DId you all see the video a few days ago of Hilary saying the same things John Edwards said and also Obama? That is what makes me dislike her, when I try really hard to look for the positives. We, the American people are TIRED of the Clinton old-school cut throat, bash your oponent politics! I hope she and the former president will go away with some dignity after next week, and not try to steal the nomination with Clinton style politics. The more I see of her, the more I dislike her and while I wouldn't vote for McCain, I won't vote for her either if she is on the ticket, I just wont vote.

Thats because Obama has no real policies just words.

It seems that the RNC isn't the only group focusing on Obama... why have all of the First Read stories been about Obama's strengths when it's clear that Hillary outperformed him in the first 45 minutes.

Even the RNC knows who is best suited to beat McCain.  The only edge McCain has on Obama is National Security and he will choose a strong VP to mute that advantage.  
McCain's advantages over Clinton are too numerous to list but the biggest is the appeal to independents and integrity.

How windy is it in this debate?  Obama's notepad is about lift off.

Jordan:  Its because MSNBC is in love with Obama.  Obama sounds downright boring and distracted when he is not giving a speech.  However, MSNBC wants to make sure that all the people who read the blog and don't watch the debate to know what "happened."

The RNC doesn't want to see Obama in the catbird's seat come November - they seem to think that McCain has a better chance to win if Hillary wins the nomination.

When McCain attacks Obama, he sounds a lot like Hillary. That could be his undoing.

For her part I'm sure Hillary is glad for the help though on some level it must gall her to be written off by the Republicans.

RNC knows who's going to be the nominee. LOL

GO OBAMA!!!

Why am I voting obama, character! Time after Time during these debates wide open comments have been made about clinton and the escapades of her other half, and time after time, obama has ignored them and stuck to the issues at hand, not slinging mud, one of his best comments came to clintons defense as he said "I'm sure my wife could also tell some stories on me"....this man is just a class act

Its because MSNBC is in LOVE with Obama.  Obama sounds downright boring and distracted when he is not giving a speech.  However, MSNBC wants to make sure that all the people who read the blog and don't watch the debate to know what "happened."

VERY TRUE.  

I wish MSNBC just stopped reporting about US primary election.  The reports are really boring and dry.

Why are MSNBC's reporters crying foul?

Why does Obama not mention the fact that Hillary is willing to 'Garner your wages'?  Seems most people - especially in Texas would not be into that concept...could be a great ad showing that video over and over again

T.v analysts and Republicans just dont get it. They keep attacking Obama for his lack of experience. Thats why the masses like him...

Obama missed an opportunity.  As Senator Clinton tried to slam Obama on the issue of plagirism, meaning using someone else's words in his speech, Obama missed a great opportunity with a strong rebuttal.  After Senator Clinton won New Hampshire, she stated, "I've found my own voice."  When I heard this statement, I wondered "whose voice have we been listening to during the entire campaign."  Obama could have put Senator Clinton on the defensive by stating she has not found her own voice until New Hampshire.  So this means that when Senator Clinton was campaigning prior to New Hampshire, we were hearing someone else speaking through her but she was not speaking to us on her own.

Clinton and her "words should be your own" arrogance is ridiculous. What one should do is stand behind their words, as Clinton has trouble doing. Everything about her changes as she tries to find a foothold. She's losing because she's all rhetoric.

As for her expertise on health care, that amazes me. Her entire policy failed. Completely. No compromise, never got out of the gate. How can she say she can get things done? The only thing she ever tried to do of substance had zero success.

It is not clear that she outperformed in any of the minutes!

Who is delusional now?

I am also disturbed by the fact that the current headline on MSNBC's homepage is "Clinton jabs Obama over plagiarism."  That was one short exchange in the debate that can easily be painted as the Clinton "machine" pouncing on Obama.  There were much more substantive issues that were debated with much more interesting answers, and headlines that can seem less blatantly biased.

It will be interesting watching mccain debate the eventual dem nominee without making a complete fool of himself.

The Debate was interesting.   Barack Obama as always.  Speaks well, sticks to the point and even without thinking, avoids rhetoric and distasteful advantages that would otherwise make him to appear, ahh like the Clinton's.  

Obama is the most negative cansidate I have ever seen. Nothing about this country is good to him.

I have been following the primary race closely from Australia and I must say that I am sick and tired of hearing people say "just words". If they are just words then why is Hillary so threatened by them and why is her campaign floundering right now? Even if one accepts the premise that 'actions' speak 'louder' than 'words', a notion that the Clinton camp is pushing, Hillary still comes off second best. Consider these 'actions': In just over a year Obama has created a political movement from scratch; his campaign has attracted, and better managed, more money that the Clintons; and it seems, that for the first time in years, people have hope and high expectations of their leaders.  

