What do you expect is going to happen on tomorrow's debate?

I think we will witness a classic debate. I expect a somewhat aggressive Obama who will portray himself as the victim of the wrath of the establishment (he will cite the Nevada lawsuit constantly), Clinton will try to present herself as a "doer", implying in every single opportunity that Obama is all talk and no substance, and Edwards... actually, I don't know what to expect from him tomorrow.

It promises to be an intense debate.

...because it seemed to really work in HN.

She might try to orchestrate things in that direction.

It's the only way he'll grab any headlines. Trying to play the team-up game didn't help him, and it hurt the guy he teamed up with.

I expect he'll hit Clinton hard and hit Obama hard, and hit both of them for having petty arguments instead of focusing on what's best for the country.

HE will try to rise up and stand above the fray and present himself as the only one talking about substantive issues.

At least, that's what I would do if I were him.

after what he did in the last debate, it would make him look... inconsistent...

...very recently, he balked at Bill Clinton's "fairy tale" comment and
shoved it right back in his face.

I think it's clear that Edwards is not a fan of Hillary's.

I think it's also clear that Edwards and Obama agreed, prior to the last debate, that
they were going to do a bit of tag-teaming on Hillary.

I hope to see more of that. However, this time--when Hillary throws back her
head, with her eyes blazing as she declares, "I do want CHANGE!" these guys
need to continue to hammer away. Last time they backed down.

And sometime in the debate, Edwards needs to scream, "You're all out of order!"

;)

... I think Kucinich will be the rumbler.

As good an orator Obama is, Hillary is a debater. O&E have to be very careful now that the entire Democratic electorate is focused on the primary -- and to a degree greater than any primary in history. And HRC has to make sure that her attacks are "applesauce enemas".

It is literally a political Battle Of The Titans.

--p!

on her remarks about MLK, he can't hardly turn around and pretend to have stayed out of it now.

otherwise, you might be right.

Other than that....DK will have to fight to be heard, and JE will do well and likley be ignored by the media afterwards.

Hillary will cry.

Obama will pontificate to the crowd in lofty, inspirational tones.

Edwards will talk about the mill.


There...everyone is equally insulted. ;)

the word "change" will be mentioned 2,458 times.

by Hillary



in the first half hour.

...and I think Hillary will announce that she's trademarked the word "hope" and
now anytime someone wants to use it--they owe her $300.

This should be interesting...

I'm concerned that Obama might go in with his guard down--since a "truce" has been declared--and
then Hillary will proceed to perform a political vivisection on him.

I hope he goes in expecting the worst...

Nice

good one. though i think hillary will look angry.

As a Hillary supporter, you think she'll be angry.

I don't think this fight is over.

Maybe I'm too cynical, but I think that ANY candidate who goes into
that debate with their guard down--and thinking that is going to be
a Kumbaya-hold-hands-and-sing situation--is going to be eviscerated
on the stage.

They all need to be braced for warfare.

And Kucinch will take a day trip out to Rachel, NV to go UFO sighting and not make it back in time.

Like the first one, there will be people in the audience "over-participating" and I hope certain candidates call them out on it.

Edwards is going to lob a few bombs at Hillary...rightfully I might add. Obama will try to stay above the fray. Kucinich will provide the court jester motif (nothing against him, just the contrast will be there).

Obama will win by staying above the fray while Edwards will be painted as "picking on" Hillary.

There may be a few zingers that get played over and over again later.

then he's more of a wimp than i thought. He actually needs to start doing something in debates.

...and I have to agree with you.

We've just had our little "truce" declared, which is good.
Obama definitely handled that with grace and he did the right thing.

However, if he goes into that debate, erroneously believing that
this is going to be a civil situation, he's in for a rude awakening.

He has to be prepared for her to attack. If he isn't prepared for that,
then he'll get his ass handed to him.

The attacks will begin again tomorrow. I think he needs to go in,
prepared to take her on. You don't have to do it in a vicious way.

He needs to start answering some of her main assertions---that he has
no experience and that he hasn't been anti-war all along. If he
allows the Clintons to define him, then he looks weak.

