Okay, who won the "debate?"

My rankings:

Kerry (looks extremely presidential, awesome aircraft carrier comment)
Sharpton (eloquent, we are all a "family"
Graham (Pinochio president)
Dean (The candidate with the most votes will win in 2004!"
Edwards (I'm a son of a millworker)
Gephardt (My parents are cool)
Moseley-Braun (Hi, I'm ordinary)
Lieberman (boooed)
Kucinich (downright nasty)

Dean supporter here, but ...
Kerry Rocked!

Kucinich stunk!

CMB was very good.

but i'll say Sharpton. he always wins. kerry was real good too. Dean had the best closing. Gephardt and Edwards were solid, especially when discussing their youth and roots. Lieberman should quit

I thought it was a lousy format, and I think too many of the candidates simply resorted to rehashing stump speeches. Sometimes I just wish the candidates would answer the damn question. And good lord, could these guys pander! At least Lieberman had the guts to risk saying something that was unpopular (like supporting pilot voucher programs).

"Trickled on" statement, god that was funny.
I really like Dean, and Edwards seems to be a player too.
Sharpton (gasp) was a force tonite.
Many good platform points, I hope the DLC was taking notes.

Dave

but it's getting a little stale.

so chill, huh?

Do you remember in Wayne's World or the sequel or one of them where Wayne, feeling put upon, notes that he's been shit on.

Well, friend dolstein, Bush and his pirates are pissing on us and laughing every day. I think that might well be a sub rosa sort of context for all us ... aren't you tired of these bastards pissing on our heads?

.

Sharpton
Braun
Dean
Kucinich
Graham
Kerry
Gephardt

The poor bastard.

except Lieberman, who seemed determined to reinforce the notion that he's really a Republican. Most of America sends their kids to private schools? I don't know if that's what he meant to say, but that's the way is sounded.

and each one of the candidates brought good rhetoric, good phrasemaking, good analysis, good policy, and good values to the table and all look AMAZING compared to Bush.

He was pissed! He sounded great. Just the attitude we need.
Lieberman was booed. What an asshole. He should just defect to his party of choice, the Republicans.
Dean sounded cocky but maybe he has a right to.
Gephardt came off better than I expected.
Sharpton as usual explicated Democratic ideals (too bad he doesn't have a chance in hell)
Braun-who cares?
Edwards needs some polishing but he will do well in the future.
Graham was ok
Kery looked and sounded good.

I'm still ABB.

kucinich
dean
graham
kerry
sharpton
edwards
bruan
gephardt

.

Dean- really getting his chops down. To the point, focused, clear on positions. Aggressive and diplomatic at the same time. How do you do that?
Kerry- forgettable. Doesn't really appear to want or need the job.
Mosely-Braun- nice work, but too vague.
Sharpton- I hope a job can be found for him somewhere, but Prez ain't it. Press Secretary!
Kucinich- I love DK, but he is too angry-lashing out at everything and everybody.
Gephart- he's just fine where he is. He just has no charisma. If everybody else were on the wrong side of the issues, then sure. But we have a choice.
Edwards- not his time yet. He needs to get over that "I grew up as a poor black kid" shtick.
Lieberman- wrong side of too many issues. Incoherent message. Would be a decent stand up comic.
Graham- Nothing particularly bad about him, just can't compete with these guys. VP?

I don't agree about Kerry in this outing. I thought he did very well, given his vocal problems, but otherwise I'd agree with your assessments right down the line.

I always manage to get a good laugh on DU each and every day.

<<Sharpton- I hope a job can be found for him somewhere, but Prez ain't it. Press Secretary!>>

I think he'd make an awesome Press Secretary! He'd give those reporters a piece of his mind! Could he be an HHS Sec? The problem is having to get confirmed. But daily TV appearances with 12 p.m. briefings would be great to see...

Graham, though, I think is still underestimated. He is a very shrewd political tactician who knows how to present liberal policies in down-home, commonsensical way. He would make a good choice for V.P.

Kucinich claimed that the first thing he would do as president would be to repeal NAFTA and GATT, and he challenged all of the other candidates to promise the same. Someone should remind him that the president doesn't have the authority to do that. Just because it may be a position that some of us may agree with it, I will not accept overreaching by the executive branch in a Democratic administration. Kucinich is basically claiming that he intends to step all over the Constitution the same way that Bush does. We have been very critical of Bush unilaterally withdrawing from international treaties. We should demand the same restraint from our own candidates.

My impressions:

Speaking of smiles, they could ALL take lessons from Carole. Talk about charm.

