Actually, I like a "nice nice" debate. I don't like seeing Democrats tear one another apart. All they do is provide fodder for the Republicans to use when it comes down to the big election. "Even Hillary Clinton said..............". "Obama agrees .....................is wrong for the job."

I think they can put their platform and policies and intentions before the public without savageing one another. In my memory, this has never been done, so I'd love to see it at least tried and see what happens.

Sooner or later the candidates have to draw distinctions between themselves and the rest of the field. I'm not advocating personal attacks, but deliberate contrasts betweent the candidates policy positions. What we have now is pabulum and bromides that highlight just how similar these candidates are.

Fodder for the Republicans? That should be the least of our concerns. If we concentrate on selecting the best candidate, then it won't matter what the GOP mud slingers throw at them - they'll already be battle tested.

Last nights debate should have been subtitled "Dead Men (&Woman) Talking". What a snoozefest!. The only people on that stage willing to speak their mind were Kucinich and Gravel. Everyone else sounded like they were reading from their advisors notes on how to not say anything or alienate anyone. We really need someone to shake this country out of its political slumber, and I didn't see that person last night. That having been said, they really need to thin that field, with Richardson and Dodd being the obvious choices to go. I'm starting to see too many similarities between Richardson's level of intelligence and our incumbent genius, and I wouldn't trust Dodd in a room with $10 on the table, if you know what I mean.

I think it's possible to get your point across without denigrating your Dem. opponents. Pick your battle.

AnneMarie3x3:

I think it's possible to get your point across without denigrating your Dem. opponents. Pick your battle.

That's right but what struck me about the forum was that in addition to not offering any distinctions between their positions they also didn't convey much that would help us judge their sincerity, passion or why they'd be different than all those who have come before and made the same promises. That's a high bar for any debate but still...