Another Debate Review: Clinton strikes sound bite gold, Edwards tops.

[wyldwolf]

Hillary Clinton is the most sure-handed and quick-footed candidate in the Democratic debates.

She proved this again Wednesday night, striking gold with a brilliant late MSNBC-New Hampshire debate soundbite as the evening took on something of the quality of that famous California-Stanford game. You take notes for a few hours, building a narrative, in this case, that former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., is truly making a move here as the audacious one, the candidate willing to take risks to position himself as the Hillary alternative.

Then presto, just like the remarkable touchdown return in which Cal navigated the prematurely marching band in the game, the story changes in an instant.

Debates are all about impressions and memorable lines. When MSNBC moderator Tim Russert pointed out that HRC had an apparent difference with her former president husband on a torture question, she responded, "Well, he's not standing here right now."

Having shown that she is now standing in front of her man, not beside him, Hillary softened it with the perfect follow-up, "Well, I'll talk to him later."

It is spontaneity so good it just couldn't be scripted. And it is the moment many will take away from the debate at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

Hillary Clinton had strong moments before that and some subtle moves that will play well, such as her dropping in a mention of opposition to Yucca Mountain as the site for a federal nuclear waste repository. Showing early-in-the-calendar voters in Nevada that she'll use a national stage on this long-running and highly controversial issue in that state surely earned her points.

Over the two-hour debate the candidates who performed the best in the race for getting their name on the pre-movie credits as Hillary's co-star were Edwards and U.S. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware.

If Edwards had campaigned with this much fight, and with the substance of the plans he has now, he might be running for re-election to the White House, not sharing beauty pageant time with the likes of lunatic Mike Gravel.

http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=D872364270ECF8412EDFE79777F82A9D?diaryId=1168

[Kelly Rupert]

1. I still think Edwards won the debate, personally.

Hillary wasn't any great shakes, and neither was Obama--both were what we've come to expect. Biden impressed, Gravel was mumbly and insane as always, Richardson avoided soiling himself visibly on camera, and Koocy was cocky and clever as always. Dodd was forgettable.

[Armstead]

2. Ronald Reagan was great with quips too

[William769]

4. He was also a two term President.

[Egnever]

3. Its crap like this

That accounts for the state this country is in. When we care more about the goofy comments than the substantive ones its no wonder we keep getting shafted when these clowns get into office.

Russert was horrible, I kept screaming at my TV throughout the debate " are these seriously your questions?"

Worst debate I have seen so far IMHO and this commentary is just as bad if not worse.

[david_vincent]

8. Thank you !

you are right on the money.

[PurityOfEssence]

9. You don't like sports and religion? You call yourself an American?

He was a snide, bushwhacking, lowest-common-denominator old bitty with the moral and social equivalent of the meanest town gossip you ever did see. Vulgar is too lofty a term to use when describing the cheap shooting of this twinkly poltroon. He's a fine example of the great disservice done to society when "journalists" become celebrities: it's more about them than the story.

It's long past time for someone to do a cold-blooded and deliberate hit piece on assholes like him; for what he did in the Plame affair alone he should be hectored from the public forum forever.

[BootinUp]

10. You have a way with words, lol.

[Adelante]

5. I'm glad she's raised the subject of "Yucca Mountain"

:thumbsup:

[Colobo]

6. Time Magazine said Edwards won, Obama came second and Hillary third.

I agree with them. Don't you, dear wyld?

[William769]

7. The people of ne Hampshire that were polled said Hillary did.

Go figure.