Last night Tavis Smiley hosted the 3rd Democratic Presidential debate of the year… Here are my thoughts:

• In general, I thought that Tavis Smiley did a great job as host and moderator. Tavis was personable, funny, and fair to all of the participants. For the first time this debate season, each candidate was given equal opportunity to speak. My only beef is that he and Tom Joyner hawked the “Convenant With Black America” book at the beginning of the show.
• Once again Hillary Clinton positioned herself as the leader of the pack, rocking the crowd with the standard Clinton sound bites.
• Although he was clearly on his home court, Barack Obama shined tonight more than ever before. He seemed comfortable, measured, and lucid in his responses. Although he did not display as much depth as he did in the previous debate, where he went to great lengths to explicate his health care policy, he left no doubt that he has the chops to be president. I was, however, disappointed with his endorsement of No Child Left Behind as a viable policy rather than an enemy to our children’s educational futures. Like most of his peers, he challenged the policy strictly on economic grounds and ignored its retarded logic.
• Joe Biden has an extraordinary ability to balance brilliant statements with wildy offensive ones. His critique of his Senate colleagues for not being tough enough on Supreme Court appointees –particularly in light of yesterday’s decision– was on the money. Biden’s comments about Darfur, differential sentencing and poverty were also on the money. Then, as always, he offered a borderline racist comment about Black men and HIV/AIDS, as well the absence of Black leadership willing to tell Black men that “there’s nothing unmanly about wearing a condom.”
• Is it me or has Bill Richardson checked out and decided to wait for his VP nomination?
• As always, Dennis Kucinich was the most thoughtful, articulate, and innovative in his responses. Every time he speaks, I’m more certain that he is by far the best candidate for the job.