I was tubing on the Potomac today, and I have a feeling most of America was enjoying one of our last weekend summer Sundays.  Do you think people are tuned into the races yet?  I have a feeling it's all just sound and fury until the leaves fall, if not later.

How the Dems *seem* to be participating in far more debates then the GOP.  Gee, I wonder why...

ABC Op-In Poll following the Debate:

Who do you think won the Democratic debate?

Barack Obama 6,733

Dennis Kucinich 6,159

Hillary Clinton 4,450

Joe Biden 2,931

John Edwards 2,608

Nobody won. I'm voting Republican. 1,197

Bill Richardson 861

Nobody won. I'm waiting for Al Gore to get in the race
793

Mike Gravel 717

Chris Dodd 171

Total Vote: 26,710

I was hoping that either Edwards or Obama "won" the 'debate."  But as for myself, I am done watching them.  They encourage the superficial exchange of ideas that only a television executive could love.  The public is ill-served.  They are redundant.  And, I agree with Obama, that they are a distraction from really getting a candidate's message out there.  They also afford too much importance to (let's say) Mike Gravel, Chris Dodd or Joe Biden.  Up until six months before the first primary, I think we should accommodate all candidates.  After that, drop from the rosters of any future "debates" those at the very bottom.  Though I'd be reluctant to completely diss second or third "tier" candidates, it just isn't realistic for those three to take up our time at this point.  With them providing no value added by their candidacies, they assure we learn even less about the others. And so, there is no real way to understand the true differences between the candidates (and there are larger differences than many imagine).

He gets ZERO support - not 1% or 2%, but ZERO - in public opinion polls.  He has absolutely no chance of being elected president. And he's Grandpa Abe Simpson.  So why not boot him, along with any other candidates who consistently score below 5% (or 3%, or whatever) in public opinion polls?  It's just wasting our time to have these guys there - whey not open the debates up to ANYONE if you're going to allow a guy who polls ZERO in there?  Hell, I nominate Ben Tribbett, at least it would make the events fun to watch! :)

By the end of the Iowa State Fair you should be able to demonstrate that you have at least 1% in the national polls.

By the end of September, you must show 2%.

By Thanksgiving, you must show 3%.

By New Year's Day, you must show 5%.

I think we should hear from 5% and up through the end of the process because they are potential VPs or represent important constituencies that should be heard from.

But I think it's time for Gravel to depart the scene.

I guess I'd just make it 5% now and increase 1 percentage point per month after that.

I said above that there's no true way to learn the differences."  Well, there is, but not unless we work pretty hard on digging up the information we need.  Bloggers do this.  How much of the general population will do so? The process in place makes it too hard for people who tune in to learn enough.

It's as though each talking head has to get his or her turn at being host (a kind of insider's club requirement).  Why not tailor debates to what we need for a change?  Oh, that's right, the media isn't about informing voters, but rather about "personality."

Edwards line was a little too hokey.  They were discussing a rather serious issue (Pakistan, right?), and he goes all rainbow child on us.  Eh.  (And, to be clear that I'm not slamming him out of allegiance to another candidate, I think I've whittled down the field in the Sui Juris Primary to him and Obama).

My actual favorite bit was Obama pointing out that it's not just about winning an election, but governing (something I'd like to see all of us remember more often).

...and yes, I do need to get a life.  I didn't think this debate was as substantial as earlier debates.  I wish they would set Gravel and Kucinich off in a room of their own.  I think they just waste time.  I know we're supposed to give everyone their fair time, but both of those guys are only there to be on TV.  Poor Kucinich says a lot of good things, but he never attracts any voters and I wonder why he bothers with his perennial run.  I understand the man wants his issues heard, but I've heard them for two elections now.

I'm a little tired of the same questions and responses.  Even Obama's constant reference to the fact the others voted for the war is wearing thin.  Okay, we're all against the war--now what are we going to do about it?  Plus anyone who thinks we're just gonna pack up and roll out of Iraq in mere months is naive.  Hillary is taking an unpopular stance, saying we need to get out but it will take time and we owe the people who were on our side our help in either getting them out of there or something.  Voters may not want to hear her say that, but it's true.  It's gonna take time and we do owe the people over there who supported us a fair shake, including offering them asylum here if necessary.  The last thing I want to see is a repeat of Vietnam when we had our allies hanging onto helicopters as they left the roof of the UA Embassy.  That was a shameful time, especially for us veterans. Regardless of how we got into this war, we're in it now and we have a responsibility to those on our side. We don't have to stay and fight for them, but we owe them something.  I'd be really disgusted if we just dropped everything and split, leaving those allies to face the death squads there will be when we leave.

Hopefully, our memory of Vietnam will be refreshed and we do the right thing by the Iraqis.  We did break it and no matter who's to blame, it's a moot point.  Time to move on toward solutions.

I wish Obama would quit trying to explain his remarks about nuclear weapons use and our troops going into Pakistan.  It just shows his inexperience and I think he'd do better just to drop it, instead of using the old, "that's my story and I'm sticking to it" routine.  He's entitled to blow an answer and when he started out he was offering the country some hope for change.  I'd like to see him get back to that stance instead of micromanaging hypothetical Spec Ops missions.  We already have a vice-president doing that in office already. 

If Obama wants to win, he has to come up with some fresh ideas and offer us what many of us hoped he would when he came in with a fresh face and all that energy.  At this point, I'm beginning to have my doubts about his basic understanding of foreign policy and seeing how poorly a President with a learner's permit has done the last 6 years, I'm a little leery of a repeat, no matter how well intended he is. 

As much as anything, I worry this unending campaigning for office is not good for the country.  More and more it seems like a big game of gotcha, everyone waiting for someone to have their Macaca moment and then that moment will be the news.  I was glad for George Allen's macaca moment, but I hope it doesn't not start infecting Democratic primaries.  I  keep remembering how many otherwise good Democrats started believing the Swiftboat lies that Kerry had to run against.  Voters became suspicious and lies like that still cause harm even within the party, as people become disenchanted, and disenchantment always depresses the vote.  The Republicans want us to stay home on election day.  Of course, I too have my gripes about all the candidates left and right.  I'm an old grumbler too. Truth be known, we have some very good candidates this year and I'm not against anyone.  I think most of them could do a good job--well, Papaw Gravel might mistake the button that starts a nuclear war with his medic alert button, but other than that, I like most of these candidates, so much, in fact, I will have a hard time deciding. 

I know I've strayed off-topic a bit and wandered around a lot with this comment, but I've had a lot of this stuff on my mind.  I think it's hard to give a score to this debate.  Obama did very well, and so did Hillary, though her answers are more hard core and realistic and may not please the liberal base. Edwards looks good.  I even like Dodd and Biden, though I suspect they're auditioning for cabinet jobs.

Anyway, as you see.  I'm over-thinking the whole damned thing  Lowell's right.  I need to get a life.  The good news, I'm going tomorrow to the Kentucky State Fair tomorrow.  The bad news, I'm going to man the Kentucky Democratic Party booth.  But later, after I'm done, this old country boy is gonna go look at all the farm animals and the prize winning garden stuff.  I don't get enough sun at my urban home in Louisville to raise a tomato plant, but a country boy can dream, can't he?