Debate Watch 2016!
I'm settling in after a long day at work to enjoy tonight's Democratic Party debate. It's coming to us live from Las Vegas, a place known for its pugilistic battles, starting at 8:30pm EST. It should be a lively one, as its the first chance for these candidates to impress the American people. Hillary Clinton is still considered the front runner in the primaries, but Vermont Senator - and Blue Devil's favored candidate - Bernie Sanders is running her hard and even leading the polls in New Hampshire. The others - Martin O'Malley, Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee are all polling at approximately "bugger all" to use the Python parlance. So, they'll need to score some knock-out blows to have any impact at all.
So, pour yourself a libation and join me for the usual LOB political banter, won't you?
58 Comments:
The preliminaries have started on the cable news outlets.
One of the dramatic mystery factors tonight is whether Joe Biden will show up. Indeed, CNN have taken the trouble of having a portable podium on hand in case Uncle Joe appears.
We're moments away from the beginning of the debate. Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Shultz has just introduced a taped segment featuring the President.
Evening, Bivalve - how are you? Thanks for joining me!
Fortunately, Wolf is about to sign off on his prelim show.
I've just finished my dinner after my late class. So, I've just poured myself a glass of port. What are you drinking?
So, if you're not pulling for your fellow Rhode Islander, Chafee, who do you favor tonight?
Here we go, then - Anderson Cooper is introducing the candidates now.
Sorry to hear that. I hope you're able to sort that out soon.
Glad to hear it - I'm fully in the tank for Bern.
The five candidates are all out on stage.
Okay, I love Sheryl Crow just fine, but what's with the anthem before the debate.
The anthem is notoriously hard to sing, especially a cappella. She gave it her all, I suppose.
It's interesting that they're advertising the Meryl Streep/ Carrie Mulligan "Suffragette" movie during this - niche marketing?
Introductions by the candidates now. Chafee up first.
Lincoln's surely gone on beyond his two minutes here.....
Jim Webb is obviously carving out a niche for himself as the most pro-military candidates on the Dem side. Probably the furthest to the right of this group.
Where was Rhode Island going?
Martin O'Malley next. Definitely the best looking of the bunch. He's a smoothy.
These are all going on well beyond two minutes - has Anderson lost his stopwatch?
Not at all - Connecticut wins that year after year.
Come on, Bernie!
Bernie hitting all of the highlights here - income inequality, Citizens United, climate change, prison industry. Woo hoo!
Sanders is the only one getting applause during his intro. Well done!
I'm not sure Bernie is going to get red baited in this debate. That would be a mistake for any of the other candidates. In the same way that it would be a mistake for any of them to pick a fight with Hillary about her emails or Benghazi.
Big hand for Hillary on paid family leave.
Our Senator Kirsten Gillebrand loving Hillary in the audience there.
First question - the flip flop issue for Hillary. She'll have expected that.
You're absolutely right - she's got more negatives with Repubs than any other candidate.
Not convincing and Anderson is pushing her on it.
Hillary says she's a "progressive who likes to get things done." Not buying it.
Anderson lobs the socialist question at Bernie now. This will give him a chance to define himself. He'll eat this one up.
Nice spin on Anderson's question - well done!
Hillary tries to hop on the question. She believes that she's about saving capitalism from itself. She did well there.
Anderson now pushing Chafee on his Republican past.
Chafee is the antithesis of excitement.
I like that Cooper isn't allowing any b.s. Well they waffle, he interrupts them.
O'Malley is really sleepy as well. I want a tape of him talking about criminal justice policy by my bedside at night. zqzzzzz
Fred Armisen could have done it - maybe a guest appearance?
Did O'Malley have a hit of cough syrup before the debate?
Now pushing Jim Webb on affirmative action. He's wrong that affirmative action was only related to race. Hillary is likely to jump in on this one. He's opened the door.
He's completely vacant.
Now gun control - this could be trouble for Sanders. But he'll have to have anticipated it.
Running through his bona fides on gun policy. Not bad. But he needs to answer the question too.
Webb has real problems on race and gender issues.
Ouch - Hillary is tough on Sanders on the gun issue. She gets a big hand on that one.
Hillary scored some points there. Bernie calling for a consensus.
She's been very strong.
Hillary rattling some sabres over Putin now - this is an opening for someone to hit her on her hawkishness.
Bernie now taking the time to explain the context of Syria. A big hand when he describes Iraq as a quagmire.
Chafee given the opportunity to hit Hillary - and he takes it. She's taking some flak now.
Hillary trying to explain her "poor judgment" now. Her response is that she's a good friend of Obama. Not convincing.
Excellent answers on the foreign policy questions there.
O'Malley going after Hillary now.
Hillary is taking it from all corners now; this is her real weak areas.
"Well, I am in the middle!" Ouch!
She's well outside the mainstream of Democratic Party politics on these issues - far too hawkish.
Now Jim Webb's trying to outflank Hillary on the hawkishness.
Now Bernie's turn - he was caught off guard by Anderson there.
Well, I'm going to call it a night, Bets. I've got an early morning tomorrow, so I'll catch up with the highlights later.
Cheerio!
Post a Comment
<< Home