the Morning After take,

[illinoisprogressive]

I'm going to go up the line for my take of the debates.
the format was not good for any candidate and the pundits misunderstand the personalities of all the candidates.

Richardson: Disappointing. He is a strong candidate but, seemed off last night. Format did not give him time to really give explainations to his ideas. I think he was stressing his gov. experience in NM and not his foriegn policy experience. he is a good candidate and will do better.

Edwards: disappointing. I guess because of his 04 experience and the build up of this supporters I was expecting alot more. I got a feeling at one point of him sounding kind of snotty. sorry. just how it came across to me. But, he also seemed off. The format was not good for him to get across the ideas he has worked on over the past few years which is a pity. On the other formats he has come across better because he can discuss his issues better.

Biden. Surpirse. He is no doubt one of the best in foriegn policy. The man knows his stuff. He was impressive as he was able to show humor and personality in a tight and constraining format. He came out well in this. My #2 or 3 pick on the debate. Kudos to Biden. He was very likable last night.

Obama: I thought he did well. Maybe bias on my end colors my view but, I think because I am use to him I saw him as himself last night. He does alot of ummms in his speaking. always. He shown his professor background last night and I think some pundits were confused by it. They always expect the stump speaker and not his various sides. He is more professor in quiet settings with a few voters as well. More consersational. Pundits always expect the big charisma campaigner. duh. he won on the polling as well. The people saw different from the punditery.

Hillary: I am no fan of Hillary;s and dislike her alot. But, kudos on a solid performance. She came off almost likable. she shows her wonkery in this and was confident. I tried to be open with the candidates last night and was pleasantly surprised by her. She did not strike me as presidential or the gushing the pundits did but, she was very solid and good.

DK: I am always misspelling his name. He was more pleasant than expected but, I had a problem with him. He kept coming across as a throw back to the 1970s era democrat. I think if he was more modern in his thinking he would be good. He is intellegent and the voters got a chance to see someone of passion and a chance to see him seriously.
He helped himself according to the polling on MSNBC with voters last night. good for him.

Gravel: He kept reminding me of Stockdale. Where am I? But, he made a dull debate that was far too controlled a little lively. It's hard to take an old anarchist seriously but, he is fun. He helped the debate alot.

I think what hurt Hillary the most was the gushing the pundits did after. She was good but, the gushing was so overboard and over the top and they made her alot more than she was that it was a huge turn off. You felt they were trying to shove her down our throats rather than let us decide ourselves. this will be the problem for her. As long as the pundits and establishment keep this up a resistance will keep being put up to her and will hurt her.
If left to our own thinking we may be more open to Hillary when she does a solid performance like last night and not be so anti.

I think the pundits also overlooked Biden's performance way too much. He is a solid candidate.

I think the pundits do not take Obama seriously. they always expect some over the top stuff even when it's inappropriate. They do not take his more subtile or quieter side or his 'professor' side serious and say he is disappointing when the people obviously can tell the difference.

[Goat52a]

1. One comment

Obama is a charismatic leader. I will look at him seriously in say 12 years. Now he can not be a president. He has no ability to say no. He just can say things that are politically correct. He will learn this through his campaign, but his international experience is really lacking. He has no health care plan, nor a good economic strategy.. I do however wish the best for him in the 2016 election..

[Ethelk2044]

3. Obama gave a good Show.

I do see him as the next president if he keeps performing well. If you would look on his website for His health care plan. You will see what he laid out. Also, He stated as such last night. Those that say he does not have a health care plan did not listen to him last night as he was speaking.

[Colobo]

4. No. No waiting. Now or never.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. health care? check the Illinois health plan. It was his.

he did the health care that covers those under 18 here in Illinois.
He wants to do a good plan. Not a rushed one to satisfy impatient people. Edwards doesn't have a job so he had time. Obama has a job.
He wants to make it better than the one here.
also, people say he's so young. Kennedy, TR and Clinton were all in their 40s.
obama is 45.
He's also given several policy speeches in the past few months. It's just never talked about.
You fall for the MSM spin. He has alot of substance if you care to check around.