2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumImpressions of this evening's debate.
I nerded out and watching the entire debate. Here's some impressions.
Clinton. She's incredibly smart and funny. She has a commanding presence on stage. She would not be a shrinking violet any time or place. She's a policy wonk. She's relaxed when being challenged and will stick up strongly for her principles. She takes no guff from anyone. She really wants to listen well and grow opportunities for all people. She relishes the opportunity to expand on the successes of the Obama Administration and keep moving us forward. I loved how she ended with 'May the force be with you.'
O'Malley. He's very familiar with managing large urban areas and governing a State. He's pushing new ideas like capitalizing on the job opportunities presented by climate change - something all democrats should acknowledge and keep pushing forward. He has demonstrated he can build coalitions. He's really into working with people locally and at State levels. We need more like him in the democratic party.
Sanders. He's very gracious and has a great heart. He also has a great sense of humor. His mind and heart burns brightest for those that are the least advantaged. He is laser focused in his commitment to reducing income inequality, expand social security, move to single payer health care and avoid costly regime changes that can have terrible unintended consequences. I cannot give any give him any higher praise. He is also generous and friendly with his opponents on stage. Very collegial. Sanders is doing a great service for party and our country. He is sticking up forcefully for the least advantaged, and giving voice to millions of people who feel they don't have much say in how things are run. His message - that people need to be engaged and take back our government - should resound far and wide, and way beyond the primaries.
Overall. A very good debate. All three got the chance to highlight their differences. They also all agree correctly that the most significant difference is the stark contrast they present to voters as compared to the republicans who are pushing fear and war and terror and more fear. I admire all three of them for never losing sight of this fundamental fact. I don't think the race will change much because of this debate, except that it provides all three the opportunity to state their case and contrast it with the bigotry and limited possibilities offered by the republican party.
Debate moderators. I thought they were pretty good.
Pundits & commentators. I don't watch them. I hit mute or take a break when they're yapping.
What are your impressions?
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)Thanks!
Dem2
(8,168 posts)NowSam
(1,252 posts)I was very impressed. I think it will come down to who can get the vote out. If Bernie can get the young ones to the polls he will be the decisive winner and his revolution will become a reality. if not than we can expect more of what we have been getting. MO made a big impression I believe and I hips he sticks in there.
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)They drove me up the wall, talking half the time about the sorry-ass GOP candidates
instead of talking about the Democratic Party candidates that were debating right there,
before their very eyes. It was exasperating to watch ... best avoided at all costs.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Thank goodness for the mute button. They're all so inside the beltway it's just silly. What a bunch of maroons, lol.
barbtries
(28,799 posts)which is to say i listened to it. i started having the video on in a different tab but eh. what i think is, as long as it's not a republican, there's hope for the union.
NV Whino
(20,886 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)Here is the head thread. Four live threads embedded.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251926577
Kudos to all respondents. They were all wonderful.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I'll check it out.
murielm99
(30,745 posts)I am more impressed with O'Malley all the time. I hope he is around for a long time. We will need him in the future.
Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)although I think Hillary got most of the air time once again. I'm not crazy about Ms. Radditz (sp?) Why can't networks have Amy Goodman sometime as a moderator?
As for the punditocracy, I hit the mute button and leave the room for various reasons.
hopemountain
(3,919 posts)the strengths of each of the candidates. punditshmundits. i was hoping c-span was televising as i missed the first 1/2 hour of the debate. hope to find it online somewhere. thanks, lovemydog - so refreshing to read something purely democratic on du.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)After this is finished, click on the link within the video, where it says 'youtube.' That should take you straight to youtube, where you can watch the rest of it. If that link goes down, try the abc news web site. Hopefully they will post it there soon. Youtube has been pretty good though, about leaving these videos up. I think even corporations like ABC recognize that it's good for them not to be obnoxious about demanding debates be removed.
hopemountain
(3,919 posts)LittleGirl
(8,287 posts)I have tried to watch ABC in Europe but I get errors about it not being available except in the states. Hopefully, they will make an exception for the debates.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I've noticed in the last six months or so that youtube has a lot better stuff on there now. I think even some of the big corporations like ABC are finally recognizing that they shouldn't go around trying to take everything down from youtube. Well, Disney / ABC still sucks, but at least I can dream.
LittleGirl
(8,287 posts)I remember Robert Reich's film was up for a long time, like a few weeks before they took it down. Cheers!
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I suppose. Of course, if enough people demand that our tax money be spent on ourselves, we could have a lot more 'free stuff.'
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)They feel the government is to blame for the poor.
If they HAD to work they wouldn't BE poor.
Mind you, his type also opposes an increase in the minimum wage.
thesquanderer
(11,990 posts)Why did they keep letting two candidates answer a question, and then try to prevent the third candidate from asking the same question?
Why did the interrupt engaged conversation, sometimes to basically say that they had to stop, but they would get a question on the same topic? Just let them talk about the topic.
I think the mods consider their primary function to be "control." But I think that's only their second most important function. Their most important function is providing the audience with an enlightening debate, and they should not let their other function interfere with that.
H2O Man
(73,559 posts)Thank you.