Hope and high expectations is better that the alternative.

Cheers.

Obama cries about Hillary at every speach he gives and he has the nerve to get up there and say, we shouldn't be slinging mud.  Oh how pathetic....he is the biggest cry baby of all.  Hillary made the remark after Sen Edwards because she knew that Obama would't have the guts to say she was wrong.   He want Edwards indorsement.   How very clever of her.   GO HILLARY

RNC will not focus in on Hillary because her record is outstanding.   The only candidate that hasn't proved himself is Obama.   All you teeny bops that think he is a rock star.....tell me what he has accomplished.   After that go read on the interne, even his college buddies dispute half his stories.   Time to get real.   Also time for this station to get over the fact that they are under the Obama spell themself.   Get real and give us a brea,  We want a real president in the White house.

This election is getting so boring.  Who is MSNBC and you nut cases for Obama going to pick on when Hillary drops out of the race?  Such little respect shown towards the Clintons is shameful.  Why would any one vote for a Democrat?  Such little class!!!
If Obama is the nominee, there will be four more years of a Republican administration as the RNC has not even started on Obama yet.  

this is ridiculus. She was claiming she has the right judgement but she got it all wrong on our troops going to war....she has no experience whatsoever, i dont know wat experience she has, is it the one of collecting the lobby's money for her election.......i just dont get it....i think its time for HILL n BILL to go home.....its obvious they are not making any sense

On the CNN blog, there is a woman saying that Hillary and her entourage did not arrive until 15 minutes after the vets arrived at the Intrepid ceremony. Does anyone have any info. on that

Has anyone not realized that the press, especially MSNBC has manipulated those naive Americans into going for the candidate they want, hence the total bias against Hillary Clinton.  CNN had an on-line poll last night that said 73% of the people who took the poll "agreed" that the media had a bias for Obama and against HRC.  No kidding!  If Obama wins, then he wins, but I will vote republican if he is the nominee and believe me when I tell you - I'm not alone.  Republicans that can, in their different state primaries) have been voting for Obama because they know that McCain will slaughter him in the GE.  Most (majority) of Obama's wins have been caucuses, not primaries - different being EVERYONE gets a chance to vote in a primary, and, Obama has only won 1 of the large states (his home state--he apparently has 3 - Kansas, HI and IL), HRC won 7 of the 8 large states on Super Tuesday.  And she won all primary states on that day - what does that tell anyone - anything?  Also, if you agree with Obama (he tends to change his mind on this point--flip anyhone?), let the Superdelegates go with the candidate for the state they won - there are more in the states that she won, than he won - so let's have that argument.  And I can't wait until Ted Kennedy and John Kerry switch - because according to Obama - they should - she won their state.  HRC has gotten a raw deal and crucified by the media while Obama got a pass.  That's okay, I'm going to be right there saying I told you so when he loses the GE.  I don't have anything personal against Obama - he's just not ready....let the chips fall where they may.  But - I'm voting Republican if Obama gets the nomination and they'll be a lot more in line behind me!  HRC for '08!

The Democratic party stands to make great strides towards improving the quality and equality of life in the United States.  The nation is soured by Bush’s bullying.  The nation is tired of paying to police the world.  The nation is tired of the evaporation of the middle class.  The nation is tired of its role as the bully of the world.  Further; the nation is not in any condition to continue in this role.  Just as the bully who realizes he is now smaller than many of those he pushes around, the United States must now realize that the European Union and China are both much larger economies and therefore powers than itself.  Let us not forget the lessons of the cold war.  The US did not defeat the USSR with its military but rather with its economy.  A time will come when the US cannot outspend and out-technology the other 95% of the world.  All the more reason for the excitement we feel as democrats.  We realize that our party is best poised to heal the damage done by past administrations.  Yet there is one thing that stands between the democratic party and a sure democratic presidency in 2009; a divided democratic national convention.  There is no question that Barack Obama has won the heart of the people.  If the super-delegates thwart the heart of the people at the Democratic National Convention it will open a door to John McCain that is currently all but closed.



Obama has now won ten (10) consecutive contests and leads in pledged delegates, total delegates, and states (25 to 10).  Obama has changed the face of the electorate, bringing hundreds of thousands to the Democratic party that had previously sat on the sidelines.  The excitement that now exists will persist through November if and only if Obama is the Democratic Nominee.  If, on the other had, those brought into the political process by Obama feel disenfranchised and cheated by super-delegates or some other political foul-play, they will as quickly see the straight talking John McCain as their representative as they currently see Obama.  There are a number of Republicans brought to the Democratic party simply by their loathing of Hillary Clinton.  There are many other independents voting for Obama that would just as readily vote for the relatively moderate John McCain that has a long history of spitting in the face of his party when his party violates his principles.



