"Democratic contenders, by any historical measure, match in quality any offered in decades."

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Analysis
Democratic Hopefuls Show Political Heft
By David Broder
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 27, 2007; Page A06

ORANGEBURG, S.C., April 26 -- In the final minute of Thursday night's televised Democratic presidential debate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware was asked by NBC's Brian Williams if he saw anybody on stage, aside possibly from himself, who could lead the party to victory next year.

"I see a bunch of winners," Biden replied, gallantly singling out Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) for special praise.

Biden may be biased, but the overall impression from the first formal debate from this early-starting campaign is that the Democrats have a field of contenders that, by any historical measure, matches in quality any the party has offered in decades.

At least six of the eight declared candidates -- Biden, Clinton, Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.), former senator John Edwards (N.C.) and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson -- showed themselves to be both substantive and direct in their responses. The other two, Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (Ohio) and former senator Mike Gravel (Alaska), provided a counterpoint of left-wing ideas that drew rebukes for a lack of seriousness from Biden and Obama. The challenges from the liberal flank allowed almost all the others to assert that, despite their criticisms of President Bush's Iraq policy, they are ready to use military force to retaliate against future terrorist attacks.

The debate, aired nationally on MSNBC and carried by NBC stations in South Carolina, site of an early primary next winter, was fast-paced and civil, with few sharp jabs among the serious contenders....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/26/AR2007042602957.html?hpid=topnews

[AndyA]

1. I have to think the Republican Party is dirtying their Depends right now.

Look at what they're offering up:

Flip flop McCain

Three timing Giuliani

Rusty Rambler Romney

And the rest are so underwhelming they don't even bear mentioning.

The Dems are a sparkling bunch compared to the dirty broken glass of the GOP.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Indeed! n/t

[Pab Sungenis]

3. Ahem. *tap tap tap*

THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE SAID ABOUT BUSH!

[AndyA]

4. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!

I'm holding out hope that the majority of Americans aren't going to be fooled so easily this time. I know, I know...

There are a lot fewer good jobs this time around, thanks to Bush. I doubt the people who lost them are going to vote GOP this round. It's hard to vote for the party who displaced you from a $150,000 a year job with benefits, and forced you into a $10/hour job with no benefits.

And that's happened thousands and thousands of times over the course of *'s tenure.

I didn't think there was any way in hell * could possibly be elected, but I wasn't counting on the SCOTUS stealing the election for him.

[rodeodance]

5. i agree, I am proud of them all