Hillary Clinton crumbling after cruising

[Neil D]

Hillary Clinton entered Thursday's Democratic debate in a tight battle for first place. She left in danger of finishing third in the Iowa caucus. Yikes.

It's not because she had a particularly bad debate. It's just that Barack Obama was far better and John Edwards was slightly better. If their performances are an omen for the caucus results on Jan. 3, Clinton could lose the nomination she seemed to have locked up two months ago.

Iowa's outsize importance had to be on Clinton's mind, along with mistakes in her campaign, and she came ready to battle. She was focused and leaned into her answers with confidence. She knew exactly what she wanted to say - perhaps to a fault.

Edwards stuck like glue to his message, that big corporations are bad, bad, bad. I find it tiresome, but it's a clear position that distinguishes him, and he sold it well.

Obama was just consistently better. Although he missed some chances to hammer his theme that real change can't come from Washington insiders, there was a human, personal quality to many of his answers.

The best was when, asked about a new year's resolution, he said he needed to keep reminding himself that "this is not about me."

He cited the stress on his family life, saying he took two hours off to get a Christmas tree with his daughters Wednesday, then ended with an unusual resolution for a politician - "not to be timid, not to be distracted by the fear of losing."

It was touching without being maudlin. And he was tough, too, winning the only real back-and-forth with Clinton by delivering a deft putdown that deflated her gloating cackle.

The sequence began when Obama was asked how he could be the real agent of change when so many of his top advisers came from Bill Clinton's administration. Hillary burst out laughing saying, "I want to hear that." After only the slightest pause, Obama looked across the stage at her and shot back, "Hillary, I'm looking forward to you advising me as well." Eureka!

He also provided the most moving moment, defending Sen. Joe Biden, who had been asked about some insensitive racial statements. Obama, acknowledging his role as the only black person on the stage without saying it, lauded Biden's civil rights record, saying, "I'm offering some testimony, as they say in church."

Very good stuff, and he didn't even need Oprah.

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

Edwards stuck like glue to his message, that big corporations are bad, bad, bad. I find it tiresome, but it's a clear position that distinguishes him, and he sold it well.

Here is a guy that doesn't get it. Although I think he made his fortune from suing those bad corporations. While government needs to regulate corporations so that consumers and employees are treated fair, they are the back bone of the nation. Greed is not limited to corporations. Every human heart has to deal with greed. Greed is not something that only wears a corporate hat. Corporations pay taxes, provide employment, produce goods and service that make life easier and more comfortable, provide health insurance and retirement benefits. The alternative to big corporations is having the state own and operate everything. One need only to look at the corruption and poverty in communist countries and contrast it with the success capitalistic countries. China and Hong Kong present just such an example. Although China is progressing as it becomes more capitialistic.

I like Obama although my choice on the Democratic side would be Joe Biden. I am just surprised that Obama, with such little experience, has made it this far.

[Neil D]

Quote:

Edwards stuck like glue to his message, that big corporations are bad, bad, bad. I find it tiresome, but it's a clear position that distinguishes him, and he sold it well.

Here is a guy that doesn't get it. Although I think he made his fortune from suing those bad corporations. While government needs to regulate corporations so that consumers and employees are treated fair, they are the back bone of the nation. Greed is not limited to corporations.

I think that YOU dont get Edwards...Sure, he made his money from sueing corporations...but in every case that he sued, the corporations REFUSED to spend the few pennies it would have costed to PREVENT the accident to the victim that he was sueing for. That is why you don't hear much about his making money from corporations during his run as a vice presidential canidate during the 2004 campaign...He was a sterling example of fighting for the little man who could not defend himself against the big corporations....

[Dr. Shane]

Everything that man has anything to do with will become evil if not held accountable. Even charities have become corrupted. So society needs a method to hold its individual members accountable.

The fact that there have been corrupt corporation by no means should be interpreted to mean all corporations are corrupt. Some women are prostitutes but that doesn't mean all women are prostitutes. Some doctors are negligent but that doesn't mean all doctors are negligent.

Cooperations are a very powerful means of good in the world. Yes, they need to be regulated but that doesn't mean they are bad. It means they are run by erring, human, sinners. We all need to be held accountable.

[Neil D]

Everything that man has anything to do with will become evil if not held accountable. Even charities have become corrupted. So society needs a method to hold its individual members accountable.

Careful, Shane,with principles like that, you might become a democrate.....

[CyberGuy]

Hillary's staff is counting on the February 5 primaries to propel her to first place. They expect the California winner take all where Hillary is a favorite and the New York primaries to propel her to first place.

[Gregory Matthews]

The discussion as to how the Iowa situation affected Ms. Clinton is an interesting one:

1) Yes, she came in third. Yes, that is not a good situation for her, and it may be seen as a loss.

2) Yes, she came in seven (7) votes under Edwards in the vote count. No, that is not a great loss, but it is a loss in that she did not do as well as she needed to do.

3) Yes, she came in second in the delegate count. She gaind 15 deligates in Iowa and Edwards gained 14. In this crucial element she came in second, not third.

4) In total committed deligates, impartial observers believe that as of Iowa she has a total of 175 committed delegates, and Obama has a total of 75 committed delegates. She is the clear front runner early on.

5) Yes, Obama has clearly shown himself to be a challenge.

6) As to Huckabee: The political scene is changing.

7) Folks it is a new campaign. Who knows how it will play out? The next few weeks are important.

[Dr. Shane]

I think Huckabee is the only real surprise in the race. Edwards would be very bad for the economy with his anti-corporation idealogy. I don't think there would be much difference between Hilary or Obama although I think Hilary is more qualified.