The You Tube Boob Tube Debates

I tuned in to CNN's innovative democratic presidential debate last evening.

Normally, especially this early into the whole I'm-better-than-you-and-you-and-you campaigning, I couldn't care less, but the spin on the format made for Must See TV.

All the questions had been submitted via video to You Tube from regular folk like you and me.

And the candidates had no idea what they were going to be asked.

THAT was the draw for me.  Hearing scripted responses over and over mean nothing.  Watching them have to think on their feet - that's priceless information when it comes to draining the pool in my mind.

CNN staffers waded through thousands of submissions and chose voters not only based on a cross section of states, but on the topics, and in some cases, levity they provided.

You had redneck goobers, cancer patients, soldiers, parents of dead soldiers, lesbians, and even a snowman who was concerned about global warming. 

Some questions were presented in the form of song.  Some were tear jerkingly poignant, turning the cold, faceless statistics candidates are used to addressing into living, breathing, hurting human beings.

And while I will always enjoy watching Anderson Cooper do anything - read me a dog food label, report from a hurricane, dance naked - what?  It could happen.  He is serious about investigative journalism...now, where was I? - I was more intrigued by the people behind the podiums as they took turns squirming, being funny, stating their records, defending their views, and having to think and respond immediately to the questions posed.

I found I like Barack Obama even more than before.  He comes across honest, straightforward, plainspoken, but incredibly intelligent and reasoned.

I found I like Hilary Clinton even less.  Not just because of the hideous coral suit she chose to play up the fact that she is a woman.  But because even speaking "off the cuff", she sounds disingenuous, and often disengaged.  Her favorite words - squeezed in often - are "comprehensive" and "strategic" - words I think are better suited to the work she has had done on her every youthening face.

I'm sorry - I just don't like her.

I do like John Edwards, and not just because he knows how to work that $400 haircut.  He has faced a lot in his life and seems like a decent man.  But I have to agree with Lori in TX's comments from the other day - I would be loathe to elect him into the Presidency because the likelihood his wife, Elizabeth, is going to die while he would be in office is, sadly and regrettably, very high.  They have young children.  The Presidency is not exactly a part time, flexible gig.  These children, regardless of the security and nanny situation available, do not deserve to lose their mother to cancer and lose their father to public office.

(And please don't feel a rant about that viewpoint is in order.  I truly hope, wish, pray that Mrs. Edwards lives many, many, many more years, but the truth is that the woman does have a devastating form of cancer that is not cureable.)

As for the others?  Mike Gravel, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd - they spoke fine, and Biden was actually very forceful in answering Iraq questions.  Bill Richardson, I continue to admire, he is forthright when he speaks and had the stones to flat out say No Child Left Behind basically sucks ass.

Then there is Dennis Kucinich, US Representative from Ohio.  Dennis, Dennis, Dennis.  You look like Gilbert Gottfried and sound like The Nutty Professor.  I know you like to routinely throw yourself into the presidential mix, however, it's never gonna happen.  You simply don't look the part, and we Americans are a shallow, $400-haircut-appreciating bunch.

The Republicans will get their turn to actually face the nation in September when CNN hosts a You Tube debate just for them.  I expect that one to be even more enlightening.

The challenge of thinking on their feet, not offending their party or their president, yet somehow distancing themselves in some fashion should be laughable.  This party currently has a reputation for talking about "the people" they are serving, but not wanting to actually meet us face to face.  That's messy.

I like messy.

Which is why I think I may just have to crank up the video camera, figure out the editing features on my puter, and submit a question or 3,000 myself...stay tuned

Comments

[Linda Sharp on Executive Order]

If I'm reading the right one - July 17th Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq - what frightens me most is the vagueness.

It leaves the door wide open to interpret and apply this mandate in any way they see fit, to any situation they see fit, against any person they see as unfit.

Phrases like "threatening the peace and stability of Iraq" and "undermining the efforts" can easily be applied to protests, individual rants, etc.

That this has not been in the news - you would think Lou Dobbs would be having a field day - is truly surprising to me.

If you would like to check it out, it is located at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070717-3.html

[Missy]

I don't think you're the only one waiting for an explanation Lori.... word is slowly leaking out and from what I've seen, people are mad as hell AND scared. I'm one of them.

Aside from the fact that he is literally stripping us of our constitutional rights (if that isn't enough), the fact that it hasn't been publicized and basically hushed into law is what pisses me off the most here. Lindsay's drunk again - couldn't escape that one... but one of our countries greatest constitutional rights FREEDOM - a word that we based our entire existence on - is taken away and it's not even mentioned in the news. Some hollywood slut is drunk again therefore that's the top story?

Seriously. I am truly scared for our country.

[Lori in Texas]

I didn't believe it until I went to the whitehouse.gov website and read the Executive Order with my own eyes. My husband thinks it's a mistake or something... when I told him, he didn't believe it was true. He's a Brit.

I'm still waiting for an explanation from SOMEONE, or some publicity... or even a news report about it. But no. We get Lindsay Lohan.

[Missy]

I hope someone brings up the latest Bushfucked Executive Order during the Republican debate. You know, the one outlawing any protest on the Iraq war. Land of the free anyone? If I had a camera, I would submit it myself. :(

Actually, I wish the S.O.B. would be impreached by then, but I highly doubt that's going to happen if he's gotten away with essentially stripping Americans of their freedom at this point.

[Lori in Texas]

I loved, loved, loved, loved the debate last night!!!!! And, OMG Linda, I'm so glad you were impressed by Barack. I thought he just sucked Hillary's doors right off. Even if I weren't already a huge fan, I would have said he won the debate last night hands-down. What I love most about him is that he's so HUMAN. He is a regular person, just like all of us, and not afraid to be so. He unashamedly says "um" and "uh" when thinking while speaking... he doesn't use $50 words to "wow" the press wogs... he looks directly at the audience and makes that **connection** that can give you lovely goosebumps all up and down your spine. When he speaks, he speaks from the heart, and it shows.

One comment about John Edwards - last night, the question was put forth specifically to Clinton and Obama about voters NOT voting for Hillary because she's a woman, or Barack because he's bi-racial. John Edwards, a short while later, said, "If you are the kind of person who would not vote for Barack or Hillary solely because of their race or gender, then I DO NOT want your vote. Do not vote for me." I really loved that.

My opinion about John Edwards hasn't changed, though, sadly. As I said before, my family has been exactly where his family is now and, because of the benefit of my firsthand experience, I don't feel that NOW is the time for an Edwards presidency. Maybe in another eight years, when his kids are older and the grieving is over... but not now.

My opinion of Hillary went down even further last night. She's like an emotionless robot... blah-blah-blah (insert canned, over-rehearsed response here) blah-blah-blah. She's the consummate politician - even more so, and even more offensively so - than her husband. We've had enough of that. It's time for a change.

Oh, and lest I forget... if Anderson Cooper ever shows up at my door (ya right), my husband will have to excuse me... because that freaking sex-god-gorgeous hunk of steaming man-meat is OUT OF THIS WORLD. I just finished his book last weekend ("Dispatches From The Edge" -- it was fantastic - go buy it), but I kept finding myself closing the book over and over and over so I could gaze at his photo on the front cover.... ahhhhhhhhhh.... mmmmmmmm..... oooooooooohhhhh..... sigh. If we could just dip that man in some Godiva chocolate, I could die and go to heaven a happy, happy woman.

..................... but my hubby is cute, too. (grin)

[Katy]

OH MY GOD! He does look like Gilbert Gottfried!!! TOO FUNNY!