The Iowa Democrat debate: Schoolmarm returns; Update: Schoolmarm is all giggles; Update: No “show of hands,” schoolmarm not amused by Hillary’s joke; Update: Obama gets the best one-liner…“Hillary, I’m looking forward to you advising me as well.”

By Michelle Malkin  •  December 13, 2007 01:47 PM

Scroll down for updates…

1marm002.jpg

She’s baaaaack. In 15 minutes, Des Moines Register editor Carolyn Washburn returns for the Iowa Democrat debate. How long before she raps knuckles? Will she ask for a show of hands? Will they waste time with more superfluous video of the candidates while the candidates stand there on stage watching themselves soaking up valuable time? Bets on hottest topics she’ll completely ignore? (Hint: Meltdown!) Who’s she voting for: Hillary or Obambi? Will anyone wonder out loud why Dennis Kucinich wasn’t allowed to join in the Iowa reindeer games?

Reaching for my No Doze…stay tuned for liveblogging. Or zzzzzzzzlogging.

***

Note: Just a few minutes into this debate, it’s clear how much more deferential Schoolmarm is to the Dems than she was to the Republicans. Deathly dull. This is not a debate. It’s a wake.

Note II: Schoolmarm is all giggles. She seems to have a particular soft spot for Bill Richardson.

Note III: Scroll down to 2:43pm update below. Hillary gets a chilly reception when she ribs Schoolmarm about her “show of hands” question yesterday. Brrrrrrrrr. It’s the only sighting of Nurse Ratched I’ve seen this hour.

***Here’s the vid.***

Note IV: All important topics covered so far: Air conditioning, wind turbines, art in the schools.

Note V: Scroll down to 3:14pm Eastern below.

Schoolmarm asks Obama: How are you going to provide change when you have so many former Clinton advisors advising you?

Laughter. Hillary cackles: “I want to hear this.” Schoolmarm giggles.

OBAMA: “Hillary, I’m looking forward to you advising me as well.”

***Here’s the vid****

Note VI: It’s over. Final question for the candidates. What have you learned from Iowa? My answer:

What I learned: Iowa newspaper editors are as condescending, biased, and out of touch with the mainstream of voters as East Coast and West Coast editors are.

***

Here we go.

2:02pm Eastern. Schoolmarm sets the rules. “I’ll try not to be a Scrooge about.” Schoolmarm is already showing her softer side. Surprise.

First question: Iowans of both parties asking – Will it be a priority to balance the budget?

Obama blames Bush and the GOP.

Richardson: I’ll be the biggest balanced budget guy you’ve ever seen!

Biden: Eliminate the war, eliminate the tax cuts, cut $20 billion out of the military….problem solved!

Dodd: Solution: Pay as you go budgets. Grow the economy.

Edwards: Create jobs!

Hillary: Fiscal responsibility!

Question: What taxes would you increase?

Richardson: Doesn’t answer. Has 60 seconds to not answer.

Edwards: Big corporations = bad. Me = good.

Just a few minutes into this debate, it’s clear how much more deferential Schoolmarm is to the Dems than she was to the Republicans. No interrupting. No jumping all over them with her stopwatch.

Clinton: Big corporations and wealthy individuals = bad.

Question: How will you pay for new programs with ongoing Iraq war?

Schoolmarm’s giving Obama like, an hour, to say nothing.

Richardson: Blah, blah, blah.

Schoolmarm gives Richardson another 60 seconds to bloviate about China.

Can’t. Keep. Eyes. Open.

Question for Hillary: What do we do about entitlements? Is it a problem? Couldn’t Schoolmarm come up with a real, focused question on this issue? Would it have killed her?

Hillary: Bipartisan commission. BOLD!

Schoolmarm politely asks Obama to keep his answer short. She seems almost sorry she has to ask. Contrast with yesterday’s snappier growling at the Republicans.

Richardson gets another hour to bloviate. I’m getting the feeling Schoolmarm is a Richardson fan.

Free Statement time! More uninterrupted bloviation time.

Obama gives his MLK Jr. speech.

Edwards flubs his Better America speech. “We should leave America better than what we made it. Leave it better than how we found it. Whatever.” Opponents cackle. Hillary is loving it. Schoolmarm giggles.

