What do you expect on tonight's Dem debate?

[Colobo]

It should be quite interesting and it might shake up the whole thing, so... what do you expect it'll happen? Will Hillary go hard after Obama? Will Edwards go after Obama or Clinton? Will Obama be able to perform well enough to help himself in NH? Will Richardson be a factor?

What do YOU think?

[MadBadger]

1. I think Edwards should go after Obama, but he wont.

Hell go after Hillary. I get that opinion after watching him on KO yesterday. I think Hillary will go hard at Obama, and Obama will play the front runner.

[babylonsister]

2. Obama will be the pinata; they have to go after him.

I'd be surprised if they don't, I just hope he's ready to rumble.

[MadBadger]

4. I really think it will only be Hillary

Richardson doesnt go after people, and Edwards is trying to take out Hillary, and have this election between the two "agents of change"

[surfermaw]

11. Richardson may be the attack dog, but as you say, he hasn't yet.

[surfermaw]

12. Where is the debate and what time

[babylonsister]

14. Tonight on ABC. nt

[Cameron27]

3. Edwards will try to take Clinton out,

and Obama will provide backup.

[Sparkly]

10. Seasonedblue, we've got to stop agreeing like this.

I hope Clinton doesn't go after Obama. And I don't think Obama needs to be negative, either. He's in a very good position right now.

I think Clinton should (on the campaign trail, if not in the debate) try to distinguish herself by referring to some of the times she's gone up against GOP detractors and attackers and how she prevailed -- going all the way back to the criticisms of her having her own career. That would define her in a positive way as going against establishment, while in contrast with Obama she's seen as the establishment herself.

[Cameron27]

16. I know, it's scary lol.

I think she also has to point out that her election, as the first woman executive in American history, would constitute as much change as Obama's, but I don't know how she can do that without being accused of stealing his thunder. I'd dump Penn, but other than that, I don't know how to advise her, she's going to be attacked no matter how she plays it.

[Sparkly]

17. I'll bet she could come up with something inspiring on that.

Something from the period before women had the vote; a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt or someone like that; something her mother said that inspired her; something somebody said to discourage her as a girl or young woman and how we've overcome that; something about the percentages of women in politics or in power generally; I don't know, but some little lineage of references that speak to woman-pride without directly addressing anyone else. (?)

Doesn't she have a woman adviser somewhere on her team?

[Cameron27]

18. I'm not as good a Clinton supporter

as I was a Clarkie lol, so I don't really know the make up of her team, but she has to have a ton of women advisors. I wish they'd figure out a way to pull this off.

[Sparkly]

20. Ya know...

If I knew for a fact she'd choose Clark as her running mate, it'd change the whole equation for me!!

[Cameron27]

21. Honestly Sparkly,

it's not that I'm blindly following Clark on this, but I do trust his judgment enough to believe he knows more about these candidates than I do, and has a reason to back Clinton. It's not the only reason I decided to support her, that was more of a process of elimination, but I can't say that it wasn't a big factor.

[Sparkly]

24. Yeah, I've given that some weight, too.

And largely because I'm hoping for a significant spot for him.

But I see good things about Obama, too -- different things -- and I'd be okay with either one of them. I just don't like seeing HRC get such an unfair rap.

[Cameron27]

25. I can understand that,

I had decided to stay neutral, but I found myself defending her so much, I thought I might as well go all the way and support her. I don't have much of a beef with Obama, and I probably could have supported him too.

edited to say, that I'm really not happy with his message of bipartisanship though. I look at our Democratic Congress and how well their attempts to reach across the aisle worked out. (I probably should stop hijacking this thread)

[Sparkly]

26. I can understand that, too -- lol!

After defending her and seeing all the ridiculous, repetitive attacks (from supposed liberals!) I found myself rooting for her! (Sometimes going, "Wait, what the hell am I doing?!") And I guess the rebel in me kind of responds to "Republicans don't like her" with "In your FACE!" Know what I mean? I'd love to see them all go nuts with fury and frustration, and I'd love to see the "mainstream" grapple with what to call Bill Clinton ("first gentleman?") and what his role should be... Could really change what we expect of first ladies, too.

She's amazingly strong to endure all the crap that's been thrown at her all this time. I couldn't stand it for a second. And all those double standards are so, so familiar.

It's because of the crap, not her, that I see a point for Obama. I know the media hasn't gone after him for 15+ years, defining him as they have Clinton; but I'm not sure they could do the same damage in less than a year (although who knows) and that might put him in better stead. He can speak in high-toned generalities and bring people to their feet; she is challenged and put down and pressed to qualify everything she says.

I always, always thought we'd see a black male president before a woman president of any race. People are really careful about not offending racially -- which is good of course -- but consciousnesses aren't nearly as raised about gender and the oldest double-standards are still alive and well and accepted as common wisdom even among "liberals." I had no idea to what extent until watching this campaign season on DU. It's horrifying.

Remember that time in NH that Clark greeted laborers of some kind at 5:00 in the morning as they arrived for work, when it was cold and dark and some of the guys didn't act respectfully? I remember thinking, "Oh my God what are we doing to this great man, what are we putting him through?!" It was so awful! I thought many times that he and Gert are too good for politics and the positive about him not running is that we wouldn't have to see them go through all that again.

