I thought Castro’s comment was a low blow. What I find most interesting is the intensity with which Democrat-leaning viewers are calling him out on it. Compare that to the utter silence from Republicans time and again after Trump bullies from the bully pulpit.
54
@Donaldo
I’m glad that I’m not the only to have had that thought; the fact that ‘we’ are willing to call each other out on poor behavior is so refreshing.
It’s almost as if there’s still some concept of “checks and balances” possible within the body politic.
4
I believe Mr. Castro has eliminated himself from consideration.
48
I know I should be focused on the issues and the debates but one question keeps popping up. If Trump pulls the same thing on his 2020 debate opponent that he pulled on Hillary, how will that person react? I am talking about the debate where Trump walked behind Hillary during one of her replies in order to intimidate her. This is trivial I know, but their reaction to his creepy behavior may speak volumes about the type of person they are.
3
These are always "do no harm to yourself" scenarios.
If you happen to help yourself, it's an unexpected bonus.
Castro hurt both himself and Biden a little bit as well.
Castro wasn't going to win the nomination anyway, so he had not much to lose.
Bernie is hurting himself a little bit. He should stop talking about things over and over that he did a long time ago. Makes him seem older. We know you're a good guy, Bernie. Stop annoying us. I'll vote for you if you're the nominee.
Buttigieg is the smartest one up there, but Warren is pretty smart too, and has more experience. She's turning out to be the best debater as well.
I don't know who is going to win the nomination, but I would guess Warren, if I had to guess right now.
Almost anything could happen.
8
Another opinion that is obviously not shared by the majority.
1
I don't get Biden's lead. His record on race issues is checkered, he meanders in speech and makes all manner of factual errors. In the NPR Political podcast, he recently said, "Facts don't matter " My jaw dropped, because it could have been a Trump line. Even his bizarre answer to the race reparations question (parents should put on a record for their kids) got no criticism from pundits, many of whom said, yeah, research shows music is good for children. What?!! What is the connection between the question and his answer?
I was really impressed with Cory Booker. One of the top qualifications for the presidency is excellent public speaking ability. After all, the president is the face of the country, the person who represents America both at home and abroad. Booker speaks with passion, conviction, and clarity. Maybe other candidates have more fleshed out plans. Great, Booker can appoint them to his cabinet. But we need a Unifier-in-Chief, as Booker says, and he can do that.
7
My first takeaway from last night, and I’m surprised it wasn’t mentioned, is that all the candidates spoke in full sentences using words that can be found in English dictionaries.
Number two — why is the media (the NYT included) still failing to grant more time to Andrew Yang? He has an inspiring platform, is polling quite well and has a lot of support among millennials and many of us pre-millennials. I don’t yet know for whom I’d vote, but I’d like to hear more from him.
Takeaway C — as much as I’d like to see the debates carried out in a positive, non-hostile manner, Warren needs to be vetted. I want to know that if she’s the nominee, she can wipe the floor with Trump.
Number five — vinyl is back, proving one more time that everything that’s old is new again.
Final thought — I would vote for any of these candidates, even those who reacted as traditional politicians, over the all tacky glitter and no gold, all orange and no juice, all hubris and no altruism person now holding that office.
17
Perhaps this will be the end of Julián Castro's campaign. His behavior towards Vice President Biden was appalling. And he was wrong in his criticism. Castro showed just how nasty he can be. Beware of the slick smile. Two-faced and unfair.
17
Everyone seems giddy about Ms.Harris' line about 'going back to watch Fox News'... given the electoral reality that without a sizable number of Fox watchers we're looking at 4 more years of Trump, I'd hold the self-satisfied applause, folks......
4
Kamala Harris deserves an Emmy for her rehearsed rhetoric. She strikes me as simply looking to advance her own self-interests (it’s obvious the way she toots her own horn...) and doesn’t seem to care about the real challenges this country faces. Her cocked head spoke volumes.
I like three preliminary candidates; BIDEN, Warren, and Buttigieg are my front runners.
Keep up the good work, NY Times!
13
It's long past time that anyone polling under 20% left the race and made room for the contenders. We need congressmen, senators and governors almost as much as we do a Democratic president. What started as a dog-and-pony show now threatens to turn into an entirely different type of show.
4
The whole debate lacked substance
Trump-bashing is a really useful crutch for every candidate on that stage. No matter how the moderators ask, “what would you do on this issue?” the candidates can offer some version of, “I’ll tell you what I wouldn’t do, I wouldn’t do what Trump has done, because he’s done X, Y, and Z and that’s destroying the American dream/dividing us/corrupting the ideals of America/leaving a worse world for our children.” Cue audience applause.
These debates would be so much more edifying, useful, and revealing if there was no audience, and no candidate felt the need to try to awkwardly shoehorn in an applause line at the end of their answer. Judging from the transcript, the audience applauded 136 times last night. This isn’t Saturday Night Live or a sporting event; we don’t need to hear “WHOOOOO” when a candidate promises to create a special White House office for hate crimes and white supremacy, as Cory Booker did last night. If creating a special White House office focusing on a problem solved it, the country would have no problems.
Biden also declared “nobody should be in jail for a nonviolent crime,” which no doubt thrilled viewers like Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen. The vice president will be walking that one back soon.
8
I am voting for Joe Biden a women today with all the trouble Trump made in the world today for us i feel would not be able to do this tough job. We need a calm person in the White House and someone who wants to save our health care and climate from disaster.
3
And, who among them have "presence," also known as "executive presence"? (Yes, it's also a requirement of women in leadership positions, not just men.) You know the qualities....Stand up straight; speak clearly, at a moderate pace, using everyday words, in measured phrases; maintain the right amount of eye contact; dress conservatively; be polite and reserved.
Only half demonstrated any degree executive presence last evening. Joe Biden, as one would expect. Pete Buttigieg, clearly a polished officer. Cory Booker, an "FM voice" helps. Beto O’Rourke, energized and practiced. Kamala Harris, California diversity training.
Elizabeth Warren? Are you kidding me? She's all over the place, shouting and flailing. She has absolutely no chance of becoming president, no matter how intelligent she is, or how well she develops strategic or tactical plans. To be a leader, one has to have the correct demeanor and delivery.
Ditto for Bernie Sanders. He's packed with energy and ideas, but lacks executive potential.
10
This was my first time seeing any of the debates, and for that matter, my first time seeing a number of them speak. While Kamala is clearly very sharp, I found the majority of her rhetoric to be pandering to the 'anti-Trumpers'. It was as if her campaign team was taking the easy route to try and win votes, by Kamala's simply indicating how much she dislikes Trump and his policies. No kidding. But, we want to hear what your plans are as president....not how much you dislike Trump, or making jokes about his 'tweets'.
To me, it was all very transparent, and therefore it turned me off from her, at least as a presidential candidate. I do imagine however that she's a formidable prosecutor, and would also make a great CEO, Board member, etc.
7
I admire Sen Warren very much and I think she has the skills and experience that would make a fine President. Only I don’t think she canbeat Trump. Nor do I think any old guard typical liberal Democrat can.
We need some fresh young person who could attract both conservatives & liberals?
I think that person is Mayor Pete. I would certainly love to see us elect a women for our next president but id side step that desire with the exceptionally calm, brilliant and youthful Mayor Pete! He’s the only one that can attract more conservative support IMO.
9
I would like to see Pete and Cory team up. I know people are behind the top three but it’s time for new, smart, dedicated young voices in the Whitehouse.
15
The average American family of four pays twenty to twenty five thousand dollars annually with a five thousand dollar deductible.
How are we going to pay for medicare for all ?
Chump change, compared to what families are currently shelling out for insurance they can't use.
7
Insurance is against disaster.
1
@King Philip, His majesty. How did you ever come up with that number? I don’t know anyone who pays that much.
4
The end game is crystal clear.
The nominee will be Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders; more than likely Elizabeth Warren.
Trump is already a dead duck, he simply is refusing to face it, but one can see, behind his never-ending bombast, that he knows he is becoming irrelevant.
While Bernie Sanders is my first choice I know that Elizabeth Warren will make a truly great President and leader, taking all of us out of the morass which Trump and his Republican partners created.
9
@Mel,
Take a screen grab of this because it far from clear.
IF, IF Pres. Trump is to be unseated, Scranton Joe is the ONLY hope.
Let’s put him in a closet, or hyperbaric chamber to preserve him while the others beat each other up for 2nd place.
Bernie and Warren have no chance, that’s pretty clear.
6
Castro's actions on the debate floor and in the press today convince me he is not worth my consideration.
He is a desperate man willing to sell out to score a few points.
15
Disappointing questions. With the media helping him, "T" has a chance. I fail to see why a Medicare for All program couldn't leave the (rip-off) insurance companies as an option for those who are afraid to lose them. Competition from a program without the +/--30% overhead for profit for people who do nothing for health care would soon mop them up. The problem with a govt. controlled problem is that people would prefer it.
2
“I wish this crew would just all unite under one banner on some sort of super team in order to beat Trump. Each of them has a place in turning things around. ”
Hasn't this occurred to most of us?
Fantasy football is child's play -- how about fantasy politics that could become real?
Joe Biden: Secretary of State or Ambassador to Senate.
He's so collegial -- but too old for this fight. You think Castro was tough, wait till Trump's Republicans go nasty.
Mayor Pete: Press Secretary
Kamala Harris: Attorney General
O'Rourke: Head of Homeland Security. Disarm our mentally ill, Beto.
Jay Insley: Secretary of Energy
Michael Bloomberg: Secretary of Commerce
Amy Klobuchar: Secretary of Education
As president we need a strong, intelligent, electable leader.
“I find that campaigning is making Elizabeth Warren a better candidate … She's persuasive, intelligent and clear… runs circles around Biden.”
She's emerged as leader of the pack.
Bernie -- were it not for him, we'd be still in the dark ages. Yeah, he's angry, but there's a lot to be angry about. Secretary of Labor.
Vice President? An active, intelligent, moral leader, (unlike Pence) who balances the ticket and draws a necessary constituency.
Booker, Klobuchar, Harris...
