Josh Marshall's blind commentary on the debate

[JDPriestly]

Talking Points Memo's
Live Debate Blogging

Diplomacy, diplomacy and also diplomacy. Did I mention diplomacy?

9:25 PM ... Hillary "I will do everything I can" to prevent from Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Good answer.

9:26 PM ... Obama: We cannot act as if we are the weakest nation in the world when we are the strongest. That's pretty much a quote, but I'm not sure I got it word for word. The first sign of life I've seen out of him in the debate. Up until then sort of disappointing.

9:30 PM ... I'm actually somewhat surprised at the relative outbreak of sanity among the Democratic presidential candidates on Iran. The key point, though they've all been afraid to say it, is that allowing Iran to get one or two penny-ante nukes is not the worst thing that can happen for us. It doesn't threaten us. It's not great. It would be a really bad development. But it doesn't justify doing something positively insane that won't really prevent the Iranians from getting a nuclear weapon and if we could have this debate honestly isn't even about the Iranian nuclear program. Say it again, fundamentally this is not even about an Iranian bomb. But another point -- diplomacy is a tactic, not a strategy. Our whole strategy is wrong in the region. Leaving more time for the diplomatic phase of the policy just delays getting to where the policy is taking us: full-scale war with Iran.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

Josh Marshall completely ignores the fact that Edwards was in the debate. I used to read the Talking Points Memo regularly, but his "live blog" of tonight's debate is ridiculous. I have lost my respect for Marshall. He doesn't mention Edwards because he doesn't want to have to deal with what a strong showing Edwards made tonight. Marshall is blinded by Hillary like the proverbial deer in the headlights. He is going to have to work hard to regain credibility in my eyes -- and after all the good investigative work he did in the past, it is rather sad to watch him refuse to see the facts right before his eyes: Hillary is a weak candidate. Edwards is the best contender.

[Bicoastal]

1. You may be right about Hilary...

...but it's hard to ignore the simple fact that she's currently polling higher than anyone on either side BY FAR.

[JDPriestly]

2. It is still very early.

I have watched as more and more DUers switch from nobody to Edwards and from Hillary to Edwards. I believe that more and more people will switch to Edwards as they become more involved and watch the campaign and candidates more carefully. I studied the candidates carefully before deciding to back Edwards. I looked at their policy proposals and their personalities, backgrounds, etc. I really believe Edwards is the best. Hillary is the only candidate that I strongly distrust and dislike.

[cali]

3. Actually, it's not very early.

it's less than 2 months to Iowa, and what DUers do is not an accurate predictor of what dems in the real world will do.

[KittyWampus]

4. Actually, Josh totally missed BIDEN who is the one who reshaped the debate regarding Iran.

Not Edwards.

It was BIDEN who brought up Pakistan already having Nukes and nuclear material. HE was the one who cautioned attacking Iran and destabilizing region.

It was all the other candidates who kept saying "I agree with Joe".