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Here we go.
MSNBC is streaming it live. You can also rate the candidates.
This is an important night for the top tier candidates. Edwards should call Hillary out on Iraq, using her vote today on Iran. Barack needs to let go of his kumbaya campaign. All of these men have to decide if they want to win the nomination. Nice guys finish last, especially with team Clinton running a flawless campaign thus far. As for Richardson and his “no residual forces” campaign, I hope no one gives him any light. After Biden’s win today don’t be surprised if he lets fly, which is when he usually makes mistakes. … .. Or maybe it will just be another boring evening, with Tim serving up a question about MoveOn.org. If so, Clinton’s going to win the nomination in a walk. Time’s ticking away.
UPDATE II: First, Tim Russert was masterful tonight; a tremendous
performance by the "Meet the Press" anchor. This was the best debate
by far. Russert drew them out and revealed Clinton’s general election strategy.
But Edwards took the night. He’s now the #2 candidate, because even though Obama
didn’t feel well, he continues not to deliver. The unfortunate fact for Edwards
is that he got back to his prime topic, Iraq, awfully late. He should have been
hammering on Iraq since spring; again, bad advisers from the start. He has not
been well served, though Trippi coming on board helped. But in the end, Clinton
is still in the cat bird seat.
But this was the exchange of the night. Edwards at his best. If you want to
show your appreciation, send
money, because if Edwards is to take Clinton and Obama on he’s
going to need some help.
RUSSERT: Senator Edwards, would the Israelis be justified in launching an
attack if they felt their security was threatened by a nuclear presence in
Iran?EDWARDS: Well, let me say, first of all, I think there’s a clear responsible
course for America with respect to Iran. And that responsible course is to
recognize that Ahmadinejad is unpopular in
his own country.EDWARDS: And if we work with our friends in Europe in the European banking
system, we can put a clear proposal on the table for the Iranian people; sticks
and carrots. Carrots being, we will help you with your economy if, in fact,
you give up your nuclear ambitions. The flip side being, there will be severe
economic sanctions if you don’t.But I want to come back to a discussion that took place a few minutes ago
to make everyone understands what Senator Gravel is talking and Senator Clinton
was talking about. Because there was a
very important vote cast in the United States Senate today. And it was, basically,
in a resolution calling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.I voted for this war in Iraq, and I was wrong to vote for this war. And
I accept responsibility for that. Senator Clinton also voted for this war.EDWARDS: We learned a very different lesson from that. I have no
intention of giving George Bush the authority to take the first step on a
road to war with Iran.And I think that vote today, which Senator Biden and Senator Dodd
voted against, and they were correct to vote against it, is a clear indication
of the approach that all of us would take with the situation in Iran because
what I learned in my vote on Iraq was you cannot give this president the authority
and you can’t even give him the first step in that authority because he cannot
be trusted. … ..
UPDATE: First, Clinton’s beginning
exchange with Tim Russert was not a good one. She filibustered as she did during
the Sunday shows last weekend, but this time Russert was ready and wouldn’t
let go. She came off pushy and argumentative. It wasn’t a good beginning for
her. Then Gravel teed up the Iran vote today, complimenting Biden and Dodd.
Edwards pivoted and struck. Edwards said he voted for the Iraq war as did Clinton,
but they learned different lessons. He learned that you can’t give this president
the power to act on Iran. Clinton’s explanation about the Iran’s Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corp as “a foreign terrorist organization” was
the same type of rationalization used to get us into Iraq. Edwards was tone
perfect in taking on Clinton’s Iran vote today. As for Obama, he’s fading into
the background completely. Biden is standing out more than he is.
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