A DEMOCRATIC DREAM TEAM: President Warren/with Booker as VP...Biden at State...Harris as Attorney General...Bernie protecting workers...and Pete explaining.
And where Cory, Kamala, Pete can learn how to be president...later.
11
Where are our young American politicians? Holy Cannoli! Sanders is 78. Biden will be 78. This is “no country for old men.” Democrats are dreaming if they think Mr. Biden can beat Trump. Where is Gavin Newsom when we need him?
5
@suschar. He’s ruining California.
4
>>> "This is 'no country for old men.'”
I wish it were no country for ageist bigots.
6
NYC: please introduce Bernie Sanders as the Vermont democratic socialist... instead of socialist. I assume you know the difference.
7
Bye bye Castro ... insignificant loss to the Democratic Party. He's revealed himself to have a temperament that's quite Trumpist.
15
I listened to the debate on my record player.
9
I'm developing a preference for Cory Booker.
4
The only thing missing was someone yelling "I'm gonna give YOU a car! And YOU a car! And You a car! Look under your seat! I'm giving everyone a car!"
And they have the gall to deride President Trump.
9
WHEN Biden is polling above Beto and Castro in their own home state of Texas, I think it's time to lower the flag and call it quits.
8
What about Buttigieg and Klobuchar??
4
@Krista M.C.: Buttigieg doesn't make above 4-6% in the polls and Klobuchar is consistently stuck at 1%. Neither of them is going anywhere, except back home.
2
The Castro brothers are spiteful politicians.
15
And hardly a mention of Pete?
5
Once again - and more times than I have kept count of - the NYTimes is barely mentioning Pete Buttigieg when it has an article that covers all the Democratic candidates. Any particular reasons?
18
The NY Times' bias against Bernie is astoundingly consistent. As one of the three front runners, why doesn't his name figure in any of the paper's headlines about the debate?
14
@Lez: Bernie hasn't updated his act since he declared for president in1025.
4
You know what would have been nice? Tulsi Gabbard.
16
I think the debates are run by Putin and are intended to convert Democrats to Trumpists. I wonder who is the villian he inserted into the DNC organization.
1
Castroxit.
2
Did anyone read the transcript; Biden was incoherent. Don't get me wrong because tRump is as well, but tRump is a game show host. He can say and do anything but Biden will screw it up and never be forgiven. Plus voters under 40 will not be energized by Biden and progressive will not vote in numbers, for him, as well. We need to see a vision for the future and a leader who can take us there.
7
Stop the vaudeville debates. The less likely candidates have had their say and perhaps had their influence on the debates- and their own political futures. There are only three real candidates with a chance- Sanders, Biden and Warren. It’s time to hear from them alone, so that Democrats can make better informed decisions in the primaries.
7
I don’t understand why people insist on blatantly lying about Beto O’Rourke’s position on assault weapons.
It’s not confiscation, he’s saying owners of assault weapons will be required to sell them back to the government, presumably at retail value, though the price paid can be negotiated.
Is this really any different that eminent domain proceedings?
The government appropriates private property for the betterment of society at large and pays the owners for said property. These governmental actions are usually associated with real estate for road construction, airport expansion, government provided housing etc, it doesn’t have to be solely real estate, what Beto is really saying is surrender of weapons of war will improve the overall well being of the populace en mass.
12
Most every analyst and commentator I've seen or heard say Biden was a winner, while most everyone I talk to agrees that he sounded old, confused and frankly I would've questioned his memory like Castro did. Sanders and Warren have the boldest ideas for the future and clear plans to achieve them. I can't understand why people can't grasp their healthcare proposal. You keep your same doctor and hospital if you want (though you can look outside of a made up "network" if you like) and you pay less. The only thing missing is the insurance company and frankly, no one would miss them. Warren had the best line with never having met anyone who loves their insurance company.
13
@chair I love Joe Biden and he has experience. I also like Warren. Whoever wins will have to deflect Trump's daily lies. That is a tall order. I am ashamed that my country has Trump as its leader and Republicans as sycophants. It is imperative that a Democrat wins. For the future of our country.
6
@chair I totally agree about Biden!! Just about every article I've read praised his performance, saying he was at his best. Wait. What??? He seemed old and confused and stumbled to get his words right.
7
@Julie Perhaps you are not reading the right articles. We have to coalesce behind one Democrat or Trump will win again and our country will lose.
1
Where do they stand on affordable housing, living wages, progressive tax rates, inequality, poverty, the enormous wealth gap, election reform? These are the issues that I want to hear about, the issues that make a good president.
11
Joe seems to lack a complete grasp of the issues. Elizabeth and Bernie are completely in tune, and Bernie even suggested a procedural way to get something done, when all else failed.
10
My biggest take away from the debate: Castro should now abandon the "race", and I want to like him, but after his performance last night, I am disgusted by his performance both on stage and afterwards.
22
I find it interesting that Biden's only defender after the ageist attack by Julian Castro came from a 37-year old and not from the other two septugeniars debaters, one of whom is older than Biden.
12
Honestly, the cash giveaway contest? That's got to be a new low for all concerned.
8
Remind me again why we want another aged white man as President of the United States? I have always liked Joe Biden, and I like most of his politics, but we need someone who is sharp and present and relevant today......while some people still have record players, I prefer not to teach my children their vocabulary via that method.
8
The pro Biden, anti Castro factions are outraged, as many comments show.
But----Esquire article: “Biden's Incoherence on Healthcare Proved Castro Right at the Debate”
So, not all are criticizing Castro.
Let’s get clear on health care. Stop the hypocrisy and misdirection. In the 21st C, the US lags most other democracies on this--- it’s a life and death matter.
We still have medical bankruptcies, unknown abroad. Millions are uninsured or underinsured. Americans still have anxiety about their ability to get HC services, in the 21st C.
ACA is an improvement over our previous barbaric system. but it isn’t enough, and wouldn’t be tolerated in advanced countries where they’re used to generations of secure, dependable HC for all, as centrist policy in a working democracy.
All our 2019 candidates should be pushed, prodded, challenged and criticized on this when they deserve it.
We need better than just 'better than Trump'.
8
All I can say is Trump would not have been able to answer a single question put to the democratic candidates.
17
The debate was disturbing. Biden, the frontrunner and media favorite, could not put together more than two complete sentences. At many points, he couldn't even do that. Biden's words are eerily similar to the grammatical and lexical gaffes made by Trump. Why are we accepting a, with all due respect, sunsetting senior that is clearly struggling with his age?
Hardly anybody even mentions it!
22
All I know is that Hilary Clinton won all the debates with D. Trump and he won the election. All that matters is who can get the electoral votes. Period.
27
@Patricia: After all the dogs are fed and ponies shod, the Electors can vote however they want.
1
@Patricia
That's my fear with this. I wish there were fewer candidates and real debates so that voters can focus and elect the right candidate this time.
2
This was no debate. Lincoln-Douglas was a real debate: One spoke for an hour, the other for 1 1/2 hours, and the first got another 1/2 hour to rebut.
None of these clowns could make sense for two consecutive minutes.
10
I take it you remember it well.
4
Andrew Yang is the only one who isn’t thoroughly steeped in baseless rhetoric. He has a plan and a way to pay for it. The results could produce happiness and productivity on a level higher than we’ve ever seen in this country.
Fact is that crime in America usually makes sense to the people doing it. Give them money and take the boot off their throat and violent crime in poor areas might become a thing of the past as it will no longer make sense to rob or sell drugs for chump change.
I’m thoroughly on board with Yang because I took the time to research his platform and reasoning. You should too.
12
What do you mean “outdated reference”? Records and record players are in again.
10
It would appear that some people don't get out much. I was in a book store this weekend and noticed they were selling several models of record players. They had a pretty good selection of records, too.
6
A very qualified, intelligent and resourceful pool of candidates. Whoever wins the Democrat nomination would do well to use the others [including those who dropped out] in various Cabinet posts. I especially was grateful for lack of sniping [except Castro] and a debate on various topics of interest. Klobuchar grows on me because she is VERY realistic about what can be done, and Warren is a very, very fine candidate.
14
@Irene this is sarcasm, right??
3
I read this piece in order to glean some insight on where these Democrats stood on the following:
Income Inequality?
Minimum Wage?
Unions?
Affordable Housing?
Foreign Intervention?
Progressive Taxation?
Evidently, the above issues must not be a part the Democrat platform...as they are not to be found in this debate summary.
14
@John: Don't even try to ask what "establishment of religion" means in "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion".
1
I watched most of the debate; I was surprised that Elizabeth Warren did not seem to get to speak more. She seems very capable and answers questions eloquently; however, I work in healthcare, and I do not support Medicare for All without maintaining a competitive insurance marker. I think it would be a disaster for our already fragile healthcare system. I think Castro's treatment of Joe Biden was cringe worthy though I am sure it was likely just a poor judgement call. Mr. Biden comes across with integrity and intelligence but does not seem to perform well in these debates. Kamala Harris lost my respect last night; she never seems to stay on topic and comes across as defensive and sarcastic. I was impressed with the way Beto O'Rourke and Pete Buttitgieg handle themselves. Pete Buttigieg may be too idealistic though due to his age. I thought Andrew Yang held his own and made some good comments. I always like and respect Amy Klobuchar's answers; she seems passionate and sincere. Bernie Sanders was Bernie Sanders as usual. Corey Booker also had some notable responses last night. The debate did more for helping me decide who I do not want to be the party nominee last night than it did to help me decide who should be the party nominee.
17
Republican here
I actually think all of them did well and held their own
None of them perfect but far better than what we have in the White House today
Besides, Republicans will hold the Senate, so I don't expect any drastic changes
Perhaps my party will regroup and begin to take governance seriously again in 2024, but in 2020, I'm voting Blue
29
@Marion Grace Merriweather GOP will lose the Senate in 2020. Trump spewing hate; ads showing AOC on fire; children locked in cages; babies shot in the face. Republicans are the party of greed and hate. Bye Bye
3
@Marion Grace Merriweather interesting. I’m a former Republican, and I thought all the Dem candidates were atrocious. Unless someone new enters the race, there will be 4 more years of Trump.
