ABC/Facebook NH Republican and Democratic Debate Thread

[Speed of Sound]

Oh yes, Obama just squeezed what he could out of that one. Lol

[Jake]

Apparently Clinton didn't make any mistakes in debates.

Honestly, you've become almost Eraserhead like in your hackishness the past few days. She said that there were times that she made mistakes, she just didn't bring them up. Your boy just did the same thing.

[Speed of Sound]

Apparently Clinton didn't make any mistakes in debates.

Honestly, you've become almost Eraserhead like in your hackishness the past few days. She said that there were times that she made mistakes, she just didn't bring them up. Your boy just did the same thing.

*clears throat*

ugh, come on obama, answer the question

[ilikeverin]

This is the Edwards I supported in 2004.

Finally, he's back.

What?  Sunny moderate?  Where?

[afleitch]

Okay who won?

I'm going to go with Edwards. I also think Richardson performed very well in the second half.

[Democratic Hawk]

Well, bed time

[afleitch]

Well, bed time

That's why I'm glad I had a long lie yesterday

[Eraserhead]

Apparently Clinton didn't make any mistakes in debates.

Honestly, you've become almost Eraserhead like in your hackishness the past few days. She said that there were times that she made mistakes, she just didn't bring them up. Your boy just did the same thing.

I'm sorry I strongly support my candidate.

[Gabu]

Honestly, you've become almost Eraserhead like in your hackishness the past few days. She said that there were times that she made mistakes, she just didn't bring them up. Your boy just did the same thing.

I thought her answer was terrible.  As I just said, I also thought Obama's answer was terrible.  They both totally ignored the question.  And I think Edwards won the debate.

I'm failing to see where the hackishness comes in here.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Apparently Clinton didn't make any mistakes in debates.

Apparently neither did Obama.

Obama has to be better in these things - the excuse given "he doesn't like them" isn't good enough.

No he doesn't. He did fine and he is winning the elections. So what would be the point?

Yes he does. His debate performances have been rather disappointing so far - but these don't make a difference very often in Primaries. The performances in the general election debates DO MATTER. He needs to be quicker, and not quite so boring.

[Speed of Sound]

Order of victory (in the debate):

Edwards
Obama
Clinton
Richardon

Order of Victory (in terms of new campaign scenarios):

Obama
Edwards/Richardson
Clinton

[John Dibble]

Okay who won?

I'm going to go with Edwards. I also think Richardson performed very well in the second half.

I only caught the second half, but I'd agree that Edwards had the best performance. Obama stuttered too much but did well enough - he can probably make up for it with good public speeches. Clinton didn't stutter or anything, but she came off as dislikeable more often than not.

[Eraserhead]

For the record, I also thought Edwards won the debate.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

1. Edwards
2. Clinton/Obama/Richardson

The first good performance that Richardson's given in MONTHS.

[Eraserhead]

Apparently Clinton didn't make any mistakes in debates.

Apparently neither did Obama.

Obama has to be better in these things - the excuse given "he doesn't like them" isn't good enough.

No he doesn't. He did fine and he is winning the elections. So what would be the point?

Yes he does. His debate performances have been rather disappointing so far - but these don't make a difference very often in Primaries. The performances in the general election debates DO MATTER. He needs to be quicker, and not quite so boring.

I guess this is why George Bush lost?

[TheresNoMoney]

I thought Obama did very well, especially during the foreign policy portion of the debate. I thought he was the most substantive candidate of the four.

Edwards had his moment, but a lot of his answers were very repetitive. Hillary did horrible during the first half of the debate, but rebounded fairly well during the second half.

[Lief 🗽]

No, Polnut has a point. Debates in the general matter a lot. Kerry was behind Bush by like 10 points before their first debate: Kerry did well, Bush did poorly, and Kerry gained the momentum. Obama needs to transfer the passion of his stump speech to the debate.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

No, Polnut has a point. Debates in the general matter a lot. Kerry was behind Bush by like 10 points before their first debate: Kerry did well, Bush did poorly, and Kerry gained the momentum. Obama needs to transfer the passion of his stump speech to the debate.

That first debate in 2004 was the first time I feared Bush could lose the election to Kerry. Prior to that, I never feared Kerry.

They do matter. Obama may have won over Democrats, but don't think he is such a rockstar that he can stumble his way into the White House without answering any tough questions at all. I am shocked and scared he made it this far.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Apparently Clinton didn't make any mistakes in debates.

Apparently neither did Obama.

Obama has to be better in these things - the excuse given "he doesn't like them" isn't good enough.

No he doesn't. He did fine and he is winning the elections. So what would be the point?

Yes he does. His debate performances have been rather disappointing so far - but these don't make a difference very often in Primaries. The performances in the general election debates DO MATTER. He needs to be quicker, and not quite so boring.

I guess this is why George Bush lost?

If you're talking about 2000 - let's remember the expectations game. Bush only had to speak in clear sentences to have won in 2000. In 2004 Bush imploded, he lost 1st and 2nd debates - but pulled himself together for the 3rd one. I was only after those debates that Kerry was really in the ball-game.

Obama is not beyond criticism - if he's the nominee I want him to win, and I think just resting on his laurels when it comes to debates is not good enough. Especially if he's against McCain - he needs to flatten him in debates.

[Gabu]

The first good performance that Richardson's given in MONTHS.

You thought it was good?  I thought it was blah.  His answers seemed so rambling; whether or not they had good content, I found myself falling asleep and unable to follow his trend of thought at times, which is what really matters to voters (sadly enough).

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The first good performance that Richardson's given in MONTHS.

You thought it was good?  I thought it was blah.  His answers seemed so rambling; whether or not they had good content, I found myself falling asleep and unable to follow his trend of thought at times, which is what really matters to voters (sadly enough).

Well in comparison to the last few, certainly.

[ilikeverin]

The first good performance that Richardson's given in MONTHS.

You thought it was good?  I thought it was blah.  His answers seemed so rambling; whether or not they had good content, I found myself falling asleep and unable to follow his trend of thought at times, which is what really matters to voters (sadly enough).

Richardson's train of thought:

Withdraw from Iraq->I was Governor!->I was Energy Secretary!->Withdraw from Iraq

Repeat.

[Hash]

IMO Obama did badly. He sounded cold, tired, etc.

[Gabu]

Well in comparison to the last few, certainly.

What were they like?  This is actually the first debate I've seen him in; I didn't catch the others.

If this was his best in months, I shudder to think what the others were like.   We need a drinking game where you take a shot every time he mentions that he was a governor or energy secretary.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Well in comparison to the last few, certainly.

What were they like?  This is actually the first debate I've seen him in; I didn't catch the others.

If this was his best in months, I shudder to think what the others were like.   We need a drinking game where you take a shot every time he mentions that he was a governor or energy secretary.

This is animated, and entertaining Bill - the others were unbelieveably tedious. The HRC "forum" was without doubt his worst performance - saying homosexuality is a choice... my God.