March Politics Round Table: Grading the Democrats
Posted by Jason Easley on 12.31.1969
Yesterday the gang at 411 Politics put top Republicans under the microscope. Today it is the Democrats turn. How will Clinton, Obama, and others hold up in our writers' eyes.
Justin Baragona: C. I'll give Hillary credit for building herself up to be the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in ‘08. However, she is just an extremely polarizing figure and tends to rub quite a few people the wrong way (deservedly or not). She also is being a bit Bush-like in her inability to admit mistakes as she still insists that her vote for the Iraq War Resolution was sound and that she would not necessarily take it back, which of course doesn't sit well with Democrats, especially when she will make an about face and rail on the war. She should take a lesson from John Edwards, a former war supporter who has admitted he made the wrong judgment. She'll be tough to take down come ‘08, but it might be best for everyone (especially the Democrats) if she doesn't run.
Audrey Teagen: C. Ya know, I'm on the fence with Clinton. I can't find much to disagree with when it comes to her views and policies, but I just don't like her (spoken like a true woman). And for the life of me, I can't put a finger on it as to why. New Yorkers seem to approve as they reelected her with 67% majority, but I don't necessarily trust her. Clinton seems cold to me, she seems easily swayed and unsteady on her feet. I think it's wonderful and an absolutely necessary step to have a woman run for president, I just don't think she should be the first woman to be elected.
Brian McLain: F. The woman has prestige, I'll give you that. She has a good following too, but something about this woman makes my head explode. I admit I was no fan of the Clintons, never have been and never will be. When a woman who has enough to push her into the front of the Democratic Presidential race starts rehashing "Right Wing Conspiracy" and charges of sexist mindframes if people don't vote for her credibility really takes a dive in my view. If that wasn't enough, I'm no big fan of federal universal health care either.
Ray Robison: Hillary was rating about a B before the last few months. Not that she did better than President Bush, but she did so much better than the rest of the democratic leadership, she got extra credit. A lot of people missed the fact that Hillary wasn't towing the "Bush Lied; People Died" line on Iraq. There is a reason for that. Because she knew that Bush didn't lie. Her own husband was saying the same things when they were in the White House (he just didn't do anything about it). She knew the evidence and knew that history would be rough on her if she flip-flopped like the rest of the democrats who voted for the war, before they voted against it. But a few months ago, after seeing the democrats take congress on the BL:PD TM of the Democratic Party platform, she began to adopt the argument for herself. It was as clear a case of political opportunism as I have ever seen for which she now rates a D.
Matthew D.S.: B+. The power pants suit woman is off to a seemingly good start with her Presidential campaign, and handily won re-election in November. She has managed to cement herself as the number one Democratic candidate (for now), and has a lot of resources, including her still popular husband, at her disposal.
Dan Martin: D. I know money is rolling in and the ducks are lined up for her. The problem she faces is a question of likeability. Her refusal to say her war vote was a mistake may make her look tough. However, it smacks of disingenuousness word-smithing. I do not see her resonating with voters.
Josh White: B. Since she was a first lady the right has been speculating that this is exactly what Clinton planned on. I guess they were right. Since she has announced her candidacy she has been followed, analyzed, and she's had her flaws (all of them) announced to the world. Because of all this, she has become increasingly "prepared" for every public event. This makes her look less sincere and more robotic. This, in turn, makes her look like a less ideal candidate. No A for her.
Brandon Crow: B-. Her run for the presidency raises her political capital and visibility more than her stint as a US Senator, and perhaps even more than being the former First Lady. So in that regard, her announcement and her subsequent campaign tour should garner her high marks. However, she is still seen as polar, partisan, and most importantly, disingenuous when she's not partisan.
Also, she's staring down the big, two-fold problem: first, her campaign stops have consistently brought out potential constituents who want a direct answer, an apology even, for her vote on the Iraq War. Second, she adds to the fire by not giving any direct answers. While I agree with her in principle that all questions regarding the current Iraq War ought to be addressed to Bush, she is seeking the office of President and no doubt, need to face down this demon.
