when the debates were giving him only softballs they weren't calling the networks.

Schadenfreude beeyotches!

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"If I was Vice-President, you know what I'd do?

Pretty much anything I wanted to!

Vote for me!" - Joe Walsh (channeling Dick Cheney)

but isn't it just possible that ABC did embarrass itself? (were it capable of embarrassment)

Atrios sure thought it was a disgrace

Their guy lost, and badly.

This is their spin.

Eyes on the prize!

Of course ABC embarassed itself. Of course ABC was awful. Just like the press has been awful to all Democrats -- except, for the past few months, Obama -- for fucking decades. So suck it up and deal!

[x] Any (D) in the general. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.

Obama embarassed himself.

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"If I was Vice-President, you know what I'd do?

Pretty much anything I wanted to!

Vote for me!" - Joe Walsh (channeling Dick Cheney)

That's what all the "serious" people insist is The Truth. Seriously, if Obama has already won, why the fuck do they give a shit? What. The. Fuck.

ABC went after Obama, true, but they exposed him, rather than smeared him (The actual media hit jobs have Clinton in their cross-hairs). The true disgrace was how Obama fucked himself over with a pitiful performance. The blame lies with Obama, however, it'll be spun as a racist, hillbilly media conspiracy against The Beloved.

Obama wasn't asked if he needed a pillow.

There were at least 2 previous debates just as awful. I remember texting with my sister for those since she was stuck in meetings. They were similar with the first 40-50 minutes having no substance whatsoever. I think all the networks have embarrassed themselves in their coverage this go round. It's all about getting rid of the Dem. First with the misogyny, now with the gotchya.

But there's no doubt the debate was a tabloid issue lovefest. And isn't part of "deal" to voice outrage at the (usual) media M.O.?

to which my response to the OFB would be "You first!"
(at least on a candidate's debate).

And je repete -- There's nothing at all new about any of this, except for one thing: This time, for the first time, it was a problem for Obama.

[x] Any (D) in the general. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.

It's about damn time the Obama fan boys wake the hell up. This is just a taste of what Obama would face if he's the nominee. His supporters have done him a terrible disservice by refusing to even allow legitimate criticism of him, especially considering his titanic, hyper-sensitive ego. He has a horrible track record in debates when questioned and his tell is so damn obvious: he becomes absolutely furious, lashing out at Clinton, or he chokes, desperately trying to cover with either a bald-faced lie or an empty platitude.

In South Carolina, he lied about Rezko, claiming he was just some "individual" who he worked on behalf of for 5 hours. In that same debate, when Clinton twice called him out for not accounting for $50B in his policy plans he said he would be "happy" to answer it but he never did, instead used it to launch that "Wal-Mart" tirade against her. And his arrogance always gets the best of him; he just flat-out lies, and with ease, to boost his ego (e.g., boasting about his ethics bill; claiming he was running for US Senate when he spoke out against Iraq). There's no way in hell Obama will be allowed to get away with so much as breathing the wrong way if he's the nominee (see: Al Gore's "sighs").

this wasn't the most appalling debate at all--i'd say it was par for the course.

Obama does lie in these frequently, and tonight was perhaps the first time he was called on it...it's still not enough tho.

This treatment of him should have happened pre-Iowa, but most of his supporters don't want him subjected to the harsh reality ever--he's simply a symbol and living proof of their superiority to others and their own enlightened attitudes.

...that the person who writes Fafblog is an Obama supporter.

I'm not surprised. The tone of Fafblog II is a bit different nowadays, too.

that's sad--RudePundit is Obama also...

Yep, but the saving grace is that he only goes after Hillary on the Wal-Mart millionaire front. He (in the Giblets aspect) defends the bitter/cling thing. Well, I mean, the demographic and background and (former?) location of the author made it highly probable that he would think that way.

yeah, not the worst, but certainly one of the two or three worst.

Candidates need to learn to set the agenda themselves, and spank the media when it pulls this crap.

One of the most offensive part of the debate was the use of "real people" to ask the worst questions. I mean, how many people did they have to interview before they found ones who gave a fuck about flag pins and mythical Bosnian snipers?

The ONLY people that I know that care about that stuff have already made up their minds, and 'care' merely because it gives them one more 'reason' to think they've made the right decision.

"50 minutes before any policy questions" meme.

The implication is that the questions asked before that were totally irrelevant.

Character is not a policy question, but it is relevant.

------------------------------------------------
"If I was Vice-President, you know what I'd do?

Pretty much anything I wanted to!

Vote for me!" - Joe Walsh (channeling Dick Cheney)

From Salon:

"Obama and Clinton fizzle in Philly

Wednesday's debate was devoid of substance and rife with gotcha politics. In the end, Obama seemed to win simply by not losing."

By Walter Shapiro

Barry didn't shit himself, therefore he won

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"If I was Vice-President, you know what I'd do?

Pretty much anything I wanted to!

Vote for me!" - Joe Walsh (channeling Dick Cheney)

After 20 debates, they've finally noticed some unfairness. Slow-information voters, I guess.

"The Most Vetted Candidate in Recent History."

What are they smoking, and can I have some? Or is that post not about Obama?

Bill Clinton for First Dude!!!

Obama will be hit with as the nominee. He better toughen up and learn to deal with it in a more effective manner or he will be looking at a overwhelming defeat come November.

four times as many states as McGovern.

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"If I was Vice-President, you know what I'd do?

Pretty much anything I wanted to!

Vote for me!" - Joe Walsh (channeling Dick Cheney)

(laughing) and crying.....

I agree that this debate was no worse (even tamer) than the ones that hit Hillary hardest. My guess is, the GOS (and MoveAlong) will have petitions to make the debates more fair (ie: return them to what they were before last night.), not realizing that last night's debate was more fair than all the previous debates thus far.

Congratulations, Obama fans. This just became a primary contest, and not a love-in. You're finally going to have to see your baby jesus defend his behavior.

That debate was about a "5" as a prelude to what is coming Obama's way.
As a poster on TalkLeft said, it's time for Kos and JMM to put their big boy panties on.

atrios seems especially aghast.

several others in the MSM seem aghast?

What changed? (te he he heeeeeee)

What no one seems to be talking about is Hillary's statement about withdrawing troops from Iraq regardless of the 'conditions on the ground'.

First time she has articulated her Iraq stance in that fashion, AFAIK?

And BOTH went the extra mile to seem EXTRA hawkish on Iran.(and seemingly disregarding the intelligence ala Bush)

Points out that Clinton defended the Orange frat house, I would point out that Clinton did not vote for the Senate resolution censuring MoveOn, but Mr. Hopey Unity Pony did.

A person contrasts Barack's meeting Iran at the table, etc. with his China - Olympics ceremonies stance.

Where's the consistency?

Perhaps that was at Clemons' blog, in comments.
BTW, I came over from Krugman linking you. Fabulous news that the fiscal sage is reading here!