Cross-posted on Myspace…because someone’s gotta do it: 

Whoever made the decision to have that hit-and-run debate format really screwed up. I hope CNN decides to have a longer debate, with more time for candidates to answer every question. Skipping the bullshit thank-yous that audiences have to endure from each candidate was a nice touch.

That being said, I was annoyed that some of the candidates didn’t get to address certain issues. Only Clinton, Obama, and Biden were able to address the latest attacks on Senator Reid, and Brian Williams let Obama get away with really broad, really abstract answers.

I thought Seator Chris Dodd was absolutely forgetable and former Senator Mike Gravel came off as too angry. His anger is justified, but if he’s not serious about running, he shouldn’t have been there. I say he should run for the Senate in Alaska again. Kucinich was a little too touchy-feely, I-want-to-heal-you-with-my-hippy-powers for me, even though he has all the makings of the perfect anti-war candidate. (Did you see his wife?!!?)

Governor Bill Richardson gave an OK performance, but it was the first time I had heard that he waited to call for Alberto Gonzalez’s resignation because “he’s Hispanic, and I know him and like him.” Um…nosotros latinos somos unidos pero el pendejo de Bush siempre es su maestro y eso nunca se va a cambiar.

Joe Biden’s one word response to a question regarding his verbosity was absolutely brilliant and he did a decent job throughout the rushed debate. Everything that has been said about Senators Clinton and Obama has been said over and over, but I’ll concede that Hillary did a way better job than Barack as far as specificities in her answers. Former Senator John Edwards gave a standout performance and I think in the end, he and Hillary came out on top.

Then there’s this from FOX 7 in Austin:

An explosive device left at a South Austin abortion clinic is prompting a nationwide alert. Investigators say a package left at the Austin Women’s Health Clinic that performs abortions contained an explosive device capable of inflicting serious injury or death.

Tonight’s candidates on abortion (paraphrased by yours truly):

Edwards: He said that neither government nor a group of men on the Supreme Court should make that kind of decision for a woman. Different views must be respected, but the right to choose is what’s at stake in this election.

Obama: Abortion is a profoundly difficult issue that women do not make casually. “Partial birth abortion” is a specific procedure that accounts for less than one percent of all abortions. We need to move past debates we disagree on and focus on other things like reducing teen pregnancy.

Biden: I strongly support Roe and understand that there is a right to privacy in the constitution. The procedure is rare and the Supreme Court used intellectually dishonest reasoning to lay the groundwork for dismantling Roe v. Wade with their decision.

Kucinich: We need to unquestionally protect a woman’s right to choose and my Supreme Court appointments would reflect my views and values. (Then he went off on some bullshit about how he was a healer or something.)

Dodd: I’m disappointed in Robert’s latest decision because during the confirmation process he said he would uphold precedence. He walked away from women’s health with this decision. I believe in the right to choose, but abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.

The abortion issue is a deal breaker for me. Good on y’all tonight….but be a little more ballsy next time.