1) John Edwards will forever be remembered as the man who lost the nomination due to a $400 haircut. Tina and I had a bit of an argument about it on Sunday, but I’m of the opinion that any man who dares run as a “populist” should at the very least get his hair cut for less than $15. Call me old-fashioned, but you can’t get the union vote if you’re getting your hair shampooed down at the salon. I like John Edwards, and I really wanted to vote for him in the primary, but that’s a deal breaker for me.

2) Barack Obama came off to me as an amateur. He seemed incapable of answering a direct question. Every thing that came out of his mouth was pre-packaged and he lacked the improvisational chops to roll with the punches. I’m now convinced that people want Barack Obama to be something that he is not — maybe with a few years in the senate, Obama will be able to become that man, but I don’t think he’s ready.

3) Chris Dodd and Joe Biden both have tremendous experience, and I even agree with a lot of their positions. But they’re both creatures of the senate, and there’s no way either of them can escape it. There’s just too much baggage. They sounded like Senators, and that’s the kiss of death.

4) Bill Richardson — so many people talk about his experience, but the guy seems like a stuffed suit to me. He just didn’t seem ready for prime time. He reminds me more of Fred Flintstone than a serious candidate.

5) This leaves me with the only real choice. She was poised, mature and reasoned — in many ways she was the only true candidate on stage. As much as I find her triangulation hopelessly pandering and calculated, and her personality overbearing and cold, I’m afraid Hillary Clinton was the only person on that stage that seemed Presidential. Her performance was nothing spectacular, but I thought that she certainly wants the Presidency enough to be competent. And after Bush, maybe competent is all we need? At this point, I’m afraid to say that I’m actually leaning towards supporting her in the election. I don’t have confidence in any of the others.