Based on what I saw before Top Chef came on, it seems Hillary Clinton had another comparatively good night. She had to know that the others would pounce on her refusal to commit to withdrawing either all combat troops or every last U.S. soldier by Tim Russert’s deadline. She’s not just playing for the general election, she sees herself in the Oval Office. Sen. Obama didn’t just fail to challenge the frontrunner — he avoided a direct criticism when he had the chance in favor of “a lot of people” who voted wrong on the war or “disagreements on this stage.” Doesn’t pick on girls? John Edwards does. Although in every other respect he has led a very, very noble life — just ask him.

Did the veteran diplomat who plans on using his vast diplomatic experience to solve every challenge we face call those he’s so anxious to dialogue with the “bad guys?” Sen. Clinton understood the issue of sanctuary cities — Barack Obama appeared not to. I thought that tonight she seemed. . . capable. But how lonely could her fight for health-care reform have been when there were about 600 people on her secret task force?

While Obama and Edwards favored same-sex-marriage fairy tales in second grade, Clinton was quick enough to slip in a nod to “parental discretion.” A bit strange that Sen. Obama seems to think that politicians must fret over what they “feed our people.” Two very scary words: Kucinich administration.