MSNBC Debate - The Showdown

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Is it just me or did her microphone gain jump mid question?

[True Democrat]

Weak on Kosovo Obama.  "Work with the international community" in the event of a Russian invasion.  I think troops would be in order.

You'd risk war with Russia?

You'd allow Russia to invade Europe whenever it wants?

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

He is prempting her tonight on Unity and campaigning with her.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Cute by Obama, this has to be so frustrating for her.

[exopolitician]

Weak on Kosovo Obama.  "Work with the international community" in the event of a Russian invasion.  I think troops would be in order.

You'd risk war with Russia?

You'd allow Russia to invade Europe whenever it wants?

Well no obviously, but there are other alternatives than rounding up troops and having the United States involved in another disaster like Iraq that could be ten times worse.

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

Good job Obama - Instead of attacking Mc Cain and not Clinton

[Verily]

Weak on Kosovo Obama.  "Work with the international community" in the event of a Russian invasion.  I think troops would be in order.

You'd risk war with Russia?

You'd allow Russia to invade Europe whenever it wants?

I think, if Russia invaded anywhere in Europe except Belarus, the EU just might respond. And then the US would be working with the international community.

[True Democrat]

Weak on Kosovo Obama.  "Work with the international community" in the event of a Russian invasion.  I think troops would be in order.

You'd risk war with Russia?

You'd allow Russia to invade Europe whenever it wants?

I think, if Russia invaded anywhere in Europe except Belarus, the EU just might respond. And then the US would be working with the international community.

Nonetheless, his answer was vague and weak, IMHO.  But, once again, I know I have a tendency to spin big for Clinton.

That said, overall this debate really sucked.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Debate win by Hillary, I think that is clear, but enough of a win? I don't think so.

[Saxwsylvania]

Debate win by Hillary, I think that is clear, but enough of a win? I don't think so.

Really?  I thought Obama won.

What a crappy debate that was.  Boring.

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

This debate will change nobody's mind.

That's bad for Hillary

[John Dibble]

Debate win by Hillary, I think that is clear, but enough of a win? I don't think so.

What? I'd say this is an Obama win overall.

[Alcon]

Debate win by Hillary, I think that is clear

Really?  I would have said that Obama did well, although by virtue of ending well, Clinton probably tied it up.

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

Obama win - on points

[exopolitician]

Clinton seem frustrated and angry all night, up until the end where it just seemed like they both wanted the debate to end. Obama did well...Clinton okay I guess. This wont help her very well though.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

I truly thought she came across as more informed, with more practical answers... but the boom in student voting will prevent that from mattering.

[angus]

Because gotcha questions about the name of someone that, if you're President, you'll be briefed on for hours anyway are really helping us decide between these candidates so much. Thank you so much Tim Russert. Thank you.

The fact that no one will ever ask you, on a job, the bizarre sorts of questions you're typically asked on the two-day, grueling job interviews you have to undergo for most white-collar jobs is less relevant than how you answer them.  And one who has never run for president may only imagine the extrapolation that would be appropriate to conceive of the ultra-grueling, seventeen-month job interview process that goes into picking a U.S. President.  No one disagrees that the "gotcha" questions won't come up, especially if you control the press as carefully as the current president does, but anyone who has ever set on both sides of on a serious job interview will tell you that gotcha questions not only tell you something of the inner workings of the mind of the person being interviewed, but also force you to reckon with your own internal values and mechanisms of compartmentalization of facts when you are put in the position of having to answer them.   More bluntly, perhaps once once you get to be 35 or 40, you'll realize why you have to a certain age to even qualify for president. 

Russert is an excellent interviewer.  That's just my opinion, but apparently it is an opinion held by both the DNC and RNC, given that so many debates are moderated by him.

Also, I would call it a draw.

[Sam Spade]

Weak on Kosovo Obama.  "Work with the international community" in the event of a Russian invasion.  I think troops would be in order.

You'd risk war with Russia?

You'd allow Russia to invade Europe whenever it wants?

I think, if Russia invaded anywhere in Europe except Belarus, the EU just might respond. And then the US would be working with the international community.

Not watching the debate, of course.    But you do realize that if Russia wants to get involved, they'll probably fight a proxy war through that area.

And I wouldn't count on the EU doing anything in that area of the world.  It took them nearly 7 years to get involved last time, and only after we pushed them time and time again on it.

But whatever, the US involvement in this area was a function of neo-conservative/neo-liberal thought.  Apparently not popular around here except when the Dems push it (which of course is anywhere but Iraq).

[NHPolitico]

We need text wrap on the board.

[WalterMitty]

the debate was a draw.  i dont think there was any winner or loser.

but whatever happens march 4, im damn proud of hillary clinton.   and im very proud that i was able to cast a vote for her.  i still believe she will be an excellent president.

[Verily]

Weak on Kosovo Obama.  "Work with the international community" in the event of a Russian invasion.  I think troops would be in order.

You'd risk war with Russia?

You'd allow Russia to invade Europe whenever it wants?

I think, if Russia invaded anywhere in Europe except Belarus, the EU just might respond. And then the US would be working with the international community.

Not watching the debate, of course.    But you do realize that if Russia wants to get involved, they'll probably fight a proxy war through that area.

And I wouldn't count on the EU doing anything in that area of the world.  It took them nearly 7 years to get involved last time, and only after we pushed them time and time again on it.

But whatever, the US involvement in this area was a function of neo-conservative/neo-liberal thought.  Apparently not popular around here except when the Dems push it (which of course is anywhere but Iraq).

I think you're ignoring fundamental changes in the EU since Kosovo. The EU has a lot of new members, most of whom are very hostile towards Russia.

The EU is also far more invested in eastern Europe than it was in the 1990s; during the Kosovo War, the only EU member in eastern Europe was Greece (and maybe Finland depending on your definition of eastern Europe). Today, EU members in eastern Europe and western Europe are about equal in number.

Furthermore, the EU has made it a serious goal to "normalize" the Balkans. Croatia will join the EU by 2010. Macedonia may accede as soon as 2012. There are even talks of Montenegro becoming an official candidate country some time this year. The EU is not going to let such things be thrown off course by a war right on those countries' doorstep; it just won't stand for Russian interference in the Balkans the way it did in the 1990s.

[Sam Spade]

You have more faith in the EU than I do. 

[Keystone Phil]

Eh, nothing exciting. They had their heated moments but it wasn't what I expected. I didn't see a clear winner but the slight edge would go to Obama.

[TheresNoMoney]

Obama performed very well, neither Clinton nor Russert could really shake him the whole time. I thought he was especially strong on the foreign policy questions and contrasting himself on the Iraq War with Hillary.

[angus]

Eh, nothing exciting. They had their heated moments but it wasn't what I expected. I didn't see a clear winner but the slight edge would go to Obama.

Yeah, I saw your post at the beginning, and given that you predicted the outcome of Superbowl 42, I figured you'd call this one right as well.  So I watched, expecting fireworks.  I only wish you had been as wrong about the Giants in the superbowl as you were about this debate.