Not to the same extent, but sometimes I feel the positive if Clinton doesn't make it is that we won't have to go through this endless fight against the old old old old familiar double-standards and assumptions and standard attacks. I also remember trying to defend Kerry's IWR vote over and over again, and don't want to face that all over again. Those are some of the ways Obama would make things easier, you know?

Boy I do go on. If we ever met I'd talk your ear off.

[Cameron27]

35. Oh boy, it's like I'm reading my own words!

I don't even know you, and yet you seem to be the closest thing to a twin I'll ever find ROFL. What a kick! I swear if I could find that same connection with a man, I'd think about re-marriage. :+

[Sparkly]

37. I think I'll just start following you around typing, "Ditto" and "Yeah, what seasonedblue said."

:rofl:

[maximusveritas]

5. Edwards will try to team up with Obama to take on Clinton

Clinton will be going after Obama. And Richardson will be playing the peacemaker when he's not playing his resume and fastest Iraq withdrawal cards.

[Ineedchange]

22. Why would Obama want support from Edwards to go after Clinton?

Edwards has to be on the offensive against Obama and Clinton.

[maximusveritas]

23. Why wouldn't he?

Edwards probably should be on the offensive against Obama too, but I think he's holding out for a VP gig.

[surfermaw]

30. Obama can't pull the red states, he will need help , might be why he would team up with Edwards

[Ineedchange]

33. Unless he has changed his mind Edwards has ruled out the possibility of being a VP candidate again.

[Quixote1818]

39. Candidates always say that because they don't want people to think

they can vote for someone else and still get their primary candidate as VP. Believe me, Edwards would LOVE to be Obama's VP! He would be a shoe in for President in 8 years.

[rurallib]

6. Probably won't be as much fun without Biden

It will be interesting to see what Clinton does. She appears now to be trying to paint Obama as a liberal to scare off his independent vote. Kind of a strange tactic methinks.
Gotta think Obama will have a real commanding presence tonight. I expect Edwards to continue his populist battle (thank you John).
Richardson doesn't seem to be much fazed and I really expect a strong performance based on his experience.
Is Kucininch in this debate?

[Cameron27]

8. Very strange tactics

I hope she doesn't continue with this strategy.

[madrchsod]

13. no abc decided dennis isn`t worth listening to.

it`s our airwaves but of course we are not allowed to hear him because according to them he has nothing to say. of course none of our canidates see anything wrong with the corperations taking the airwaves for their profit not ours

[madrchsod]

7. nothing of any substance

and a complete waste of time....

[Colobo]

9. Why do you say that?

[madrchsod]

15. the airwaves belong to the people not the corporations

i have never been a big fan of the dog and pony show run by the media corporations. after listening to dennis last night i agree with him that the msm cares only for those who say nothing about the media and their role in the election. no candidate has ever said anything about the exclusion of dennis or anyone still in the race...the airwaves belong to the american people not to the corporations or their "selected" candidates.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. Democratic Strategist-Peter Fenn -"Expect Edwards To Go After Obama Hard Tonight"

That makes sense... Hillary Clinton ,for better or worse, is the establishment candidate...She is this campaign's Walter Mondale...John Edwards and Barack Obama are the insurgent candidates...As "agents of change" they are competing for the same pool of voters...Attacking Hillary makes no sense for Edwards...Her supporters aren't going to go to him but if he attacks Obama , because they are both fighting for the same pool of voters, some of Obama's supporters may go to him...

If you look at the NH polls Hillary is holding steady, Obama is rising , and Edwards is declining:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/...


We don't have much research to work with but the little research we do have suggests Obama is rising at John Edwards' expense...If Edwards completely fades Obama will win... If Edwards can remain viable he gives Hillary a shot...I expect to see this dynamic continue as long as Edwards continues or remains viable...

As I said yesterday John Edwards is Hillary Clinton's Praetorian Guard...

[surfermaw]

31. I think Edward and Hillary togeather would/Could ruffel Obama

[goldcanyonaz]

27. Obama will levitate.

[MethuenProgressive]

28. I expect Bill Richardson, if given a chance, will do well.

But the focus will be on the MSM darlings, as usual.
Give Bill a chance!
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/home

[surfermaw]

32. Richardson usually does well,

[JVS]

29. The only question is who will throw the first punch!

:bounce:

[KennedyGuy]

34. Edwards seems to think that the way to the nomination is over Hillary

He is succeeding only in making Obama stronger..
maybe he is angling for Obamas VP?

[Quixote1818]

36. I think Obama and Edwards have made a VP deal. Edwards will attack Clinton. nt

[maxanne]

38. I expect

a carefully scripted event where no new ideas, no interesting solutions will be discussed.

These media events cannot properly be called debates. They have been no more than showcases for the media sanctioned candidates.

[jenmito]

40. They'll go after Obama. Edwards is trying to talk like it's a 2-person race between him and Obama.

He was talking as if Hillary's out of the race, America has rejected the "status quo," and now it's just a choice of what KIND of change people want-his or Obama's. Well, he should've learned that they want Obama's. And Hillary will go hard after Obama, too, trying to paint him as inexperienced and "s roll of the dice" but I think he'll be ready for both of them, using Bill Clinton's '92 quotes against Hillary's charge of inexperience, and he'll use Edwards' record to counter him. He'll be ready, just like during the early debate when they all jumped on him and he said he prepared for the debate by riding on the bumper cars.