2
@Ray Sipe. Sorry, Ray, but you are going to be very disappointed. Do you know that these so called Senators have only voted in the Senate 48% of the time? Lizzie has never had a pice of legislation passed. And by the way, Obama started cages.
4
My takeaway? Let me distill this down. Biden is the candidate with the best chance to beat Trump and thats not a good chance. He at least realizes that the proposals by Warren and Sanders will be impossible to pay for without huge taxes on the middle class. No mention was made of employment or the economy because they are both doing well.
Snidely Harris, Gimme your AK Beto, Spartacus Booker, Grand a month Yang, Setup Biden Castro, Mayor Buttigieg and Librarian Warren are all playing second fiddle to Sleepy Joe.
The pure negativity coming from the Left will do them in again.
10
6 Takeaways:
1. Donald
2. Trump
3. Will
4. Be
5. Re-
6. Elected.
15
Unfortunately you are correct.
A Warren for President and Sanders as her VP sound like a very electable combination. Let them both attack the GOP as a whole and treat Trump with the contempt he deserves. Trump is scared of them both and the idea of Warren poking Trump in the chest and telling him to "back off" when he tries to hover behind her during a debate would be priceless. Whatever it takes to beat the GOP and Trump.
10
Polls & pundits repeatedly & strongly suggest several Democratic candidates could defeat Trump in 2020. I believe supporting the most qualified & caoable candidate of one's choice would be the most effective approach. Pre-occupation with "most likely to beat Trump may be self-defeating.
10
Biden gets graded on an obvious curve. Trump will not respect that curve.
After watching Biden dodder and fumble through this third debate, I begin to feel pity for him. I don't believe he really wants to be the President. When Castro picks on Biden it is tacky, but it is also sad because it's true. The last section of the debate required the candidates to talk personally about their resilience. Biden had the chance to talk about overcoming the loss of his family in a car accident. A perfect chance to connect with the audience. And yet he lost the string of the story and where did it go? Where did he go? It was sad.
I don't want a President that I pity.
11
Biden was questioned regarding a quote of his on reparations from 40 years ago. 40 years ago!!! Come on...
21
Only spouses should be allowed to remind one of remarks made 40 years ago. Be sure to get that in your next pre-nup.
6
Sander's 'attacks'?
Only the news media will say that telling the truth is attacking...
18
Didn’t watch. My takeaway: a Biden/Warren ticket.
3
Meanwhile, the Republican anti-abortion activists in my town flanked the u-drive of my public high school this morning, handing out the 10 Commandments. And, they play “God Bless America” before the National Anthem at football games. And someone released an eagle over the festivities, and all the goons believed it was a sign from heaven. Help me!
25
What happens if we ask who isn't lying or is lying the least? Does that change the ranking? Top three that way: Beto, Yang, ?...
2
I disagree. Biden did not come out unscathed as the leader of the pack. Don't know why you keep promoting him.
24
@Joanna Stelling
Because they don't want Amy Klobuchar, as a centrist with lots of potential appeal to Biden voters, to take his place. Notice how her debate performance (excellent !)
is barely mentioned . . .
11
@Joanna Stelling
biden came across as a fumbling geezer (not referring to his age - sanders isn't a geezer (though i wish he would stop yelling), and yet tmuch of the press and pundits and dnc continue to have us believe he's the front runner and safest choice. that may be, but not for long.
to my mind, any one of the others (except perhaps harris) would be a fine choice.
personally i support a warren/booker ticket, or warren/anyone ticket, though ultimately i'll vote for whoever dem to rid our nation of the orange menace.
5
USA is number one...... in mass shootings and gun deaths and injuries.
Time for that statistic to change
Beto is absolutely right
15
Biden is tedious, entitled and overtly lacking in the ability to think beyond a phrase or two. What is the source of loyalty to such a helpless figure?
22
In the 3rd paragraph of "It was the best of Biden, and the Biden of Biden", is there a reason you refer to Senator Warren as "Ms. Warren" and Senator Sanders as "Senator Bernie Sanders"?
28
@Stephanie
In general, the NY Times style appears to be to use the title, e.g., "Senator", the first time someone is mentioned. Afterward, they are referred to as "Ms." or "Mr." That would explain why, in the paragraph you mention, Sanders is referred to as "Senator" whereas Warren is referred to as "Ms." - as she was referred to previously.
However, it does not explain why, in her first mention at the top of this article, she is referred to as "Elizabeth Warren", not "Senator Elizabeth Warren," and Biden is referred to as "Joseph R. Biden Jr." and not "Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr." Those titles are used in photo captions, however. Do photo caption mentions precede text mentions? Only the NY Times style guide knows for sure.
5
@Larry Thanks, Larry! I assumed it was something related to the style of their first reference, but I didn't see her formally referenced before the "Ms. Warren." For Biden's reference, it would make sense if the image caption counts, but Warren is not formally referenced at all.
No mention of Kamala Harris' gaff of the night! ...“He reminds me of that guy in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ When you pull back the curtain, it’s a really small dude,” she said of Mr. Trump at another point." ...but the line turned embarrassing when addressed to George Stephanopoulos.
Government and politics is riddled with heightism. Studies have shown that taller people are more likely to succeed in many fields. And have a look at all the women on Tinder who won't date men who aren't 4" taller than they are. ...And Trump is certainly NOT 'a really small dude'. This is one area of bias that no one takes seriously... unless you're affected by it.
7
I agree. And I wonder if that in some ways impacts people’s views of Buttigieg’s performance in the debates. I feel he’s more deserving than the scant amount of attention he gets in post debate coverage. He’s so impressive in town halls and campaign rallies but with those he’s not sharing a debate stage with the tall and lanky Booker and Beto and I’m wondering to what degree our unconscious biases come into play when evaluating the performances.
7
As to the relentless media coverage donated to Joe Biden, "...his meandering syntax and twisting verbal gymnastics ... fail...to land clear points" is exactly why I am hoping that Elizabeth Warren will be the candidate.
11
The desire of other candidates and in some cases the media to pull Joe Biden down because of occasional missteps when he speaks is the old desire to throw stones at those who make the least mistakes.
I advise caution both to other candidates and to those who blast away on Facebook, Twitter or at the neighborhood bar.
Joe Biden's imperfections are the best demonstration of his humanity, his experience, his compassion, his willingness to cross the aisle and speak to other imperfect humans.
Joe Biden is not a well-rehearsed pundit (go away Kamala) nor a sharp-tongued shrill voice (go away Elizabeth and Bernie).
He's not a robot who will always get every sentence perfect. He's a good guy with a big heart and all the experience America needs. He wants something good for this country and he's not running on ego.
Biden for President. All the way.
9
After this debate, I have to support Warren. She speaks to the root cause of all of our problems with health care, guns, inequality: the corruption of corporate money and influence in our political system. She is smart, experienced and has a plan and policy for every issue. Unlike Hillary or Biden or Harris, she wants to be President because she cares about this country and wants to make positive change, not just because she wants the office for itself.
18
I hate it when Democratic candidates shoot at each other in public, as Julian Castro did in attacking Biden. It is a good way to win a few percents of polling numbers, but in the end it is bad for the country.
Please, candidates, no negative candidates. At the end of the primaries the winner of the nomination will have to run against the Republican candidate -- presumably Donald Trump. The negative comments of these Democratic debates will give great ammunition to the Republicans to be used against the Democratic candidate, harming the nominee in his or her race for the Presidency.
Please candidates, consider the Party not just your own campaigns.
12
Julián is a bully.
He needs to be booted off the stage.
The pundits are saying there’s not going to be a lot of movement in any direction for most of the candidates.
There are at least four on stage last night I’d like to see get out of the way for those that have a chance.
8
Senator Warren appears to be doing very well. Is she being given a pass and is she treated with kid gloves? Why? Because she has all the nicely packaged answers? She needs more challenges about substance and execution directed at her plans and policies, working with Congress, National Defense, the border, and more. In 2016 the Democratic candidate waltzed through the primaries and convention. In 2020 every single candidate must pass through a Democratic Party meat grinder or the party will fail in NOV.
4
@Baghwan
She flunked the Pocahontas test by not standing up to The Donald at the time, she could have tutored him in who Pocahontas really was, in front of the whole nation.
But she didn't, and he knows now that she'll back down and will take full advantage of that if she is (s)elected as
the Democratic candidate.
4
7. Anybody on that stage is better than what we are suffering under now.
8. Whoever walks away with the nomination...WE ALL SUPPORT!
11
I agree unless it is Sanders. I will never vote for him.
Full disclosure: I'm a registered Democrat, with all the frustration that comes with that allegiance.
I can only hope that the picture changes substantially between now and election day, because I'm already getting the sinking feeling that the Democratic Party is, once again, embarked on a course of self-sabotage in the general election.
Let's face it: neither party ever nominates the best possible candidate for the presidency. Why is that? Perhaps because we don't have the best possible electorate. Less than 60% of eligible voters bother to vote. Among those who do, the level of engagement can't be too great, given their susceptibility to blatant lies and simplistic campaign slogans. What kind of dunce actually believed Mexico would pay for an American wall?
Additionally, the method by which we elect our presidents is spectacularly corrupt. Our country shamelessly displays to the world a system where money is the chief determining factor.
Compared to the US, other countries with viable democracies severely limit the length of campaigns. In the US, campaigning has become an industry in itself, involving TV networks, internet companies, advertising agencies, pollsters, fund raisers, consultants, lobbyists, etc., all of whom exploit the system for profit during a campaign season that's essentially never-ending.
As for the Dems, they seem to be following a pattern that's failed them repeatedly: campaigning on who they think Americans should be, instead of on who they are.
11
The Times and the press, in general, are not playing fair with Sanders, consistently and needlessly throwing in words like "septuagenarian" when referring to him and calling him the "Vermont socialist".
7
If Biden is the "front runner", 2020 is doomed to be a republican victory. I won't vote for him.
Too old.
Career politician whose accomplishments are working with other people that accomplished things.
