MOMocrats

Go Read It: Hillary's "Obliterate Iran" Remark and the Overseas Response

Maybe the one big piece of news that came out of the otherwise content-free ABC News debate was Clinton's stance on the "what-if?" situation where Iran uses nuclear arms to attack Israel. Clinton spoke about maintaining an "umbrella of deterrence" and that the U.S., under her lead, would "obliterate Iran"--with nuclear weapons, if need be--to protect our ally Israel.

It wasn't a mistake, she said it again when interviewed a few days later.

Contrast this with Governor Bill Richardson's more reasoned comments on Iran:

Clinton's remark disappeared into the ether, we were all so rightly annoyed at the overall vapidity of George Stuffin'envelopes and Chuck Gibson's moderation of that so-called debate.

But the international press certainly sat up and noticed--go read it here.

Flag pin? I gotchyer flag pin right here.

Of all the questions asked during the Pennsylvania debate, the one that pissed me off the most was why Barack Obama does not wear a flag pin. Does that mean he's unpatriotic?

No, but if you are questioning his patriotism because he doesn't adorn his suit with colorful enamel and cheap metal, then you might be a hypocritical bigot.

You know what? I am glad he doesn't wear a flag pin. I have decided that of all the reasons to support Obama, the fact that he doesn't wear the fucking flag on his lapel is the most important reason to vote for him.

Is this asshole a patriot?

How about this jerkoff? Patriot?

The Presidential Primary Debate That Wasn't

There seems to be widespread sentiment, both here at Momocrats and generally in the political blogosphere, that last night's Democratic Presidential Primary Debate on ABC (transcript here) was pretty much the most pointless, most poorly moderated debate so far this primary season.

Featuring 45 straight minutes of questions entirely focused on campaign trail gaffes and splashy media controversies that have already been addressed repeatedly by both candidates, in my opinion, the most impressive aspect of this debate was how artfully ABC's normally seemingly fairly intelligent moderators, George Stephanopoulos and Charles Gibson, managed to avoid any serious, cogent discussion of actual issues that affect voters' daily lives.

We here at Momocrats are pretty frustrated by the lack of serious discussion of serious issues in this debate. And so, we've decided to come up with our own list of questions we wish the ABC moderators had posed, and, over the next few days, some of us will be researching to uncover what information we can about where the candidates stand on these important issues, so we can report back to you.

The Questions We Wished ABC Had Asked:

Dear George Stephanopoulos, When Did You Become Such a Tool?

Dear George,

Hey! Remember me?  We went to college together.  We met on a very unfortunate blind date, which I think ended with you calling me a communist and me calling you something that rhymes with "ick".  Bygones, I hope.

Still, as I got to know you a little in college from our intersecting circles of friends, I started to think that you were probably one of the brightest people I knew in a college full of brainiacs.  I mean, dude, Barack Obama himself graduated the year I did, one year after you.  Did you know him?  I didn't, but I imagine the two of you furiously debating during Zbigniew Brzezinski's honors seminar on Cold War Politics or having a brewski at the West End.  Maybe not. 

I watched your career with interest, from your creation of the now archetypal preppy-but-earnest Presidential aide (Michael J. Fox played you to Michael Douglas' President in some movie or another), to reading your book about how the Clintons made you turn to antidepressants and C-list actresses for comfort, to your rise through the TV news ranks from cub reporter to Sunday morning show host.  I've always told people with a little bit of pride, "I knew that guy when he was just a short Greek guy with good hair and a lot of ambition."

score one for stupid

As others have noted the debate was an enormous letdown on the part of the media.  Gibson and Stephanopoulos were shameful, asking questions about Bittergate and Bosnia and Wright instead of healthcare and housing and foreign policy.  And the flag pin question nearly gave me a stroke. 

