Dems are dumb.

How was it not a good night if you want to see Trump out of office?

Because rather than giving a positive, hopeful view of what a Democratic administration might look like, the candidates spent most of the night in a sophomoric food fight launching gotchas and tearing each other apart, revealing the intractable divisions in the Party and bringing down the Party as a whole.

JFLNYC wrote:Because rather than giving a positive, hopeful view of what a Democratic administration might look like, the candidates spent most of the night in a sophomoric food fight launching gotchas and tearing each other apart, revealing the intractable divisions in the Party and bringing down the Party as a whole.

Did you watch the Republican primary debates?

I think I have convinced myself that what happens in these debates won't matter much in the general. The Country has about a 3 week political attention span and the convention is 6 months away and the election 8.5 months away.

CalvinBall wrote:

JFLNYC wrote:Because rather than giving a positive, hopeful view of what a Democratic administration might look like, the candidates spent most of the night in a sophomoric food fight launching gotchas and tearing each other apart, revealing the intractable divisions in the Party and bringing down the Party as a whole.

Did you watch the Republican primary debates?

:praisehands 2016 GOP debates almost literally turned into a dick measuring contest

This shit will not matter one bit come the general. Let them fight.

Can someone help me understand why Bloomberg is attacked for being a billionaire? Like the TurboTax comment was weird to me, as one of many examples.

I get like, if a Rockefeller or a DuPont was running on wealth via winning the lottery by birth, but he literally founded his company. Is it a symbolism thing?

Also - while we're here - any perspective on why Buttigieg is a meme on Twitter would also be helpful.

After watching nearly all of the debate last night, I think we can safely strike Bloomberg and Klobuchar from the ranks of potential nominees (sadly, for me anyway, I think Biden is probably close too). Sanders didn't do a whole lot to hurt himself and nobody really did him any damage.

Warren acted as though her run was on the line and swung wildly from the ropes, landing multiple times (especially on Bloomberg).

Buttigieg was, as someone said on the last page, "on brand" and that brand is what is so irritating to some. Klobuchar, I think, hit on what people who don't like Buttigieg feel; he is just too "perfect" and certainly gives off the air of perfection. He really comes off over-rehearsed and condescending. But Buttigieg has a huge following and that will be enough to get him through Super Tuesday, at least.

I cannot recall any significant damage to Biden but he did not deliver many blows either. He did fine but probably not enough to stem the Sanders tide. The latest polls show that Biden's lead in SC is gone. If he loses there, Super Tuesday will be more like a Farewell Tour.

Here is my takeaway:

1. Bernie the clear 'winner' of the debate because everyone was so preoccupied with each other. Warren with everyone but Bernie. Pete/Amy with each other. Everyone with Bloomberg.
2. Bloomberg's candidacy probably took a hit. This is a negative for Bernie cause there ain't no 1. Bloomberg 2. Bernie voters.
3. Biden basically didn't get attacked and could benefit from Bloomberg's fall, but so could the rest of the moderates.
4. Warren looked great and miiiiiiiight start to pull a little support back.

Personally, the more I watch of Bernie, the less I am convinced of him going head to head with trump. It's going to be two old dudes yelling and you can't out trump trump. Hope I'm wrong!

I only saw like half of it. Moment of the night was Warren pushing Bloomberg to release women from their NDA’s.

These were my impressions (I’m pro Bernie/Warren; just noting that so my biases are out there) on each candidate last night:

-Bloomberg looked way out of his league and totally unprepared. He managed to pull off the rare double play of being smug and incompetent.

-Biden was really good (grading on a scale for him). He seemed more fired up than usual and made some coherent points.

-Bernie had a good performance, mainly because he’s just super consistent with his messaging and articulates his vision for America better than anyone else (even if the roadmap for getting there isn’t always clear)

-Warren was great. I hope she’s able to either stick around or give a meaningful push to Bernie if she doesn’t stay.

-Pete and Klobuchar seemed like they both realized they’re fishing in the same pond and their best chance to win is by taking out the other one. Neither came off great, but I didn’t think either was that bad.

Debate thoughts...........

Warren - Did exactly what I said she had to do yesterday. No clue why she was so "low energy" in the New Hampshire debate, but you could tell she wasn't going to let it happen again. She absolutely eviscerated Bloomberg. That being said, I think last night's performance will hurt Bloomberg more than it will help Warren. I would compare it to the Chris Christie/Marco Rubio NH primary debate in 2016. Christie destroyed any chance Rubio had, but it never registered as a big bump for Christie's campaign. I think it's too little, too late for Warren unless she hits a big surge and gets some momentum going at Saturday's caucus. Overall her best debate by far though.

Bloomberg - Unmitigated disaster. Not sure how you can be so unprepared for what obviously was coming. He should go back into hiding.

Sanders - I would call him overall the winner last night because he is the front runner and was barely touched. Bloomberg had a couple of decent jabs at him late, but nothing substantial. He's going to be the nominee unless the DNC screws him out of it.

Biden - Look, at this point if Biden doesn't drool on himself or have a major issue with his eye, it's a good night. He's a shell of his former self and it's tough to watch. Good night for him though given Bloomberg's implosion

Mayor Pete - What was with all the attacks on Klobuchar? I follow this pretty closely and didn't know they had major heat. It almost seemed personal. Thought he came off as very smug and arrogant and didn't do much to help himself. Again, not sure why his advisers told him to turn every question into an attack on Klobuchar. Weird.

