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Edited on Tue Jan-15-08 11:21 PM by Bread and Circus
Question #1: regarding race, how did we get here?
Hillary 6 (evasive, countenance unhappy but conciliatory)
Obama 8 (confident and calming)
Edwards 5 (too self referential)
Question #2: Responsibility Regarding "pushing the story"
Obama 5 (a bit wandering, pandering, doesn't really get to the meat of question, pushes the change meme for no reason)
Hillary 3 (refuses to denounce "Bob" who made a series of horrific potshots at Obama, tries to change subject).
Question #3: Policy Differences among candidates, which is so slight. So why not choose a female or african american?
Edwards 7 (recovers his personal story as "son of a millworker", though he overuses this, it is apt here).
Question #4: What is a white male to do?
Edward 6 (non consequential response but gracious in tone)
Question #5: "You are likeable enough Hillary", do you regret that?
Obama 6 (Obama admits mistake, refutes this as a non issue in a decent way, deftly refers back to the issues, leadership)
Question #6: Piling on?
Edwards 8 (delivers his message about change well, makes it clear his attacks on Clinton are about his theme of change)
Disruptor in crowd
Question #7: Could you stand behind other candidates
Hillary 3 (should be answered with a simple yes but Hillary waxes poetically about how she is "more qualified" w/o substantiation,
never really gives a summative answer, forces Russet to clarify her answer, which she doesn't)
Question #8: Do people want an "operating officer" as a President?
Obama 6 (this is a tough question as it goes to heart of Hill's thrust vs Obama. He encapsulates well what it really takes to be a "compelling" leader. Casts aside the President as a "schedule manager").
Question #9: Greatest Strength, Greatest weakness
Obama 7 (bring people together, unorganized on a personal level)
Edwards 8 (fighting, which is a negative word but may play well with a frustrated D electorate (esp DU); powerful emotional response -- nice move, turns a weakness into a way to express his compassion)
Clinton 4 (doesn't really add anything new, meanders, not clear as to her strength, uses "change" which is Obama's line; "Impatient, frustrated" - (yes, you do come off as frustrated, that's why people don't like you (my bias)), goes back to rebut Obama's #8 and likens him to Bush, started to sound agitated, uses fail and failures, cronyism - goes hard negative, off the rails in her diatribe)
Obama 9 -- given chance to rebut the attack - Obama fires back succinctly and confident, makes crowd laugh (for second time tonight). Really drives home Bush's divisiveness, which his biggest problem and this is also Hillary's liability. Awesome.
Question #10 Brian Williams addresses the lies spread about Obama, asks him how he handles that.
Obama 8 -- set facts straight, gives credit to people to sort thru the bull. takes responsibility for his loss in NH.
Break #1, "economy to follow"
Question #11 Lead story (citigroup, merill lynch looking for forward investment to stay afloat) "this appears just plain wrong". how does this strike you?
Hillary 8 - sounds like she knows some shit about this, gets wonkish in a good way, inspires some confidence. takes responsibility back to corporate greed and how globalism is fucked up. get proactive.
Edwards 7 - agrees with Clinton, pinpoints how the economy is fucked up and brings it home on the "dinner table" economic issues, more birds eye viewish that Clinton but not as specific as about "what he'd do" other than vague resurrence.
Obama 8 - refers back to Energy issues, which is at the core of all economic issues, which people won't get although he talks about Nevada sun which could be big boon to nevada, would be a good point if he drove solar home more. Intends to "restore accountability and transparency".
Question #12 Bankrupty bill - excellent question
Edwards 8 - comes clean and admits mistake, good move. more kitchen table economic issues. Gets back to energy and health care issues and how it screws the avg family. works the minimum wage issue and college issues in with a positive can do tone.
Clinton 5 - "Sure I do" but it "never became law" ?!? I'm confused b/c I thought something became law, that's what my banker told me. Starts getting agitated, raises voice. Hammers back to the subprime loan stuff. Tries to get "racially sensitive", maybe compensating for her slip w/ blacks. "foreclosures". Gives faith to Pelos, Reid WTF!?!?
