Sirotablog

David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.

  • September 27, 2007 6:39 AM

    Debate Impressions

    I'm not usually into touchy-feely, fact-free, Roger Simon-ish analysis of politicians' and their political "skills," but since I'm exhausted from writing my book, I'll just take this moment to offer up my impressions of the Democrats from the debate last night (I caught part of it when I got into bed and flipped on the TV).

    Hillary Clinton doesn't talk like a regular human being, and she very annoyingly refuses to give direct answers. This was most evident in her answer on Social Security. If a poll, a focus group and Washington's high-paid consulting class could be personified by one human being, Hillary Clinton would be the persona. She has mastered the art of saying nothing - but her major problem is that she has not mastered the art of making it seem like she's saying something when she's saying nothing. It's just obvious she's saying nothing. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that many Americans have long thought she is arrogant and talks down to them. When you treat people like you think they are stupid and that they won't catch onto the fact that you are saying nothing, they will react poorly.

    Barack Obama is the warmest candidate - the guy who makes you feel like he'd be a pretty fun person to hang out with for a beer. But he also comes off as a bit weak, in that he pitches every solution to every problem as having to do with everyone just getting together and holding hands.

    John Edwards says what everyone knows is true, but the rest of the candidates other than Dennis Kucinich are just too afraid to say.

    Bill Richardson always has a puzzled, deer-in-the-headlights look on his face.

    I'd like to believe Chris Dodd is really a solid progressive who cares a lot about an agenda for the middle class, but then I read stories like this.

    Kucinich needs to get better fitting suits. They are too big on him, and therefore emphasize his physical smallness.

    Joe Biden and Mike Gravel are irrelevant, add nothing to the debate, and the faster they stop their silly, ego-driven campaigns, the better.

    Posted by David Sirota
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    Tags: politics

Discussion

  • TJ Colatrella [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    That's a good observation on Kucinich's suits..!

    He needs a good tailor and Italian suits..

    But so did Bill Bradley...


    I am still voting for Kucinich..


    Posted on September 27, 2007 8:42 AM
  • David Campbell www.VBDems.org [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    Being "the warmest candidate" (even if it means "getting together and holding hands" and singing "Kumbaya") is no liability. It may appeal to the large swath of the Anerican public who care less about policy than if they like the candidate personally.

    The big issue of the campaign is going to be Iraq. Obama is the only major candidate who (like my own Virginia Senator Jim Webb) had the good judgment to oppose the invasion of Iraq from the start. That makes him the best candidate, in my opinion.

    Posted on September 27, 2007 10:24 AM
  • whatever [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    According to what I heard on the news Clinton, Obama, and Edwards all three said that we would be in Iraq through the end of their first term. That's when they lost my vote.

    Posted on September 27, 2007 2:40 PM
  • 2Truthy [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    "It's just obvious she's saying nothing. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that many Americans have long thought she is arrogant and talks down to them."

    This is a good summary of the candidates' styles.
    You really nailed it on Richardson:)

    Think about it: Who would you rather invite to your party? Bill or Hillary? This is the question I ask (among others) myself when it comes down to casting my vote. I mean, imagine having a laugh with Hillary (not that weeeeiiirrd kind like we were recently treated on that Fox News youtube)...
    NOT.

    'Ice in her veins' Hillary hasn't mastered the art of personability (subliminally important to voters) because she is one of those people who simply doesn't care about people.

    Bill, on the other hand, genuinely comes across as caring about people. This is not to say that if Hillary were the only Dem candidate to change her tune about selling out our jobs (when hell freezes) that I wouldn't decide to vote for her... Kind of like going to a doctor with lousy 'bedside manner': if they know how to perform the surgery, I don't care about their personability factor.

    Posted on September 27, 2007 3:32 PM
  • GrantBurkeVT [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    "John Edwards says what everyone knows is true, but the rest of the candidates other than Dennis Kucinich are just too afraid to say. ... Kucinich needs to get better fitting suits. They are too big on him, and therefore emphasize his physical smallness." - David Sirota

    Mr. Sirota,

    Haven't you studied Edwards's fucking history ?!?!? He was a DLCer until Kerry LOST in 2004. Dennis Kucinich is truly closer to progressive ideology than Edwards will ever be in his lifetime and all you can do is criticize Kucinich for his clothes ?!?!? GAWD ! Edwards is just a Hillary-LITE and will slide into GOP-LITE status once elected to office. The guy voted for Iraq war in the first place, never has or will do anything to cancel those horrendous "free" trade deals, has no plans on rolling back any of the tax cuts for the wealthy, need I say more ?!?!?

    Gravel may be fucking ridiculous for supporting a national sales tax but is otherwise far more progressive than Edwards, Hillary, Obama, etc ... I cannot believe you'd vote for a FUCKING sellout pretending to be a "populist" !

    And why won't you give people like RALPH NADER a real chance ?

    Posted on October 1, 2007 12:21 AM

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