Tonight’s Democratic debate in Los Angeles, co-sponsored by PBS and Politico, has a narrowed field of only seven candidates who qualified in polls and financial support.
Sadly, only one person of color, Andrew Yang, who is of Chinese parents from Taiwan, is in the debate, with Cory Booker and Julian Castro unable to meet the thresholds required.
It is an opportunity for Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Amy Klobuchar, both moderates, to shine and gain on Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren, all considered front runners at this point.
The odds of the other two candidates, both businessmen without political experience–Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang–seems unlikely to benefit.
This is the time for Pete and Amy to surge forward, and we shall see how they perform in the two and a half hour debate starting at 8 pm Eastern time.
Were i a Moderator in tonite’s Democrats’ candidates’ debate, the first questions i would ask would be directed at Senators Warren and Sanders:
1. Had You been present, would You have voted for or against the $738 Billion 2020 NDAA? And why would You have voted that way?
2. More importantly, Why weren’t You present for that vote? Senators Klobuchar and Booker were there, and voted against it. Why weren’t You?
It would be interesting to see if either of them had anything to say that would be as bullet-hits-the-bone as Congresswomen Tulsi Gabbard when she explained why she voted against the House version:
“Though this bill does include some of the things I have long been fighting for — tackling toxic burn pits, making sure our water aquifer at Red Hill is protected, improving Native Hawaiian-owned business opportunities, and more — the problems with this legislation far outweigh the positives,†said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. “The final language in this bill fails to include a repeal of the 2002 Iraq authorization for use of military force and removed my provision to prohibit the unauthorized use of military force against Iran and Venezuela. It continues to provide support for Saudi Arabia’s genocidal war in Yemen, and expands our nuclear arsenal. This bill provides a stamp of approval for the new cold war and nuclear arms race, pushing us ever closer to the brink of nuclear catastrophe. I refuse to have any part of this and therefore voted against the bill.†[https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-opposes-defense-bill-worsens-new-cold-war-and-nuclear-arms]
Good to finally see less than 10 people on stage for a change.
Been watching a little bit. These moderators are terrible, and keep delivering loaded questions that assume Republican talking points.
When the discussion was talking about Afghanistan, Bernie and Pete gave a shoutout to Rep. Barbara Lee for being the only one right on voting against Bush’s AUMF.
Funniest moment of the debate: Biden to Bernie, “Put your hand down for a second, Bernie, ok?†LOL!
It’s a gift, actually, that I see 7 candidates in the show tonite that I would readily vote for in the general.
Agreed. The complete opposite of the 2016 Republican candidates where none were good for America and the absolute worst was voted by the most deplorable to be the most insulting of the rotten bunch.
I thought Biden did good tonight. He seemed strong, didn’t stumble as much.
Seconded. He managed quite well and didn’t get any challenges. i suspect future debates, including post-Iowa, will test his mettle more but he did well with no pressure.
I’ve learned recently that Joe has struggled with being a stutterer since he was a kid.
I’d say Klobuchar was the winner in terms of doing what she needed to do.
This stage is really missing Harris, Booker, and Castro. Or at least one of them.