Obama 7 - Sounds cool, collected, maybe not emotional enough? Talks about special interest lobbies and how "politics in Washington need to be change". Gets anectdotal. Talks about his program to help people keep their homes.
Question #13 Retiree income, how can you protect us from changes on investment tax issues
Obama 8 - exempt middle class folks from changes to taxes on investments. makes crowd laugh, invokes Warren Buffett. talks some numbers, gets wonkish in a good way. admits he's gonna get money out of the wealthiest folks and talks about the 1%ers.
Question #14 "long term effects on housing markets on freezing interest rates"?
Clinton 8 - opens well with some intelligent and clear sounding comments about the fed, monetary policy. talks about her plans to prevent foreclosures (I don't think that word means what she thinks it means lol). Definitely sounds like she knows some shit. Hits the points well w/o sounding hostile.
Open question time for candidates vs each other
Edwards:
of Clinton -
of Obama - "do they expect something for this money"
"I don't take money from lobbyists, pac's". Talks about how he's raised money from small donations. Refers to the law he passed re "bundling" money, talks about his legislation for more campaign finance reform.
Clinton:
of Obama - asks a good question about legislation she introduces regarding Bush's over reach and asks Obama to co sponsor legislation. great question.
Obama: answers question well, "I can work with you Hillary". Hillary shaking head no, maybe in disgust to Bush?
2009 Pledge, withdrawal of troops
Clinton 8 - clear commitment to withdrawal
Edwards 8 - clear commitment to no permanent bases
Russert asks a follow up "has your answer changed"
Obama 8 - clear commitment to withdrawal, makes a sensible argument for some presence, a defensible statement in the GE.
q and a gets fuzzy
Hillary 8 - deftly talks about differences with Republican candidates.
Edwards again clarifies his statements well.
Obama makes everyone laugh yet again (hip black friend!!!) and clarifies how we may have some tactical issues re terrorism in Iraq and probably defensible in GE.
Edward rebuts but it almost confuses everyone's position.
Obama clarifies the situation, they pleasantly agree.
Overall, Obama gave me personally the best feeling from a GE standpoint and as CIC without trying to sound "hawkish". At this point all of the candidates are coming off extremely well and Clinton and Edwards are very impressive. Clinton sounds most at home when she can specifically address issues.
Break #2, next up, domestic issues
Back live in Las Vegas...
Question #15 Military recruiter question quid pro quo federal funding for schools? Enforce statute?
Clinton 8 - Yes. Sounds calm and collected. Will enforce statute that ensures recruiter and rotc access in schools. Honors the military. Expand civ national service.
Obama 7 - Yes. Talks about strains on families, esp rurally family. Expand national service. Maybe not delivered as succinct as he could.
Edwards 7 - Yes. Talks about the hardships of soldiers.
Question #16 Yucca Mountain, end the notion?
Obama 8 - Yucca mountain is a mistake, can't ensure safety of Nevadans. Clear response. Gives fealty to science.
Clinton 4 - gives her bona fides on Yucca Mountain. Tries to smear Obama and Edwards with Yucca in a bit of a hit and run.
Edwards 4 - voted "for" Yucca mountains twice, changed his mind with new information but was unclear he didn't vote for it w/o Clinton's prodding.
Question #17 Nuclear Power
Obama 7 - gives a reasonable response to nuclear energy, keeps it on the table. Nuclear is = to wind in terms of lifetime greenhouse gas production. Gets clear on CO2 emissions proposals. Sounds informed on the subject.
Clinton 7 - Criticizes Cheney energy plans. Take tax dollars from gas and oil to green tech. Good response imo.
Ewards 7 - given a "reality check" by Russert about magnitude of problem. Edwards zings Clinton about her $$$ from oil and gas interests. Doesn't really answer original question. A little bit all over the map. Moratorium on coal unless we can sequester the co2, very interesting stance.
