The Manchester Debates (Part II – Democrats)
As for the Democrats…
Edwards - I have to admit that I am not a big fan of the accent. Then again, I grew up in Massachusetts so who am I to throw stones. Edwards came off as a fierce, passionate advocate for the middle class – exactly what he isn’t. The never-ending stories about his father’s struggle are eventually self-defeating. How does Pappy live now, John? This guy is good, very good. But not good enough to fool a majority. It was funny how he glorified writing the Patient Bill of Rights but neglected to mention that it never passed. Slippery. Opportunistic.
Hillary - She started off so smooth by answering the first question with a well-rehearsed, perfectly triangulated, 5 point plan on Pakistan. It was impressive. Then she got pissed off and most people disliked what they saw. Shrill is too nice a word. But she recovered and starting sounding presidential…until she shoved “35 years of change” down our throats. What the does that even mean? She will not be president and will likely lose the nomination to Obama. Instead of accepting that she was rejected as the least desirable candidate, she will claim “America just isn’t ready for a strong, powerful woman president”. Again, nothing is ever her fault.
Obama - He gives a great speech but, let’s face it, he stammers a bit when speaking extemporaneously. Otherwise, he comes off as a very calm, collected, confident leader. He’s likable. He’s done some things. And, most importantly, he is new. The optimism surrounding his campaign is infectious. However, he did say one stupid thing – the cooperation between Sunni factions and coalition forces in Iraq was brought about by the Democratic takeover of 2006. Swing and a miss. They are cooperating because the brutality of Al Qaeda makes the U.S. the lesser of evils. They are Muslims but the overwhelming majority of them are not of the crazy variety. So, he’s new AND a little inexperienced. So what? I like him and would vote for him. He’s educated and intuitive. The cream always rises to the top.
Richardson - On paper he is clearly the most qualified. In the three-dimensional world he is the least appealing. Maybe it’s his disheveled appearance or his overuse of fuzzy words like “healing”. He’s a lamb amongst tigers. Too weak to be Hillary’s number two. He peeked as Energy Secretary. Adios.
Edwards had fire in the belly. It’s just too hard to see if it was real or just a can of Sterno that will eventually die out. Even so, I say Obama walks with the whole thing.
To book me for a lecture or debate go here.
About the Author: Randall H. Miller is an American college educator/blogger. He is also a former U.S. Army officer (82nd Airborne) with a M.A. in Diplomacy (focusing on International Terrorism) and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Use the form on the right to sign up and receive notifications of new content. The words and ideas expressed here are 100% his own and not those of his employers or affiliated organizations.