Ray Church: D. Hillary is sometimes capable of making a forthright and honest argument. However, ideas in her work often lack the depth and detail required to elevate her work above a D. She has an inability to prioritize her time, often prioritizing superficial issues (flag burning, video game censorship) over more pressing issues (the War in Iraq). She has a habit of acting like someone she is not, be it pretending that she has taken the lead against the war, pretending that she is both from the South and African American in Alabama a few weeks ago to pretending to be Oprah Winfrey (let the conversation begin) in her campaign adverts.
Average Grade: C.
Barack Obama
Justin Baragona: A. What else? He is the new golden boy of the Democratic Party. The Dems haven't been this excited about anyone since Bill Clinton. He is saying all the right things right now (even if sometimes he isn't saying much of anything). He has appeal to both liberals and moderates, perhaps even conservatives (he has reached out to Christians in speeches.) He hasn't made his race an issue. He is also not nearly as divisive or polarizing as Hillary, which puts him in good position to grab the Democratic nomination in '08, overall, a very good grade.
Audrey Teagen: A. I think we can all agree, with G-Dub's lack of public speaking skills, it is so damn good to see someone so well versed. Barack has character. He's a young senator which is going to affect him in the polls (baby boomers are convinced no one can do anything if they're younger than their generation), but his desire for change through his politics is obvious. I'm really glad to see that he's not relying on a come-back kid type story (although he very well could as his father was born and raised in Kenya). Americans love the underdog tale of desire and perseverance overcoming blah blah blah... but he's focusing on politics. He seems to be the last candidate to trash his fellow candidates and there's something refreshing there. Perhaps I'm idealizing him behind my rose colored glasses, but his growing popularity speaks for itself. I think (hope) he is going to be a force to be reckoned with come 2008.
Brain McLain: B. The man has the charisma and voice of a leader and negotiator. This is exactly what we need in the oval office. That and he has yet to play the race card, which I really hope he doesn't because I actually like this guy. He had an A from me but he got dropped to a B due to his horrible explanation of overdue parking tickets. Is the golden tongue a gift or no more meaningful than a wrestling promo? If the latter, than I say hell, DWAYNE JOHNSON FOR PRESIDENT!
Ray Robison: Gets an incomplete for absence, since he hasn't really shown up for class. Every time I watch him I feel like somewhere, the real Obama is flying a star-fighter and this is the android the aliens sent down to replace him.
Matthew D.S.: A. his evil smoking habits need the boot, but this charismatic, youthful - but inexperienced - Senator has a very bright future ahead of him, whether that be in 2008, or 2012, or whenever. I hope if Hillary or whomever gets the nod (if he does not), he would take a VP spot; he has a lot to offer.
Dan Martin: B. To this point, Obama has successfully brushed aside the politics of personal destruction. He has tried to campaign on a Bobby Kennedy sort of message. It may work but his résumé is nothing compared to Bill Richardson's.
Josh White: A. Who isn't going to give this man an A? The problem with Obama is that you can hate every one of his political and moral views, hate who he allys himself with, and hate black people and you'll STILL love him. The man makes you want to vote for him. He's a great speaker. He makes you feel good about the future. And further, just two years ago he was a virtual nobody. To come all that way and then to gather this much support already...as I asked earlier, how can you not give him an A?
Brandon Crow: A. This man is, and has been on a meteoric rise both in the Democratic Party as well as American politics. Many around me believe he can knock Hillary off her pedestal. Plus, he is fully competing with her currently on raising money. Though he's offered little substance thus far in his appearances, he has shown great judgment in what he has already said about our current state of affairs. And let us not forget how little substance there was in Bush's original stumps, which pretty much amounted to "I'm the Governor of Texas and my daddy was a president."
Whether Obama wins nomination is not important. What's genius about him getting in the race is that he will energize a wider base to participate in the process, AND, more importantly, unless Hillary wins the nomination, Obama has pretty much guaranteed himself the VP spot on the 2008 ticket.