Part of "the system".
Doesn't want real change, just wants to go back to Obama times.
Looks like a deer in headlights when under pressure.
And, what was going on with those dentures?
9
@kz "If Biden is the "front runner", 2020 is doomed to be a republican victory. I won't vote for him. "
I agree with your conclusion, but not your reason (aka too old). Biden can't beat Trump by any means, period. Let's get another candidate that can really counter-punch Trump at the nose.
1
@kz
i also don't favor biden, for the reasons (and more) that you enumerated...but would you prefer to have trump a second term?!?
a (democratic) vote withheld is a vote for trump.
just sayin...
2
The moderators are again asking the questions that are based in right wing rhetoric that isn't about learning the truth but in "gotcha" toward Democrats. Shame on them.
I know terrible reporters like the ones on this panel probably tried to do the same thing when Medicare was first being debated 50+ years ago. After all, Medicare is a tax! People didn't pay the Medicare tax until the federal Medicare program started! So their taxes would rise! How many Americans are now saying "we refuse to pay our Medicare tax because we hate Medicare and would rather keep our few dollars and have our grandparents pay private market rates for Medicare." No one is saying that. Because the tax we pay for Medicare -- and yes, George Stephanopolous, taxes will "go up" -- was much less than trying to purchase private healthcare for our grandparents.
Stop using right wing talking points. Medicare for all isn't about paying "more money" in taxes. It is about paying much less -- unless you are a millionaire -- for universal healthcare.
325
Like Repubs care about what things cost the Amercsn taxpayer?? Endless wars and the Trump tax scam deficit doesn’t count-huh??
45
Say this louder so everyone can hear. You’re absolutely correct
18
@AACNY
Talking about "cost" while not mentioning that people with health insurance already pay a very huge "cost" is right wing.
There will be no "cost" to anyone if we end Medicare right now. Is that why the Republicans want to do it? No cost at all, no one pays their Medicare tax anymore and senior citizens just buy their insurance on the free market because doing that is "free!" No cost at all!
That is the big lie. But if you support privatizing Medicare and letting seniors buy their own health insurance on the free market, then please tell the Republicans to run on that issue! It's what they want, but know they can't mention because they would lose.
14
Wonder why everyone seems to give Biden a pass for being "mostly all right." I think he has trouble clearly enunciating the details of the policies he stands for because he sorta doesn't necessarily stand for them. Nearly all the other candidates -- especially Sanders and Warren, though also Booker, Klobuchar, Buttigieg and even O'Rourke (on one issue, anyway) -- speak with passion that's heavily laced with details, logic and clarity.
If it were a matter of age or of incoherence, that would be bad enough. But Sanders and Warren are as old, and there's never a hesitation or a muddled word or thought. Nobody ever mentions age with these two. Sanders, even with a raspy voice, was as loud and committed as ever. And Warren - I know there are things about her that trouble people (lecturing style, leftist policies, even gender) - but she's prepared, thoughtful, articulate, coherent, straightforward and bright.
Some of the post-debate commentary seemed incredulous that "nobody laid a hand on Warren." Now why was that??
8
For all of the Elizabeth Warren supporters clamoring for Medicare for all and the elimination of student loan debt, remember last night's debate when Ms. Warren never answered Mr. Biden's question on how she intended to pay for her proposals. Trust me, for if Ms. Warren becomes the Democratic nominee and you are sitting and cheering wildly in your comfortable chair, the Republican Party and the entire health care insurance industry will have prepared tens of millions of dollars of TV ads on how Ms. Warren's proposal will destroy private health insurance and wipe out millions of health insurance jobs(i.e. Anthem, Humana, United Healthcare).
And all of the independent voters who would have supported Joe Biden's candidacy by double digits right now, disappear.
15
You are absolutely correct and that is why Trump will win a second term.
3
Same same way our Middle East adventurism was/is paid for. Duh
3
The ability to study briefing papers and engage cabinet members and staff in a meaningful discussion.
The ability to pick up the phone and speak with other world leaders in a credible fashion.
The ability to speak to and speak for all Americans.
These are among the talents and skills we look for in a President.
Instead of allowing the candidates to reveal these leadership qualities, the network debate format continues to resemble a game show. I find it demeaning of the candidates, demeaning of the high office to which they aspire and demeaning of us viewers.
14
The argument that Americans "love choice in health care insurance" is not so in my household. We pick the cheapest premium with the lowest annual deductible to prevent financial ruin. Today Americans are sued by hospitals when they cannot pay the outstanding $ not covered by their insurance plan. Hospitals are struggling to keep open with our current system. So I ask, who "loves" their current health care insurance?
14
" a lower-income, less-educated set of the electorate who are not paying close attention to the day-to-day proceedings of the presidential campaign."
One thing I realized is sorely missed from these debates is specific call outs of current atrocities the current administration is doing. This group of the electorate are not just "not paying close attention to the presidential campaign", they also arent paying close attention to the endless mistakes this administration is making. When we talk about charter schools and education policy, instead of just saying "we will have a secretary of education who...", please--CALL OUT one horrible thing Betsy Devos has done since her time in office (there has got to be many to pick from). We keep talking about Trump in grand terms--the most specific it tends to get is on Immigration. But when we're talking about climate--do we mention the rollbacks he has just proposed? no! and WHY NOT?
We should not only use this platform as a method to educate Americans on the candidates, but about our government as well.
11
I appreciated Kamila Harris’ pivots to do just that and to stay focused.
2
With short little political memories, Americans labor under the illusion that the Obama-Biden era was good enough. It wasn't. It was the biggest disappointment in political history.
The illusion that defeating President Trump with Joe Biden is top priority and not the many issues that have needed addressing since the Bush-Cheney era, will make Americans very disappointed in 2020, especially if Biden's lack of passion for moving forward loses the election for the Democrats.
13
My impression was that all the participants made interesting points. I agree that it didn't decide anything for me yet but I thought the Times commentators were a little too hard on several of the debators, dismissing what I thought were often salient observations.
2
I'm really enjoying watching these debates. And I do so listening as much to what isn't said than what is; is there content behind the words? When candidates go on and on about this and that need to be done and "I'm the one who will do that" .... blah-blah-blah. Tell me how! Empty promises are a mainstay of campaigning. Anyone paying attention knows this. Also the cheap shots between candidates and constant anti-Trump comments coming from some (Harris) isn't telling or showing me how you are best qualified to be President of the United States. Where's your content?
Content, integrity and electability. Rhetoric spewed for poll ratings, cheap shots made at your fellow candidates (Castro), declarations made with no backing- these do not impress me, in fact I believe they are telling in themselves.
The candidates last night that impressed me the most were those that seemed to speak from a place of intelligence and integrity. And I look for the candidate that would appear to "work well with others" to get things done. That knocked more than a couple off the stage for me.
8
Enough with the only Biden is electable nonsense! The way Elizabeth Warren wins is by energizing young people who are concerned about their future, white women who are concerned about health insurance are turned off by Trump's misogyny, and blacks who see her as a potential champion.
She's going to keep closing the distance between her and Biden. When Bernie realizes it's a lost cause and throws his support to her, she'll glide to victory. Then she'll take on Trump the way she's taken on special interests. She's a fighter and a winner. I'm excited about her candidacy and possible presidency. She's going to wake up Americans who don't normally pay attention to politics and put Trump in his place.
12
Biased towards a female and intellectualism distinguishes your impressions of Warren and Sanders. They’re more similar than different.
1
Biden’s harking back (to the past) turns me off. That he is still the Democratic front-runner, I find demoralizing. What is it about America that wants so little?
Electability. I wonder if it’s well understood that nominating Biden because he’s “electable” (because he’s so “yesterday’s bread and uninspiring) will mean many of us may stay home. I won’t vote for Trump. Nor will I vote for Barack (or Biden). Neither is inspiring.
3
If u stay home you are complicit in re-electing Trump. Vote for the Dem nominee!
9
I am a devoted Democrat. Our family has supported Democratic candidates / office holders for at least 4 generations. Now however I have doubts. First of all I loathe Donald Trump. He is feckless, dishonest, inept, crude and vile. Trump has dishonored the office of the President of the United States and must be defeated.
What I find lacking among the Democratic candidates is very disheartening. I am so dismayed that I am being discouraged from voting and supporting any of these candidates. I cannot fathom how any of these candidates believe that they can defeat Donald Trump while espousing extremely far-out left wing views of policy including social, economic, political, monetary, environmental and institutional views. The Democrats are totally lost.
Nothing that these folks are offering is viable and certainly does not attract the middle of the road Republican / Independent voters desperately needed to defeat Trump.
All we hear is extreme policy for taxing wealth and redistributing it while jeopardizing seniors and minorities. They offer health care without alternatives, free education that somehow must be paid for, and expanding social security and other programs without a clue how to pay for it. Their views on gun control truly frightens many people and solves nothing. It makes it easier for criminals to make us victims.
Where is the candidate grounded in better judgment and clear headed policies? Government must be paid for without bankrupting us. Nothing is free.
9
@Jay
I'm guessing you are a right winger. For you to say that candidates who are espousing the social policies that Lyndon Johnson and even Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed are "left wing" demonstrates that you want the Democrats to be like the Republicans of the Reagan era. Sorry, but America was strongest when we developed the programs you hate and call "left wing" .
If you want to cut Medicare and Social Security, then you are not a Democrat. I find that [peoploe like you only care about being "bankrupted" when you insist we must cut Medicare and let your granny buy her own health insurance on the private market. You want to cut Social Security because "how will we pay for it?"
But like all Republicans, you are fine with spending money on wars and walls and big tax refunds to billionaires so that our country gets bankrupt as we have done under Trump. Then you say to Democrats "how will you pay for this now that we've bankrupted this country for the things that help the very rich?"
Anyone talking like you hated LBJ's Great Society Program and fought against Truman's Medicare program and demanded that FDR not have Social Security because "how will we pay for it". You were never a Democrat if your views are as you describe.
11
The Republicans cannot reelect Trump. Only the Democrats can do that. Unfortunately, their circular firing squad, the only thing they are currently adept at, is heading in that direction.
