I honestly don't see the fuss. No one did wonderfully or terribly tonight

[StevieM]

It was just another debate. Obama's best moment was on Social Security when he pointed out that the '83 commission raised the retirement age and the payroll taxes. Hillary's response (she didn't get much time for it) was too light.

Obama's toughest moment was on William Ayers. I'm not sure how his response about the Clinton pardons played--I haven't sensed that it works when he points to something Bill did to make a point about Hillary. I know his hardcore supporter like it, but I'm not sure the undecided swing voters are swayed by that type of argument.

I don't see what Obama supporter have to be upset by (what did you expect, the Kieth Olberman treatment?) The harshest problem faced by a candidate as a result of a moderators' decisions was suffered by Hillary. They cut to commercial giving her only 5 seconds to fire off a response to the Social Security comments by Obama.

Steve

[GarbagemanLB]

1. My problem is that they spent half the time covering bullshit issues ON BOTH sides.

[NJSecularist]

2. Both candidates did well. Hillary did a bit better.

The problem was the line of questioning. The first 45 minutes, all we heard was GOTCHA questions.

No questions about health care.
No questions about the environment.
No questions about torture.
No questions about LGBT rights.

etc etc.

They didn't get to talking about real issues until 45 MINUTES IN.

[StevieM]

4. ALL the debates have failed to adequetely cover global warming. One of the reasons why

I support Hillary is because I trust her more on taking action on global warming. And I trust her more to get it done. The lack of coverage of this issue during so many of the debates has been ridiculous--it is by far the most important issue that we face.

I know that the war has been the biggest issue in this race (and certainly on the DU) but you can't compare it to the urgency of global warming, which in my mind is priority 1.

Steve

[NJSecularist]

5. Amen. Another issue that was not asked about today by the moderators.

They wasted 45 minutes on GOTCHA questioning.

[SoonerPride]

3. Mortgages crisis, failing dollar, no healthcare and we hear about FUCKING FLAG PINS!!??

GODDAMNED MOTHERFUCKING FLAG LaPEL PINS IS A FUCKING ISSUE THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT??

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!!

FUCK THAT MOTHERFUICKING BULLSHIT!

FUCK!!

[papau]

6. I agree with all your points - good post - thanks for posting it

[scheming daemons]

7. I don't think either did badly.... but it pisses me off that the media thinks FLAG PINS are an issue

...and the environment is NOT!


The media sets the agenda.... and it means that we won't be discussing global warming, or the economy, or the war... for the next 6 months...


We'll be discussing fucking flag pins... which NEITHER candidate was wearing.


THAT'S what the fuss was about.


The question wasn't unfair... it was STUPID... and it shows the media's agenda for this race is to focus on meaningless minutae and ignore the big issues.


It was shameful.

[StevieM]

9. Agreed about the environment, but I think there is a bigger issue there

A lot of the debates have ignored global warming, which is tragic since it is by far the most important issue IMO. I honestly believe that the reason McCain is doing so much better then the other GOP candidates (Huckabee, Romney) would have (according to polls) is because he is willing to acknowledge global warming and that makes him seen as a moderate.

Steve

[AZBlue]

8. My problem is with the moderators and their questions, not the candidates.

[anonymous171]

10. I kinda worked against her because she had been on a nostalgia fest beforehand

[Tribetime]

11. gibson thought it was all about him

[uponit7771]

12. Candidates did fine, Hillary had some sharper answers even though sounded catty but the mods where..

..horrible, short ABC