Observations From Primary-Land

Bob Schieffer On The Unusual, The Unexpected And The Downright Odd

(CBS)  Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.

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Finally today, some assorted notes, questions and observations on these early primaries.

A couple of nice things happened in Iowa that should not be overlooked. An African-American won the Democratic caucuses in a state that is overwhelmingly white, and race was not a factor. No matter who you wanted to win, it's good to know that can happen.

On the Republican side, it was nice to know that every once in a while an election cannot be bought. Mitt Romney poured millions into Iowa, but Mike Huckabee beat him with a smile and a shoeshine, and not much more. Forget who won and lost; it is good to know that money does not always guarantee victory.

All the candidates are calling themselves agents of change this year, but here's the part that never changes: The winners stress the importance of winning Iowa, the losers explain how that is not necessarily so.

My question: If it wasn't important, why did they go?

And here's something that will never change: Once the spin machine starts spinning, it is hard to slow them down.

My favorite so far: the Clinton people are stressing their candidate's experience over what they see as Senator Obama's lack of same. To underline the danger of putting an inexperienced person in the Oval Office, a Clinton adviser actually pointed one of our people to Bill Clinton's first two years in office. "It was just a disaster," he said.

Now, I've been coming to New Hampshire since 1976. It's that kind of stuff that keeps me coming back.

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E-mail Face the Nation.

[drsheila1]

Obama is ok, and he attracks alot of idiots and radicals, and liberal thinkers. Give him a few more years and he could do the job. Fred Thompson is ready and good at what he does and so is Huckabee. Obama and Hilary should be on ''some'' committee, but nothing that effects our country''s security. Whoever gets elected, please don''t give our country and it''s secrets away!!

[wogerwabbit]

ainttaken, a backbone doesn''t win elections, using your friggin brains does. Why run a polarizing candidate that will electrify the oppposition? Hell, my brother''s a NY Democrat, hates Hillary and will not vote for her no matter what. Even your own party can''t agree... that can''t be a good sign.

[wogerwabbit]

LOL... ''a Clinton adviser actually pointed one of our people to Bill Clinton''s first two years in office. "It was just a disaster," he said.''

...like experience matters for a job like that.

Alas, but Hillary or Obama will polarize the right wing lunatics and end up losing. Now is not the time for social experiments... now is the time to run a winner. Sadly, Edwards looks like the only socially acceptable Democratic candidate that would knock the socks off the [G]rand [O]ld (White) [P]arty. I suggest you Democrats get your $hit together instead of simply trying to rub the Republicans noses in a putrid Bush as your main battle plan. Don''t be stupid! You don''t want to cross swords with fanatics... it''s a losing poposition... give them some middle ground and a way out of the hole they''ve dug themselves into.

Run somebody who has a chance of winning (I actually like Obama best... hope he doesn''t win the nomination, but will vote in vain for him if he does).

As a recovering Republican, Edwards looks to be the least obnoxious of the bunch and the best you guys could field against the hoarde... IMNSHO