What I Learned at the YouTube Debate

by Sean Hackbarth

Watching the Democratic Presidential debate-that-wasn’t (still too many candidates) for me involved flipping to CNN, watching the YouTube clip, hearing five seconds of a talking point, flipping back to the Milwaukee Brewers game for a few pitches, flipping back to CNN to hear ten seconds of another talking point, then flipping back to the game for more pitches. Even with my ADD approach I got something out of the debate.

Here’s what I learned at last night’s YouTube debate:

  • CNN producers didn’t fill it with too many ridiculous questions or antics, but there were some like the talking snowman:
  • Sen. Barack Obama said:

    Look, I think every single question we’ve heard you see cynicism about the capacity to change this country. And the question for the American people, who desperately want change, is: Who’s got a track record of bringing about change?

    With his lack of a track record I guess Obama won’t be endorsing himself.

  • Rep. Dennis Kucinnich is a publicity whore who had one goal last night: get people to text him.
  • Mike “Ripple” Gravel thinks going to a consumption tax will save the planet. And you thought Steve Forbes thought tax reform solved everything.
  • John Edwards is an idiot when it comes to nuclear power while Obama isn’t.
  • All these Democrats will raise your taxes at a moment’s notice.
  • I thought Gov. Bill Richardson was semi-okay, but he wants U.S. troops to drop everything and run out of Iraq as fast as they can with no one left. I hope he’s prepared to send in airstrikes and special forces when Islamist terrorists infest the country.
  • Sen. Joe Biden is an ass:

    [via Hot Air]

  • Watching a pitching duel has more entertainment value.

What do other people think?

  • James Joyner didn’t watch it. Wise move.
  • Ken Shepherd [via Sister Toldjah] noticed no stem cell or abortion questions. On the former public interest is below the amount of blather Democrats spend on it.
  • Ryan Sager thought it was the “best Democratic debate so far.” He also lists what he thinks were the biggest gaffes and “brightest moments.”
  • Mickey Kaus on Sen. Joe Biden: “Biden lacks even moderately calibrated snap judgment.”
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4 Responses to “What I Learned at the YouTube Debate”

1

With his lack of a track record I guess Obama won’t be endorsing himself.

Huh? By 2008 Obama will have served a total of 12 years in elected office – more than Roosevelt, Carter, and even Ronald Reagan.

George W. Bush had six years of experience in elected office before he became the president.

State senator isn’t a do-nothing position. That the issues are local doesn’t make them less important. Rudy Guliani’s only ever been a mayor, but nobody considers him unqualified.

2

more than Roosevelt, Carter, and even Ronald Reagan.

Before they became President, I mean.

3

Quick notes:

I may disagree with Hillary quite a bit, but she’s done very well for someone with the rep of being “wooden” and “unable to think on her feet”. Her answer on diplomacy with rogue countries was right on, too.

Richardson is getting killed in these debates. He’s not quite Tommy Thompson awful, but he’s been pretty bad. Which is too bad, since he actually has a clue about immigration issues.

Biden did well until coming very close to taking credit for the assault weapon ban, which would have been another classic Bidenism.

Obama did well, but he needs to be burying Hillary, and it’s not happening. Multiply by two, and you have Edwards dilemma as well.

4

[...] The CNN/YouTube debate wasn’t horrible. Is was mildly worse than a townhall-style debate. There were a few video clips that were worthless (the snowman and the No Child Left Behind music video) and Anderson Cooper was kind enough not to make the candidates answer the redneck yucksters asking about AlGore. It could have been set-up question after set-up question. That didn’t happen and yet we still had candidates demonstrate they’re not ready to be President (I’m talking to you Sens. Biden and Obama). It’s not as much about the format as the quality of the candidate. [...]

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