It's clear that the giants of media have succumbed to the dumbing down of America, of making this election about speculation and snark instead of issues and ethics.  To see them goading the candidates with stupid questions and to have to watch the candidates, Obama in particular, practically begging for something substantial to talk about.  Thankfully the latter portion of the debate turned around, largely at the prodding of the candidates themselves.  It's like having the smart kids tell the teacher they really, really want to learn.

George and Charlie, don't quit your day jobs.  And keep wearing those flag pins. 

Live blogging and Chat with the MOMocrats for the PA Democratic Debate

Using the super simple Cover It Live software, the MOMocrats will live blog during the debate tonight. because this is interactive, you'll be able to chime in with your comments and questions too! Join us tonight at 8 p.m. EST. (This is a sticky post, scroll down for more content.)

How relevant is the Compassion Forum?

(Photo Credit: EFE, via EITB-24)

Compassion Forum. When I first heard about this compassion forum I felt extremely dubious and suspicious. Campbell Brown put my sentiment in the form of a question to both candidates when she asked how they would respond to people who felt that this forum was inappropriate. I listened carefully to how each replied, but mostly what I heard was blah blah blah platitudes. I think maybe both said something metaphorical about an anchor and ship and bulwarks and grace.

I'm making it sound as if I didn't pay attention or lack the ability to eloquently recount, a la reporter-style, what each candidate said---which isn't the case. It's not my problem; I heard them perfectly well and comprehended all too well what each said. It's their problem: neither of them said anything in the answer that was solid or concrete enough for me to grasp and share with you.

That was a problem throughout this so-called compassion forum, which wasn't about compassion at all. It was about faith and religion.

People who know me know that I am a person of faith and spirituality, and that I do not shy away from these topics. I frequently use them as writing prompts in my weekly writing roundtables.

So why was I so troubled by the compassion forum? Three simple reasons:

1. Euphemisms and connotations

2. Misnomers

3. Pandering to a vocal minority.

Keep reading to learn how I back up my points...

Clinton and Obama on the "R" Word, Recession

I predict soon we'll all be repeating famous words from 1992: then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton's mantra, "It's the economy, stupid." The past week's Fed bailout of securities firm Bear Stearns with a $30 billion credit line ought to convince everyone that the "R" word that matters is not Race, Racism, or Religion, but Recession.

It's the biggest campaign issue no one's talking about right now.

Remember, Just Because You're Paranoid ...

... doesn't mean they aren't really out to get you.

In all great humor, there's always a grain of truth.

Sure, Comedy Central is having a little fun, but how do we explain MSNBC's Chris Matthews turning a guest's favorable comment about both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama during the pre-Ohio debate coverage into one just about Obama?

Matthews' guest, a representative of the Ohio Democratic Party, asked the crowd to respond if they liked the views of the Democratic candidates on a particular issue (sorry, I can't remember which one!).

Then Matthews immediately instructed the crowd to cheer if they backed Obama's position,  excluding Hillary.  The Democratic Party guest quickly jumped in and asked for those in favor of Hillary on that same issue to cheer.  To my ears, about an equal number hooped it up for Obama as for Hillary.  Matthews dismissed the Hillary backers, saying, "That's just one guy making a lot of noise."

Granted, this is just an example of one person, but after a while, you've got to wonder -- maybe they really ARE out to get her.

Joanne, who also writes at PunditMom, is going to be keeping a close eye on Chris Matthews.

superheroes are overrated

"There's a certain amount of vanity and ego in politics" Obama stated near the end of the Cleveland debate and I thought "you think?!" 

Because kids, I'll tell you this much:  You are starting to lose me.  Stop hedging.  Stop couching everything. Admit you could have done something different. And you know, if just once you actually said you were wrong, I'd fall off the fence onto your side.

Hey, I thought ______ was a good idea but you know, once I voted for it and we rolled it out, I realized I was wrong.  But I've learned from it and now I'd do _______ .

Just try it.  We'll love you for it in the morning.  We don't need a superhero.