Instant Replay: MY Democratic Debate Armchair Analysis

I recorded the Democratic debate late night. Could I be the only guy in America who wakes up to actually WATCH a political debate while having coffee?
I'm on a journey for the first time in my life, so this stuff is important. That journey is decided who to cast my one, lonely yet precious vote for in the 2008 Presidential election, without any loyalty to one party or ideology. I've promised to keep my eyes open, to educate myself, to vote for the Democrat, Republican or Independent who I think will best lead the greatest country in the world and hopefully un-do some of the damage caused by both Republicans AND Democrats over the past 8 years.
So here's my recap: Chris Dodd did the best job at bringing himself and his platform thus far into sharper focus as informed, forceful, independent and realistic. Whether that will translate into poll numbers (or my eventual support) remains to be seen but I think he did the best at breaking out of the shadows of the top three.
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama lost no ground with Hillary seeming a bit more relaxed than the last debate and Obama seeming slightly more of the defensive, his shiny nickel, newcomer honeymoon period obviously coming to its predicted end.
John Edwards continued his annoying, buttery-fake effort to sound overtly Southern and more "Democratic-than-thou" as someone else stated. Just his voice tends to annoy me and I'm not sure if it's the blatant patronization he engages in or the fact he's simply trying too hard. Look, I have no doubts the guy is gay. And I can say that. The GayDar thing is true ya know, so I have every reason to WANT to like him. But I promise, I'll keep trying.
Bill Richardson mistook an Iraq war soldier's mother for his wife and reflected the self-absorption that offset many of the sensible things he had to say. By the end of the evening, he'd repeated his resume a dozen times. Yes Bill, we know you were Energy Secretary AND a New Mexico governor. Okay, now what?
Mike Gravel continued his grumpy, crotchety, grey-fox grandfather shtick and Dennis Kucinich was, well, Dennis Kucinish, bland as Wonder Bread.
The tone was cordial, serious and somewhat informative. Let's see how the red team does on Tuesday night. My expectations aren't much higher but I'm wondering if Thompson will be there.

Posted by JD on June 4, 2007 10:16 AM