Left Flank

Watching the Democratic candidates, I was struck with the foreboding feeling that the Democratic Party is shrinking. Not only will the attenuated primary campaign winnow the candidates down to a handful until one man or woman becomes the nominee, but the platform choices will also dwindle. As the Republicans ramp up in response, the preliminary testing of the waters will turn into a black versus white smear campaign. The strength of the Democratic Party is its diversity, often expressing itself in fractiousness. From this point, and 90 minutes was too brief a time to tackle all the problems facing the American political system, the Democratic Party is selling a brand. TMV's Joe Gandelman expressed this turn in the road well.

If you tuned in to tonight’s Democratic candidates debate and expected fireworks, you were likely disappointed. If you tuned in expecting a major gaffe, you were disappointed. If you tuned in expecting to see The Major Star emerge from the pack, you were disappointed.

But in a debate hampered by format as well as the natural caution of salesmen warily rolling out their products in front of potential buyers for the first time, the watchword was â€ūcontentâ€? and a unity of sorts around the concept that the next President must make a drastic departure from the policies, political style, unilateral international brinksmanship of the Bush administration.

Short in vision, short in substance, I would add. Senator Joe Biden delivered the only «aaaahhhh» moment as far as I was concerned.

I also find myself in perfect agreement with The Glittering Eye. I don't want to vote for Senator Clinton if I don't have to, but former Senator John Edwards does deserve credit for his healthcare plan. I hope Edwards and Governor Bill Richardson can spare more on that issue, with Senator Obama as a third. I just Hillary is watching and soaking up these debates, because she will need all the help she can get (it's interesting to note how her favorables are falling). And, it can't be said enough, she has to learn how to speak without sounding shrill.

I think I just placed my marker again, but I'm not thrilled with it: Richardson and Clinton, in any order.