Klobuchar - Legit thought she was going to take a swing at Mayor Pete near the end. Wish she would have. Bad night for her after her debate performance in New Hampshire. Don't see her lasting much longer.

This is Sander's nomination to lose at this point. As a Trump supporter I welcome that matchup with open arms. Everyone will disagree with me but I don't think anyone up there can beat Trump. There's no "it factor" candidate. Bloomberg was dangerous due to having unlimited money, but last night was his Wizard of Oz moment where the curtain got pulled back. I can't see the DNC screwing Sanders out of the nomination if he has a healthy delegate lead and the most votes.........too much scrutiny on them to try it.

Sanders vs Trump with a referendum on Socaialism on the big stage.

JUburton wrote:Here is my takeaway:

1. Bernie the clear 'winner' of the debate because everyone was so preoccupied with each other. Warren with everyone but Bernie. Pete/Amy with each other. Everyone with Bloomberg.
2. Bloomberg's candidacy probably took a hit. This is a negative for Bernie cause there ain't no 1. Bloomberg 2. Bernie voters.
3. Biden basically didn't get attacked and could benefit from Bloomberg's fall, but so could the rest of the moderates.
4. Warren looked great and miiiiiiiight start to pull a little support back.

Personally, the more I watch of Bernie, the less I am convinced of him going head to head with trump. It's going to be two old dudes yelling and you can't out trump trump. Hope I'm wrong!

Look...........we completely agree on something!

CalvinBall wrote:

JFLNYC wrote:Because rather than giving a positive, hopeful view of what a Democratic administration might look like, the candidates spent most of the night in a sophomoric food fight launching gotchas and tearing each other apart, revealing the intractable divisions in the Party and bringing down the Party as a whole.

Did you watch the Republican primary debates?

Did you see Donald Trump there last night?

JUburton wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:

JFLNYC wrote:Because rather than giving a positive, hopeful view of what a Democratic administration might look like, the candidates spent most of the night in a sophomoric food fight launching gotchas and tearing each other apart, revealing the intractable divisions in the Party and bringing down the Party as a whole.

Did you watch the Republican primary debates?

:praisehands 2016 GOP debates almost literally turned into a dick measuring contest

This shit will not matter one bit come the general. Let them fight.

It will matter a great deal.

Brantt wrote:

JUburton wrote:Here is my takeaway:

1. Bernie the clear 'winner' of the debate because everyone was so preoccupied with each other. Warren with everyone but Bernie. Pete/Amy with each other. Everyone with Bloomberg.
2. Bloomberg's candidacy probably took a hit. This is a negative for Bernie cause there ain't no 1. Bloomberg 2. Bernie voters.
3. Biden basically didn't get attacked and could benefit from Bloomberg's fall, but so could the rest of the moderates.
4. Warren looked great and miiiiiiiight start to pull a little support back.

Personally, the more I watch of Bernie, the less I am convinced of him going head to head with trump. It's going to be two old dudes yelling and you can't out trump trump. Hope I'm wrong!

Look...........we completely agree on something!

I gotta go lay down.

JFLNYC wrote:

JUburton wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:

JFLNYC wrote:Because rather than giving a positive, hopeful view of what a Democratic administration might look like, the candidates spent most of the night in a sophomoric food fight launching gotchas and tearing each other apart, revealing the intractable divisions in the Party and bringing down the Party as a whole.

Did you watch the Republican primary debates?

:praisehands 2016 GOP debates almost literally turned into a dick measuring contest

This shit will not matter one bit come the general. Let them fight.

It will matter a great deal.

Why? If you're worried about party unity, the party will be united come July (unless Sanders wins like 45% of delegates and doesn't get the nomination and then the DNC gets what they deserve). If you're worried about the attacks used here being used by Trump, well, these and far worse are going to be used anyway.

Yea, most of these attacks are based in some fact but skewed. President Trump will do that, plus also throw out other wild accusations.

Trump tweeted out a stooge Tucker Carlson clip urging a pardon of Roger Stone. Bill Barr, your move. I suspect Barr just mumbles something when next he is seen without doing a single thing.

FWIW - I think the very best outcome politically is for a sentence followed immediately by a pardon. I am talking counting the gap in minutes. You can easily point to that as being ignorant and disrespectful of the law while demonstrating a corrupt mindset.

Been going to this leadership class once a month. We share like highs and lows to open up each session. One woman who is in management of a health network locally said a sector of their employees are trying to unionize and it is bad news for her and her team. Wanted to throw her out a window. Must be very hard when underpaid, overworked people speak up.

joe table wrote:biden looks like a skeleton wrapped in big league chew. Butchered at least 5-10% of his words. Was feisty but largely incoherent. Please retire

Bloomberg was awful. Shockingly bad

Bernie was Bernie. Probably the winner of the night by default

Warren and Pete had good moments but ultimately irrelevant

Not a good scene overall for those who want to see trump out

Agree on Biden. His tendency to start a sentence, then say "Look," and then say something else would be a terrible drinking game because you'd die.

Pete grated on me today. Deliberately misinterpreted Medicare-For-All plan in order to attempt to elevate himself. Deliberately attacked Klobuchar in repeated attacks to position himself as 'the moderate alternative.' I suppose it could work, but it seemed disingenuous and overly calculated.

Bernie and Warren had a good night.

Klobuchar's lack of poise/polish came out, although I've previously observed that. She'll not do well in a debate setting against Trump... 50/50 odds he makes her cry.