Charlie Gibson moves on to the surge. Before the question, there’s a great video from ABC News detailing reductions in civilian victims and improved security. “Life is returning to the streets of Baghdad.”

“Are any of you ready to say the surge has worked?” Great question.

Hillary: The purpose behind the surge was to create the space and time for reconciliation… As your report said, we have the greatest military in the world. We send in more troops, they will be able to dampen down the violence.

“Dampen down”?

“Twenty-three Americans dying in Iraq in December is completely unacceptable. There is no more cause for us to be there if the Iraqis are not going to do what they need to do for their country.”

Richardson: “The policy is a massive failure… Are there regional elections? No. Is there any end to Iran’s efforts to bring terrorist activities to Iraq? No.”

Go drag your jowls to an airport of returning troops and tell that to them, pal.

Obama: I think the bar of success has gotten so low, that we’ve lost perspective on what should be our long-term national interest.

In case you didn’t know, Obama reminds us he opposed this war from the start.

I agree with this assessment from one of my readers, Lance:

I agree with the Mrs. that Hillary seems tired. The whole field is listless and devoid of energy. It is as if the Democrats, watching the GOP fireworks and combativeness, perceived the Republicans’ demeanor as betraying incivility and immaturity. Maybe that is why the Dems have come out with barely a pulse. I’d bet good money that these candidates don’t waiver, as the Republicans did, from the more traditional debate format in the second half. However, I think they’ve made a critical misjudgment. The Republican debate was more energetic (if a little too pointed at times), but, all in all, that debate was enjoyable to watch. It was an active conversation between intelligent people : there should be slights, barbs, and witty retorts.
I don’t know if this is indicative of how dour and pessimistic liberals are but I would prescribe Zoloft to this panel. Is this what “change” sounds like? Thank God, Richardson just made a joke. I just wish he weren’t wasting our time.
For the party of Al Smith, these are not Happy Warriors.

I demand ABC and the Democrats apologize for devouring my Saturday night for making me listen to this, because it’s nothing we haven’t seen in all of the previous debates. One might think that Iowa would have shaken this up some, but no. Same lines of dialogue, smaller cast.