Questions on human rights. Nafta.

2:34pm Eastern. More free statements. This whole “debate” has been a free statement forum for the Democrats.

More Richardson. Schoolmarm giggles again.

2:36pm Eastern. Question on energy independence.

Bill Richardson is talking about air conditioning.

Schoolmarm: Sen. Dodd, can you try that (question) in 30 seconds. Giggle!

Dodd: Carbon is KILLING THE PLANET!

Obama is talking about WIND TURBINES.

Schoolmarm gives Edwards 10 minutes to talk about the planet.

2:43pm Eastern. Hillary interjects. “Carolyn, are you going to ask us to raise our hands? ‘Cuz the Republicans didn’t do such a good job. We believe it is a problem!” Schoolmarm: “I’m not doing that today.”

Frosty.

2:49pm Eastern. Schoolmarm so polite: “We have to move on, I’m afraid…”

More “Free Statements.”

Hillary speeds through stump speech.

Dodd plods.

2:51pm Eastern. Education question. What are your goals, timetables to set up the best education system. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

2:53pm Eastern. Bill Richardson will make us number one in math again. And Art in the Schools. Just like Huck.

3:00pm Eastern
. Sorry, I tuned out to post about Nancy Pelosi’s latest unhingedness. I tuned back in to hear Schoolmarm giggling over Dodd exceeding his time.

3:05pm Eastern. Schoolmarm delicately asks Hillary about her secretive health care task force. Russert already broached the secrecy issues better months ago. Bwahahaha: Hillary is complaining about government stonewalling. She’s “committed to open and transparent government.”

3:07pm Eastern. Schoolmarm raps Biden for his racial gaffes. He explains his Indian immigration and Washington DC black students remarks. Defends his civil rights record.

Everyone claps. Obama exercises his absolute moral authority and gives his “testimony” and absolution.

Richardson gets a softball about Wen Ho Lee. “I’ve made a lot of gaffes and I’m glad you haven’t raised them.”

Schoolmarm: Giggle.

****First worthwhile question/exchange of the entire forum…********

3:14pm Eastern. Obama – How are you going to provide change when you have so many former Clinton advisors advising you?

(Laughter. Hillary cackles: “I want to hear this.” Schoolmarm giggles.)

OBAMA: “Hillary, I’m looking forward to you advising me as well.”

Biggest applause line.

3:18pm Eastern. New Year’s resolutions.

Hillary wants to exercise. Oh, and win the presidency.

Edwards pours on his treacly Two Americas rhetoric.

Dodd wants to “regain our moral authority” and wishes that Iowans will “caucus correctly on Jan. 3.”

Richardson wants to lose weight. He’s the Huckabee of the Democrat Party.

Biden resolves to remember when things were really bad so that he enjoys…when things are good. Remember where you came from.

Obama: Be a “better father, husband, and remind myself that this is not about me.”

Ugh. It’s not done yet.

Question: 20 seconds to tell schoolmarm what lessons they have learned from Iowa.

Hillary: I ate a lot.
Everyone else: We love Iowans. Iowans are wonderful.

What I learned: Iowa newspaper editors are as condescending, biased, and out of touch with the mainstream of voters as East Coast and West Coast editors are.

~ For the latest breaking news, be sure to join Michelle's e-mail list ~
Posted in: 2008 campaign

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Comments


  1. #1
    On December 13th, 2007 at 1:50 pm, TexasTiger said:

    No Kucinich, no Gravel, no I watch.

  2. #2
    On December 13th, 2007 at 1:50 pm, twiggman said:

    I’m waiting on pins and needles….. No really….

  3. #3
    On December 13th, 2007 at 1:53 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    ah – let the games begin.

  4. #4
    On December 13th, 2007 at 1:53 pm, ajmontana said:

    I am preparing the eye bleach and ear soap. :roll:

  5. #5
    On December 13th, 2007 at 1:54 pm, ajmontana said:

    I bet she sucks up to the Dems. the charmin debate. soft.

  6. #6
    On December 13th, 2007 at 1:55 pm, twiggman said:

    30 these dimocrits are very, very serious, you know that..Ha, Ha…..