Because of the prowess and power of the Clinton name, prudent democrats have only one sure way of avoiding a brokered convention that may ultimately end in disaster for the Democratic party.  Throw whole hearted support behind Barack Obama.  Obama represents a tremendous opportunity to bring hundreds of thousands of political newbies into the Democratic party and to keep them there.  Hillary Clinton’s vow to pursue the nomination to the end along with the Clintons’ suggestion that even pledged delegates may be “at play” shows where their true loyalty lies; to self rather than to party.  There is no question that at this time Obama’s nomination is the best thing for the Democratic Party.



The Democratic Party has something special in Barack Obama.  Help them make sure they don’t blow it by allowing it to come down to party insiders.  Support the Democratic Party’s best interests by supporting Barack Obama.

I personally felt that Senator Obama handled himself well in this debate. He stuck to the issues, he didn't fall into any traps set before him in questioning, and he continued to demonstrate that Senator Clinton's claim of him being unprepared to lead is absolutely unfounded. What did Senator Clinton do? She continued to dance around questions, continued to play the negative politics game she's learned in Washington, continued to offer up the very empty rhetoric she ironically accuses the Obama Campaign of using...continues to be the arrogant establishment candidate that she is. There's no spin that can change the truth about Senator Clinton: the idea of her presidency is repulsive to those of us supporting Obama because she represents that kind of offensive, self-serving and uninspiring politics that have dominated the landscape for the past decade.

I WANT TO THANK OBAMA FOR THE MUCH NEEDED AND VERY APPRECIATED CHANGES FOR OUR WOUNDED SOLDIERS. NOT HAVING TO PAY FOR THEIR MEALS, ECT. AS MY SON IS ONE OF THOSE WOUNDED SOLDIERS. GOD BLESS YOU SENATOR OBAMA YOU HAVE MY VOTE.

I think Obama spoke volumes to hispanic voters, one of the few demographics he has yet to resonate with.  Why?  Ironically because instead of rattling off platitudes (rah, rah, I love Texas) he spoke on the issues.  He doesn't want two classes of citizen, hispanic youth living here should be educated.  He said that he would address the system that causes illegal immigrants to allow the people we should want here to be here.  Thousands of dollars and many years are something not every would be immigrant has.  Obama alone seemed to recognize that.

Apparently Obama is a "do as I say, not as I do candidate".  He just said on the debate that the issue over plagarism was "silly", but yet his campaign has already sent out e-mails trying to insinuate that she had plagarized something tonight from John Edwards, which wasn't word-by-word CNN agreed - where's that character and integrity his cult members are always talking about.  He reminds me almost of a Jim Jones type - thousands of people followed him too, didn't know why, just that he was inspiring and would "change their lives."  All they got was poison in a hot, humid jungle in another country....wake up people, sometimes you do get what you wish for and wish the hell you hadn't!

If we could turn off this election till November I would be very happy.  The mud slinging by the Obama crowd is getting oh soo boring.  Shame on the Democrats for again sticking us with another bad candidate.  Obama will not win the election and we will have another four years of a Republican in the white House.  

If we could turn off this election till November I would be very happy.  The mud slinging by the Obama crowd is getting oh soo boring.  Shame on the Democrats for again sticking us with another bad candidate.  Obama will not win the election and we will have another four years of a Republican in the white House.  

"I am also disturbed by the fact that the current headline on MSNBC's homepage is "Clinton jabs Obama over plagiarism."

That happens to be the headline on FOXNEWS' website as well as Politico and Real Clear Politics. IT'S AN AP STORY!!!! So I guess you are calling what is without a doubt the most reputable news outlet in the nation bias toward Obama. If that's the case I sure like his chances in November. Not even Kennedy had the endorsemnt of the Associated Press.

The negative headline about Clinton was right and the crowd rightly booed her for going negative.  Obama is a class act and proved it the entire night.  Hillary was right when she said she was privileged to share the stage with him.  She knows she is in the presence of greatness.

So the RNC knows who the nominee will be???  The fix is in just like I thought. Like how many Republicans in Wisconsin voted for Obama???