The 2020 election boils down to Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and, perhaps, one other state. It is irrelevant if another million people vote for the Democrat in California and New York or another million people vote for Trump in Indiana and Alabama.
The voters Democrats need to reach tend toward politicians who they feel can deliver on their immediate interests, not long-term abstractions. What those who want to oust Trump need to do is focus on what's actually relevant to the voters up for grabs, not a fantasy wish list, not what some Democrats think should be relevant to those people. Warren's "plans" may appeal to the (mostly white and college-educated) twitterati and punditocracy, but the people the Democrats need have heard big promises for decades, and they are looking for candidates who will deliver on a limited but realistic agenda, not a candidate who promises utopia with no indication that she or he actually knows how to accomplish anything in the Washington of 2020. That's why Biden is the large polling favorite of Blacks and Hispanics.
Amy Klobuchar would be an excellent choice for Vice-President with Joe Biden. Unlike Warren, she seems to know how to talk to, not at, people. As important, she knows how to listen. To make change, it's Biden in 2020, Klobuchar in 2024.
18
One question on climate change well into a long evening. No attention to the importance of protections vitiated by the Trump administration on endangered species, clean water, clean air, acceptable levels of lead exposure, offshore drilling, significant natural areas.
This is less a fault of the candidates than of those posing the questions. No wonder the Trumpians of the world think they can get away with environmental rape. While extended argument is fomented over details of health care plans, our ecological health doesn't gain sustained focus by any of the three TV networks hosting the debates so far.
10
I would also have loved to see even 1 question about voter suppression or the corruption of datk money.
4
Biden’s Cognitive Decline
Castro was wrong to attack Joe. But Trumps attacks will be far worse and Biden will fold.
Biden’s obvious cognitive decline is being overlooked by the MSM and wishful voters so far. But decline means worsening and at some point it will be too conspicuous to ignore
Let’s hope that is before he is nominated. If nominated he will lose to Trump.
8
Trump will rapidly repeat inane thoughts and reactions. Republicans will cherish every egregiously obnoxious syllable. Biden will utter intelligent responses but more slowly and Democrats will despair not for what he says but for how he says it. So Biden should probably withdraw. Then Warren can promise permanent happiness for all and enlightened direction of our country by her, and alienate the entire middle forty percent of the electorate and hope to win the toss.
2
@Casual Observer
I don't think we watched the same debate last night. There were multiple instances of Biden talking which are indistinguishable from Trump's broken English.
Go and reread Biden's response to a question regarding race. It's hardly the transcript of a sharp mind. We need somebody in office with full mental faculties and that may disqualify Biden.
1
I'm still Klobuchar/Inslee.
5
I was disappointed that Klobuchar didn't get a bump up. She may be low on melodrama but she seems to me to be the sanest, toughest, and most competent of the bunch -- AND she also has a sense of humor. That she is a political moderate should, theoretically, also help her to garner votes from all sides. I am still rooting for her.
9
@Cassandra
It seems to me that Amy is being deliberately marginalized. But I think she understands that and
is playing the long game. I really like her approach
and have chosen her as the candidate to donate to.
3
I am a lifelong Democrat and certainly cannot be the only one that wishes at this time for Joe Biden to drop out asap from his run for President ,he was removed and awkward ,seemed not to be with us , The Republican's must be smiling.
Have we learned from Hillary Clinton''s campaign when she really did not take on "Obama not born here" Trump attacks directly that put him in the Whitehouse?
We need a strong candidate that may bully back to Mr. Trump all the foul comments he continually makes to the "fake News"
By the way Joe Biden ,kids usually don't have "a phonograph player distracting" them anymore since 1979.
6
This year's tennis season demonstrated something very important that equally applies to politics. Great champions like Serena Williams and Roger Federer can outperform most of the field. In the end, like it or not, they are too old to win.
4
Warren and Sanders should pivot their argument on Medicare for all and talk loudly about the inefficiency of attaching health care to employment. Go at it from every angle: free employers to grow companies and increase wages; liberate employees to move job to job for their own growth; enable creative individuals to start businesses; release citizens from the fear of getting sick and missing work thereby losing “coverage.”
Once health care is uncoupled from employment, a great weight will be lifted off the economy in geneneral and it will liberate lives. This point needs to be made in every voter demographic because it affects everyone. Medicare for all accomplishes this; tinkering away with the ACA does not.
16
@Lisa Calef Great ideas! and right on Lisa.
2
@Lisa Calef So accurate!!
Somehow, The NY Times decided not to recognize that Cory Booker took part in these debates.
For my money (more like my vote), Booker was intelligent, poised, strong, passionate, and extremely compelling. He was prepared in every issue, without spitting out scripted platitudes.
While I didn’t feel this way before the debates, at the moment, I find him to be the more appealing and more electable candidate of all of them.
6
Great observation. He’s not on too for me but I am increasingly impressed by his passion and poise.
2
What Democrats do not appear to have, and what is needed, is a person with presence that commands respect, no words needed. This person needs to understand the rules and to play by them, and to be seen as not caring about the past — definitely including the candidate’s own — but about YOUR future. Steady and strong, calm as you get in bad situations, and always willing to roll up sleeves and do the dirty work, regardless of cost to self.
People respect that person.
Trump isn’t that person. I’m not so sure I’ve yet seen such a person. Harris feels like she’s trying too hard. Biden feels like Biden at 76. Warren comes off as an extremely intelligent, under-appreciated, high school teacher. That last bit will be a problem down the line, and she needs to become more of an informed vice principal whose authority is beyond question.
5
I am surprised at the lack of attention to Peter B. in all of the debate articles today. Both my husband and I noted the depth and breadth of his comments on issues that were always clarifying for us. We would like to have heard more from him.
14
I agree... in my view mayor Pete’s final comment definitely stood out and should have gotten more praise… While Joe Biden’s denture problem is a metaphor for the fact that he is simply old news.
3
I enjoy his poise, yet his inexperience is revealed the more he speaks. We need the experience of Sanders or Warren.
1
After watching most of the Presidential candidates debate (yes, I did fall asleep at one point), I still like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Saunders the best. I think our President should be aiming us towards the most progressive programs, the most positive outcomes and be the most impatient to achieve the best results - and still be realistic. Warren and Saunders are of that mold. Congress and Senate will still be debating, amending and fiddling with legislations and writing the bills that become laws. There will be compromises. I want a President that encourages them to think outside the box, but realize budgets and economics are important considerations, but not drawbacks.
While Trump was supposedly elected to shake things up, he really doesn’t have or understand what leadership qualities are needed to do that. His idea of shaking something up is to shout at it then literally shake it until it breaks - not ideal.
While the rest are exceptionally talented, I don’t think they are Presidential material at this time. For some, maybe never. For Beto to run in spite of loosing in Texas is foolhardy. If you can’t do the big win on a local level, you can’t do it nationally, and Democrats will need a big win to overcome electoral college interference. Amy Klobuchar is extremely talented and tough, yet too cautious to really inspire citizens to the battles we will be facing on the environment and to re-engineer social programs like health and education.
12
No signs of crazy or narcissism from this crowd. Gives me hope
11
Nothing about Yang?
14
@Aditya
Not his best showing, I'd say. His ideas don't translate too well in a debate forum. And he did himself a disservice making UBI seem gimmick-y. Its a shame.
2
I agree that this kind of debate format poses a major challenge for disseminating his array of well-conceived and data-driven transformative ideas out there to the masses but he needs to figure out how to make the most of his time to differentiate himself as the only candidate offering the potential to attract both progressives and working class Trump supporters while trying to encourage entrepreneurship and leverage the humane aspects of the market economy.
Interesting that the most recommended comment by readers is a castigation of Castro for his cheap shots on VP Biden. Not a good night for Castro.
9
@KJ
For speaking the truth.
Perhaps Warren or Sanders could overcome Biden and become the presidential nominee, but frankly, I don't see it. We have a tradition in this country of idolizing the president as a father figure, and I personally think that the way so many people pinned all their hopes and expectations on Robert Mueller showed that the desire to have an older, respectable man come in and clean up the mess is still alive and well. Biden is the most father-like candidate in the race, and that shouldn't be underestimated.
12
@Autumn
Great observation and frustrating to boot. It is the reason Biden receives multiple passes by people who are less forgiving of the younger candidates.
1
I worry about the level of sophistication and understanding any of the candidates have for technology. Yes, VP Biden did say parents should play the record player for their kids. But I would hazard a guess that Ms. Warren and Mr. Sanders are Luddites as well.
Technology may be able assist in solving some of our biggest problems. It is also clearly contributing to the erosion of our privacy, affecting election outcomes and wars are already being fought in cyberspace. There are undoubtedly anti-trust issues that will need to be settled. None of these candidates are up to the challenge.
3
Here’s my two cents worth:
1. Biden represents the past. While people may be nostalgic for the Obama years, I feel his age and tendency to utter off-the-cuff
embarrassing remarks is a negative.
2. Warren may have done well last night and may very well win the nomination, but Trump would easily defeat her. The race would be seen by many as ‘prim schoolmarm’ Warren vs ‘bad boy’ Trump. Many of us prefer the ‘bad boy’.
3. Sanders? Good man. Progressive ideas that would improve many people’s lives. Can’t see him winning against Trump. Sorry.
4. Same for Harris and Castro. I was disappointed when I found out Harris was pushing merchandise on her website last time, but I guess that’s politics. Castro is not popular enough to get the big Democratic donors to back him. Takes a lot of money to run for President these days.
5. Disclaimer: I could be 100% wrong regarding anything I said. Hope I am. If not, welcome to four more years of Trump.
1
@Very Confused
You're right, but Biden still has the best shot despite his age and flaws. He's likable, and there are many disenchanted Trump voters because they hated Hillary more than Trump.
7
Well said and very prophetic! It will be difficult for Trump to defeat any of them, especially if the economy remains strong.
I’m not voting for Biden.
Castro totally blew it. He had a good chance at the VP slot given he is from Texas (38 electoral college votes). He was just plain nasty, unforgivable.