Ray Church: B- Promising, but he has yet to move past the abstract "grand ideas" of hope and freedom into something more concrete. When he was given a chance to make a clear and unambiguous statement on gays in the military, he hedged his bets, which brings too many flashbacks of the Kerry campaign from 2004 and the Gore campaign from 2000. Still has a lot of potential, but needs to get use to the glare of the cameras and learn to succinct, even if it's a nuanced position.
Average Grade: A.
Nancy Pelosi
Justin Baragona: B+. She is the first female Speaker of the House and has already accomplished as much in her short time in that role as Hastert did in his entire run as Speaker, for that alone, she gets a good grade from me.
Audrey Teagen: B. I really enjoy watching Bush and Pelosi interact. I wish I could dub over the newscasters and insert my idea of what each of them is thinking. That would be.... fun. She's done what few politicians can claim to have done: made a declaration and stuck to it. That alone, is worth praise.
Brian McLain: C. Kudos for being the first female speaker. But why don't you hold up your Constitutional duty and impeach the president, or at least push for articles to be debated and passed? Sure the Dems may lose the congress again, but at least the Republic would be put back in some sort of balance. Oh, that's right...both parties are self important power whores, I forgot, my bad.
Ray Robison: A+++ for conning all the anti-war pacifists, communists, and truthers and leaving them crying in the gutter once they realized she wasn't going to do @#%$ for them. The meanest neocon couldn't have crushed them any better. I must admit to a little bit of Schadenfreude in there somewhere.
Matthew D.S.: B. she hasn't blown me away frankly but from what I've heard she's managed to do okay thus far with her Democrats on Capitol Hill. My Canadianess shows here by my lack of knowledge. So sue meeeee!
Dan Martin: B+. Sure she has pushed through some controversial bills, but that is the job of the House, making sure good laws get passed. The Senate's job is to make sure bad ones do not pass. She has the House functioning as it should and has got the reps working more and campaigning less.
Josh White: B-. She took her far-left, crazy, San Francisco values and brought them to the halls of Congress as the leader of the House. She brought the Left back to power in Congress. all very impressive. But since then she has done little to nothing. Oh, except for passing a bill that would get us out of Iraq on a set date. Wow...all that fighting and money wasted for a bill that will get vetoed. Thanks Nancy.
Brandon Crow: A-. She made history. Let's just start right here. She's actually delivered. The Congress, under her leadership, delivered and passed almost more legislation in their first 100 hours than the one under De Lay and Hastert in the last six years. And though she lost one of her initial fights to make John Murtha her ranking lieutenant, she has since been very effective, making the most of what she can, unlike her counterpart, Harry Reid…
Ray Church: B-. OK, she had a very successful 100 days initiative and Congressional oversight has increased myriad-fold. Part of this may be getting credit for the hard work of others, but she seems to weather it well. The knock against her is probably the latest funding bill for Iraq. I know that the Democrats were keen to have something to show that they were "doing something", but inclusion of 4 billion in agricultural "pork" basically gave the Republicans an easy out. They don't have to debate the funding; they just have to debate the pork
Average Grade: B.
Harry Reid
Justin Baragona: C-. He is as ineffective and bland a leader as possible. I know that the Dems didn't want to rock the boat when they regained the majority on the Senate so they kept Reid as their leader, but what does he really do? Whatever...
Audrey Teagen: I'm not in a position to grade Reid at this current time. My thoughts are nil.
Brain McLain: F. Why is this guy leader of anything? Might as well just put Combs from Fox News in charge of the Senate. He is weak, unconvincing, and a bad political actor.
Ray Robison: For being a lying, cheating, land dealing crook, an F. Pretty much every word he says is a lie. I mean, there is spin, there is perspective, and there is flat out lying. Reid is a scumbag liar. Gets a piece of prime Los Vegas land for $10k and then runs around like "what…what's wrong with that?" Lying scum.