The republicans would be more than happy to have Hillary pass the bucket to them after another 4 to 8 years of politics as usual. What better way to keep the insiders in Washington. Give it to the Clintons one more time? I think not. Hopefully it is these politicians who say nothing will be done, are the ones looking for jobs in the near future. The american people are tired of the "he said","she said" politics as usual, while we foot the bill and they get the health care. It's about time this country stood up and took notice of what exactly our government has turned into. Our government is nothing but a big road block to future generations. Our country is no longer admirable with the likes of our forefathers. Hillary and the republicans are the Same ole song and dance, different day. We need a fresh clean start in Washington. The people there certainly are not doing anything for us. I have listened to several people say that nothing will get done when Barack Obama takes office. It is those people who need to be ousted from their jobs in the future. Let them go take their wet blanket and live out on the street. Hows that for change?  We all know it is not beneficial for these politicians to pass great health care or any other program for that matter, because they are making great money at our expense. The american public is so disillusioned by what our own government has turned into, that they feel they can no longer survive with the status quo. Barack Obama is right when he says that Washington is the place where good, and great ideas go to die. Perhaps we need more people like Obama with fresh ideas, fresh young people that want to try and make a difference. Give our government jobs to people who really need them and are willing to work extra hard for them. What ever happened to community service? Most great ideas usually do come out of neccessity and urgency. The american people are desparate and need more than just something to believe in, they need real change now.

Obama wins on diplomacy.  Diplomacy is one of the most important activities presidents, prime ministers, leaders can engage in.  If you think someone is your enemy, then you had better talk to him/her yourself or you will have to just rely on news reports and hearsay.  Certainly, preparations should be made before the (diplomatic) meeting of the Leaders, but the important thing is that the Leaders of the two sides speak directly.  Subordinates, such as Secretary of State, ambassadors, and the like, may themselves have hidden agendas which the Leader of the country might not be aware of.  If the Leaders of the countries speak directly to each other, they will hear and consider their differences and similarities with their own ears and weigh that information as well as any other information they get from their own advisors and subordinates.  Obama wins on this point by 100%.

As a Republican voting for obama, let me say that maybe the RNC are focusing on him becuase they secretly like him too ;).  He's just such a solid person, you can't help but like and respect him and his fair and balanced plans.

Obama 08

JORDAN.
MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY,
THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT HAS TURNED THE PEOPLE INTO BELIEVING IN OBAMA. THE MEDIA, MSNBC ESPECIALLY, HAVE DISMISSED THE REAL ISSUES AMD GIVEN PEOPLE THE SOUND BITES THAT HAVE MADE HILLARY LOOK AS BAD AS THEY COULD. SHE OUTSHINED OBAMA IN EVERY WAY FOR MOST OF THE DEBATE.  THAT WAS HER ONLY FAULT IN MY OPINION, AND THAT WAS CORRECT, EVEN THO I THINK IT WASN'T RECIEVED VERY WELL. HE HAD THROWN A FEW JABS AT HER TOO, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THAT AFTER THE DEBATE.

RUBY,
YOUR LETTER COULD NOT BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
YOU MUST NOT HAVE KNOWN OF HILLARY'S LONG TIME EFFORTS TO READY THIS COUNTRY TO REACH THE POINT TO EXCEPT UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE. THAT IS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS SHE WOULD BE READY TO FIGHT FOR THESE THINGS SHE HAS ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR.  NO,RUBY, IT WASN'T EDWARD'S AND IT WASN'T OBAMA WHO DEVELOPED THESE IDEAS THAT BARACK IS NOW WINNING ON, IT WAS HILLARY'S
HIS WHOLE PLATFORM IS A ZEROX COPY OF HERS. AND SO WAS EDWARD'S.

HILLARY IS THE REAL DEAL.
SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL AND GRACIOUS LADY.
OUR COUNTRY NEEDS HER AND EVEN THO BARACK'S SPEECHES ARE GETTING BETTER,
THEY STILL ARE HILLARY'S IDEAS.

THE RNC IS QUICKLY TRYING TONIGHT TO KEEP THEIR REPUBLICAN MEN FROM VOTING FOR OBAMA INSTEAD OF A REPUBLICAN.  THEY THINK THEY MAY HAVE HELPED OBAMA TO GET THE WIN, WHEN WHAT THEY REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS KNOCK HILLARY OUT OF THE RACE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE FUNNY FOR THEIR DIRTY TRICKS TO BACKFIRE ON THEM, IF I DIDN'T WANT HILLARY TO WIN SO MUCH.
YOU SEE, IF YOU EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE TRU FACTS, YOU HAVE TO BEKIEVE HILLARY IS THE ONL ONE FOR THE JOB.

I never understand why after each debate, they say Clinton won because she didn't hurt herself.  Is that the only thing she has to do, that isn't the case with anyone else.  Obama cleaned her clock tonight!  Even if she showed she could act like a human in the last couple minutes, is that all we deserve, a few minutes.