19
@The Poet McTeagle
Yes. But Julian Castro has always been awful. He was a useful tool to the Obama admin that wanted a latino face at cabinet the table.
However, those who've paid attention to Castro over the years are fully aware his nasty testosterone-amped sideswipe of Biden is actually a core part of his pernicious obnoxious bad temperament. Castro is like that with everyone all the time. He can't even set aside the short man machismo beat down when flying solo on the Sunday morning network political shows. Notable was that Castro was also 100% WRONG in what he claimed Biden said.
Castro is loud, aggressive and just plain incorrect in so many of his claims. The only governance issues and policies broken record Castro ever talks about are opening up the borders for more latino illegal immigration, and increasing latino rights. By the next debate, in October, Castro needs to have removed his boorish, arrogant and tiresome self from the prez/veep. He is unqualified and a disqualifying presence. We already have one loud mouthed jerk in the 2020 race on the GOP side and another w/ Bernie on the Independent/fake Democrat side.
11
@The Poet McTeagle
It's a shame that Democrats fall for the theater of gentility. A difficult job needs a tough leader. Displays of affect should not be the taboo that it is. I do agree that he should be criticized for not reading the room to know that he came across as too aggressive, but frankly, I don't mind a fighter, fighting for what is right.
1
Each candidate had some shining moments for sure. But they need to start standing behind each other rather than simply next to each other to win in 2020.
6
I am surprised that Democratic candidates pick on the ONLY candidate who has been in politics,with the same party for 5 decades our former Vice President Mr. Joe Biden.
He is the only candidate who can oust our current POTUS and this kind of devisings is what the current POTUS wants.
I truly do not think Mr.Sanders is a Democrat. Once the election was done in 2016 , he reverted to being an independent candidate. Mr. Sanders is taking away the ballots from a winning Democratic candidate.
In short why doesn’t Mr.Sanders have the guts to run as an Independent candidate?
As a nation we should support our former Vice President Mr. Biden who probably knows to move forward to improvise on policies that need more tweaking , is able to recognize current damage being done and continue to make America GREAT.
Our current POTUS is already touting if certain candidates from Democratic party are elected the country will go into recession !!
Excuse me let ‘s not forget that it was a Democratic President who was able to get the country to the point of surplus budget.
10
@Malini Stalam Biden is the very old past and for 40 years allowed the republicans to take more control every year. The dem party has been complacent for all those years and Biden was a big part of it. Giving in to republicans to take away democracy little threads at a time. Oh, yes Biden worked across the isles.
1
Castro's brutal assault on Biden made me do a 180 on him. Until last night, I admired Castro. I also had high regard for Harris until she savaged Biden. It's not that I'm a big fan of Joe Biden, but it's absolutely essential to display decorum and decency, and Castro and Harris have neither. I have always been impressed by Warren's razor-sharp knowledge of significant issues and her boundless passion and energy. If Warren can move away from the no-option Medicare for All and toward improving the ACA, she would have an excellent chance of becoming our next president. And what a contrast that would be: a knowledgeable president who's out for common people succeeding an ignoramus who spent his term in office lining his pockets.
10
Warren may be the most wonkish candidate with the most plans (although Yang’s got a great bunch of ideas himself) but she’s the only one of the bunch who loses in head to head polling with Trump. She’s out of touch with minorities and working class voters.
Prime example: “I’ve never met someone who likes their insurance.” Seriously? Our union benefits compensated for low salaries and you want to make us trade that in for Medicare? Thanks but no thanks. Buttegieg has it right-trust us to decide what’s best for us.
Her hostility to business shows that she’s never worked outside the public sector. Rein in corporate money, absolutely, but business is not the enemy. Give her a cabinet position where she can shine but we need a uniter and she’s not it.
25
I'm sorry for Mr. Biden. He has a lot of things going for him. But his opposition to the single most important issue to me (next to defeating Trump) is healthcare and Medicare for all. Would Biden consider the role of vice-president again? A ticket of Warren and Biden, for instance, has the potential of uniting both sides of the Dem Party--center left and center right.
1
Castro just insulted his way out of a Cabinet post.
20
Elizabeth Warren is not only the Dems best hope, but she'll make an excellent president. I know, I know, too far to the left for many Americans. But Warren knows how to frame things in ways that make sense to people. And her midwestern roots --not to mention previous life as a conservative -- will help her as she makes a play for the wider electorate. Bernie can't do that and we're in denial if we think Biden is up to the task. Nothing against him but he simply is not.
Warren 2020!
8
Can we please stop pretending that Joe Biden can go the distance? There is zero evidence of that. I like Joe Biden and have nothing against him, but he is not owed the presidency (as Hillary Clinton was not owed the presidency).
With Biden, it feels like when your team is heading into the final quarter ahead by a bit and plays the whole quarter in a defensive shell. Never works. Final minutes? Maybe. But not an entire quarter. Too much time on the clock. We cannot will Joe Biden past the finish line by pretending not to see what we're seeing.
13
What a relief to hear normal people putting forth their policy promises that would, as they should, improve the lives of the American people.
Whether the future nominee can make good on those promises remains to be seen. One thing for sure, whoever it is, Americans had better go out in droves to vote for that person.
What a sense of relief just listening to non-crazy presidential hopefuls providing hope that the office of the president will no longer be held by an unfit individual whose Unrelenting, self- serving venality, has prompted me to prioritize each day what is most horrifying and what is most frightening in order not to be overwhelmed by the onslaught.
The election next year is one of the most important in the history of this country by returning our country back to having three branches of government, and preventing a potential dictator from grabbing more power.
5
There is too much at stake to continue to deny that Joe Biden consistently demonstrates mental decline. If Democrats nominate this fading Biden we are doomed to four more years of Trump.
15
It's terrifying that we all consider this kind of silly faux-debate reality TV sufficient for determining who will try to lead the country and world out of the literally extinction-threatening problems we face.
Because media wants to make money and we want to be entertained.
I don't watch them and don't care to. Neither should you. The skills highlighted are glibness, and that's about it. Honestly, we should be better than this, but we're not.
13
Joe Biden has my trust , my vote !
8
I thought it unfair that Yang was given such a short amount of time.
He's an intelligent man with interesting ideas.
I would like to hear more from him.
18
I would vote for my bag of clothes soon to be dropped off at Goodwill rather than any Republican fool, all of whom have been emptying trump's drool bucket for the past 3 years. And I'm not joking one little bit.
18
I like Warren and Sanders, but I trust Sanders to have the courage, strength and vision to stand up to the Washington Foreign Policy Establishment/Military Industrial Complex and deliver on a demilitarized foreign policy.
Warren is slick, her comments on Afghanistan were good, but mostly she has minimal familiarity with world affairs and foreign policy.
And slick is not a quality I’m looking for in a president.
I'll take Sanders' integrity and gruff angry authenticity any day, over slick.
Foreign policy is rarely talked about, yet it is foreign policy where a president has the most power to act without Congress.
While Sanders' passion for forty years has been working to better the lives of ordinary people, he was always advocating for a demilitarized foreign policy.
Those advising Warren on foreign policy are from the Washington Establishment, boding little change.
Sanders, with his knowledge, courage and vision will be able to deliver a demilitarized foreign policy, making the US safer and the world more stable and sustainable. President Bernie Sanders 2020!
A Future To Believe In !
18
@Lucy Cooke
Bernie/Tulsi 2020!!!
11
@Schedule 1 Remedy
Right on!
1
Will there come a point wherein the candidates will have to present their positions on foreign affairs? Why haven't questioners posed foreign policy questions? Is it because only Biden can be thought to have an opinion and some notions of a foreign policy based on being a member of the Obama administration? Are the candidates afraid to challenge Trump's American First slogan abased on the false assumption that the USA has been "played" by other nations, allies and foes, since 1945, instead of being truly the leader of the free world in championing human rights, democracy, a global economy, addressing the challenges of climate change, preventing nuclear holocaust. Sure, there is never a status quo to be simply maintained. New challenges have to be met, and existing policies modified, but the utter repudiation by the Trump base of a remarkable era in American foreign policy in favor of a mindless ' me firstism" which plays to a very primitive form of pseudo patriotism and has succeeded only in alienating allies and engendering the fear and contempt of much of the world to the glee of rivals and enemies is astonishing.
5
@Daniel Hudson
The US has probably caused more harm than good in its CIA infused militarized foreign policy since 1945.
The Marshall plan was as much as preventing countries from democratically electing communist/socialist governments, as rebuilding Europe.
Promoting/fighting for democracy was never the US goal.
The US has been fighting to spread winner-take-all democracy. The US won!
The US as the Exceptional Leader leads with the most colossal income/wealth inequality, where the richest .1 percent taking in over 188 times the income of the bottom 90 percent.
Making the world safe for winner-take all capitalism has left many countries destabilized or wrecked.
It is interesting to reflect that Iraq, Libya, and Syria all had a socialist oriented government with women having the choice to lead equal and modern lives...
before US military "interventions"...
There is a good possibility that Trump will not oversee the death and destruction for which the Obama presidency was responsible... think Libya and Syria.
As to "making America great again" [which Trump is not doing], a healthier, better educated, thriving citizenry with decent, instead of crumbling, infrastructure, would make the US stronger and a better example for the world.
For a more healthy, better educated, thriving citizenry
and a demilitarized foreign policy...
President Sanders 2020!
A Future To Believe In!
4
@Lucy Cooke
I am well aware that there is much to criticize in the conduct of US foreign policy since 1945 - an excessive militarization of policy, support for brutal dictatorships in the name of freedom and democracy and anti-communism, etc., yet I think it hard to argue that Trump's America Firstism has better served the USA and the world
2
Biden's fatigue is showing; how could it not. For a politician of his experience, he stumbled a bit - suggesting his will, his posture, and his words were not in perfect synch. Warren and Bernie are overflowing with authenticity, their outrage is real. I am wondering whom Warren will pick for her running mate. I hope she picks either Mayor Pete, or Princeton Booker.
