Diplomacy, diplomacy and also diplomacy. Did I mention diplomacy?
9:25 PM … Hillary “I will do everything I can” to prevent from Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Good answer.
9:26 PM … Obama: We cannot act as if we are the weakest nation in the world when we are the strongest. That’s pretty much a quote, but I’m not sure I got it word for word. The first sign of life I’ve seen out of him in the debate. Up until then sort of disappointing.
9:30 PM … I’m actually somewhat surprised at the relative outbreak of sanity among the Democratic presidential candidates on Iran. The key point, though they’ve all been afraid to say it, is that allowing Iran to get one or two penny-ante nukes is not the worst thing that can happen for us. It doesn’t threaten us. It’s not great. It would be a really bad development. But it doesn’t justify doing something positively insane that won’t really prevent the Iranians from getting a nuclear weapon and if we could have this debate honestly isn’t even about the Iranian nuclear program. Say it again, fundamentally this is not even about an Iranian bomb. But another point — diplomacy is a tactic, not a strategy. Our whole strategy is wrong in the region. Leaving more time for the diplomatic phase of the policy just delays getting to where the policy is taking us: full-scale war with Iran.
9:41 PM … TPM Reader RS disagrees …
With all due respect, Josh, Hillaryâs answer was not a good one. To me, it came across as trying to split the middle on a very direct question. Sheâs trying to sound aggressive without actually sounding aggressive (if that makes any sense). Why not just say âIf I am elected President, Iran wonât get nuclear weapons. I will do everything in my powerâ¦..etc etcâ? Really, whatâs the harm?
You know for damned sure the Repugs are going to jump all over it.
I disagree. This is a bullet you have to bite. If you make an absolute statement, you put yourself onto the ground for military action. Yes, Republicans will probably jump all over it. But for both reasons of substance and politics, at a certain point you need to grab hold of the root of this issue. Otherwise, you’re constantly on the defensive, off-balance and enabling disaster.
9:45 PM … Whatever you think of Clinton’s answer to this experience question, I still get a chuckle out of Giuliani’s idea that he was somehow commander-in-chief of New York City. Responsible for the safety of millions of people? The Mayor?
9:52 PM … Again with this doofus Giuliani ‘experience’ question. Made a payroll? Rudy? Opening and rainmaking consultancy to cash in on your public service. That doesn’t count. Face it. Giuliani was a government lawyer his entire life until he served two terms as mayor. Nothing wrong with that. Very honorable. But don’t pretend you’re some sort of business man.
10:01 PM … Okay, I may have to endorse Biden after this tear against Rudy. Right, the least qualified man running for president since George Bush. Actually, this whole answer is pretty great. Not really being in the race is sorta liberating.
10:03 PM … Why do we indulge Tim Russert’s delusion that he’s an expert on social insurance programs?
10:04 PM … Here’s the thing with Hillary. Not always inspiring answers. But, man, she never flubs an answer. Simply unflappable. Like a machine. And I mean that as a compliment.
10:07 PM … This is more a policy point than a political point. But all sorts of people say that it gets harder to work on Social Security the longer we wait. I don’t think that’s true. If you raised the cap now, before there’s even any drawing down on the Trust Fund, all it would do would be to subsidize upper income tax cuts. I know that requires some more explanation. I’ll try to address it in a post tomorrow.
10:10 PM … And Russert, please pull this guy’s license. Truly living in a fantasy world imagining that he’s some sort of social policy mandarin. Enough. Off with you!
10:11 PM … Good Obama answer on swift-boating and what a fool Mitt Romney is. (Probably a better option than the dangerous and buffoonish Giuliani, but still lame.)
10:23 PM … We appear now to be in the lame question segment of the debate.
10:39 PM … Maybe debates should only last one hour?
11:02 PM … Who can make Tim Russert go away?
TPM Reader SR seems to agree …
10:59. I don’t know whether Obama effectively smacked-down HRC tonight, but repeatedly throughout the night, he exposed TIm Russert as the buffoon that he is. Surely he deserves a bump in the polls just for that.
11:13 … Post debate inane chatter segment. Andrea Mitchell, please send her where we’re sending Russert.
11:37 … Not sure what I think about the Hillary/drivers’ license exchange. It does seem like a typically bogus hedge. It’s a good idea, a good approach, but she won’t formally endorse it. Good idea, I support it. I just don’t endorse it.
