The second democratic debate was a tad edgier Tuesday and Wednesday in Detroit. Even some in the crowd got involved when they began to chant, "Fire Pantaleo," as Cory Booker spoke. Why Booker, especially when the Mayor of New York, the guy who could actually fire the rogue NYPD cop was on the stage? Probably because they knew Bill de Blasio would just amp up his volume enough to drown them out. He was certainly seemed on the verge of being able to do it when he was slashing away at Joe Biden with all the subtlety of Stephen Miller.
He wasn't the only one. On Wednesday night everyone was taking shots at the former Vice President. In fact, by the end of the evening you would have thought Biden had served as the VEEP in a republican administration instead of Barack Obama's. It became so weird, one news agency ranked the former president, who has a 95% approval rating among democrats, as the big loser of the night.
Although Biden seemed better prepared, both with his responses and willingness to strike back, he once again proved himself not the greatest of debaters. The truth is it has become painfully obvious debates are simply not his forte and he is far more comfortable and effective when he has a stage to himself. That being said, despite a couple of fumbles he generally held his own and, most importantly, his lead in the polls.
Obviously desperation has set in for the second tier candidates because it wasn't just Joe Biden having to counter punch. On Tuesday night Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren found their health care plans under prolonged attacks from the more moderate hopefuls. On Wednesday Kamala Harris' health care plan was also roundly criticized, although health care isn't where she was hurt the most. Representative Tulsi Gabbard slammed the California Senator's record as a prosecutor in the San Francisco area and Harris, frankly, struggled to respond.
So who won, or at least stayed where they were? On Tuesday our living room split when it came to Warren and Sanders, although both of us felt they did well. One gave the edge to Bernie and the other to Ms. Warren. It was agreed Mayor Pete Buttigieg once again proved his intelligence, although not his leadership abilities, while the consensus was former congressman Beto O'Rourke is at the helm of a small, floundering, boat.
Meanwhile, Steve Bullock, John Delaney, John Hickenlooper, and Tim Ryan all need to take the same sort of reality pill Congressman Eric Swalwell downed the other day, so we can move on without them. And it was concluded, Marianne Williamson, who is undoubtedly immune to such medication, should retreat to an ashram somewhere on the planet Saturn.
On Wednesday Biden was, at last, feisty and engaged, as was Cory Booker and Tulsi Gabbard. Senator Amy Klobuchar seemed game, but she is still far back in the field. Andrew Yang proved, as suspected, to be a one note Johnny. Kamala Harris seemed to never recover from Gabbard's attack and her campaign might have taken a hit. Bill de Blasio once again came across as a giant bully. Meanwhile Gillibrand, Inslee, and Bennet are likely done for.
For the second straight debate, former HUD secretary, Julian Castro was impressive. In truth he could easily be declared the winner if you combined both performances. His numbers still, mysteriously, languish though, even if you have to think they will begin to climb.
The field will narrow on August 28th. By that date if a candidate has not hit 130,000 individual donors and at least 2% in four different polls they will not be on the stage in Houston in mid September.
At this moment, Biden, Booker, Buttigieg, O'Rourke, Harris, Sanders, and Warren have made the cut. According to reports Castro, Yang, and Klobuchar are on the cusp and appear poised to get there. Everyone else will be left to wander in the wilderness.
What we do know is the lines between the progressives and the moderates within the party are becoming more defined and how to rework American health care has become the sharpest divide.
We also know these debates are now providing The Big Orange Guy with ammunition when the real fight comes next year. The eventual democratic candidate is going to have every single argument used by the also rans against him, or her. That's in addition to the normal level of barbaric hysteria, lies, and conspiracies we know Trump and his Russian pals will employ.
Indeed, thanks to Donald John Trump, the new American political ethos is, to paraphrase, Dante, abandon all civility and truth, ye who enter here.
8-2-19
I do not believe these multi candidate "debates" are necessarily a good thing if all we are going to do is the dirty work for the GOP. Yes, a few of them are looking good. Yes, it is is a good venue for the public to see and hear them up close and personal. But, they are beating each other up on national TV. Were I heading the GOP, would offer to purchase as much air time for them as they want.
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