Democratic Debate April 16th
 

I watched a significant portion of the debate, as though I'm not American, I tend to be very interested in what happens since it will affect me as well.

I noticed tonight that the two of them, in spite of numerous veiled barbs, were a lot more civil and acknowledging of the other's abilities than they had been in the past.

To me, it seems like they are perfectly aware that both of them trail McCain in the polls, and tonight was more about strengthening the position of the Democrats as a whole versus McCain rather than trying to beat each other.

I felt some of the questions were rather pointless, but I did feel better about their ability to work together after one of them is nominated than I did previously. If they can actually lift each other and stop with the dirty tactics, they might just have a shot at beating McCain. Clinton should watch with the whole badgering 'I'm more experienced, I've been through more shizzit, therefore I'm a better candidate" though as McCain has that arena wrapped up. She needs to focus on what else she brings to the table other than experience, the way Obama is attempting to, because it will take more than experience to win the White House this time around.

What say you?

The moderators were utter and complete travesties.

We have our fellow citizens dying in Iraq, our government spying on us, two airlines about to form the largest airline in the world and increase prices, a failing mortgage system, are fighting two wars, Oil exceeding $100 a barrel, grain prices sky-rocketing, and they asked about a miserable, trivial thing like a flag pin?

Furthermore, all the questions that were even remotely substantive were of the "gotcha!" variety. What the hell sort of question is "Do you think Reverend Wright loves America as much as you do" ?! They asked about gun control instead of how to prevent crime. They asked about the capital gains tax, instead of the budget-at-large. They asked and unforgiveably loaded question about the war in Iraq. I was incredibly surprised that "So, candidate, when did you stop beating your children?" didn't make it onto the question list.

Could you please cite this? Because several polls average Obama slightly ahead of McCain and McCain as slightly ahead of Clinton. I know that he was Slightly ahead of both back in March, but that seems relatively outdated.

http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-...e-swing-voters

Yeah, I realize McCain and Obama are bouncing back and forth, but the fact remains its no longer a clear win for the Democrats, as it appeared to be earlier in the running. Now, since they see that McCain as a serious threat, it appears like they're starting to understand the fact that all their barbs between the two of them are just doing McCain favors.

Besides, when the difference is that small, different polls say different things. You can't go by just one poll.

I didn't. RCP was the average of several current, accepted polls.

Everything Tommathy said. It is unforgivable what a nightmarish joke the 'debate' was. I can't really fault the democratic potentials, though something suggests to me that they weren't entirely unaware of what would be on the agenda. It would have been nice to see one or both of them express disgust towards the idiotic banal questions at the time rather than agree with popular opinions after the fact.

There's not a whole to comment on regarding this so-called debate because very little worthwhile discussion was actually had.

Eh, this debate might have its uses. It puts into a formal setting what everyone has been talking about anyways, so it might clear the air a bit.

Er, what business is that of the government? Surely the president can't be asked to feel every sparrow drop.

The current president is the one who initiated, directly or indirectly all of these things. Who would you have fix it? I mean, look, I'm trying very hard to be respectful, but the government is the tool of the people that carries out their will (or is supposed to be, anyway) and thus the candidates should be talking about how they're going to fix the problems. Saying the president, who essentially embodies one third of the government and widely considered the most powerful and influential third at that can't be asked to do his job is outright silly. It's like saying, "Oh, I gave myself potentially fatal pneumonia. I'll just ignore it and maybe it'll go away, the immune system's been slacking off for a while."

Our fellow citizens dying in Iraq, the war was caused by and operated by the government. Our government spying on us? Two airlines about to merge possibly forming a monopoly and causing damage to the economy regulated by the government. A failing mortgage system caused by faulty policies of the government. Fighting two wars with the possibility of an attack on Iran, while soldiers are poorly paid and their benefits deliberately being avoided by loopholes in their contracts, which are paid out by the government. Oil exceeding 100 dollars a barrel is both economic and a result of poor diplomacy, which is handled by the government. Grain prices- which is present in pretty much EVERYONE's diet, rising like crazy, which people need to eat because it's cheap, and the scarcity caused by the President failing to allow alternative fuel research funding because of the corrupt lobbyism of the oil companies, not hindered by the fact the President is an oil man, and coincidentally, the government.

Odjn, chill on the bolding. No need to act like someone doesn't know how to read just cause they asked a question you don't like.

That said seriously Tiako, you are pretty much asking "What do a bunch of things that are either actively directed or directly overseen by the government have to do with the government?" The president should be aware that sparrows are dropping when he's the one holding a gun and shooting at sparrows. And by "gun" I mean "the biggest military in the world" and by "sparrows" I mean "hundreds of thousands of human beings."

Sorry guys. I had a bit of wtf? and used bold text to make it clear how many times the government caused/controlled these things. Which is all.