Morning-After Report: The 1 Picture, 6.05 Candidate, 8 Person Democratic Debate

(clicking won't get you more candidates, but they do get bigger)

Because a picture is worth a thousand words; the NYT lead photo is always a definitive statement on these things; and CNN did most of the damage with its handicapping arrangement of the candidates, here's the take down:

1.  Someone tell Kucinich he's been "MIA-ed."

2.  Biden barely had a hand in it.  (Maybe no one can stand to see that mouth.)

3.  Richardson: Nice guy, but basically a stiff.

4. Gravel can come over, but he's got to play outside.

5. "Cut war funding" Chris on other end of "less anti-war" HC/BO tag team.

6.  Edwards attacks swipes from left.  Maybe back in (MSM's) thick of things?  (If it looks chummy now, btw, check this.)

7.  Awarded "pole position," Hill scores twice more by: a.) carving out exact middle, as is her nature, and b.) keeping lower profile.

8.  Banking the face time, Obama earns big pic by winning war of (most) words (16 minutes vs. 8 for Dodd, I think I read). Earns points for big improvement on S. Carolina, plus just looks good.

9.  Who did you say sponsored this thing?  (NYT pic wins honorable mention for miraculous blackout of CNN logo spam.  Case in point , plus: does Edwards needling spell overdue end to showing of hands?)

(image: Patrick Andrade for The New York Times. GOFFSTOWN, N.H. June 4, 2007.  nytimes.com.  By the way, if you're one of those BAGreaders that actually peruses down here, notice the brilliant headline accompanying the pic -- if they haven't changed it already.  It reads: "Iraq Is the Flash Point as 8 Democratic Rivals Clash."  What's that, insult to injury? linked image 1 and 2: Brian Snyder/Reuters. linked image 3: Charles Krupa/AP via Salon)

Comments

[Kitt]

Hmmmm - well, at this point, all I want to say is this: They look quite a bit different than the ReThuglican bunch.

I'm torn between learning French (Canada) or Norwegian (Liberia; nah, just kiddin') in the event of emergency emigration.

[ummabdulla]

Isn't this campaign almost over yet? Oh, right... it's hardly started...

[Asta]

Well, I can't really fault Edwards on his $400 haircut because I would probably pay more if somebody could cut my hair and not make me look like a ... wart hog. Ferchrissake!

Who does Hillary's hair, I gotta find out!

Oh to be rich. That's what it all boils down to.

Upon further analysis, did they all get their suits from the same place? Rent-A-Pol? They could swap jackets and no one would know.

[neoillini]

The first thing I noticed was how they threw Kucinich and Gravel on the fringes of the group and put the big 3 right in the center. Obviously, there isn't going to be an equal time share for these candidates because the media's already decided who the major players are, but it would be nice for the smaller guys to get a fair amount of time. Unfortunately, that's not how it works. If you've got the cash you'll get the time. Although, I will admit I like Obama and Edwards.

[readytoblowagasket]

Not many comments about the visuals; my list is more about content and performance.

Hillary Clinton and Dennis Kucinich were given risers to stand on. I never saw Kucinich’s, but Clinton was shown from the back several times, and her riser was visible from that angle. It made me wonder if Wolf Blitzer had lifts.

I’ve seen high school drama productions that were better than CNN’s pathetic technical bungling. I kept thinking, You people do this for a living!

1. Kucinich was actually on the other side of Joe Biden, next to Blitzer. Unfortunately, he did not shine last night.
2. Biden got apoplectic about Darfur, which kind of stunned everyone into momentary silence, as if he’d uttered the F-word on TV.
3. Bill Richardson was unimpressive.
4. I love Mike Gravel because he always gets so pissed off it delights me. Last night was tame compared to the previous debate.
5. Chris Dodd gave a surprisingly good performance.
6. John Edwards drew the “attack dog” straw before the debate.
7. Once you got over the shock of Clinton’s frightening makeup, she gave an impressive performance.
8. Barack Obama’s answers were oatmeal. He was so vague and boring I wondered if he was on allergy medication. He must stop the priggish habit of folding his hands in front of him on the podium!

[frances]

I would really like to see a Edwards/Dodd ticket or a Dodd/Edwards one, they are what this country needs, could go for a Edwards/Richardson ticket as well.

[J R]

Why not elect some crazed homeless guy? I bet he'd make better decisions than anyone we've got in Washington these days... *sad sigh*

[Geoduck]

I’ve seen high school drama productions that were better than CNN’s pathetic technical bungling.

I heard a first-person report ten years or so ago that CNN is mostly held together with spit, bailing wire and interns. I can't imagine things have gotten any better since then.