  7. #7
    On December 13th, 2007 at 1:57 pm, shooter said:

    Show of hands….
    Drivers licenses for everyone?
    Do you believe all little babies should be able to grow up healthy, with health coverage?
    .
    One she won’t ask…will you cover your hearts when you say the pledge of allegiance to the United States of America.

  8. #8
    On December 13th, 2007 at 1:59 pm, shooter said:

    I can’t (won’t) watch..but I would like to know what they do differently today, in favor of the dems.

  9. #9
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:02 pm, uhangtight said:

    i am sure that it will be to ensure that the dems look oh so presidential versus making the republican candidates to look like fascist idiots.

    will Iraq be on the agenda? cause it wasn’t for the republcans. it will be interesting to see if she mentions ‘timetable’ or ‘troops home’ which are all Iraq topics.

    cut the republicans at their knees by not talking about their strong points. yep, that way republicans can make a really good choice as to their candidate. from a demoncrap perspective.

  10. #10
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:04 pm, Tennessee Dave said:

    Can I watch Ron Paul on this one?

  11. #11
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:05 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Why can’t these people answer with a simple “Yes” or “No” ?

  12. #12
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:08 pm, b4itsover said:

    Why can’t all questions be answered by merely raising your hand or not?

  13. #13
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:09 pm, Azygos said:

    So far all I’ve heard between the lines is; tax, tax, tax, tax, then tax some more

  14. #14
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:09 pm, gregorystephens said:

    I don’t think anyone will be seeing this debate. Major League Baseball is releasing the results of the steroid probe at the same time. I’m sure that will be all over the news instead.

  15. #15
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:10 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    Why are the democrats allowed to yak so much about the war when it was off the table for the republicans?

  16. #16
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:10 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    The woman who wanted to spend 1 million dollars on a memorial for “Woodstock” at taxpayer’s expense is talking about fiscal responsibility…

    :lol: :roll:

  17. #17
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:12 pm, ajmontana said:

    lol, jrl. NS!

  18. #18
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:12 pm, gregorystephens said:

    does anyone know of a live feed on the web for the debate?

  19. #19
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:13 pm, Speakup said:

    Plain as a back fence, does Ms. Truss britches have her yard stick again?

  20. #20
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:14 pm, swj719AWG said:

    Thank god Biden won’t get within 100 feet of the nomination.

    cut 20 billion from the military? how about we cut 20 billion from social programs first, huh?

  21. #21
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:15 pm, taylork said:

    I guess cutting pork projects are out of the question, seeing as nobody brought it up.

    But here’s something that’ll help balance the budget, universal health care! Who are the kidding?

  22. #22
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:15 pm, madchef said:

    With a show of hands, who believes that man-made global warming is the biggest bunch of crap that you have ever heard?

  23. #23
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:15 pm, BrianG1979 said:

    How about we lower the pay of politicians.

  24. #24
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:16 pm, ajmontana said:

    swj! you make it to Colorado yet? :lol:

  25. #25
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:16 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Cspan is live feeding – so is the DesMoines Register website

  26. #26
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:18 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    Same old liberal agenda. Cut the defense budget and spend more money on social vote buying programs.

  27. #27
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:18 pm, swj719AWG said:

    First I have to figure out how to tell her that we’re getting married…

  28. #28
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:19 pm, gregorystephens said:

    thanks jrl.

  29. #29
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:19 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    I need an Caramel Macchiatto I.V. Drip – Stat! They’re losing me!

  30. #30
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:19 pm, swj719AWG said:

    Can’t. Keep. Eyes. Open.

    Talk about taking one for the team…

  31. #31
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:20 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Gregory – try the Register’s website – everytime I use c-span the screen freezes after a time – dont’ know if it’s just my system here at work – or theirs…

    No problems so far with the Register website…

  32. #32
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:21 pm, gregorystephens said:

    Did I just hear Hillary talking about fiscal responsibility? Didn’t she want to give every child born in America a $5000 bond?

  33. #33
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:22 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Ahhh..spoke to soon – it’s starting to freeze & skip on me….

    Hey – they actually sound better that way..

    :lol:

  34. #34
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:22 pm, ajmontana said:

    The soft debate… ho hum
    Charmin

  35. #35
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:22 pm, BrianG1979 said:

    Zzzzzzzzzz

  36. #36
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:23 pm, gregorystephens said:

    Thanks. That is much better.

