After watching last night’s debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton at UT-Austin, I was left with the impression that nothing much had really changed. Those began the night on Obama’s side will remain there, and the same will be true for those on the Good Ship Clinton. Granted, I long ago endorsed Obama, so I’m not exactly an unbiased observer. That aside, I really do feel that Obama acquitted himself much more favorably than Clinton. Despite Obama’s attempts to keep the debate on the issues and free of baseless accusations and name-calling, Hillary Clinton conducted herself in what seemed a desperate, almost classless manner at time. And “change you can Xerox”? What was THAT about? As the evening went on, I found my esteem for Clinton, which is and always has been considerable, diminishing every time she opened her mouth. How an ostensibly intelligent and capable politician could stoop to such insultingly juvenile tactics is something I fail to understand.
After losing 11 straight states, I can understand why Hillary Clinton might be feeling desperate. Her one-time “inevitability” seems to have melted away into what is increasingly feeling like the inevitability of losing the nomination to Barack Obama. Last night’s debate only solidified that reality in my mind.
Say goodnight, Hillary….