Matthew D.S.:Uh...US Senate Majority leader...good for him? No grade
Dan Martin: C +. I am not sure he has the Senate working as a filter for the House. No compromise minimum wage increase has made it through and that may speak to how thin his majority is or to his need to crack the whip.
Josh White: D. I'm still mad at his decision to pull the Dems out of the Fox News Debate. This grade is probably a little low, but he has shown the world the courage, and integrity that fills the Democratic party.
Brandon Crow: F. What can be said about the useless, totally lackluster Harry Reid? I understand that the votes in the Senate are a lot tighter than the House, but come on, what has Harry Reid done in the last three months? What has he delivered since becoming majority leader, other than milky soft speeches laden with excuses for not having done anything?
Ray Church: B. Reid has a harder time than Pelosi because he has a much narrower hold on the Senate. That said, he also has Republicans with much greater reasons to distance them from the President as far more of them will be up for re election in 08 than Democrats, so he should be able to get some work done if he can compromise on the right issues. He has held all the right hearings, although he gets credit for the work of others here.
Average Grade: D.
John Murtha
Justin Baragona: B-. He was probably the most influential in getting the Iraq timetable for troop withdrawal in the Dems playbook (which they are using now), but he was also rejected as House Majority Leader by the Democrats for Stan Hoyer, despite Nancy Pelosi endorsing him for the position.
Audrey Teagen: C. Not enough anti-Iraq democrats reach out to blatantly support the troops. It's a mistake that's commonly made throughout the public, the idea that anti-war equals anti-troops. It's an unfounded idea, but an idea nonetheless. However, it would be nice to hear him talk about something else.
Brian McLain: D. Okay, this guy is a blow hard. Okay arguments against the war, but really he's nothing better than a talking head that's good for drawing Neo-Con talk show host fire.
Ray Robison: F- It doesn't matter whether he was correct about Haditha or not (trial is going to start soon). His race to the microphone to bash US forces was disgusting. I have said it before, and here it is again. Murtha has early indications of Alzheimers and I believe he is being used by Pelosi who knows it. I do not blame Murtha for being the victim of a disease. I do blame him because I think he still has lucid moments (many lucid moments) in which he should realize that what he did was atrocious. Matthew D.S.: I know Mr. Murtha is a staunch anti-Iraq war Democratic congressman, but aside from that, I don't know what else he's said/accomplished to grade him.
Dan Martin: B. He is obviously trusted by Pelosi. As I said with Pelosi, he has the House of Representatives functioning as it should. Lots of bills are being passed and many grievances are being aired. That is the nature of the House. He may be helping Republican raise money, but then again he is giving voice to many vocal war critics. His biography gives greater credibility to that voice.
Josh White: D. All he is is a whiner. And he can't get anything he wants. Not a total failure as he is a fairly good rabble-rouser, but he doesn't go any further than that.
Brandon Crow: B. I'll give good ol' John a solid B…for now. But he may be sliding quickly. I like his efforts to keep the failed policy of Iraq in the public eye and I admire the work he continues to do on behalf of the troops. But I'm afraid that he's quickly pigeon-holing himself into a one-issue dude. If he continues with this single idea much longer, he will begin to parrot himself and then people will start to tune him out. He needs to either find a fresh angle on Iraq/troops, or jump on to another topic for a while and come back swinging on Iraq/troops.
Ray Church: C. Murtha is getting a lot of credit for the new funding build which has a "withdrawal clause" attached to it, but I have to say it's not a good sign if the bill only narrowly passed a heavily Democratic Congress. His "Over-the-Horizon" Withdraw plan is slowly becoming THE Democratic plan, but I can't help but wonder if other options are being overlooked. (Biden's plan, for all its flaws, certainly deals with many of the problems suggested by Murtha's plan). I'm also not sure if this plan is more about appearance than reality.
Average Grade: C.
We hope you have enjoyed our March round table. Please email us your thoughts on this month's topic too. See you in 4 weeks
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