Dems Dim Debate

I agree with Jesse Walker that last night's Oscars was the most boring in recent memory (well, at least since last year's, and the year before that, and the year…). But it was still only the second most tedious spectacle on the airwaves yesterday.

The prize winner was the Democratic presidential debate, which generated the narcolepsy-inducing headline:

Edwards Attacks Front-Runner Kerry

The day before Stupor Tuesday and it's all over but the shouting (screaming has been done to death). Arguably the most interesting exchange came when Edwards tried to paint Kerry as an unrestricted free trader, which Kerry assiduously denied.

Given Bush's own flip-floppery on the issue, it'll be interesting to see how the trade vs. jobs debate plays out in the actual presidential election.

Comments

[joe]

"If the WTO cries foul, do you think the Dems will maintain their supposed respect for international governing bodies and abide by the decision?"

The WTO gave the go-ahead to the EU this morning to impose retaliatory tariffs against the US. Retaliation for what? For the tax breaks that the government gives to companies to move overseas - the primary target of the "anti-free trade" Democrats.

So I think they'll be ok with the WTO.

[Gadfly]

One of the scintillating questions yesterday was whether Kerry thought God was on our side. He had to answer with a straight face instead of doing a Bobby Knight on the questioner for asking stupid questions.

The American press is a joke. In turn, their performance makes a joke of the process.

[s.a.m.]

Democrats have no idea if the presumptive nominee Kerry can take a punch because no one in the primaries has tried to land one.

Maybe once shrub is disposed, his handlers will help Kerry avoid the punches. I have yet to see Bush take a cut at a fastball. He has been getting nothing but softball questions since his 2000 campaign. Although, Bush did manage to strike out a couple of times with his game of softball on Meet the Press.

I am going with Gadfly on this one:
The American press is a joke. In turn, their performance makes a joke of the process.

[Eric]

Jesse,
Sharpton is also quite good at inciting riots and smearing his enemies.

[thoreau]

If Sharpton weren't in the debates I'd never watch any of them. As it is I only watch some of them. Maybe they agree to have Sharpton there so people will watch.

No, I'm not some far lefty who will vote for Sharpton. I just think he's kind of fun to watch during debates.

[MK]

It's all about trade, stupid!

I looked at the classifieds section of my local fish-wrap this morning (by local, I mean my little town "paper") and saw at least 40 job postings...

[Fred]

It's all about identity politics, stupid. Listen to what the constituents are saying. "Give me a job. Provide for me. Give me..."

[Shannon Love]

Is it just me or does it look like the primary process is just plain broken? Primaries should be a stress test for a parties candidates but recently they seem just ritualized strolls for whomever Iowa and New Hampshire anoints.

Democrats have no idea if the presumptive nominee Kerry can take a punch because no one in the primaries has tried to land one. They are so concerned about projecting an image of unity or serenity to non-democrat swing voters they aren't asking their candidates the hard questions.

If history is any guide, the U.S. economy will not be weak enough come November for economic issues to trump national security. If Kerry can't convince the swing voters he is competent on national security, he's toast. At this point in the primaries, he's not been stressed on this issue at all.

That's bad.

[Fred]

No, it's not just you. I think the primary system is broken, too.

I plan to go to the polls tomorrow, but I don't know why. There is definately something wrong. Oh yeah, the candidates suck. No, no that's not it...too simple.

Well, let's look at the big picture. Kerry is the best the dems could throw at the White House? And what's up with Sharpton. Not one of the candidates turned to him and said, "Shut the fuck up and get the fuck off this stage."

[JimInNoVA]

The really sad part is that this is one of those problems with a simple answer. Set one national primary date and the candidates will have to make their national sales pitch at primary time instead of pandering to each local market as it comes up. They'll still pander, but it will be the same pandering that they do at election time.

Of coruse, it sounds like they're all coming out against free trade this year. If the WTO cries foul, do you think the Dems will maintain their supposed respect for international governing bodies and abide by the decision?

[Eric]

Fred,
I contend that the other candidates are scared to death of Sharpton, and won't do anything to piss him off. He could cause an awful lot of problems for them if he feels slighted or disrespected in any way.

[Jesse]

How, by framing them in the rape of a stupid minority girl?

Sharpton would be amusing as a sentor (when there are 49 others to keep him from doing anything stupid) but president? He doesn't even own his own clothes, fer melssakes.