Chuck Todd's thoughts on the forum

P Brown, OKC — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:08:19 GMT

I can't believe Chuck Todd is saying anything positive about Obama. It seems as if he enjoys the "dissing" of this particular candidate more than others. He ususally opens with some sort of put down of Obama. The real truth is the real world exists outside of Washington DC and pundits need to realize they will not determine who is good or bad and who should be the next president. Why is it that pundits believe they know everything and that's how the American people are to respond. I don't care what the national polls are saying, the election is a year away and too much attention has been given to national polls. I am black and female, so just because Hillary is female doesn't mean I would or should vote for her. The same for Obama being black. By the way, maybe you can learn something from the debate/forum that Tavis Smiley is going to have later this month. He will tackle real day-to-day issues that most folk are dealing with. Listen and learn. I want my president to be engaged with real people - not those propped up on a stage with the American flag. I don't want my president to listen to pundits. That is a real problem. Go to the inner city neighborhoods and schools. Talk to real people who make minimum wage or parents with kids in low performing schools due to the lack of books, computer equipment, etc. There is truly more to this country than Washington DC and those european looking know-it-all pundits.

Chuck Todd's thoughts on the forum

Sandy, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:28:40 GMT

Just a political observation from some political novices in America: Both my husband and I were excited about Obama at first but the more we get to know him the less we like. Without discussing it, we both agreed with did not respond well to his "preaching" style. We've had enough of that. If Mr. Richardson can't get out ahead and win the nomination, we only see one good choice left, Mrs. Clinton. And we both get more excited all the time about her. Perhaps that is what the polls are showing. The more we get to know Hillary, the more we like. Sort of the reverse of Obama.

Chuck Todd's thoughts on the forum

Daniel Kerns, Wakeman Ohio — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:23:45 GMT

The election isn't until next year. This is all a little to early

Chuck Todd's thoughts on the forum

Danny Gonzalez, Boca Raton, FL — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:05:31 GMT

I have heard very little about Edwards inspiring moment when talking about "big ideas" I thought that capture the essense of the democratic party, we have a vision of hope not just for America, but for the world, we understand that we should and must lead, when I hear a republican candidate, they are much more focus on the protection of individual amendments, security, role of goverment in people's life, abortion. these issues are not easy to grasp and they do their best to try to drive a wedge between all of us Americans. I believe that Hillary has an incredible opportunity here, I would personally love to see her get the nomination and then the white house, she is smart, driven and will listen to both sides of the political isle, maybe she will finally be our generation's UNITER... remember that word boys and girls?

Chuck Todd's thoughts on the forum

Pam, Oregon — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:47:25 GMT

I personally have never liked Hillary. I think she is to stuffy and wouldn't do a good job as President. She seems to closed minded.

Out of all of them I think Edwards would do the best job. I feel he is more in tune with the every day American. Not the rich and greedy.

We desperately need the right person this next term. If we don't get the right person, America can get flushed even more into the sewer than it has been the last 6 years. We need someone that isn't afraid of using diplomacy. Hillary doesn't have it. She is not a people person.

Chuck Todd's thoughts on the forum

PJ, Bend, OR — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:48:19 GMT

Chuck Todd's thoughts on the forum

Emma Risoli, Sun City, AZ — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:11:29 GMT

Hillary Clinton is an exciting speaker. She has such extensive knowledge and explains everything so well to the average person. The more you see her, the better she gets! I also noticed that Chris Matthews asked her the most difficult questions of all the candidates.She sure didn't hesitate!!What a leader.

Chuck Todd's thoughts on the forum

Louis Simpson, Indianapolis, Indiana — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:30:03 GMT

I saw the forum. Clinton was evasive. Obama and
Edwards were sharp. Clinton has a way of blurring
the issues. NAFTA has been a disaster for working people. NOw Chinese cars are coming in without
any tariffs. I was a Hillary fan, but now it realized if she is elected nothing really will change
for me or my family.

Chuck Todd's thoughts on the forum

J. Glover Little Rock, Arkansas — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:48:22 GMT

What Chuck Todd and others in the media establishment seem to totally miss is that people in the rest of the country don't care at all about Scooter getting pardoned. It's asinine questions like these that bog down any substantive debate in the country. The audience wanted Matthews to to his job: ask questions that matter to people outside the Beltway.

Chuck Todd's thoughts on the forum

Retnep, Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:44:40 GMT

I'm not sure if I've heard Obama's style called preaching before. If anything, he style has been called analytic, professorial. It is the fact that he doesn't go in and try to fire up people with a sermon (red meat) that has people questioning his ability to fight. It also is reflective of his ideals that we should be working together to a consensus rather than beating each other up with overheated rhetoric. I'm not sure which canidadate or political race Sandy is watching.

Chuck Todd's thoughts on the forum

David Buchanan — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:06:49 GMT

You are so right, Daniel; and Sandy, you need to hold on to your hopes for Richardson. Let's look at the same period four years ago:

6/12-18/2003

Lieberman 21
Gephardt 17
Kerry 13
Graham 7
Dean 7
Edwards 6
Sharpton 6
Moseley Braun 5

Even two months later, here's what it looked like:

8/4-6/2003

Lieberman 23
Gephardt 13
Dean 12
Kerry 10
Edwards 5
Moseley Braun 5
Sharpton 4

Even after Labor Day, although there was a significant shift, it was still anybody's race:

9/8-10/2003

Gephardt 16
Dean 14
Lieberman 13
Kerry 12
Edwards 5
Moseley Braun 4
Sharpton 2

Leiberman started going down hill and was never the same. But here is the biggest one for you: John Kerry was at 9% just before the Iowa Caucuses, but won them handily. Polls, pollster, and pundits don't mean squat!!