Defining Moment for Democrats?

I get caught up in these things and watch like its the friday afternoon cliffhanger of a soap opera. The last few years I have been so disappointed with the Dems and let's not even go their with the Repubs. After last night I'm still unhappy...big build up but nothing really exciting in the end. Same old same old just a bit tougher talk against Hilary who is not the enemy. I hate it that to win the nomination they have to degrade one another (that is the simplistic and naive side of me).

I agree with Barack and Edwards on Hilary but I think she will win the nomination over them but I can't see her winning the election and I believe she will be the deciding factor in putting ANOTHER repub in the white house. I hope my beliefs are wrong

Dear NPR listeners,
Here is my comment and question I had ready for today's show. I was politely told there was not time for me, so I though I would share my great thoughts (!?) now with you.__________________________________

Good morning Tom,
For Barack to attack an opponent who is unapologetic on backing our unprovoked attack on Iraq, and with Joe Lieberman, adding to a run up to war to Iran, a run up which is a massively under reported story in itself, to confront such an opponent is not an attack, but to speak truth to potential power.

My question? Is Barack, by not giving us our "Senator have you no shame?" moment, grooming himself for 2012 such as Reagan seceded to do in 1976, and Adeli Stevenson, Hubert Humphrey and Dick Gephardt did not in their perspective elections?
_________________________________
So NPR listeners,
How were my 'great thoughts?" I like Al Franken's definition of an elitist as one who has read more books than they have written. So I did not want to sound too elitist and so did not add to my introduction, "I am calling to bring the unwashed masses, the ones who say "Bomb them All!", my words of wisdom…," or to my conclusion, "I hope these words are not lost on your little brains, and know that if we meet, that although you are but an insignificant blur in my eyes, take comfort in the fact that it is in my eyes, my eyes, in which you are an insignificant blur." My word…
Fred B Dery NH

I've lost all respect for Obama because he's against drilling in ANWAR (artic national wildlife reserve) because he wants to protect the enivonment, but he's for coal liquification, which is both environmentally and economically worse in every way.

You know I'm so sick of all politicians I could scream. I watched on on CNN today who adamantly refused to give a direct answer to any question he was asked. I think it's sad that I now consider it something to comment on if I actually hear a politician of either party actually give a straight answer. Ironic as it may be, in the end that might be what determines who I vote for next year. It is probably going to be the person who answers questions directly, then elaborates, not one who dodges every question and winds up saying absolutely nothing.

Something my grandfather was fond of saying comes to mind: You either stand for something or you stand for nothing. Politicians need to get out of their heads the notion that they can ever be all things to all people.

Several observations on this topic. First, no I am not a tremendous fan of Senator Clinton, primarily because I think we have had enough dynastic politics for a while. However, I think it needs to be said that the Dems here are breaking the rule that has served the Republicans so well in the past, namely, do not trash talk your party comrades in order to climb their dead bodies to the nomination. Nobody wins that way, because the winner ends up bleeding from so many places.

Why would the various Dems say such things about Senator Clinton? Because they want the nomination, pure and simple. So take what they say with a grain of salt, just like anything else that comes out of the mouth of a politician. It is rarely 100% accurate, even if they say nice weather. Do we notice that none of them are polling within 20 points of her? That makes it desperation time, even if it is early, in theory.

the nomination still seems to be out there. I think I've got it figured out and then times like this happen. Never a dull moment that's for sure!

Having watched all the Democrat's debates at least once, and most of them twice, I was struck by this debate as being slow and fatigued. What got to me was the hollowness of both Democratic frontrunners. Maybe they have just been at it for a while and are getting burned out, or maybe it is starting to dawn on Clinton and Obama that there is a good chance they might not win the election.

Most of the statements I am hearing from them are hollow as well. Like when I hear we have to save the American family in the Republican debates, it sounds caring and impressive, but families are made up of individual people and for individual people life is getting harder by many metrics.

I hear about jobs, and health care, and social security, and one thing I am most tired of hearing in the hosts playing mind games with the questions. All of these heavily made up rich interviewers should be taken out and horsewhipped, or just plained fired.

