Live at the Debate

In New Hampshire today was the third democratic debate of the year. Considering there is 0% chance that a Republican can win the presidency in 2008, the next president was on stage today. All 8 of the major candidates were there today, although only Obama, Clinton, and Edwards have realistic shots at the White House (Gore also has a realistic shot if he enters the race).

As an accredited member of the blogosphere I paid special attention to the debate and wrote down the relevant aspects of it for my loyal readers.

4:00- Why is the debate in New Hampshire?? The state has 4 electoral votes, the same as Hawaii. The stupidest thing in American politics is how New Hampshire and Iowa basically get to pick the presidents. Last year John Kerry won Iowa and was set for the rest of the campaign. Dean lost Iowa and was done. The US needs a national primary so farmers and Bostonians escaping from high taxes dont get to decide who the president is.

401-Mike Gravel says in the introduction "I am Mike Gravel and i am running for president FOR REAL" Sadly no one actually believes him.

4:08- its almost comical how fast Blitzer cut off Kucinich when he started talking about rainbow coalitions.
4:09- Blitzer is sticking to the script so far. Dodd, Richardson, and Gravel have had no face time where as Obama and Clinton have both had two questions.
4:13- Obama calls Edwards out for being "4 and a half years to late" on the Iraq War. As Bill Raftery would say "dagger early"
4:15- Clinton calls it "Bush's war" seemingly forgetting she voted for it and wont call her vote a mistake.
4:16- 16 minutes in and nothing from the minority candidates outside of Kucinich
4:19- Gravel finally ends his shut out.
4:25- Clinton is asked if she regrets not reading the National Intelligence Estimate. Why not ask her if she is happy her husband is a adulterer. Uncomfortable moment.
4:30- Obama attacks the debate question and Clinton bandwagons on his response. Obama is like Shaq in his prime right now. He is carrying everyone in the debate.
4:40- Good sparring session between Obama and Edwards with Clinton look like a lost child in the middle. Kucinich than trumps them all as he reminds everyone that both Obama and Edwards want the HMO's to stay in charge of running the health care system. Why Kucinich gets no national pub is beyond me.
4:51- Gravel is beginning to slur his words. I say the over under on his blood aclohol is .06
4:52- Ricahrdson answers every question the exact same way "As govenor of New Mexico i did a, b, and c. He then stumbles to the finish the question because he cant remember anything else he did.
4:55- Blitzer is terrible at cutting people off. He starts by saying "ok, ok ok or thank you, thank you, thank you," for about 20 seconds than just gives in and lets the candidate finish the question. Where is the Wolf i know from the Situation Room??
5:00- Gravel claims that people are actually paying $7 a gallon for gas. Ummmmmmmm

3 minute break. Obama is signing books during the break. He is the PG of the whole debate. He is controlling the flow and everyone else is reacting to him.

They just showed bloggers who are actually in NH and they all look like uptight Poindexters. I am for certain the only blogger who is actually bringing it today.

Time for voters to question the candidates. My question: where can I get the number for this hot new moderator. She looks better than Paula Zahn.

5:17- I love how CNN is only putting on people with who have kids or husbands in Iraq. The media has created this idea that only people who have served or have kids have credibility on the Iraq issue.
5:28- First Jack Bauer type question. "You know where Osama Bin Laden is for the next 20 minutes. Do you fire a missle at him?" Kucinich sums it up by saying he is not in favor of assasinations. David Palmer might disagree with him.
5:32- First Darfur question: Biden nails it. Wolf follows up by asking some vague hyptothetical question that everybody refuses to answer. By the way he is detiorating, Blitzer's next question could be about his beard.
5:40- Richardson talks about boycotting the Chinese Olympics. Rule number 1 in a debate is don't commit to anything Jimmy Carter did
5:45- the actual question is "what is a rich person?" The answer: everyone on stage
5:46- Hot moderator quote: "I am going to reach around and give you....."
5:47- Richardson claims he created 20 million jobs in New Mexico. I am pretty sure 20 million people don't even have jobs in the real Mexico, let alone New Mexico.
5:50- As an accountant its good to see the comptroller general get mentioned. The Comptroller general is appointed for a 15 year term and oversees all accountability in the federal government. Something about the 15 year term just seems weird.
6:00- The debate ends as the candidates wives come on the stage. Kucinich has by far the hottest wife. That should be worth something.

Anyway the debate is in postgame coverage mode now so my job is done.

BaldingReport out.