Texas Debates by Sukie

Pretty mild overall...Clinton tried to get a few jabs in on Obama, but the audience kept her in check, even booing her when she said, "That's not change you can believe in; that's change you can Xerox." Oops--bad move, HC...should've kept it clean.

HC needed to knock this one out of the park to make a comeback from her 11 straight losses. I don't think she hit it.

If anything, the debate was a draw. No winner.

The best part was when they got into the health care debate in more detail. The moderators kept trying to cut them off, but as I was screaming, "But this is important! This is what America needs to hear," Hillary, echoed my sentiments: "This is important" and they kept it up depsite the objections of the stupid moderators. It is an important issue--and people need to hear about it in more than te sounbites the moderators were allowing...so props to both candidates for pushing forward.

Interesting points:

Hillary mentioned John Edwards twice by name, lauding him for his health care efforts. Can you say "suck up?" ;-)

When asked about HC's plagiarism accusations, Obama countered well, getting laughs and applause from the audience: ""You know, this is where we start getting into silly season, in politics, and I think people start getting discouraged about it." Ain't that the truth...

Obama scores again when he points out that HC's implication that he and his plans aren't "real" is insulting to all the Americans who support him: "I do think there is a fundamental difference between us in terms of how change comes about. Senator Clinton of late has said: Let's get real. The implication is that the people who've been voting for me or involved in my campaign are somehow delusional," Obama said to laughter from the audience. "And that, the 20 million people who've been paying attention to 19 debates and the editorial boards all across the country at newspapers who have given me endorsements, including every major newspaper here in the state of Texas. You know, the thinking is that somehow, they're being duped, and eventually they're going to see the reality of things. Well, I think they perceive reality of what's going on in Washington very clearly."

Clinton scores some points with her final mini-speech: "You know, the hits I've taken in life are nothing compared to what goes on every single day in the lives of people across our country...". Thanks for mentioning us little people, Hill.

BUT those words seem far less heartfelt today, when it turns out, her words merely mimic those her husband uttered in 1992 (and who is she accusing of plagiarism??): "The hits that I took in this election are nothing compared to the hits the people of this state and this country have been taking for a long time." Sounds awfully similar, doesn't it?

Plus, analysts wonder if Clinton knows she's about reached the end of the line, as her voice softened and she almost got teary again and finished up the night: "Whatever happens, we're going to be fine. You know, we have strong support from our families and our friends I just hope that we'll be able to say the same thing about the American people, and that's what this election should be about." Is she preparing to say goodbye? If she doesn't pull out a major win in Texas, she's gonna have to.

Oh...but wait...did she take that from John Edwards?? On Dec. 13th, Edwards, ending his own campaign said, "All of us are going to be just fine no matter what happens in this election. But what's at stake is whether America is going to be fine." Is it maybe, just maybe, a little bit hypocritical to accuse someone of plagiarism and then borrow words from two other people? I'm just wondering...(can you say "politics as usual???").