  37. #37
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:23 pm, ajmontana said:

    omg, these morons suck.

  38. #38
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:24 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    All at once, people:

    “Snappier, please!”

    ( If she won’t say it – someone has to )

  39. #39
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:25 pm, gregorystephens said:

    Dang, his hair looks good!!!

  40. #40
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:26 pm, BrianG1979 said:

    Regular lovefest going on here.

  41. #41
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:26 pm, gregorystephens said:

    Too bad there’s nothing underneath it.

  42. #42
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:26 pm, ajmontana said:

    edwards, the timmy robbins candidate… lol, that was a death warrant for sure. what a fool.

  43. #43
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:28 pm, gregorystephens said:

    Who is this Lou Costello look-alike?

  44. #44
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:29 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    Closest I’ve seen schoolmarm come to enforcing time limit is quietly saying “Thank you” to Obama when he was 10 seconds over.

  45. #45
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:29 pm, ajmontana said:

    why am I watching this…. y? y? y?

  46. #46
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:29 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Who is this Lou Costello look-alike?

    :lol:

    Haaaay Abottttt Oh-Bah-Maaaaaaaaaa!!!

  47. #47
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:30 pm, taylork said:

    Advice for MM on how to report this:

    Question: Why is the GOP ruining this country?

    Clinton: Platitude
    Obama: Platitude
    Dodd: Platitude
    Edwards: The dead have told me this-Platitude.
    Richardson: Platitude
    Biden: Condescending statement about nothing.
    Huckabee: Platitude (oh wait, he was in the other debate).

    Copy and paste as needed.

  48. #48
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:30 pm, madchef said:

    John Edwards blinks about 500 times per minute. He must have hair spray in his eyes.

  49. #49
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:30 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Ok – just “how well” does Edwards know this “Bishop” guy? How oily can you get?

    I hate politicians….

  50. #50
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:31 pm, gregorystephens said:

    aj: I guess it’s just like watching a train wreck.

  51. #51
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:31 pm, taylork said:

    John Edwards blinks about 500 times per minute. He must have hair spray in his eyes.

    It’s the dead spirits trying to get out.

  52. #52
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:32 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Hmmmmmmm….. no trolls so far – they must be glued to their screens, tivo’ing, and video taping all at once while sitting in their bean-bags eating cheetos…

  53. #53
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:32 pm, ajmontana said:

    He’s lost without the big O.

  54. #54
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:33 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    I can’t watch this.

  55. #55
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:33 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    Remember AJ, it’s not the debate we’re here for, it’s the live blogging with MM. :)

  56. #56
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:33 pm, ajmontana said:

    30! TAKE ME WITH YOU!

  57. #57
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:33 pm, taylork said:

    Hmmmmmmm….. no trolls so far – they must be glued to their screens, tivo’ing, and video taping all at once while sitting in their bean-bags eating cheetos…

    Since when did what the candidates say acutally influence what the trools did. They’re just waiting for the moveON and Code Pink marching orders, but the server must be down.

  58. #58
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:34 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    The obvious bias in this debate is more than I can stomach.

  59. #59
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:35 pm, gregorystephens said:

    Lou Costello gets to talk abou the war and isn’t being interrupted by the moderator? what’s up with that?

  60. #60
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:36 pm, taylork said:

    It’s hard to hear them talk about human rights when people have to watch this debate.

    Who needs waterboarding?

  61. #61
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:36 pm, ajmontana said:

    No kidding 30, are we sure the Mod isnt Monica?

  62. #62
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:36 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    She’ll be heralded as conducting a fantastic debate. :roll:

  63. #63
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:36 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    aj, step away from the computer…

    no, nevermind, do don’t that.

  64. #64
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:38 pm, gregorystephens said:

    Have you noticed that no one has said anything specific about how they want to achieve their Utopia?

  65. #65
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:38 pm, ajmontana said:

    uh oh, carbon tax. :shock:

  66. #66
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:38 pm, jimC said:

    She’s being more deferential to the dems? I’m shocked I tell you! Shocked!

    [/sarcasm]

    Jim C

  67. #67
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:38 pm, taylork said:

    Wow, I can’t believe Clinton talked about cutting taxes, doing a way with social security, drilling in ANWAR, and funding the troops until the war was finished…Damn it! I’m awake again.