Obama 9 - reduce consumption of energy. Extremely important as that's where our biggest immediate gains can be had. "Low hanging fruit". nice.
Question #18 English as "official language"?
Edwards 5 - "Earn" American citizenship thru "fine" for breaking law and learn English. I'm not sure how to take this response.
Clinton pollster statement "hispanics won't vote for black candidate".
Clinton 5 - thought salad. doesn't denounce the statement clearly.
Obama 9 - yet again, makes the crowd laugh. They all voted for me! and then gives a nice reponse
Question #18 "High dropout of Black males" in education? Why and what to do?
Obama 8 - early education needs to be emphasized. reward teachers w/ more salaries and support. change NCLB. solid response. gives sense of urgency. Gives responsibility to AA fathers need to be good fathers and be in the home. Strong point.
Clinton 7 - Black/brown debate. Empower families. More involvement from community. Nice chime in.
Edwards 7 - "second chance schools", very good point. nice.
Question #19 Gun death. Leading cause of death in young Black men. Gun Control plans.
Clinton 8 - against "illegal guns". Political realist and obliquely refers to NRA. "Registry that works", "Information timely". Crack down on illegal gun dealers. "I believe in the second amendment". Backs off licensing program.
Obama 8 - Common sense solutions. Get to unscrupulous gun dealers. 2 traditions of gun ownership. Respects the tradtion of gun owning and talks about problem of city gun crime.
Edwards 7 - Respects second amendment. maybe didn't have enought time to get more detailed.
Break #3 So far I gotta say that based on this debates these three would each make a fine President in their own way. I'm weighting negative hit and run comments harshly because the beginning of the debate was made w/ a pledge toward conciliation and respect.
Question #20 "Fear Card" - how Clinton used it in NH and invoked the specter of Al Qaeda
Clinton 4 - stammers a bit. talks about "the fact" of Al Qaeda. She doesn't back down from the fear card but doesn't say why she would be best to face terrorists.
Obama 8 - "Dominated by Politics of FEAR". pays respect to Clintons work in NYC but says she makes a mistake in perpuating the politcs of fear, which she did.
Clinton 4 - Clinton continues to hammer on the fear, fear, and more fear.
Question #21 Edwards talks to Pakistani amabassador, appropriate?
Edwards 3 - "I got tough w/ Pakistan". (Why is he getting involved at all in foreign affair issue? He's not in a position right now to negotiate or be a liasion of any kind as far as I know).
Question #22 When did u make decision to run
Clinton 5 - "New Years of 2006/2007"
Edwards 5 - "December 2006"
Obama 5 - "December of 2006". makes crowd laugh and gives his selling points of his own decision.
I think all 3 are fibbing on this or at least giving a half truth in that I bet they've all been thinking about it for a long time.
In summary, I think all 3 did well. I think on the "issue" questions they all did well and that's definitely where Clinton is at most home with herself. Obama and Edwards did well on the issue questions. I think they are all even here.
In terms of overall presence, I'm giving this to Obama because he seemed clear, confident, and never strayed from a positive line of reasoning and engaged the audience in laughter several times with good timing and charm.
No matter what, they all did awesome tonight. I was harsh on Clinton because she injected the most negativity but don't get me wrong, I was very impressed with her and she got better as the session went on.
I'm gonna post this and do average scores in a minute
Clinton total 101 from 17 scored responses = 5.94
Obama total 149 from 20 scored responses = 7.45
Edwards total 106 from 17 scored responsis = 6.23
So for me,
Obama won with a fair showing on "issue" questions and pulling ahead on likeability
Edwards second with a solid showing
Clinton third (but a just a hair behind Edwards) with a solid showing only getting dinged for negativity that wasn't needed. She never "stuck" any of her zingers. I think she took a gamble and made herself look bad.
There was definitely no "piling on" or ganging up on Clinton.
I was harsh on negativity and salacious attacks again because Both Barack and Clinton have called us to conciliation, they need to do the same.
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