First, I'm grateful to Red for keeping the place tidy yesterday and today. Every time I think I've found a balance in all my competing spheres, I get broadsided by the needs of paid work and life in general.
Second, I still have a lot of arts and culture stuff to post, so my apologies for promising and holding off on delivering.
But third, I feel like tonight merits some thoughts - the debate in Philadelphia just ended.
I would have liveblogged... but what struck me from the ones I saw that did is that it didn't seem all that useful. We are carrying so much baggage, these days, and so many - certainly in blogland - have picked sides, that everything is preordained and framed. With that in mind, I offer a few thoughts... but you know where I'm coming from, I hope, by now... nevertheless:
- Debates are rough on Obama. He's better, but still prone to lectures, overtalking and fighting when it would be smarter to let things go. The early going, which was so focused on the "scandals" du jour just made him look defensive; for someone in such a foreordained position (or so I am told, repeatedly out there), Obama looked defensive and contentious. It tends to amplify, not reduce, the sense that these things (Wright, "bitter" the Weather Underground guy, etc) are still issues on the table. And they are; despite how people complain about "the media", these questions are there, and they're not going away.
- That doesn't make the Media right. The best thing Gibson and Stephanopolous did, though, was probably make their overzealousness the issue, rather than getting bitter and Wright off the table quickly and moving on; this helped Clinton, I think, by making her "attacks" the least of Obama's problems, and helped both of them by giving Democrats something to agree on: we can all hate the media for discussing trivialities, not issues.
- Iraq's on the table. I couldn't decide whether it was brilliant or insane for Clinton and Obama to be so absolute on withdrawal; in the end, I think it's where they have to be to win most Democrats... but it basically makes for a clear distinction, and a choice, for voters. I'm not saying I'd pick McCain's endless occupation, but I think the withdrawal talk may sound precipitous, even now. I know... not a popular take. But I worry when Democrats feel too confident in the American people's peaceful impulses.
- Affirmative Pre-Action. For a textbook example of Clinton's savvy in these formats, I offer her answer on the Affirmative Action question: while Obama got a bit stuck trying to make a case from nuanced Admissions policy (a fairly unfeasible approach, and one that kind of misunderstands the Admissions process from the University's POV)... Clinton sidestepped the whole thing to advocate the things that improve everyone's chances: more Pre-K, less emphasis on testing (killing No Child Left Behind), student loan reform and the like. And no one seemed to notice that she'd essentially ignored the question.
So yeah, I think Clinton did what she needed to do... as if that makes a difference right now; I think she's on track to win in PA, and thus extend this story. I think Obama made no major gaffes... but he didn't either close the deal, or reinvent this conversation in a way that stops Clinton from making headway. And I think the overconfident notions that "bitter" didn't hurt in the instant news cycle, is giving way to a growing sense that Obama's looking vincible, again. And combine that with a loss in PA next week... and we may well be having a different, more realistic conversation. And none too soon. I've never been a big fan of cream cheese.
Over at Ezra's there was a presumptive thread about next possible career moves for Clinton when (his word, not mine) she loses the nomination.
IF, in fact, Clinton is not our next president, my hope is that some network would be smart enough to snap her up.
i.e. I've come to take for granted her many appearances this primary season, and would hope to see her frequently on my TV screen regardless of the election's outcome.
Dick Cheney as the 4th branch of the federal government = priceless.
Posted by: jinbaltimore | April 17, 2008 at 07:43 AM