Bit of a nothing-burger at the Democrat debate. Your Cardinal is amazed at how skilled the Democrats are at pretending they like each other. The minute the red cue light on the camera goes dark both sides eagerly return to trying to murder the other. At least the Republicans, clumsier in style and less polished, show honest emotion behind their thin veneer. So who won the Democratic debate? I’m not sure either did. Obama was much improved and enjoyed several strong moments. But on the debate stage he still seems soft, weak and young. He badly needs to show a moment of Presidential authority; he badly needs a microphone and a Mr. Breen. Hillary was commanding, smooth though she’d occasionally puncture her meticulously constructed aura of quiet competence with some awful partisan braying. She is the stronger personality on stage, he still seems a little afraid of her. And no wonder. In a primary where feminist identity politics are a powerful force not to be trifled with, Hillary of Clinton remains very a difficult Queen to attack, a situation which must be maddening to Obama. Hillary is also more cynical and more intellectually dishonest, sadly an advantage so far in this campaign. I give a minor victory to her.