First, they constantly treat the Democratic candidates rudely, showing more than the slilght impatience they let slip with the Republicans. There was a questions about torture in the last debate where Tim Russert gave an unacknowledged quote about the use of torture by Bill Clinton to force a gotcha by Hillary Clinton. Why was that acceptable? Maybe because there is so little attempt to delve into substantive issues that the only thing that can keep some people awake is personal attacks and gotchas.

John Edwards has not really figured out yet that he does not have a chance. Richardson tried to make a statement that he was the only one on the stage that has ever negotiated with a foreign government. He did have a point when he mentioned that Americans elect Governors as Presidents, not legislators for the most part, since John Kennedy ... maybe we should reverse that trend.

My typical comment is that neither frontrunner nor any of the inexperienced Democracts can win this race. Far left will not do it either, and despite Richardson being a Governor he just seems sluggish and slow witted. Either Joe Biden and Christopher Dodd have the talent and experience and are centric enough to be able to attract voters from the other side, and if they were to get elected would be able to work with Republicans, especially Joe Biden. Biden was first on either side with an Iraq strategy and got partisan support for it in the Senate working with Sam Brownback. Biden is a man who can also clearly and simply and bluntly communicate with Americans the truth!

First off, I am still undecided, but while I watched the debate, and the one thing I came away with was a new respect for Kucinich. Yes, Little Dennis was straightforward, seemingly honest, forthright and passionate. I saw little "politicing" from him. While I may not agree on several of his stances, he did seem the most "real" of the bunch.

They talked about this on World News last night. Obama started his campaign as a "new politics" politician that would not attack or name call. Well... He has. Even that being said, I still believe in him. I think he's doing what he has to do in order to get to the point that he can really make changes for the good of the country. I can't blame him for that.

The point on World News was that Obama, Edwards and others DID break her down. They actually mentioned what a great tag-team Obama and Edwards were. They called Hillary out on all of her BS and fence-jumping. She changes her opinion more often than her underwear depending on the audience.

World News said that the one thing that will ruin Hillary is if more people start seeing her as coniving and calculated (which many of us on here already have) - which is JUST what Obama and Edwards were showing in the debate. They were showing how she jumps sides when it is convenient for the argument. She has buzz words that she uses in certain venues to get the crowd amped up. She PLAYS into her audience rather than being true to herself and us.

If Edwards and Obama continue this "new" approach, I think more people will start seeing the true Hillary.... But they probably won't embrace either of them either - although both are better human beings than she is (at least portrayed to be).

I still believe in him. I think he's doing what he has to do in order to get to the point that he can really make changes for the good of the country.

What makes you believe in him so much? The fact that he voted in Congress to allow illegal aliens to collect social security benefits?


Or is it his blaming others for their Iran vote and grnadstanding abotu his own positions when he didn't even have the balls to show up and vote?

Obama is an empty suit political hack who will never be president.

Hillary is going to be the Dem nominee and the Romney candidacy are going to deliver to her and her cronies a long overdue but very well deserved bitch smack come Nov 2008 and I'm going to love every f-ing second of it. Witnessing Hillary have to give a concession will approach the level of joy associated with the birth of one's first child. Who knew a funeral could be so much fun.....the funeral for Hillary Clinton's political career ambitions. I'm starting to salivate at the mouth just thinking about it. Can't wait.......

#1, the word "bitch" is not in my political lexicon, even for Republican women. #2, Romney is quite a ways from being the Republican nominee, so let's not talk yet about how he is going to crush the Dems......

Ok I'll just remember what you just said come Nov 2008 Chris.

I've never seen the Republicans so terrified, and it shows in their rhetoric, very angry.

For those Democrats who are still even the tiniest bit unsure, you should go and give Edwards a good hard look.

Yup! I've heard all that I need to here! All three candidates are globalists and European Socialists -- and that lethal combination is a proven failure! I just can't believe that any of these three losers are still being taken seriously! Are we really that stupid?