I finally got to see a Democratic debate, or forum

[hfojvt]

at least 45 minutes of it, on PBS. It only included five - Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, and Richardson. My main impression was that I did not see or hear alot of differences, even between Edwards, who I support, and Clinton, who I kinda loathe. They all seemed very congenial, unlike in 2004 when it seemed like they all went after the front-runner Dean.

I found Biden to be funny. I liked the way Dodd spoke - passionately. The only one I kinda crossed off was Richardson. First, because he balked at Biden's suggestion of raising the cap on Social Security taxes from $90,000 to $120,000. "That would be a 15% tax increase on small businesses and farmers" he said. To me, that is a little bit too much concern for the $90,000 crowd - as if they are the working poor. Second, he was preaching the virtues of economic growth as an easy cure for financial problems and other problems.

I did note one other thing in my searches. Hillary's health care plan is quite similar to Edwards from my reading of both. Yet I now find hundreds of articles attacking her plan. It seems like she is drawing alot more fire than Edwards for almost the same plan. That goes to electability if the M$M is more ready and willing to attack her.

[kdmorris]

1. No, when Edwards's plan came out, there was plenty

of attacking it, at least in my memory. Both of the plans suck. It keeps the health insurance companies in the mix, therefore keeping for-profit health care, which is what got us in this mess in the first place.

It's unfortunate, because I like just about everything else Edwards has to say. I'm just afraid, since I've been betrayed before, that he doesn't really mean it. We will see. Luckily, it's a year to go before the election.

[hfojvt]

2. it is a step in the right direction

a great leap forward would be stopped in mid-flight.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/king/stories/2007/09/19/mkinged_0920.html

"Despite GOP hopes, nothing radical in HillaryCare

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 09/20/07

Republican politicians and conservative commentators have been waiting for months. What would the 2008 version of HillaryCare look like and how quickly could they get before the cameras to denounce it as government-controlled health care?"

Note what the article says. The RWNM was ready and geared up to denounce Hillary's plan. They didn't have the same motivation or anticipation for Edwards, and it's harder to stick him with the label Hillarycare.

My state's caucus is only 4 months and two weeks away (but who is counting). It is on Super-Tuesday, and I suspect the primary will be over by then although it may depend on how close it is. If the front-runner does not have enough to win the nomination, then later states and deal-making become important. Which candidate can woo the lesser candidates delegates?

[kdmorris]

3. Just because it's a step in the right direction

(which I didn't dispute) doesn't mean they don't suck. I can accept that complete Single Payer Universal Healthcare will probably not fly right now and still say that it sucks in huge ways.