10
David Leonhardt cited Jamal Raad's Tweet that ABC should be ashamed of its performance and questions. I don't Tweet or Facebook and cannot respond to David's letter directly, so,will do it here. Jamal is correct as far as he goes but he did not go far enough. All the networks and commentators, as well as the complicit DNC, are deliberately steering the debates in the wrong directions. Although the majority of Americans want Trump gone, they want to know how the winner will help them personally, their children, and their grandchildren - not that they will be forced to give up their private insurance and will be forced into Medicare. Medicare does not, and will probably never pay for, even low-cost prescriptions let alone high-cost ones. I was forced into Medicare on retirement but maintain my private insurance - $890/month is less than 1/10 the cost of my prescriptions. How are the candidates going to fix that for me before they kill me with Medicare kindness?
10
Your personal experience or more likely your understanding of your personal experience is not enough data or research on which to make policy decisions. The US needs to do the most cost-effective system with the best health outcomes, and that is and always will be single payer. Just like every other advanced country. Only when we get a real democrat in there like FDR who will force radical change will you understand the reality of what is needed and what you’ve been missing.
2
@Angelsea... There is no PC way to say this, but if you are paying close to $9000 a month for RX, the Pharma companies are ripping you off. Medicare For All ( done in gradual, gradual, steps) would reign in those ridiculous drug prices.
Its rather obvious, the GOP is the party of making the rich even richer. The Dems think the rest of us matter. Vote your pocketbook if you can’t vote on ethics and morals.
1
The center of this country, geograpically and politically decides our presidential elections. Amy Klobuchar (to whom on writer compared to Harry Truman) and Pete Buttigieg are the clear choices for the Democrat nomination. Both are smart, capable, energetic, and will attract voters across political parties. They will energize the election. Let Biden, Harris, Sanders, O'Rourke peak now. It's still early. The best will come through.
9
Would someone remind these Democrats that Medicare as it exists today is not free.
My husband and I pay $400 a month each for Part A, Supplemental and drug coverage.
Medicare tax was taken out of our salaries in excess of $60,000 over several decades.
Medicare also does not cover everything. The new double dose shingles shot is a good example. Each dose is $134 to be paid out of pocket.
22
So true. For some reason people think Medicare is free. As we know for most, it is deducted from your Social Security. Then there are the Supplements, Prescriptions. That needs to be cleared up with these debates.
14
Democrats are offering Trump four more years to slowly, slowly dismantle our democracy, values and our standing in the world. We sometimes need a tragedy to affect us personally before we wake up and put things into perspective.
The democratic candidates have their priorities wrong. The house is on fire and they are dreaming of how to decorate the next one.
Stay in the center to attract voters from left and right, focus on infrastructure, health care and education, attack this thinned skin fool in the White House by ridiculing his ideas and policies and remind people that his mental health is declining and so is the country domestically and internationally . Fight fire with fire. You can’t convince his base with logic and details. These are people who cheer his irrational promises and fail to recognize his incompetence and lies.
Please remind the public that to qualify for the highest job in the land, the only requirements should be decency, honesty, good character, education and work experience. The rest can be learned on the job, listening to experts in the administration.
We need a smart CEO who listens and respects professional experts and selects the best to help with the governing of the country. A président that knows it all has no need of a cabinet or advisors.
The media is also a complicit because they use this crisis to increase their ratings instead of educating the public. Report facts and not personal opinions.
15
@John.... Could not have said it better. I truly believe that people who do recognize the “zero” occupying the WH now grossly outnumber the people supporting him for whatever reason.
We simply need to register and VOTE. Whenever I read about a close race that matters, I want to cry when I see how many people, who are registered to vote, don’t bother to vote.
Apathy is killing us. All we have to do to turn it all around is vote.Get rid of Moscow Mitch and all the GOP traitors. Reclaim America. The real one.
2
Dems nominate moose and squirrel, I vote for moose and squirrel.
11
I was impressed with Amy Klobuchar. To me, she showed a real grasp of the issues and of possible solutions to the problems. She deserved more of the debate time. I don't know how it is decided who will get called on but I do know that the debate is not helpful if there are candidates who don't get somewhat equal time to state their cases. Last night, Amy Klobuchar certainly didn't get anything close to equal time. I guess the debate organizers have a problem: how to give everyone appropriate time; they didn't do a good job last night. Ms. Klobuchar is a smart lady with appropriate experience: America should consider her candidacy seriously.
25
I agree but she hasn’t been able to assert herself like Warren or Buttigieg. She just doesn’t seem to have presence.
5
@Paco
Amy has plenty of 'presence'. It's just not the flashy (Warren) or outlier (Buttigieg) kind. Her presence is steady, pragmatic and (unlike Warren) tempered with humor. She is disarming and for that reason alone the best bet to take on The Donald.
3
I thought the best moment of the night was Pete's final answer. It reminded me of Clinton discussing his shutdown standoff with Newt, where he had the epiphany that to win he had to risk losing the presidency for his beliefs.
I believe Pete to be the best candidate for his positions, intelligence, background, and morals.
But while the above moment was great, the conditions of the race so far are not to his favor, and I fear he is trending towards Beto land. Its recoverable, but sharing the stage with 10 people is not doing him any good, and it seems like Warren just has the moment nailed.
9
Democrats are offering Trump four more years to slowly, slowly dismantle our democracy, values and our standing in the world. We sometimes need a tragedy to affect us personally before we wake up and put things into perspective.
The democratic candidates have their priorities wrong. The house is on fire and they are dreaming of how to decorate the next one.
Stay in the center to attract voters from left and right, focus on infrastructure, health care and education, attack this thinned skin fool in the White House by ridiculing his ideas and policies and remind people that his mental health is declining and so is the country domestically and internationally . Fight fire with fire. You can’t convince his base with logic and details. These are people who cheer his irrational promises and fail to recognize his incompetence and lies.
Please remind the public that to qualify for the highest job in the land, the only requirements should be decency, honesty, good character, education and work experience. The rest can be learned on the job, listening to experts in the administration.
We need a smart CEO who listens and respects professional experts and selects the best to help with the governing of the country. A président that knows it all has no need of a cabinet or advisors.
The media is also a complicit because they use this crisis to increase their ratings instead of educating the public. Report facts and not personal opinions.
2
Debate? Really? More like a shouting match.
7
OK I have heard enough from the potential Presidential candidates. Let's vote and elect one of them to run against Trump. At least the primaries result in the Popular vote getter winning.
The result is that we will hopefully be done with Uncle Bernie, Beto and all the rest of the do nothings. They are just a lot of shouting, no substance or Presidential characteristics. Kind of like the one we currently have in office.
I for one will not listen to any more rehearsed one liner debates. They have served their purpose, lets move on with one of these people.
3
Take a look at Warren's involment in the 2005 bankrupcy bill,
a punitive bill that made it much harder for people to file. If this had not been in place for the 2008 finacial recession many many people would not have lost their homes. She is not your friend.
3
Sorry, that is completely false. Elizabeth Warren appeared as an expert witness to oppose the harshness of the proposed bankruptcy bill. She so vehemently opposed it that its passage inspired her to transition from being a Harvard Law professor, who studied middle class economics, to a senator and now Presidential hopeful.
7
is this purposeful misdirection or just ignorance? Biden voted for that 2005 bill; many Democrats opposed it. Warren was in vociferous opposition, although in the Senate, to which she was elected in 2012. In fact, Elizabeth Warren has been a great friend, to those struggling financially (see Consumer Protection), and, of you read her many proposals, is still a great friend to those of us in the 99 percent.
5
That is just wrong. Warren opposed the bill or is this more just Trump type lying?
3
The propaganda apparatus never rests. It perpetually works to further ruling class interests by demonizing ruling class enemies (Maduro, Socialism, etc, etc) hammering divisive wedge issues, spinning events to glorify ruling class institutions, and severely restricting the range of opinion that is allowed over their platforms of mass communication. There is nothing worthwhile produced by the corporate propaganda apparatus. Even their escapism is replete with overt and covert messaging all designed to perpetuate the status quo, indoctrinate infantile binaries of good and evil, and keep the American mind far from from the class consciousness that is essential knowledge and a prerequisite for real change.
12
I am so tired of the "moderate" Democrats asking how we will pay for national health care. Mr. Biden, who sat by while 9 trillion dollars of *debt* was added to this nation's balance sheet, continually asks this question and then notes a national health care system will cost about 30 billion per year. Let's do the math, Mr. Biden. Using only the debt you piled on (to pay for wars and financial bailouts for Wall Street thieves), the 9 trillion you added would pay for 300 years of a national health care system, assuming no savings by having a single-payer system nor any new taxes on companies who can now pay more taxes because they are no longer getting soaked by private insurance companies and hospitals and doctors. This country is full of people who cannot understand math and politicians who make specious arguments.
13
I'm not a big fan of reality television, so I don't pay much attention to these shows. It's he-said-she-said insults, a few promises, and a lot of posing. Who thought this format would be of any genuine quality? Sorry, but I'll catch the "debates" once it's down to two or three people. Until then, it looks like a way to make all the candidates look petty, smarmy, and cheap.
3
Julian Castro confirmed that he is unqualified and unfit to be president. I was appalled by his attack on Biden (and I am not a fan of Biden). The worst thing a Democrat candidate can do at this point is to create issues for the Trump camp to use against the eventual nominee. That is exactly what Castro did. Moreover, to suggest that it is he who best represents the Obama legacy is beyond laughable.
16
We need to have a serious discussion about the longevity of Biden. The bar is set too low.
6
I turned the volume way down after Castro attacked Biden, and turned it off 10 min later.
15
As did I.
7
On the controversy overBiden's "buy in" remark, it strikes me that the phrase does not carry the exclusive meaning "paying money to get in" but can also include, metaphorically, to come in, to join in.
See the following definition: "2. To believe in and support an idea, concept, or system.
Rod's a good enough coach, but he just can't get the players to buy in—they still don't listen to him. We can't approach the CEO with our idea for overhauling the computer system until we get our boss to buy in first.
