Lieberman won the debate

[VirginiaIs4Lieberman]

I think his poll numbers are low. NH is an open primary. I think alot of republicans that want a real choice will turn out in droves for Joe, just like the democrats did in 2000 for McCain. I don't think Joe will win, but after his performance last night, I wouldn't be surprised to see him finish 3rd. Yes the debate questions were right-wing biased, but that is how it is going to be in the general election. I think Dean and Kerry held their own, but Brit really tripped up Edwards and Clark a few times and I think they hurt themselves. Even Sharpton was tripped up on the Federal Reserve question. I have never seen him get tripped up like that before.

[KittyWampus]

1. There Was No "Debate". There Was A Spectacle

designed to make Joe look good
Enhance Kerry & Edwards
Assisinate Clark
Marginalize Dennis & AL

[VirginiaIs4Lieberman]

2. I thought they were out to get Edwards too

He had a horrible performance.

[Desertrose]

3. did we watch the same "debate"...??

I agree- it was a spectacle...it sure as hell was no debate.

Peace
DR

[liberalnurse]

11. Edwards really nailed Britt Humes good.

I bet Edwards will pay for that one...with all of Foxx and friends being of the same umbilical cord to the WH.

[rumguy]

15. Edwards' performance was great. A number of commentators gave him the

highest score of all the candidates...

[hey2370]

7. Yep

Clark is better than he was allowed to show last night.

Edwards was asked followup after followup as if the moderators gave a flying crap what he thought.

Kerry is the most boring speaker I have ever seen. He did not answer why he and Edwards voted to capitulate to Bush and give the Congress' Constitutional power to declare war to a rib-loving idiot, leading to the deaths of over 500 of our soldiers and the dismemberment/maiming of thousands more.

Kucinich sold out his anti-war supporters to the guy who co-wrote the USA PATRIOT act. Nice, Dennis.

[Democrats unite]

4. It was a 7 way tie & the Democratic party...

WON!!!!!!!!!!!!

[VirginiaIs4Lieberman]

5. All I am saying is

that those are questions they will get in the general election when they are debating Bu$h. I think Lieberman won with Dean and Kerry finishing second. I don't think the others did well for themselves last night.

[Democrats unite]

12. Sorry to diasagree with you...

We must have watched different debates.

[spooky3]

19. oh please--what evidence do you have that the Defense of Marriage Act

is a priority concern for voters? What average citizen has any idea that it even exists, let alone what is in it? Who cares about it?

That was RW BS and manipulation, designed to embarrass Edwards rather than to take the limited time available to focus on important issues facing the country. It failed. According to some sources, Hume misstated its provisions, and Edwards was correct about them.

If anyone is stupid enough to raise it or other similar questions, Edwards and any other smart candidates will be ready for them.

[Goldmund]

6. Is Virginia really for Liebermann?

If so, why isn't Virginia simply for Bush instead?

[Jacobin]

8. As Jon Stewart so aptly put it:

Those who support Lieberman would vote for Bush but don't think he's Jewish enough.

[dolstein]

13. Jon Stewart's a comedian, not a political scientist

The fact is that the only thing Lieberman and Bush have in common is a desire to see Hussein removed from power and an appreciation and respect for people of faith. I suppose that for many DU'ers that is enough to make Lieberman a Republican. Personally, I find it pretty sad that so many DU'ers would like to define the Democratic Party in terms of opposition to the use of military force and hostility towards religious faith, as opposed to opposition to poverty and hostility towards bigotry.

[shivaji]

24. Hear Here!!

[dolstein]

9. If Lieberman's a Republican, then so is Bill Clinton

Just because someone isn't a knee-jerk left winger on every single issue doesn't make them a Republican. Why is it that so many DU'ers with to define the Demoncratic Party by a process of exclusion, rather than inclusion?

[StopTheMorans]

10. even the big tent can't include everyone

and Lieberman's views are so outside of the party mainstream that he should really become an independent or switch parties.

[dolstein]

17. Sorry, but your statement is demonstrably false

If you actually looked at Lieberman's voting record and his interest group ratings, you'd find that his positions are well to the left of every Republican in the Senate with the exception of Lincoln Chafee -- who actually IS outside HIS party's mainstream.

Sorry, but Lieberman is no Zell Miller. Lieberman opposed the Bush tax cuts, opposed the Aschroft nomination, opposes the Bush administration's environmental policies, and has a very liberal voting record on a wide range of social issues, ranging from gay rights to abortion rights to consumer protection to gun control. He does happen to be devoutly religious and openly critical of Hollywood's glorification of violence and its attempts to market adult entertainment to children. But that is hardly a uniquely Republican perspective. Just ask John Edwards, who leads a Capitol Hill prayer group, or Tipper Gore, who supported labelling of explicit lyrics, or Bill Clinton, who supported to V-chip.

[VirginiaIs4Lieberman]

14. Thank You

[VirginiaIs4Lieberman]

16. Lieberman would have a chance in Virginia

Clinton only lost to Dole by 2 points and he didn't even contest here. The party's problem in this state is that they write it off. Virginia is a largely military state where the population is. Kerry doesn't have a chance here against Bu$h, but Lieberman does.

[dolstein]

18. As a fellow Virginian, I agree

Lieberman would certainly do better in Virginia than Kerry would, although I'd still give the advantage to Edwards and Clark. I think Southern roots probably count for more than Lieberman's moderate record.

It's sad that so many DU'ers have absolutely no clue as to what the rest of the country is really like. They all seem to assume that everybody is as left-wing as they are, and that the reason the Democrats aren't doing better is because the party just isn't liberal enough.

[LEW]

20. I disagree

I thought Lieberman was doing well until the end. Did not like his rant about not apoligizing for his vote on the Iraq war. I like the way Kerry handles that better, saying the pResident actions are different than his words.

Still think Edwards did the best, despite his slip up.

[AntiCoup2K4]

21. Joe's Saddam tirade was an embarrassment to true Democrats everywhere

All he did was repeat the Fraudministration's lies, all of which have been proven false. And he did it in an extremely defensive manner after being correctly called out for voting for the war.

[dolstein]

22. Correction -- an embarrassment to left-wing pacifist Democrats

NT

[Kahuna]

23. Clark won because, they tried to kill him and they failed..

They gave Joe the choice questions.