  68. #68
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:39 pm, gregorystephens said:

    Carbon tax?!?! Give me a break!

  69. #69
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:39 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Bill Richardson is talking about air conditioning.

    Excessive hot air will do that…..

  70. #70
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:39 pm, ajmontana said:

    Their digging it deep today.

  71. #71
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:40 pm, ajmontana said:

    oh good lord.

  72. #72
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:40 pm, cpodug said:

    Too bad some of us have some honest work to do(?) Sounds like I could use a copy of this debate the next time I have a case of insomnia – or maybe constipation. Whatever! :P

  73. #73
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:40 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    I wish the Marine’s had accepted her – they would have straightened her out years ago…..

  74. #74
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:40 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    Seriously. It’s like watching the Patriots play. The commentators drone on and on about Brady.

    It’s like come up for air why don’t you…

    No offense to any Patriots fan out there.

  75. #75
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:41 pm, gregorystephens said:

    Now didn’t Shrillery accuse Obama of having aspirations in kindergarten? didn’t she just say that she decided to try to change the world when she was in 5th grade? Such hypocrisy.

  76. #76
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:41 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Or John Madden talking about Brett Favre ( for all you Frank Caliendo fans ) :)

  77. #77
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:42 pm, ajmontana said:

    Edwards do the USA a break and just go home.

  78. #78
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:43 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    Favre, I actually like. :-)

  79. #79
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:43 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Oh Good Lord – the hand raising is brought up by Shillery…

  80. #80
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:43 pm, taylork said:

    Now didn’t Shrillery accuse Obama of having aspirations in kindergarten? didn’t she just say that she decided to try to change take over the world when she was in 5th grade? Such hypocrisy.

    Or John Madden talking about Brett Favre ( for all you Frank Caliendo fans )

    sorry J, there’s no such thing as a Frank Caliendo fan.

  81. #81
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:44 pm, gregorystephens said:

    Crops! She’s asking about crops?!

  82. #82
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:44 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Oh, Taylor – I like him…. in moderation…. after a while, he’s like the Dems… same material, different day.

  83. #83
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:45 pm, ajmontana said:

    Would you buy a car from this man or woman?

  84. #84
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:45 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Aj…I’d rather have them selling cars.

  85. #85
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:46 pm, ajmontana said:

    The way their going they will be. lol

  86. #86
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:46 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    Schoolmarm says she isn’t doing the hand raising thing today. But then she’s doing a lot of things different today. :roll:

  87. #87
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:47 pm, gregorystephens said:

    Of course, none would actually sell the cars. They would just give them away and bill the government for them.

  88. #88
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:47 pm, ajmontana said:

    This is a Cratacular Craptastic show of Crapweasels.

  89. #89
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:48 pm, Azygos said:

    How did these idiots get into the position of running for president. Gd really must be laughing.

  90. #90
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:48 pm, gandolphxx said:

    Hillary is kissing the butts of the ‘family farmers’ – she needed to check if any where there.

  91. #91
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:48 pm, madchef said:

    They should of held the debate at a used car lot. I haven’t heard such a well rehearsed bunch of liars in a long time.

  92. #92
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:48 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    Dodd, where’s my car?

  93. #93
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:49 pm, ajmontana said:

    i just threw up.

  94. #94
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:49 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    I saw or heard yesterday that the Iowa Caucus turnout is something like 10% of the voters…

    How is it that we have a system that gives that much power to 10% of voters from one state?

    We need a national primary day.

  95. #95
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:49 pm, Azygos said:

    It’s ok for the government to steal over 50% of every paycheck but they are worried about the “childrens” in other countries? What about my right to keep what I earn?

  96. #96
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:50 pm, taylork said:

    Oh how I wish I were watching this live…..NOT [/wayne's world reference]

  97. #97
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:50 pm, ajmontana said:

    bye bye edwards. RIP

  98. #98
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:50 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Has Dodd spoken in Spanish yet? :roll:

  99. #99
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:51 pm, ajmontana said:

    LOL, HE HASNT SPOKEN IN ENGLISH YET…

  100. #100
    On December 13th, 2007 at 2:51 pm, Azygos said:

    Edwards still on his two Americas. HURL

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