The 20th Democratic Debate: Part II

I have many friends at NBC News, but the questions to HRC seem tougher than the questions to Obama. For example: Brian Williams asked: "How were her comments about you unfair?"

Obama: "She was ready on day one...to give into George Bush."

The RNC is paying attention to Obama again.. four releases against him... none mentioning HRC.

HRC wraps Obama's Iraq speech in '02...with her "speeches, not action" theme

Russert: HRC, you pledged 200K new jobs for upstate New York..there's been a net loss of 37K jobs... notes that she pledges 5M new jobs...

Finally: Russert notices that Obama has been "ambivalent" about NAFTA. Obama says HRC's answer is right.

HRC seems to have an edge in her voice. The substance of her answers is sound. But emotions seem to be just under the surface... Maybe I'm reading too much into this.

HRC: "We will opt out of NAFTA unless we renegotiate it. Let's be fair here, Tim. There are lots of parts of New York that have benefited. But the problem is in places like upstate New York, Youngstown, Toledo, it hasn't."

By the way: is tonight the first time Matt Drudge has been mentioned in any debate?

Obama accuses HRC of "shifting positions" on this.

HRC defends herself on NAFTA.... "I would hope again that we can get to a debate to what the real issues are and where we stand... we do need to fix NAFTA and it is not working.."

HRC: complains about getting the first question: .... "If anyone saw Saturday night live, maybe we should get Barack a pillow and ask if he is comfortable..." The audience hisses a little bit.... seems like she lost her temper.

Comments

The return of Shillary. Nice.

Posted by Jay in NC | February 26, 2008 9:21 PM

On the contrary, it seems like another canned, pre-written line that flopped, just like the change you can xerox line. The awkward, frenzied voice and body language look like a temper issue, though.

Posted by Forrest | February 26, 2008 9:23 PM

She just lost Ohio with that response.

Posted by drjimcooper | February 26, 2008 9:23 PM

Jesus, Tim Russert is a total ass.

Posted by drjimcooper | February 26, 2008 9:25 PM

Why does Hillary look so pissed off? Wow! Reminiscent of scolding Mother, angry wife, bitchy neighbor, Lori Drew, etc. What gives?

Posted by Jose | February 26, 2008 9:25 PM

This isn't good for her at all. She sounds (and looks) quite angry...I'm beginning to feel sorry for her.

Posted by Abby | February 26, 2008 9:27 PM

Why can't a Democrat acknowledge what every mainstream and even most liberal economists acknowledge: NAFTA on balance has been good for the economy?

Posted by Steve K | February 26, 2008 9:28 PM

Seems like Hillary is fighting an uphill battle against Obama, Russert/Williams and herself.

debate liveblog:
http://political-buzz.com/2008/02/26/cleveland-democratic-debate-liveblog/

Posted by matt | February 26, 2008 9:28 PM

I'm beginning to feel sorry for her.

LOL! Why? Bitchy, self entitled assholes are deserving of sympathy? Interesting stance.

Posted by Jose | February 26, 2008 9:29 PM

Ohh boy this is good, real good. HRC really screwed up. She knows very well she is losing

Posted by Rob | February 26, 2008 9:29 PM

I don't think you're reading anything into it, Ambers. HRC seems on the verge of blowing a gasket. To me, at least, she's taking it far too personally. She can't seem to wrap her head around the fact that everyone's not rolling over and agreeing with her.

To state the obvious, to the Clintons politics is personal - WAY too personal.

Posted by Judy | February 26, 2008 9:31 PM

Hey... is the debate being televised?? It's not showing on CNN

Posted by Joy | February 26, 2008 9:32 PM

I love it when they show her looking at Obama when he speaks. If looks could kill...

Posted by Steve K | February 26, 2008 9:34 PM

Don't feel sorry for her, Abby!!! Speaking from experience, as soon as you do, HRC will give you reason to regret it.

Boy, HRC is NOT handling being challenged well at ALL. But then, the media don't want her to win, right?

Boo-freakin'-hoo...

Posted by JR | February 26, 2008 9:35 PM

Hillary is freaking out because the wheels have officially come off her campaign.

The whole Obama in a Turban thing was the final straw.

Clearly they have panicked.

And frankly, for good reason - after Texas and Ohio votes, she will have no choice but to admit that she has lost. That, or take the party down with her.

Posted by Carpety | February 26, 2008 9:44 PM

Watching Brian Williams tell Hillary to shut up for a sec so they can have commercial break is pretty wild. I imagine he's getting an earful from her while the cameras are off.

Posted by Helter | February 26, 2008 9:49 PM

Actually I think she is fighting hard and its nice to see. You can all snark about her all you want, but most people have shut that crud out long ago. She gave superb and thoroughly detailed and thoughtful answers on NAFTA and health care, leaving Obama to basically say, yea thats right, and then wax eloquently about some guy he met who is in trouble blah blah blah.

And ANYONE who saw that SNL skit knows exactly what she meant and that this skit is playing out before our very eyes. You must be a blind Obama freak to not notice that Russert and Williams are treating her like crap.

Posted by Jammer | February 26, 2008 10:04 PM

Amen to the Tim Russert comment above. He has a totally inflated opinion of himself. Can't there be a campaign to get him off the air?

Posted by vicky | February 26, 2008 10:55 PM

Give it up Jammer...find a transcript and show me where she said anything that she can be held to, anything that goes beyond sweeping broad stroke *I wants*...

Her delivery is what killed health insurance reform 2 decades ago, and is killing her campaign now.

She is shrill, hectoring and badgering. People don't respond to her and will not work for her to get anything done.

We have serious issues in front of us that must be solved now. Her delivery dictates *fighting*, going in with guns blazing rather than using a style like Obama's that allows for conceding minor points (if denouncing makes you feel better, fine, I will denounce) to win the larger issue.

It's a very eastern style of warfare that allows everyone to save face which allows for graceful surrender without unneeded scarring.

He's far more presidential, and he'll need all of that plus some to get these serious issues resolved.

She's shrill and wonkishly stubborn which closes doors before they are ever fully open.

Posted by GDavis | February 27, 2008 12:30 AM