Gordon Shumway
06-05-2007, 01:12 AM
http://thecourier.typepad.com/rightonthemark/
And The Winner Is...
Barack Obama clearly separated himself from the rest of the democratic candidates last night as the most presidential. One of the things I look for in these debates is the candidate who can drop a political bomb on another candidate without looking mean spirited. Obama did just that when he pointed out that John Edwards was four & a half years late with his leadership concerning the Iraq War. That political bomb came after Edwards repeatedly accused his colleagues of showing a lack of leadership leading up to their last vote on a war funding bill. The rest of the debate was littered with Edwards trying to prove he was Obama's equal but sadly fell short.
I find Edwards annoying more than anything. However, he & Obama spent time patting each other on the back & that could lead to an Obama/Edwards ticket. Even though I don't care for Edwards I think he's probably number two right now with his "awe-shucks-Gomer Pyle" trademark.
Hillary & Biden I think were firmly in third & fourth. Biden's assertiveness I think helps him (at least with me it did). Although, I don't think he has a chance to win the nomination. Hillary has one huge problem that was exposed last night. It's the Bill factor. While Bill Clinton's popularity & likability helps a little the glaring reality staring America in the face last night was the fact that she's not Bill; and that hurt. Plus, her confusing stance on the war also hurts.
Bill Richardson stood alone as the only second tier candidate. He showed himself to be a very qualified statesman but that doesn't translate into presidential.
Dodd: is a dud. Uninspiring & forgettable.
Gravel: a crazy old man who may have some good points but can't speak well enough to get people to actually listen.
Kucinich: a cross between Alfred E Neuman, Mr. Spock & a marionette. He's unintentionally the comic relief.
And The Winner Is...
Barack Obama clearly separated himself from the rest of the democratic candidates last night as the most presidential. One of the things I look for in these debates is the candidate who can drop a political bomb on another candidate without looking mean spirited. Obama did just that when he pointed out that John Edwards was four & a half years late with his leadership concerning the Iraq War. That political bomb came after Edwards repeatedly accused his colleagues of showing a lack of leadership leading up to their last vote on a war funding bill. The rest of the debate was littered with Edwards trying to prove he was Obama's equal but sadly fell short.
I find Edwards annoying more than anything. However, he & Obama spent time patting each other on the back & that could lead to an Obama/Edwards ticket. Even though I don't care for Edwards I think he's probably number two right now with his "awe-shucks-Gomer Pyle" trademark.
Hillary & Biden I think were firmly in third & fourth. Biden's assertiveness I think helps him (at least with me it did). Although, I don't think he has a chance to win the nomination. Hillary has one huge problem that was exposed last night. It's the Bill factor. While Bill Clinton's popularity & likability helps a little the glaring reality staring America in the face last night was the fact that she's not Bill; and that hurt. Plus, her confusing stance on the war also hurts.
Bill Richardson stood alone as the only second tier candidate. He showed himself to be a very qualified statesman but that doesn't translate into presidential.
Dodd: is a dud. Uninspiring & forgettable.
Gravel: a crazy old man who may have some good points but can't speak well enough to get people to actually listen.
Kucinich: a cross between Alfred E Neuman, Mr. Spock & a marionette. He's unintentionally the comic relief.