Clinton and Obama's Personal Debate

What started at Monday's debate has only continued throughout the week into a juvenile name-calling match. Clinton said that Obama's idea of meeting one-on-one with hostile regime leaders in the first year of his presidency would be irresponsible and naive, and that it could lead to these nations using the American president for propaganda purposes. Later in the week Obama said that Hillary's authorization for the war in Iraq was irresponsible and naive. And there have been unoriginal blows from each candidate ever since.

"Each of them is trying to use it now to reinforce the overall message," said Mark Mellman, a Democratic consultant sitting out this election so far. "Clinton is saying this proves her greater experience and preparation for leadership, and that Obama is inexperienced. Obama is trying to say that her experience is what got us into the war. So they're both trying to use it to make a larger point about their overall messages." See Chicago Tribune article for more.

So, I guess until they kiss and make-up, they won't be able to run on the Clinton-Obama '08 ticket together. Darn.

Tonight's CNN/YouTube Debate: How Would the Muslim World Handle a Female President

It is not a matter of whether or not she will be taken seriously, by Arab and Muslim countries. Many of them have begun to adapt to the 21st century. It is our current Middle-East issues (Iraq, Iran, etc.) where she won't be respected or effective. Her reading off a global list of female leaders cannot make her anymore qualified to deal with backward, vicious dictators. Being an Islamic extremist is far different that being your typical male chauvinist. Here she may be told to "fetch me a beer, and bake me some cookies, woman." There it is more likely that she would be be-headed or our country attacked, being viewed as weak for electing a female.

Her self-righteous, better-than-thou attitude will not go far in the Middle East.