The media are spinning this as mutual attacks, but what I see is Barack Obama taking issue with the Clintons' attacks.

Take what you want from that. It's a debate, and of course the frontrunners are going to challenge each other. I don't care for Bill and Hillary's mischaracterizations of Obama. Really, it's a cheap shot going off on claiming that Barack was endorsing Reagan by claiming that the Republicans (including Reagan) were the party of ideas.

Duh! Any progressive knows that the Democrats have been pretty much asleep since Michael Dukakis sputtered, "I-I-I-I am n-n-n-not a l-l-liberal!" The Democrats have not been a part of ideas, they've been a party of hesitation and timidity and complicity.

--Be that as it may, debate is debate, and Hillary was out to score points and got a bit nasty and petty and not at all presidential, but let's face it, not everyone is smooth in the heat of the moment. So give her a pass: live and let live in politics....

But then I look at this....

I can't help it. It's certainly going to set some of you dear readers off. But this is the behavior of an abuser who's trying to criticize the abusee of "wanting conflict" just for resisting the abuse. Sure, Barack Obama is just supposed to wimper and cower under the Clinton attacks. Just like a beaten spouse. And apparently we're supposed to buy into that.

This whole thing has gotten me really upset. Why? Because Hillary Clinton may still win this nomination, and dammit, right now I don't think I want to vote for her. No, I really don't want to. And it's because all of the Republicans running are 5000% worse and more scary do I know that, in the end, I have no choice. I will vote for the Democratic nominee. Even Hillary Clinton.

Hilary, I thought you found your voice. If this is it, I don't want to hear it. Been there, done that for 7 years and counting.

Of course, the cynical side of me says that sleazy politics wins elections. Look at George. He's a fucking idiot, but he won. Twice! Maybe Hillary is playing the winning hand?

I hope not. I don't think it's "false hope" to want better from our politicians. Maybe Barack Obama will live up to that hope. Maybe not. But I'll be damned if I ever feel that just hoping is an empty dream.

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