Last Night, I watched the first night of the first Democratic Debate. The only negative performance, came from DeBlazio, who was aggressive and rude. Most of the 2nd tier candidates did little to distinguish themselves. The biggest exceptions were Inslee and Castro. Among the top tier, both Klobuchar and Booker held their ground. O’Rourke’s performance was weak. But the hands down winner was Warren. She was a rock star, but she did make one major mistake.
Elizabeth Warren came into Wednesday night’s debate as the candidate to watch most closely, the only one of the 10 onstage who had double-digit support in polls, with an apparent momentum that none of those rivals could claim.
Her performance over two hours in Miami probably strengthened that position.
During the first hour, Warren was crisper than most of her peers. She was clearer. I didn’t always like what she said. But she said it well, leaving no doubt about the direction in which she’d pull the country and giving voters a fair amount of detail, within the crushing constraints of time, about the map that she’d use to travel there.
Warren left no doubt, too, about the great villains in American life, at least in her view: “giant corporations.” She said the phrase repeatedly, with force and derision, and she never strayed far from it, framing just about every ill in American life as something caused or exacerbated by greed.
She has bet her entire bid for the presidency on that argument’s resonance with American voters, and on Wednesday night she doubled, tripled and quadrupled down. Elizabeth Warren was unswervingly true to Elizabeth Warren, which is precisely why she has caught fire and why she’ll continue to burn relatively bright. Her passion and confidence should petrify Bernie Sanders, whose song she sings better than he does… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <NY Times>
Warren’s mistake was making Medicare for All mandatory. That may keep Sanders from getting to her, but Big Insurance, Big Pharma, and the Republican Reich millions on adds that Democrats are taking away voters’ insurance. She should adjust her position to Medicare for All Who Want it, while also making it available for Companies to and Unions to pay premiums for employees and members. Private Insurance would soon be reduced to supplemental policies and advantage plans.
Here’s a link to the entire debate.
Here’s Key Moments from the NY Times.
Here’s Best One Liners from the Washington Post.
Here’s coverage from MSNBC.
I shared my take. What’s yours?
RESIST!!
VOTE BLUE!!
6 Responses to “The Democratic Debate – Night 1”
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I suppose, if I thought really hard, I could think of something dire that doesn’t trace back to giant corporations. Let’s see – the Supreme Court? No, that traces back to giant corporation money used to elect those who nominated and confirmed the regressive justice we see. Women’s reproductive health? Supply side pseudo-Christians? Concentration camps? It all goes back to money doesn’t it? And money always goes back to giant corporations. Can’t think of anything.
I’m not saying that breaking up giant corporations will solve all of our problems, because all the brainwashed and bought people influenced by then would still be around, and still be brainwashing more people to be like them. But it would be a start.
I agree with you that Medicare for All should start with Medicare for All Who Opt In, and go from there. Unfortunately my crystal ball is down at the moment so I can’t very well describe how it would go from there, just state that it would.
It was lively and quick, it seemed to me anyways. They came prepared, and piqued my interest in some of the questions presented. I felt bad for Beto, he had a rough night, imho.
Medicare for all who opt in does sound like a better position.
I could not watch, on my laptop, despite an NPR invite, for whatever reason; did not want to get into watching in my daughter’s home (recuperating from the surgery), she and hubby are politically retrograde; not worth the battle. I’ve read that Castro was seen as the biggest winner.
Humongous corporations are a problem, and, as Joanne said, brain washing has been going on, for a long time.
Medicare for all who opt in does sound like a better position.
I could not watch, on my laptop, despite an NPR invite, for whatever reason; did not want to get into watching in my daughter’s home (recuperating from the surgery), she and hubby are politically retrograde; not worth the battle. I’ve read that Castro was seen as the biggest winner.
Humongous corporations are a problem, and, as Joanne said, brain washing has been going on, for a long time.
I watched it last night too. I agree that Beto didn’t do well.
Castro was great with his responses to many of the issues.
Liked Warren too.
We shall see what goes on this evening.
Thanks and totally pooped hugs.
Liz did say there was an intermediate transition phase that is am opt-in plan. The question as asked was about who would give up their private insurance. She said yes for herself, not everyone else.