Hits and Missed Opportunities in Texas Debate

[skc1976]

Hey again all!

I wanted to start a thread for areas in which you found hits and missed opportunities in the Texas debate.

For me, one of the hits was her Xerox statement. While I know it was a "miss" in the crowd, I seem to think that's a statement that really may gain some momentum in the future because of it's fierce accuracy. It's the best fire of the political season thus far, I believe.

Another hit for me was her continuing to press the Health Care issue when they tried to keep her quiet. I think that shows the passion she has to insure Americans, not to mention the determination. And really, attacked hard and well on this one.

Her stance on Cuba and the rest of the world was another hit. He's very politically immature on his views on how to get with leaders. I found her answers very educational, and by his agreeing, apparently he did too.

Now for some misses for me from Hillary:

Iraq! Hillary, you don't have to say it was a mistake in your voting record. But darn it, hit him on a few issues in return. First, tell him that he wasn't in the Senate at the time to vote on Iraq and see what was presented. Secondly, let him know that Congress was lied to by the Bush Administration. And lastly, tell him that hindsight is 20/20 and it's easy in 2004 to look back on the vote and say better could have been done. Let him know, again, he wasn't in the Senate.

Superdelegates! You could have really zinged him here by asking him why he's spent over $600,000.00 in wooing and contributing to superdelegates to try and buy their support. And then question him on why John Kerry feels that superdelegates should echo the voice of the voters, but he's not willing to support Clinton given that his state when her direction.

Those are two areas I would have drilled him on. There are another one or two, but I'd have to watch again. I can only hope that in the time from now until Ohio, someone will point this out to Hillary, especially Iraq. I really think if she makes this point, it would make a difference with voters and really open their eyes.

What are your thoughts on her hits and missed opportunities?

[BloodDAnna]

Am thinking that Jesse Jacksons statement earlier this week that he was wanting them to be nice so that they don't divide the party may have had something to do with it. If she felt it was over for her (like CNN is implying) she would have went after him and tore him apart but she showed restraint. I did notice she was getting cut off and then to commercial so her opportunity to hammer him on his statements was lost.

I think her close was the most moving, heartfelt thing I have heard during this campaign.

[CGP]

Good idea. But I will do in reverse.

MISSES

(by this I mean moments when she was too easy on him as opposed to errors she made)

* I agree about the Iraq War comments you made. His position is so extraodarily lacking in substance because he had nothing to do with the decisions that were made. It's very easy to pass judgement on a decision-making process that he had absolutely no involvement with. She should target this naiivity on his part

* Superdelegates - indeed this is a ripe issue to hit him with. His hypocrisy on this is absurd. For the very reasons that you pointed out. She may have kept the topic brief solely because she is behind in the pledged delegates at the moment and it may have appeared defeatist to talk about the right of the SD to make whatever decision they like and to not base a decision based on public pressure.

* Raw votes - they have almost identical raw votes! She has 10,600,000 and he has 10,900,000. One way to attack this notion that he has the momentum is to remind him that in actual fact, despite his more state wins, their overall votes across the "One America" that he speaks of are vitually identicale. She could have hit him with his own rhetoric - he goes on and on about this country not being about red and blue states, but the United States. As such, which candidate wins individual states (big or small, red or blue) is irrelevant. What's more significant is the overall will of the people across the nation collectively - and in this case there has been a 50/50 raw vote split. Addressing this would have bamboozled him. He is in NO position to be claiming a "new moral majority" as he has said recently - utter nonsense.

HITS

* Economy - he waffled. She didn't. She seemed much more competent and convincing speaking about economic issues.

* Plagarism - brilliant. She had to attack him on this and I am glad she did. The sign of a true leader is possessing the ability and willingness to say things which are true but which are not always popular. She doesn't retreat and I like that. She doesn't set out to please everyone and create this fantasy that everyone will love her. That's not reality. He wants to create this impression that he can get along with everyone - well, mate, the reality is that sometimes you have to say things to people that they don't want to hear - he gives me no confidence he has the ability to do that as he is too busy trying to win a high school popularity contest!

* Healthcare - she beats him on this issue everytime. I don't know why he even tries to tackle her expertise on this. She has the clearly superior argument. She should have hit him though for criticizing her former efforts in the 1990s - she has made and learned from her mistakes. He hasn't even had the chance to make his yet!! He will make them on the job - great!!

* Foreign relations - she was clearly superior. She seems more worldly and international, which is ironic considering he is the one with the international heritage and upbringing.

* Closing statement (discuss a difficult time in your life and how you got through it) - the highlight of the night. This is where she truly won the debate. His story was self-absorbed with no reference to the people he claims to lead. Her joint use of humor and heartfelt emotion was very humanizing and appealing. She demonstrated that she is REAL, like the common person and not a lofty idealist stuck in the clouds (that would be BO) with no understanding of the experience of everyday people. She connected with the audience, the listener, and engaged them. It was a truly great moment and BO looked lost and bewildered - like he had no comeback to that truly great statement.

