Democratic Ménage à Trois
In a tight race, with all being unquestionably worthy competitors, you’d think it would behoove the top three to step it up a notch in campaigning for the nomination, never knowing who might next take the lead or come nipping at their heels.
With such pressure, platitudinal rhetoric is bupkis. Forced by necessity to take their respective stump speeches beyond cliché, it would seem imperative that they strive to differentiate themselves one from the other.
Not so much.
Last night’s Democratic debate (?) in Nevada between the invited top three frontrunners turned into such a love fest that I needed a cigarette when it was over. Was it good for me? Not really, but I faked it, enduring the full two hours. A mercy viewing, one might say, but truth be told it was less than pleasurable for me. And I’m not the only one less than impressed.
Debate? Hardly. It moreso resembled a friendly coffee klatsch. Friendly is actually an understatement; I kept expecting Barney to make a cameo appearance. “I love you, you love me, we’re a happy family.”
They were all so agreeable with one another that it seemed as if they were vying for the the position of most-worthy running mate should things go terribly awry within their own campaigns, wanting to make nice with either of the other two who might be crowned Democratic king or queen.
A friend of mine asked me several days ago why I’ve tossed my hat into Obama’s ring in this three-ring circus, and you know what? I really didn’t have an answer to that question. I know my number one pick is for all intents and purposes a non-contender (thanks to media disenfranchisement), but amongst the remaining, I don’t see that much difference, truth be told.
While it’s great to see them all just get along, and as much as I hate mudslinging which seems to be par for the course in any election, I would have liked to at least have heard each of them, at some point, attempt to elucidate exactly why he or she should be president. Even if spoken nicely, with hugs and kisses all around.
I heard, more than once, how they were all for change (the key word in this election, which is indeed a most excellent notion) but that there are “some fundamental differences” between the three. What those differences are certainly were not elaborated upon last night, that’s for sure. How many times did we hear “I agree with Hillary that … “, or “Like John said …”, or “Barack is right about …” ?
The X’s and O’s aren’t necessarily a bad thing. I like to see a civil exchange between those of my party. But last night’s debate honestly didn’t help me one whit in answering the question posed to me, “Why Obama?”
democratic debate, nevada primaries, las vegas debate, hillary clinton, barack obama, john edwards, dennis kucinich, presidential debates, 2008 election
January 17th, 2008 at 4:47 am
[...] FreeCentury.com - Politics Blog | The lateset Political News and Views wrote an interesting post today on Democratic Ménage à TroisHere’s a quick excerptIn a tight race, with all being unquestionably worthy competitors, you’d think it would behoove the top three to step it up a notch in campaigning [...]
January 17th, 2008 at 4:49 am
um…i thought you were for Edwards. how did we lose your support?
January 17th, 2008 at 9:27 am
“I needed a cigarette when it was over. Was it good for me? Not really, but I faked it, enduring the full two hours.”
ROTFLMAO!! Doug, I love your wit!I also love your style of writing. I look forward to reading that book of yours. Talk about a “love fest” the only difference is I’m being sincere.
In any case the Barney tune gave me bad flashbacks. I use to play “clean up” to get my children to clean their rooms. They’ve moved on, now it’s the little yellow Sponge who lives in a pineapple that they adore.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
little navigator - no, i’ve said i really like edwards, and wish he could get more support but that i figure it will come down to hillary and barack, so therein lie my probably choices.
rain - fortunately my kids were never into barney, i think he came along after they were just a bit too old for his target audience. thank goodness. most annoying creature!
January 17th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Okay, so if you don’t know “why barack” do you know “why not barack”?
January 18th, 2008 at 3:32 am
I missed that yawn, exciting and illuminating debate, but seriously, are we really so unfamiliar with these people? (I have even heard enough from the “UFO Guy” Hey, I’ve seen ‘em too–no put down meant)that we need more months of mean,then nice, then Bloomberg then whoa? My mind is made up. Firm. I don’t want no ding-dang Republican or Bush clone. If Barney stays gay
then I could even skip his way. Show me the money!(by that I mean who will your cabinet be? your VP? Tell me your thoughts on that now–HEY, YOU started it.) And I don’t wanna see no doped up Teletubbies neither. HHmmph
January 18th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
“thank goodness. most annoying creature!”
LOL! If my children ever question my love for them, I will say, I sat through Barney and some of the worse movies ever made to keep you happy.
January 18th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I’m still hoping that, since my UFO guy is out of the race, that the best combo might be Obama-Edwards. Li’l Nav has a point, “why not barack?” For now I’ll stick with that. And like Diane says, I don’t want no ding-dang Bush clone either. I’ll pretty much take anything from the blue team at this point.