CNN aired a Democratic Presidential debate today. The thing that made this one special was that is sponsored by "Rock the Vote" so it was an attempt for the Candidates to get down with the kids. This, of course, meant splashy graphics and buttoned down looks cause we all know the kids wouldn't want to vote for somebody who dresses up for a debate. Hell, the General was even rocking a black turtleneck. The best part of the debate was when the candidates got to air a video aimed especially at a younger generation, full of quick-cuts and splashy music. Unfortunately, there's absolutely no way to make Joe Lieberman look hip.

I've seen a bunch of these debates and I kind of feel sorry for all the Democrats. Basically, there all about an hour long minus time taken away for commercials. Plus, there are nine of them. This means that on all the major issues, they don't really have any time to say anything other than a quick, general sound-bite. So naturally, after the debate, all the press writes really scathing reviews about how none of the Democrats said anything important, how none of them proved they said anything of substance, as if one could come up with the Gettysburg Address in that one minute. Typically, all the Candidates also get skewered for trying to say something snappy and sound-bitey- which they all do- instead of saying something substantial. But then when you watch the news coverage, they only show something snappy and sound-bitey. John Edwards could, in the one minute he has, give a finely detailed, brilliant explanation of how many angels could dance on the head of a pin but nobody would show it because it's not a soundbite. And he'd be criticized for coming up with a knock-out blow.

But the biggest thing I feel sorry for them is that every single one of them has to go one those debates and all those shows and get grilled about Iraq- how do we get out of there? What should we do? Why do you say this but vote that? What happened to all the evidence of WMD? The reason why I feel sorry for them is that they have to get grilled on these questions while the guy whose responsible for this mess never has to.