The First Democratic Debate: Two Nights of Poltical Speed Dating

Well there they all were on Wednesday and Thursday night. Twenty democratic presidential hopefuls, ten per evening, strung across a stage facing five reporters in all, a live audience in a large hall, and millions watching on cable TV.

The list of participating candidates was so huge time restraints limited--in theory anyway--each one of them to a one minute answer per question and a 30 second response to a follow up. Of course several, most notably Bill de Blasio and Kirsten Gillibrand, paid little attention to the rules and plowed into the discussion whenever they felt like it for however long they wanted.

So how did they do? Are any of them capable of taking down the current resident in the White House? The answer is, as always, it depends on who you support and not necessarily what was actually said.

In no particular order, here is how it looked from a living room in Oklahoma City fogged with cigar smoke and lubricated by a couple of dry martinis.

NYC Mayor, Bill de Blasio's bluster and willingness to interrupt anyone seemed to have won him some points. Then, the next day he went out and blew them all when he quoted, Che Guevara to a crowd of union members who were mostly Cuban refugees. You know, the very people who, at great risk to their lives, fled the Cuban government Guevara helped set up.

NY Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand tried the same shtick the next night, but rather than it working, it made her sound shrill and desperate. She appears done.

NJ Senator, Cory Booker helped himself, but was it enough? He remains a long, but valid shot.

MN Senator, Amy Klobuchar did about the same as Booker, although she did have the best one liner of Wednesday night.

Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard of HI looked more like she was lobbying for a cabinet position, perhaps Secretary of Defense, rather than running for president. She also won over, even if it's fraudulent, the enthusiastic support of many of the ultra right wing trolls who dwell in the lands of 4chan and 8chan chat rooms.

Julian Castro the former head of HUD came on strong, especially when it came to immigration reform. He had the biggest break out performance of all the cellar dwellers in the polls and could become a real player before the campaign is over.

VT Senator, Bernie Sanders was, well, Bernie Sanders. The Grand Utopian promised everyone everything, unless you prefer to keep your private health insurance, in which case you'll be fucked by his medical plan. His main goal at this point seems to be pushing the democrats to the far left, even if it means the party goes off a cliff.

South Bend, IN Mayor, Pete Buttigieg once again demonstrated he is the most intelligent of the bunch, but being smart doesn't always mean you're able to lead. Just ask the black population of his home town.

Former TX Congressman Beto O'Rourke laid an egg the size of Brownsville. From his preplanned jump into Spanish during his opening to his dancing around issues in two languages it was painfully obvious he was in over his head. His campaign is doomed.

Former VP Joe Biden didn't really hurt himself, but on Thursday night he took a heavy shot to the gut by Kamala Harris. It is easy to see his lead in the polls shrinking dramatically because of his past, dubious, associations with old school segregationists in congress.

Speaking of Harris, the CA Senator might have done herself the most good out of all the candidates. She came across as not only articulate and intelligent, but perhaps the most adult. On the second night, as the panel of candidates descended into a shouting match, her line about Americans not needing to witness a food fight brought the house down and shut the others up.

It is a mystery why author, Marianne Williamson was even there. Maybe she needed to boost her book sales.

CA Congressman, Eric Swalwell, looking oh so preppy, had a single moment. It was a cheap shot at Joe Biden's age which drew groans and gasps from the live audience. Biden shrugged it off and the discussion moved on without the Congressman making a further impression, good, or bad.

Then we come to MA Senator, Elizabeth Warren. She served her recent surge in the polls well with carefully presented answers to questions posed. She also knew enough to shut up when the subject shifted to areas she might not be as strong in, like immigration. As those around her began to interrupt and talk over other candidates you could see her looking around, not amused, but studying what was going on with cool and calculating aloofness. She, along with Harris looked from here to be the winners of the affair.

There were others there--Tim Ryan, John Delany, Jay Inslee, Michael Bennet, John Hickenlooper, and Andrew Yang all earned a podium during what amounted to two nights of political speed dating. All of them need to seek other career opportunities, because, honestly, the bus to the Oval Office isn't pulling over at their stops.

Can any of the real deals beat Trump though? To do so will take a supreme effort out of not only whoever the nominee is, but the entire democratic party. As we've seen The Big Orange Guy sucks up media attention like a black hole does light. His presidency exists on flagrant, not to mention, transparent lies, conspiracy theories, and petty name calling. He is not based in any reality, so ignores it, then creates his own which shifts from day to day, tweet, to tweet.

Indeed, it is tough to beat a madman because a madman is capable of doing, or saying anything. And in Trump's case there are millions of people willing to believe whatever he says because they're just as nuts as he is.

Despite all that Trump can be beaten. Right now it looks like the person to do it is either Elizabeth Warren, or Kamala Harris, or perhaps Julian Castro. However, as they say, it is early. Fortunes might and will change. Democrats and the media love to rip and tear at any front runner, no matter how smart and right they are.

It is, tragically, the nature of the business and the psyche of those who work in it.


sic vita est


6-28-19