My impressions of candidates for the debates...

[bhunt70]

I'll make my impressions short. These are based on what I just watched. Most of them are critical and I tried to remain objective in my assessments.

1. Edwards - A lot of talk about rising up and getting above the fighting within the candidates. I think his candidacy has taken a shift to trying to be "above all that". He vocalized it enough and to me I think he could have taken on the issues more.

2. Kucinich - Kucinich also stayed above the fray. I think he would be a good domestic presidential candidate if war didnt seem to be america favorite pasttime. Obviously smart but I feel a bit too idealistic sometimes.

3. Kerry - Kerry seems to now have his main goal of taking down Dean. During the debates I think he did himself a disservice by throwing the ball back into Dean's yard and reiterating "old" topics to get in the last word. One of the 3 most "politician-like" candidates.

4. Gephardt - Almost the same as Kerry I think his sparring with Dean did him a disservice. I think he is less focussed on killing Dean's campaign but just as eager to pile on. One of the 3 most "politician-like" candidates.

5. Dean - Dean looks stiff and while he held his composure for the most part I think enough focus was put on him to create doubts from other democrats. A volatile issue like medicare on a day like today is not somehting to take lightly...he never did answer whether he would slow the growth of medicare but he did say he would not cut it. Maybe its hard to stay in stride when people attack but it gets worse as president. One of the 3 most "politician-like" candidates.

6. Clark - Not enough focus on his domestic ideas and too much focus on his military ideas. He almost seemed one dimensional, which I think would be a deathblow in a presidential election. I think he is the most photogenic of the bunch. Seemingly strong of character, I think his bursts of emotion could be disconcerting if he ever forgot to smile afterwards.

7. Sharpton - Sharpton puts things plain and easy. Socially on the right track but tonight I think he was relegated to the role of "say something funny, poingiant and witty Al". Not as strong of a performance I think as some of his last outings but he holds himself well and I think he is integral where others may not.

8. Braun - The belle of the ball, Braun holds herself well and speaks well and I think she has the right mix of international and domestic experience. I was impressed with her tonight. If America were ready for Braun, I think she'd be ready for America.

9. Lieberman - Wasn't there, he may just as well back out of the race.


These are my personal opinions.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

1. I like how you summed up Kucinich.

Basically, he'd make a good President, but not of the United States.

[scottcsmith]

2. I like Amb. Braun, too.

Carol Moseley Braun was on "Hardball" last week. A good hour, and she had a lot of good ideas and smart answers to questions.

Doesn't have a chance in hell of winning, though, which is a shame.

I think the office of President will be a white-men only club for a few more decades.

[vetwife]

3. Impresions of candidates

I see a lot of Clinton in Clark and I do like him. I think when the pack breaks loose and the focus is enirely on once candidate , if that candidate were him, he would be awesome. He speaks with authority, naturally and he speaks sincerely wheher he is or not and that is what it will take. Unfortunately politics is just show business until one takes office. Clinton knew that

[FrenchieCat]

4. Since the point is to beat Bush....

The opinions are fine..but at the end one has to ask who can beat Bush?

That really is the only question for me...and when I look at the line up, Clark stands out. His domestic policies are good and he still has time to flesh them out. He is not a one issue candidate...but if you see it that way, thank god that his "One" issue, as you put it just happens to be the issue Bush will be running on - National and homeland security.

hence the Republican convention being held IN NEW YORK CITY ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001....That my friend will be the closing day of the convention and the day for the Big Hurray speech from the one and only Republican candidate.

[burr]

5. impressions of perceived projected images...

The Luntz poll was the most revealing part of the debate. It showed voters reacting most favorably to the issues least talked about, and not responding much to the petty disputes and debates on taxcuts or differences on Medicare. They reacted best to comments regarding corrupt special interests and the War in Iraq.

It seems that the candidates would expand on those issues that would boost this support rather than arguing over the finer points of unresolved records or differing statistics. Again abolishing the Electoral College in favor of popular votes would provide an enormous boost of support, and so would some specifics on how changing regulatory policies would improve our economic situation. Voters don't just want to hear what is being done badly, because they already know what is wrong! They want to know details on what should be changed to end the problems. Voters already know special interests are BAD, they want to know how candidates will give voters a piece of these interests' asses.

When Kerry and Edwards want to go after Dean, then they must find ways to justify their positions..otherwise such attacks could help Dean. This hurts them by making them look like attack dogs, while allowing Dean to appear cool and drawing more attention to his popular postions. Clark also hit a mark by stressing shrub's failures in handling national security.

Too bad these debates can't be more substantive.