Even your enemies deserve the time of day.  OB is correct on Cuba, we need to reach out with our President to deminstrate we are going to be different.  All the policy against Cuba says once Castro is out of office we will relook to Cuba to see what we can do  

the first half of the debate,Obama look really bad,he seem to be afraid,scare and lost most of the time.Hillary look fantastic,calm,cool and alert.

Obama holds up in this debate!! Hillary hangs on by a few threads!! Therefore ive got one word. "ICE"!!! Hillary is walking on a thin layer of it. Obama is skating on it!!

Obama holds up in this debate!! Hillary hangs on by a few threads!! Therefore ive got one word. "ICE"!!! Hillary is walking on a thin layer of it. Obama is skating on it!!

Having watched a recording of the debate I'd say Hillary won on points but did not score a knock-out blow.

It was interesting to note that she did not go for the cheap, easy shot that the debate's moderators were giving her.  Perhaps she is learning that in some campaigns being negative does not always work.  The Republicans can get away with it while she cannot - it's a sad fact of life for her - that combined with the media's pathetic analysis of Obama has meant that he has not really been challenged on either his character or his policies.

Unless there is a major scandal affecting Obama, I can't see Clinton winning the nomination.  Even if she takes Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania by 10%+ margins she would, because of the skewed demographics, not gain much on Obama.

Obama looks strong now but that I believe is an illusion.  His support base is built on quicksand - young voters are notoriously fickle; the black vote can only help him in certain states (and in fact be a vote loser in others - that's not being racist - it's just stating the reality of US politics); and he can't use the rich trendy white politically correct middle-class liberals to bully and intimidate in caucuses because there are not any in the Presidential election.

I honestly believe that when Obama feels the full force of the GOP attack his support will melt away.  It won't just be about issues such as Rezko and his previously admitted cocaine habit.  They will attack him for not being a patriot regards Iraq.  They will attack him regards his stance on Cuba (bye, bye Florida then).  They will attack his economic policy and say that he will hike taxes.  Above all they will portray him as a socialist (ironically he isn't), as far left, raising the McCarthyist spectre of communism is the minds of voters.  

And that's just the negatives he will have to deal with!!

He will also have to deal with many of the positives that McCain has.  McCain the war hero.  McCain's years of experience.  McCain's ability to cross boundaries and work with Democrat and Republicans alike.  That is not an easy target to topple.

I know some have said that McCain has two weaknesses - Iraq and his age.  As I have already pointed out Iraq could be a double-edged sword for Obama - he can portray McCain as a warmonger but equally McCain can portray him as being unpatriotic.  Moreover, Obama's stance on Iraq is weakened by his views on Pakistan - where he says he would consider US action there without the support of the Pakistan government.  As for McCain's age - that too is double-edged sword - Obama may gain the votes of the youth but the reality is that it is older voters who decide elections because they vote in greater numbers than the under-30s.  I am sure many would not appreciate an attack on the age of a candidate.

The only way Obama can win in November is to strengthen his support base.  He needs to very quickly get the Latino voters and the Centrist democrats - the so-called Reagan Democrats behind him.  That's why he needs to include not only the likes of Bill Richardson and John Edwards in his team but also Hillary Clinton herself.  I know for some she may be a hate figure - I've never quite understood why some people have fallen hook, line and sinker for the GOP line regards her.  Clinton (and Bill) would not only bring detail to Obama's policies - which really do need more meat put on them - she would also bring her (and Bill's) experience of dealing with the Republican attack machine.

Everyone is focused on how Obama has no experience. But for someone to have experience in something you first have to be introduced to it. But having experience doesn't mean your good enough to be commander and chief.  Bush is a very good example of that.
Obama seems like an intelligent man who is well versed on goverment topics. I believe that he would make a great president.

 The Repubs have said for two years they would be delighted to face HC in the general election and hoped she would win.  It's interesting that even Karl Rove has been dragged out to bash Obama. One wonders if his task is to bash BO so that he won't be the nominee and the Reps will get their wish. Then again there are plenty of rumors about Repubs voting in primaries FOR BO because they don't want McCain to have to face Hillary.  McCain would destroy BO. Hillary wouldn't be so easy.  Politics!

I don't know why there is such an uproar over Hiliary going negative.  All the Obama shortcomings will come out eventually. The only question is will it happen before or after he's the nominee.  This is a convsersation we Democrats should have had last month. Blaming Hiliary or 527's is pointless; the Republican Party reads the front page of the Chicago Tribune, and rest assured, they will be out with guns blazing, as in the last five presidental elections.

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