Open thread: The “ain’t so bad, champ” debate! Update: Kucinich’s “Hello?” added

posted at 7:50 pm on November 15, 2007 by Allahpundit
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8 p.m. on CNN. With the Glacier suddenly looking vulnerable, it’s Obama’s chance to play Rocky to her Clubber Lang. Will he swing away? They don’t call him Obambi for nothing. An exciting subplot for you: Given her delightful idiocy about immigration, will the Messiah and Silky tack right and start talking up border enforcement? Somewhere Tancelot smiles, and nods. Knowingly. Oh, so knowingly.

While we wait, chew on this little bulletin from across the aisle, as I suspect you’ll be hearing more about it tomorrow. Did Mitt really flake out of a state-party-sponsored debate in Iowa, of all places? That looks shockingly weak in light of Huckabee’s recent gains and reputation as a superior debater, as though Mitt can’t bear to face him now with the stakes raised. If I were Huck’s campaign manager I’d be pounding that drum tomorrow to any media outlet that would have me.

Have a blast in the comments. I’ll be off doing something more edifying, like staring at a wall. E-mail tips on clipworthy moments are, as always, dearly appreciated.

Update (bp): I’m convinced that the only reason Dennis Kucinich runs for president is for the debates, because they offer moments when millions of people who would otherwise ignore him are forced to listen to him. Here’s his reaction to one moment when he didn’t even get that satisfaction.

Update (Bryan): My scorecard:
Hillary won by not losing. No gaffes, few cackles, and a one-word answer to the licenses question.
Obama and Edwards failed, for different reasons. Obama came across as too inexperienced and not in command of the facts. Saying only that there has been progress in Iraq “in some neighborhoods” reveals how ill-informed he is. Al-Anbar is something like a third of Iraq. Diyala is a major province. Even Adamiyah, the huge east Baghdad enclave, is quieter these days. Those aren’t neighborhoods, Senator Obama, they’re vast parts of the country where most of the violence in Iraq occurred before the surge. Edwards just came off as over the top. His nutroots act is an act, for the most part, and he doesn’t seem to know when to dial it down.
Biden is good, sane, and grown up. He’s wrong about quite a few things, but at least he’s credible. Ditto for Dodd, which is why the two cancel each other out. Richardson and Kucinich are the fringe candidates, and ought to drop out. They add some comic relief but no serious person takes either one seriously as presidential material. Richardson has given away all the credibility that his resume says should be his. Coin toss on whether Biden or Dodd joins Richardson and Kucinich in dropping out.

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