Kevin Drum, on the Washington Monthly's Political Animal, reported that the "left blogosphere seems to be virtually unanimous that Hillary Clinton won (for whatever definition of "won" you prefer)"and a number of comments are worth looking at. As an independent, I agree and I'd say "winning" in this case is losing unless you're a party boss. Take a look at some like comments on SCORING THE DEBATE...
I also like what Ben Smith, newly of The Politico, said--he'd rather hear what others think. Also worth a read. Spin Me! Similarly, Ron Gunzburger at Politics1 was in France on vacation, but his eyes were 151 comments on the question....
So let me know what you thought!! If you're an independent voter, the Hankster wants to know your opinion on the debate...
6 comments:
From the Times:
“This is George Bush’s war,” Mrs. Clinton said. “And what we are trying to do, whether it’s by speaking out from the outside or working and casting votes that actually make a difference from the inside, we are trying to end the war.”
An acknowledgement of independents. Whose babies I'm sure she wants to eat, but still ...
Jeff - "acknowledgement of independents"? Not sure how you see that. Can you elablorate?
By referencing those "speaking from the outside."
Remember, those who vote and call themselves independents tend to vote Democrat. Last week's Talk Talk is a good example of working with (as opposed to voicing definitions of) the relationship between independents and the Democratic Party. Inside/outside.
Singer on MyDD writes:
"I am interested to see that a trend that I've been watching a little while -- Democrats breaking towards Clinton, Independents breaking more towards Obama -- seems to be holding, at least if this Gallup poll is to be believed. Polling in recent weeks from both The Pew Research Center and The Cook Political Report seem to show this trend as well.
"Jerome is definitely correct in writing that any campaign that relies to heavily on the support of Independents could crumble as voters unaffiliated with the Democratic Party cannot always participate in nominating contests and Independents are less likely to turn out for a Democratic Primary than Democrats. Nonetheless, if Obama -- or another candidate, for that matter -- can run up a major lead among Independent voters and turn them out in the states where they can participate (particularly in New Hampshire), there is a potential that this voting clique can in fact play an oversized role in picking the next Democratic nominee."
COMMENT FROM GWEN:
There was no mention of independents in the debates. You would think in a state where 44% of the electorate is independent that there would at least be some "pandering," since it appears that these folks don't have a clue of what our issues are and why we are independent, but apparently we have a ways to go as a movement. You would think with all the talk about honesty and the war, there might at least have been some credit given to indies for the change of direction of attitude which made it possible for them to come out against the war, but again, not a word. And Kucinich - to have the nerve to blame the Democratic Party, but then not say a word about how we might get out of that box (e.g. "hello, independents!") -pretty damn cowardly. - Gwen
And what are our issues?
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