CHESSNOID

I consider myself a critical thinker and try to observe beyond the hype of all the political campaigning. I look for the real meaning in messages. I watched as the 4 Democratic hopefuls: John Edwards, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, and Hillary Clinton all debate each other. I do believe the Democratic debate seems to have more substance than the Republican debate and seem to focus more on the issues.

I like the main 3 candidates Edwards, Obama, and Clinton and believe they all have good platforms to stand on. When I saw Edwards and Obama double team Clinton I personally lost some respect for those 2 candidates and gained even more respect for Clinton. Both Edwards and Obama are smart individuals and even beat her in the Iowa Caucus, but when I heard them speak at this debate I felt there was some weakness in their lack of experience. I think Obama gives the best speeches of the bunch, but during this debate I think Clinton was the master. I know every news organization is spinning the story the way they want to see it. In my eyes, Clinton schooled both Edwards and Obama. She exposed their weaknesses in experience which would possibly negate the execution part of the changes they want to make. I am all for change and once Bush is out we will be ahead of the game. For these other changes to take place, experience in execution is needed. If Edwards or Obama was able to articulate how they would execute these changes based on examples of their previous successes, then I would actually be more optimistic in their ability to follow through. Neither conveyed that confidence to me.

The sound bite voice of change lost its momentum when Edwards and Obama repeated that is what they represent but didn’t follow up with solid examples of how they did it successfully in the past. Clinton pointed out Obama’s inconsistencies with his stance on health care. He did in fact change his views on it no matter how you spin it. He did try to spin in, but in my view failed to convince me that he stayed consistent. I think it is OK to change your views as long as you can justify it. Also, Obama’s record of being against the war but voting for the funding of the war cancels out that message for me. Ron Paul on the Republican side voted against the war but has consistently voted against its funding in future bills. That would be a clear message. I don’t like the idea that you say you are against the war, and vote for funding it. Clinton also beat out Edwards when he gave an example of how he successfully put a bill together on a bipartisan basis that passed in the Senate. Clinton shot him down when she indicated that bill never made it pass in the House of Representative.

The reason why I think Clinton did better this time after she regrouped from the previous Iowa Caucus is because she has actually identified the people want change and that she represents change. The first Woman President would definitely be the biggest change. I felt she demonstrated that she was actually able to execute change on her resume and point out that the other candidates haven’t demonstrated they could do so. Her message that change is not just words but action hit home. She has quashed the change soundbite. I have a feeling Bill may have helped out there in the political campaigning.

I am glad that I watched this debate because it showed the strengths and weaknesses of all the candidates. I was on the fence with Obama and Clinton, but now realize that she probably is not only better qualified but will actually execute better. I would love Bill Clinton to be the first Man of the house. He would definitely help this country get back on its feet and would be a good ambassador to the world.

Many people may forget that when Clinton was the President he did an excellent job. I guess that is subjective, but I put most of my emphasis on the budget and economy. He took our country out of a deficit that the first Bush created and Clinton then put us into a surplus. That surplus could have been used to solve our social security problems, current budget problems, education problems, health care and insurance problems or numerous other programs. The worse thing Clinton was accused of was having an affair. Big deal!

I think Clinton’s 8 years have been better compared to our last 8 years under the other Bush. I would like to get back to that era. People from other countries didn’t hate us, the budget was in balance, and a recession was not looming on the horizon. Those were happy days.  Other than Ron Paul, I don’t see any Republican candidate being able to get this country back in shape.  I just don’t see it.

One last thing Clinton did convince me was she was ready to start immediate troop withdrawal and that the Iraq troop surge was not successful in accomplishing its goal even though the media and the White house keep claiming it being a success. We do not want to occupy Iraq anymore and we are not doing them or us a favor by being there. The Iraqi people do not want us in there country and only the War Profiteers want us to stay there.  There were no weapons of mass destruction there and never a real reason for us to invade.