I was very impressed with Martin O'Malley

[DemocratSinceBirth]

[BootinUp]

1. Same here.

I like him a lot.

[elleng]

9. Good.

[msrizzo]

2. He seemed more relaxed and sure of himself.

He's getting better as he goes along.

[elleng]

3. Good to hear.

I expect he'll be better received as things move along.

[bravenak]

4. Me too. Like him alot.

[elleng]

8. Great!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. I saw three candidates last night and only one of them was dissing other Democrats.

[bravenak]

12. That is how you know who is real.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. Sister, do you think it is a function of the fact that the candidate dissing another Democrat

Sister, do you think it is a function of the fact that the candidate dissing another Democrat hasn't even been a Democrat long enough for the ink he signed to become one to dry on the papers?

[bravenak]

14. Yes I do Brother. Some people at time do things for expidency's sake.

Their heart is not in it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. And wasn't he the gentleman who praised himself for not speaking negatively of his opponents?

To this dispassionate observer it strikes me as a reaction to his precipitous drop in the polls.

"Prosperity conceals character. Adversity reveals it." and to put it bluntly if you really want to know what people think about you get them mad at you.

[bravenak]

16. I find it interesting that there has been that change of tactic.

I find it unhelpful. .

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. I fail to see the efficacy of attacking a candidate with a 80% intra -party favorable rating...

Math is not my forte but I don't believe 20% of the vote leads to electoral success...Maybe this candidate has a secret plan.

[bravenak]

18. It is called revolution, as if we do not aldready know!

We will just take to the streets! (Well not me, I have kids and class... But somebody will!!)

[Jim Lane]

20. So, for example, Clinton's "3am phone call" attack ad against Obama was an example of expediency?

Of course, one obvious difference is that the attack on Obama's personal abilities could be, and was, picked up by Republicans in the general, whereas "attacking" Clinton for holding too-conservative policy positions won't have that effect.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. Of course it was an act of expediency...

Of course it was an act of expediency but her supporters never conferred sainthood on her...If a candidate says he or she eschews negative campaigning he or she should eschew negative campaigning. Find a principle and stick to it.

[Jim Lane]

22. You consider discussion of serious issues to be negative campaigning?

I don't expect to see Sanders bringing up cattle futures or the like, but noting the points of policy differences is raising, not lowering, the level of discourse.

As for "Find a principle and stick to it," yes, that's good advice. Both Sanders and O'Malley found and have stuck to such principles as support for marriage equality and opposition to the TPP.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. Do you think if Bernie

Do you think if Bernie represented an inner city Congressional district instead of a rural Vermont Congressional district and then state he would have opposed the Brady Bill and supported gun manufacturer immunity?

Do you think if Bernie represented an inner city Congressional district instead of a rural Vermont Congressional district and then state he would have solicited $20,000.00 from the N.R.A.

Thank you in advance.

My goal isn't to besmirch Bernie . I just believe he is not above transactional politics which makes him no different than Hillary or any of the other politicians he and his supporters decry.

[Jim Lane]

29. A difference in degree so great as to be a difference in kind

Yes, all elected officials respond to varying influences, including their own backgrounds, their funding sources, and their constituents' preferences.

Even on the gun issue, Sanders's poor ratings from the NRA indicate that he was not the tool of the gun lobby that the Clinton campaign would have us believe. Of course, Clinton supporters never want to mention all the gun-control bills that Sanders voted for; that doesn't fit the narrative.

The main point, though, is that, of the three remaining major Democratic candidates, Clinton is the one who has most clearly shifted her positions for political reasons. I'm not saying this to impugn her morals. I'm not in charge of who gets into Heaven; I don't even believe in the place. My concern is predicting what each candidate will do if elected. I have far more confidence in either O'Malley or Sanders than I do in Clinton. That's based partly on the current positions taken by each of the three, and partly by their records.

[BootinUp]

24. Bernie is attacking her character

saying he is the only one that will govern by principle. Its all he can do, because their positions aren't really different on the issues.

[Jim Lane]

25. Double fail

First, I don't think he's saying what you impute to him. Second, their positions really are different on many things. That's why Clinton has attacked Sanders from his left on gun control. That's why Sanders has attacked her from her left on a whole host of other issues.

To the extent that their positions are the same on some issues, it is, in some instances, because of Clinton has changed her position. People who oppose bad agreements like the TPP can legitimately have more confidence in a politician who's been consistently against it.

[BootinUp]

26. I propose that we either didn't see the same event or will not be able to agree.

[gwheezie]

27. Note she was not nominated

Just sayin

[restorefreedom]

30. who? i didn't watch. nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

31. I believe it was one of the two male candidates.

Since becoming a quinquagenarian my memory isn't what it used to be so I can't be of more assistance.

[restorefreedom]

32. that is a term i will have to put in my back pocket soon. :) nt

[Agschmid]

5. He's very good.

[elleng]

7. I agree.

[elleng]

6. Good. I've been very impressed by him for quite a while.

[FSogol]

19. K&R. n/t

[gwheezie]

28. He's gotten a slow start

I hope he can stay around longer. Its hard to raise $ with Hillary and Bernie scooping it up.
I have gone to his site and maybe I'm a personality voter when it comes down to it because he is solid on many issues important to me but I'm just not seeing enough of him to get excited. Otoh with Webb and chaffee out hopefully OMalley gets more time at the next debate.