unflexible, especially when you throw out a specific number of days. We have a lot of coalition building to do with the UN and our allies before any foreign troops are going to be taking over for our troops in Iraq. And I think throwing out that timetable creates the same kind of arrogant message that Bush* created before we went into Iraq.

[dave29]

12. Debates always get better

with fewer people on stage. I think we got a better look at how Dean would do in a smaller debate with more time to discuss issues back and forth. Clearly he won't give an inch to Bush - and I really can't wait to see that :)

[scottcsmith]

14. I agree

I've seen Amb. Braun a number of times now and I like her a lot. She'd make a great president.

A shame she doesn't have the campaign warchest to really get her message out to more people.

Maybe we'll get a Clinton/Braun ticket in 2008?

[Dookus]

15. Agreed....

she was great. I hope she finds a good role in a Democratic administration.