CONCLUSION - HILLARY WON!

MOST MEMORABLE HIGHLIGHTS - "change you can xerox", "closing statement"

-----

[Valencia]

Oh yes he is definitly political inmmature. I believe she needs to be more speciffic about immigration. I work with immigrattion cases von a daily basis. And there are a lot of people in this situation. High School students that have been illegal all their life & cannot go to college. Families separated because mother or father had been deported. The backlog of people waiting for someone to touch their case is incredible. Sounds to me that she should include illegals in that Universal Health Insurance. And talk about the pilot program in Ciudad Juarez. Explain her interest to extend it thru Mexico & other countries. This is a new program where the visa is approved right away. Depending how convincent is the Hardship Letter that the US Citizen present to support an innadmisibility waiver for the immigrant family member. This is really important for the Hispanic Community in Texas.
And I personally know how hard she has been working for Hispanics & Illegals in NYC.

[CGP]

If she felt it was over for her (like CNN is implying) she would have went after him and tore him apart but she showed restraint.

CNN is an absolute DISGRACE. Their blog article basically desribed her closing statement as a concession speech. EXCUSE ME??? They are disgusting in their attempts to influence and deceive the public! I have come to LOATHE CNN for their complete inability to be fair and balanced.

[CGP]

I think her close was the most moving, heartfelt thing I have heard during this campaign.

Indeed. Could it be a "change" moment? A moment when the momentum changed direction? I hope so. She floored him with that brilliant statement about humanity and everyday life.

[CGP]

And I personally know how hard she has been working for Hispanics & Illegals in NYC.

Valencia - do you speak Spanish? Maybe you can do something to help with the Texas campaign!!!??

[Valencia]

Valencia - do you speak Spanish? Maybe you can do something to help with the Texas campaign!!!??

Yes, I do. I have a lot of cases, but this primaries are so important to me that I decide to be out of the office 4 days.( Wed-Sun) To make calls. This is why you do not see me here during the day.

[CGP]

Yes, I do. I have a lot of cases, but this primaries are so important to me that I decide to be out of the office 4 days.( Wed-Sun) To make calls. This is why you do not see me here during the day.

Wow, you are making a great contribution! Keep it up! Hillary needs us to do whatever we can in the next 10 days to ensure victory in Texas and Ohio.

[skc1976]

Good idea. But I will do in reverse.

MISSES

(by this I mean moments when she was too easy on him as opposed to errors she made)

* I agree about the Iraq War comments you made. His position is so extraodarily lacking in substance because he had nothing to do with the decisions that were made. It's very easy to pass judgement on a decision-making process that he had absolutely no involvement with. She should target this naiivity on his part

* Superdelegates - indeed this is a ripe issue to hit him with. His hypocrisy on this is absurd. For the very reasons that you pointed out. She may have kept the topic brief solely because she is behind in the pledged delegates at the moment and it may have appeared defeatist to talk about the right of the SD to make whatever decision they like and to not base a decision based on public pressure.

* Raw votes - they have almost identical raw votes! She has 10,600,000 and he has 10,900,000. One way to attack this notion that he has the momentum is to remind him that in actual fact, despite his more state wins, their overall votes across the "One America" that he speaks of are vitually identicale. She could have hit him with his own rhetoric - he goes on and on about this country not being about red and blue states, but the United States. As such, which candidate wins individual states (big or small, red or blue) is irrelevant. What's more significant is the overall will of the people across the nation collectively - and in this case there has been a 50/50 raw vote split. Addressing this would have bamboozled him. He is in NO position to be claiming a "new moral majority" as he has said recently - utter nonsense.

HITS

* Economy - he waffled. She didn't. She seemed much more competent and convincing speaking about economic issues.

* Plagarism - brilliant. She had to attack him on this and I am glad she did. The sign of a true leader is possessing the ability and willingness to say things which are true but which are not always popular. She doesn't retreat and I like that. She doesn't set out to please everyone and create this fantasy that everyone will love her. That's not reality. He wants to create this impression that he can get along with everyone - well, mate, the reality is that sometimes you have to say things to people that they don't want to hear - he gives me no confidence he has the ability to do that as he is too busy trying to win a high school popularity contest!

* Healthcare - she beats him on this issue everytime. I don't know why he even tries to tackle her expertise on this. She has the clearly superior argument. She should have hit him though for criticizing her former efforts in the 1990s - she has made and learned from her mistakes. He hasn't even had the chance to make his yet!! He will make them on the job - great!!

* Foreign relations - she was clearly superior. She seems more worldly and international, which is ironic considering he is the one with the international heritage and upbringing.

