Debating the debate

Did anyone watch that debate? I really hope that any Californian voting in the recall next month did, while there is much information we are missing I have to say for the most part I was impressed with the amount of information about the candidates that it conveyed. No it wasn't a Hitchens vs. Danner kind of debate, but compared to previous Presidential "debates" I've seen on TV it was actually quite refreshing. Having watched the entire debate on TV (admittedly from the bunker of the Huffington SF volunteers HQ) here is my conclusion:

Gray Davis: I would really like to have seen him be able to enter the debate. During his one-on-one session he at least came across as appologetic and human. Ultimately its crazy, the recall is bogus and he should finish out his term.

Tom McClintock: Be afraid, be very afraid. He is everything in a Republican your mother warned you about and not afraid to shout about it. He is the most un-Californian candidate of all of them. The only sane thing I heard him utter was being pro-medicinal marijuana.

Peter Ueberroth: Failed dismally to make an impression in any respect and should drop out top avoid an embarassing result.

Peter Camejo: In many respects he differs little from Arianna in terms of what policies he supports. However in a debate he gave the most compelling delivery of a message that is alternative to the Republicans. Some people say he's a dreamer, some people say he's too liberal for us, but to me he sounded like the right candidate for California.

Arianna Huffington: As mentioned her policies that were expressed in the debate are close, if not indestinguishable from Camejo. However as a woman, an immigrant and one with the inside story on Republican thinking and why it failed she has some "value add" to bring to the table. She came off as forthright, however on occasion a little to rebelious for TV-land. Her continuous gibes and off-topic rants were interesting but not what they (the TV people) wanted to hear. When it comes down to it TV wants a candidate that plays the game when on camera. I'm not saying that's a good thing (its not) but it has a way of painting such candidates with a negative brush whether they deserve it or not.

Cruz Bustamante: except for his accepting $2 million from the Indian gaming reservations he mostly came off quite well as the "un-Gray" candidate. He very openly admitted the whole energy deregulation thing was a big mistake which he would undo as his #1 priority. I respect a candidate that will openely admit mistakes on camera for the record. As Huffington points out, what is so terrible about selecting a candidate that learns from their mistakes?

Arnold Schwarzenegger: most notable by his absence and coming off very poorly because of it. In some locations sure there will be many who still vote for him, but overall his absence was a big mistake assuming he actually had something credible to say infront of cameras. However I think from his "handlers" point of view it was a calculated absence that avoided him looking like an ass. Its clear he couldn't have held his own with the rest - even Uberroth - and as Huffington said, he's still waiting for his script to arrive before jumping in at the last minute with his lines. For me I completely lost any respect for him as a potential candidate (inspite of his political leanings) after his handing of the "Oui" magazine interview. To deny or gloss over it is just typical polictical BS that we don't need anymore. Arnold, be the man - confess, state your current position on "free love", gang-bangs, drug use and move on. Let your voters judge for themselves, but don't try the typical cover up or denial BS that you'd never let a democrat get away with.

Overall if I had a vote it would be a close choice between Huffington and Camejo. I'm worried that Huffington is being two outspoken on the Indian gaming taxes and anti-prison union rhetoric without enough information to back it up. These two should really combine and focus their messages to double their voting block.

Overall the "left" or progressive message is - increase taxation on the rich so they pay equal percentage of taxes on their income and wealth to those paid by the lower 95% and the undocumented, and close loopholes that let corporations escape taxation. The "center" Democratic message - we just need to do some fine tuning and raise taxes a bit here and there if only the Republicans would play fair. The "right" Republican message - we need to add more jobs to get more tax payers and increase tax revenues without increasing taxes themselves, and we need to privatize as much of government as possible (including educations) to reduce costs.

Finally, a link from MoveOn.org who would like you to pledge to vote no on the recall.