Graham's got the best sense of humor. Pinocchio president, heh. I hear there's going to be something interactive about that on his website soon.

Kucinich is a bit too self-righteous for my taste.

All the rest did fine. I find Edwards' presentation to be appealing, he'd make a great VP.

Sorry, no c-span for me. What was Kerry's "carrier comment?"

That's exactly what's needed against these light-weight ass-kissing "moderates" what the fuck is a moderate? Someone who doesn't know what side of the fence he's on, doesn't know when to come out of the rain? Has his thumb up his ass...I call them complete dog shit and their supporters too...

Oh, we don't want to rock too many boats, hehe, if we just keep to the middle of the road and don't look left and don't look right...we'll be OK...whinny ass bitches!

Kucinich is the man and the only man to show any balls and ideas towards true progressive liberal idea's and old Democratic ideals.

Fucking moderates, "undecided" "not sure" "no opinion" assholes! Karl Rove loves moderates, it's easy to put them in their wishy-washy bag and stomp all over them...

Very, very nice complement, coming from a haha "moderate."

Thanks again!

But for me the players are....

Edwards, Kerry, Gephardt, Dean

(in no order)

But damn if I didn't dig Kerry's aircraft carrier comment.

For those I would consider drafting....

Clark and/or Gore



Bush is a Fink!

Even old holy joe seemed more radicalized than they seemed six months ago. The tax cuts are no longer off limits. No more authoritarian sucking up to Bu**sh**. No more fear of Republican backlash or Limbaugh ridicule. Very different tone than 2002. Maybe that's because Daschle is out of the picture.

Hopefully all the candidates get a tape of this and go home and watch it, clarify their jobs and economy messages and then get out and campaign like crazy.

I think all of them did well in their own ways, even Holy Joe.

We have got to bring back jobs and stop this trickle down economy idea, NOW!!

I was impressed at various times with each of the candidates (yes, even Lieberman). All of them had their good and bad moments, but I especially was turned off by DK's attacks. I was clapping when Sharpton put him in his place. :) If I hadn't already done a ton of research and chosen a candidate, I'd be on the fence after today. They each made a case for why they'd be better than Bush.

I think Dennis is trying to "up" his personnna because he is considered the "Peace" candidate, as well as the "vegan". I was glad to see Dennis put forth some fire! I haven't decided who I will support yet, but I have contributed to both Dennis and Howard. We shall see!
"

I missed the first 30 minutes of the broadcast, but for me there were two clear "winners" . . . Kucinich and Dean. They offered the most substance and the strongest statements of true Democratic principles. Both were very pointedly and effectively critical of Bushco, but still focused on strong and specific positive statements about what they believe and will do if elected. Kucinich is a bit more of a pit bull, which might be just what we need. Plus, I really like his positions best of all.

Kerry looks very presidential and, like a US Senator, said very little of substance. (His aircraft carrier comment was good though.)

Mosely-Braun said far less of substance than I've heard her say before. I've always liked her alot, but I'm not at all sure what she really would do if elected.

Sharpton is a great preacher, but still doesn't show me any specific leadership capabilities.

Gephardt really came off badly and not very eloquent I thought. I don't know what he really stands for.

Edwards also touched on strong labor ideals, but offered little in the way of specifics.

Lieberman didn't say anything substantive or inspiring. I really didn't (and don't) like him.

Graham was pretty sharply critical of Bush--moreso than I expected, but his final put down of Bush for (of all things!!!) trading Sammy Sosa was just lame--the Boy who would be king is a fascist, lying war criminal and the best Graham can come up with is the Sosa trade?!? And then to top it off, he mispronounces "Sosa." Lame. Lame, lame, lame.

I truly hope all the Senators drop out of the race. I think Dean did nothing to harm his current position as the most notable of the candidates. Still, all-in-all, I'd vote for any of them if nominated.

if there will be a re-broadcast...?

eom

because it's already posted. It will be rebroadcast at 11:11 p.m.

http://www.cspan.org/

He just sounded hoarse and like he neede a drink. Has he been ill? Seems he had this trouble the last time I heard him but I know it isn't cronic because I've seen him in the Senate.

Kerry seemed to be having a problem with
his voice.

Gephardt seems old and tired in his approach to things.

Kucinich was a raving, hysterical embarrassment. Does
he always act like that ? Sheesh. To make matters
worse they stood him next to Kerry so when the camera
panned back he looked like he was 2 1/2 feet tall.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=128&topic_id=3928&mesg_id=3928


I am locking this one.


NYer99
DU Moderator