* Closing statement (discuss a difficult time in your life and how you got through it) - the highlight of the night. This is where she truly won the debate. His story was self-absorbed with no reference to the people he claims to lead. Her joint use of humor and heartfelt emotion was very humanizing and appealing. She demonstrated that she is REAL, like the common person and not a lofty idealist stuck in the clouds (that would be BO) with no understanding of the experience of everyday people. She connected with the audience, the listener, and engaged them. It was a truly great moment and BO looked lost and bewildered - like he had no comeback to that truly great statement.

CONCLUSION - HILLARY WON!

MOST MEMORABLE HIGHLIGHTS - "change you can xerox", "closing statement"

-----

Murray,

Now in relation to your "raw votes" missed opportunity, are you counting Michigan and Florida? Because if you are, we know that those are not DNC states and must be punished. They have been bad...very very bad! Their votes do not count and should not count. We don't need them in November! LOL ;)

In relation to the closing statement, I thought it was rude of him to sit there and write during her comments. Almost as if he was getting ready to rebuttal what she was saying. I'm shocked CNN didn't quiet the crowd down so he could get one last shot in. But it was evident he was ready to get out of there as soon as he was done with his part.

Do you know how we can email someone in charge of the campaign to suggest the rebuttal on Iraq so we can stop the momentum he gains on that argument? I'm tired of him saying it was a vote to go to war when Congress was clearly not voting on that and was greatly mislead. Not to mention, what has he done in Congress to stop the war? I'd love to email that to someone in her campaign that can really analyze it.

[skc1976]

Yes, I do. I have a lot of cases, but this primaries are so important to me that I decide to be out of the office 4 days.( Wed-Sun) To make calls. This is why you do not see me here during the day.

THANK YOU for taking the time to help out! Especially if you can outreach to our Spanish speaking voters. It's greatly appreciated!

[CGP]

Do you know how we can email someone in charge of the campaign to suggest the rebuttal on Iraq so we can stop the momentum he gains on that argument? I'm tired of him saying it was a vote to go to war when Congress was clearly not voting on that and was greatly mislead. Not to mention, what has he done in Congress to stop the war? I'd love to email that to someone in her campaign that can really analyze it.

Sean - best guess is to look at the link below and make contact that way. You can either send an email, fax to the campaign headquarters, or telephone. But definitely make contact and share your ideas.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/help/contact/

In regards to the raw votes, I am not sure if the figures I quoted include the votes from Florida and Michigan - I will have too look into that.

And yes, it was very rude of him to make notes during her final statement. I mean, what the hell was he writing about at that point???!!! I thought he was going to try and have the last word so I at least give him credit for allowing the debate to end right there and not try and overshadow her! That would have been completely classless!!

[pennylane8510]

Sean - best guess is to look at the link below and make contact that way. You can either send an email, fax to the campaign headquarters, or telephone. But definitely make contact and share your ideas.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/help/contact/

In regards to the raw votes, I am not sure if the figures I quoted include the votes from Florida and Michigan - I will have too look into that.

And yes, it was very rude of him to make notes during her final statement. I mean, what the hell was he writing about at that point???!!! I thought he was going to try and have the last word so I at least give him credit for allowing the debate to end right there and not try and overshadow her! That would have been completely classless!!

I have always wondered what he is writing about during the debates. Maybe his evil plan to rule the world? ;)

[skc1976]

Thanks for the link. I'll definitely use it a little later. I'm so tired of her getting "hammered" by him on this issue when she's not in the wrong for her vote. I'm hoping someone can get the message to her so she can fire back on it and really catch him offguard.

I thought he would try and make a reply as well. I keep waiting for him to throw that hand up like he always does. I get so tired of seeing him throw that hand up all the time when she's speaking.

[skc1976]

I have always wondered what he is writing about during the debates. Maybe his evil plan to rule the world? ;)

Don't you mean someone else's evil plan to rule the world? :D

[voteWise]

hillary has been on the defensive about her vote in every debate and she is letting him define her ... -- she always looks weak on this and he pretends he has 'judgement"

She needs to point out that she is the senator form NY and it was her city that was hit. I doubt Obama would be making anti-war speeches in chicago if it was sears tower that had gone down.

People will sympathize with hillary when they puts the NY city -- 9/11 context to explain her vote to authorize force.... -- basically she had no lee-way to get that decision wrong and she erred on the side of caution .... and trusted the Bush administration to uphold the trust the US had placed in them.

[Disfranchised]

I think she made a mistake by answering the question about the next Russian president first. He looked clueless and she should have told him you want to take this one first. And show the American public his Knowledge about foreign policy!!!
She should have also reminded him that maybe there was no Al-Quida in Iraq when we started the war but they are there now!!!