We all saw what they did to Kerry. He's got to get out in front of this
stuff--and if you do it in a diplomatic, strong way--you can make her
look like the weak one.

Barack Obama and his people are a lot smarter than I am. What do I know?
I just worry about some of our Dems sometimes. They lie down and take it
when they should be going to the mattresses.

be on the offensive tonight. The last time he tried to "stay above the fray" he lost...in New Hampshire. But, I also don't expect for Edwards to come to Obama's defense in the same way he did before. I think Obama NEEDS to dethrone her on her BS experience argument as well. If Obama doesn't do it, you better believe the Rethugs will.

I agree that "staying above the fray" is a losing strategy.

You must get in there, dispel some of Hillary's assertions and have the courage to
counter her on her "experience" argument, as you said.

I mean, this IS a debate. It's not a press conference. They're supposed to be challenging
each other and pointing out differences.

Hillary has repeatedly said that Obama's record and their differences need to be examined.
So...Obama needs to take her up on that and call out her "experience" and also her pro
war votes. How about mentioning Kyl/Lieberman? A perfect counter to her--if she gets
indignant and defensive is to point out her own statements--in which she has repeatedly
said that their records and differences must be brought to light. "The American people
have a right to know"...isn't that what Hillary has repeatedly said?

I want to see a debate. I'm tired of the media going all freaky when the candidates speak
passionately or disagree with one another. There should be a debate.

Being Presidential means staying "above the fray" at times, but it also means standing
up for what you believe and not being afraid to take on others. Obama has to demonstrate
that he can take her on.

I agree as others have said that Edwards will probably be focused on his own fight tonight.
Who knows...It's possible that the tables could be turned this time. Hillary and Edwards might
end up on the same side of an issue, against Obama. I'm not saying that something like this is
being planned, but they're all in the fight of their lives--and Edwards had an excellent showing
in the latest NV polls.

I think this debate has the potential to be one of the best--as far as it actually being a debate.

They ALL had better be ready for it. This isn't going to be a High Tea at noon. More like "High Noon"! :)

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/NEWS19/801150354/1232

Such a stupid thing to say, you may not have the experience but you sure as hell don't say it out loud.

I'm reading the article and I'm so pumped! Did I miss something???

Obama couched it perfectly. He's not a bureaucrat. He's a leader. A
President is someone who LEADS and instills a vision and inspires other
talented experts to enact his vision.

That's beautiful!

I'd also like to say, how in the world can Hillary Clinton talk about
her "experience" in health care issues? When Bill put Hillary in charge
of "national health care" she imploded and she had to back down into submission
for years.

In the meantime, she's taken more money from big pharma, the insurance companies
and healthcare-related industries that most politicians. If anything, they've
bought and paid for a lack of change--or changes that will enrich their profits
at the expense of the American people.

Hillary's foray into implementing national health care was a disaster.

Edwards DO team up again.

But it seems to work for him, and nobody questions why he doesn't do more, so I think he will keep it up. Of course it is going to backfire big time, especially if he "does" win the nomination. The republicans are going to tear him apart, and he can't just sit there and smile!

And Dennis will expose the bullshit for what it is.

he could be sitting their like a decoration......

...and vows to raise the level of debate between them. Then they will all proceed to claw and scratch as usual.

In our last chapter - er, debate - Clinton was framed as the Status Quo and Edwards appeared to align with Obama as the Change-Makers. However, the illusion of an alliance was just a set-up

Edwards will now further frame Obama as the Professor/Politician ...someone "intellectual" and "philosophical"...somebody who "just talks about it, for whom it's more of a political issue...and the politicians are going to do the political thing." (Quotes from recent Olbermann appearance.)

Translation: Obama, like Clinton, is nothing more than a stereotypical politician (horror of horror!) who will make compromises to serve his own aspirations, compared to Edwards The Fighter who will roll up his sleeves and take no prisoners.

Of course, I could be wrong……




              Edwards '08 tees!

I expect him to point out where his positions and ideas have been adopted by the other candidates.

I expect him to sound more positive and hopeful about the fights we're up against, as opposed to just angry and ready to do battle.

that is the only real progressive in the race who has the best ideas on a majority of the issues that us Democrats care about.