3
Mostly I am just struck by how good a feeling it is to see thoughtful, eloquent, humorous, kind, passionate people up on stage. We have come so far from this with the current presidency and it makes me so sad. Last night was a breath of fresh air and a reminder of who we really are.
19
The challenge facing Warren and Sanders is a big one: they know that in order to finance MfA, taxes will have to be raised across-the-board -- including for middle-class households. The trade-off is that the higher taxes will in many cases be offset by lower or no health care related expenses.
This is the standard model in Western social democracies, such as the Scandanavian countries, Germany, Holland, France, et al. Citizens are taxed at much higher rates than Americans, but those taxes are used to improve the quality of life through free or low-cost university education, lower health care costs, longer parental and maternity leave and a shorter work week. And decades of experience shows that this formula largely works to benefit the majority of each country's citizens.
Would such a policy work here? Probably not, because it would be too much of a jolting change to American voters. We have an aversion to taxes, for one thing. And we seem to like our existing health care coverage, even though we gripe about it constantly.
Sanders and Warren undoubtedly see the higher taxes implications of their plans, and have so far declined to be completely open about it. The more moderate proposal, such as adding a Medicare public option, would at least appeal to many voters as long as it were clearly explained.
Democrats generally ought to seriously ponder whether a sweeping change in health insurance -- all at once -- is really a good idea.
6
@PaulB67
If Medicare for All is reduced to a "public option," it will attract only the poorest and sickest and its costs would necessarily skyrocket. If everyone were required to enroll, the risk would be spread among the entire population, to considerable savings. That's why getting to "keep your own insurance" won't work. Warren was exactly right when she pointed that line out for the dodge that it is -- people love and want to keep their doctors and care-givers, not their insurance. Medicare for All will enable them to keep them.
12
@PaulB67: The US spends twice the money per capita of countries with well run national health plans. The real issue is how much of health care in the US is a make-work project that precludes collapse of the employment rate.
1
@PaulB67So,Americans have an aversion to taxes.Do they also have an aversion to quality of life? I guess you are happy with the survival of the fittest, weakest to the wall,too bad if you go bankrupt because of health issues system. Enjoy.
4
Like it or not, Biden's cognitive abilities will become more and more of an issue as the campaign progresses, because their decline is becoming ever more evident. Julian Castro was exactly right to attack his memory and his stumbles -- there were times when Biden seemed completely lost and befuddled on stage. THIS is the candidate who is supposed to have the best chance to beat Trump? It is plain that Trump would dance rings around him on a debate stage. Democrats had better wake up, stop clucking about "civility" and "unity," and realize this is a political campaign with enormous stakes. No one is entitled to be treated with kid gloves -- the Republicans most certainly won't do so. Do the Democrats want to choose the best candidate and win, or not?
17
@Boris Jones
Thank you Boris for speaking the plain truth. It feels like the emperor with no clothes yet no one will say it. You said it! For his years of experience and statesmanship, nothing stood out about Biden compared to his much more junior candidates. I did not find offense by Castro's remarks. He did something similar in previous debates by pointing out inconsistencies in thinking with Beto. But seriously, if Dems are expected to no go there with regards to age and mental fitness Trump MOST CERTAINLY will. Biden in no way showed he is up for the task.
2
Promises promises, that's all democrats have and will have if despite the odds they beat Trump. They will push through executive orders for illegal immigrants but issues important to American citizens will never get passed. They will just throw up their hands and blame republicans. Trump may be repugnant but he will use every tactic and fight like a junkyard dog for what he wants. Democrats use to be tough fighters but now they are just pandering corporate phonies filled with promises and no action. I am done.
6
Castro's shameful attacks on the elderly - and that's what they were - killed his already inexplicable primary run. Who is funding this former - what was he, anyway? OUT!
17
Keyword: “elderly “
I agree with you… Biden is simply too old for the position. It doesn’t help that he voted for the Iraq war either.
2
I'm an admirer of Andrew Yang after having listened to him speak at length on various podcasts and having viewed his events via YouTube. In my mind he is far and away the best candidate, but the debate format simply doesn't provide him an opportunity to prove that.
He was clearly looking for a way to draw attention to himself with the UBI give away that he announced, but I think that came across the wrong way.
6
It is sad that we have not a better way to actually know our candidates.
The winner is the one that knows how to sell his/her product best. Independent if the product is good or not.
The one able to impress and move the audience.
That is the way to choose dictators.
Have to be a better way to elect candidates...
President Obama gave the democrats the white house twice and showed them how to do it. Instead of following his lead there was and continues to be a sizeable faction of the democratic party that refuses to acknowledge a black man who beat Hillary had a winning strategy.
Democrats distanced themselves from President Obama and started losing again. They took up the Clinton strategy and lost the white house. Now they are taking up the extremists strategy and will again lose.
Castro's performance was an example of an extremist posing as centrist. Harris represented the tiresome democratic strategy of promise them anything to get elected. I am caution on Biden because he has too many ties to the Clinton regime and I don't want them or their cronies in the White House again. Warren just keeps throwing out popular ideas and some of them are as far out as Williams. It would be helpful if Warren had some real success stories and wasn't for open borders.
So many Democratic candidates and so much disappointment. Get ready for 4 more Trump years.
3
@Hellen: Obama was dead in the water after the census year election of 2010, when the Republicans locked in their gerrymanders for the next decade.
2
@Steve Bolger
President Obama, a black man, won white votes Hillary lost. That's because he knew how to reach out to working class and Midwestern Americans. Democrats should have learned from him but they refused to.
2
@Hellen
Bill Clinton in 1991/1992 showed Democrats how to play this game. Unfortunately, only the Republicans paid attention.
Julian Castro was not attacking VP Biden on his Health Care plan, rather he was looking for some clarity. As Biden seemed to be contradicting himself on what his plan would do. It would Not by default enroll someone who was unemployed and lost their Health Insurance,as Castro's plan does.
VP Biden's answer to the school segregation question made little sense "parents should have their children listen to the record player"then pivoting on to Venezuela. It was amusing to watch but also sad,but something that can not happen if he is on the stage with Trump, who is likely to have his own Venezuela ,Record playing moment.
If VP Biden is the eventual nominee I fear he will loose 'Bigly" up against Trump, who is by any standards not the worlds greatest debater.But Trump behaves on the stage as in life like a thug, he will bully whip Biden into submission.The VP needs to be prepared to give clear and concise answers and to pepper Trump with questions and rebuttals Perhaps on the stage with a real nemesis like Trump the old feisty sharp Joe Biden will show up, I hope so.
Next Fall the last thing any Democrat needs is to have Donald Trump look like he beat them in a debate. It will destroy their campaign ,these debates matter especially to Independents who have after all no loyalty to either party .
Candidates like Senator Warren, Pete Buttigieg ,Castro, O Rourke, and especially Senator Harris will have no problem trouncing Trump on the debate stage.
Democrats be smart .
2
@Britl
Hillary trounced Trump in 3 debates, yet she lost because enough voters hates her more than Trump, or stayed home, or protested with third party. Trump will keep his base that swoons at his every nasty insult, lie and bombast. Trump won Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan by only 77,000 votes because independents and moderates hates Hillary more. Independents and moderates are now abandoning Trump. They will be attracted to Biden's character, empathy and warmth, and will not be scared off because he's a centrist. Yes, a dirty word these days, but those states will not Warren's agenda. The debates will not matter especially because the public knows Biden already. At worst, it will be two old rambling white men. But at least Biden is decent, and that's what moderates and independents will find appealing, especially older white voters, without whom we can't get 270 votes. Have you ever heard Trump utter a complete sentence and express a coherent thought? He speaks in fragments and single word utterances. It will come down to personality and likability.
2
It would be nice to have younger candidates at the top of the ticket but we can at least have two that are fighting for meaningful change. Their only true weakness is that neither will inspire the black vote which is apparently crucial to good governance in our pseudo-democracy. I hope Sanders or Warren will offer some movement on slave reparations or we'll be looking at another four years of destruction, disgrace and dangerous authoritarianism.
2
@CR Hare
Why are the democrats so obsessed with age and youth? Sorry but it comes off as cliche’ and tired. Where is a young person leading a major country that is so impressive to you? Democrats need to stop with the ageism (and I’m young myself but this is a total turnoff to me).
10
@CR Hare
Reparations hand the election to Trump.
3
Please NYT this is not a horserace! It is an important primary debate for the people to elect/select a Presidential candidate.
These debates tell us about their knowledge, plans, policy direction and specifics, personality, their values and vision.
The person who performed poorly was VP Joe Biden.
The person whose personality was too hot tempered was Julian Castro.
The person with terrific passion, but without too much plan, was Beto O'Rourke.
Great motivational speaker materials are Cory Booker and Andrew Yang. CEO material, not POTUS yet.
Harris, great plan, perspective and personality...but too prosecutorial still. Can change and improve.
Amy Klobuchar, smart, soft, sensible and savvy all at once. But weak on foreign policy, economics and vision. Not progressive enough for some.
Buttegieg: young, smart honest and stable. But no standout, and not Presidential. At least not yet
Bernie Sanders! Salute him for what he has given and done so far. He deseves a standing ovation for two hours. But he will not win the nomination. Too tired, grumpy and not elegant.
Warren is the most ready! Give her the baton, and a great team to prepare against Trump.
(Wish Tulasi Gabbard was in the debate).
Best wishes...
8
After the Electoral College, the worst insult to intelligence in this broken system is the atrocious malapportionment of the body that vets federal judicial and executive nominees and treaties with foreign nations, the US Senate.
1
Aren't you forgetting someone? Amy Klobuchar made a pretty good showing.
10
I'll be working the Biden campaign, but I keep sending $10.00 after each debate to Andrew Wang. I am definitely a Wang-Gang groupie. Having him on the debate stage changes the room and candidate direction for the better. His big ideas that he - right on the spot- puts into action are trickling into the the mainstream. And I hope he has staying power and is part of our future cabinet of advisors. I just bought a Wang Gang T-shirt last night, so he has to stick around!
4
@mona. You mean Andrew Yang, right?
2
At this point in time Warren is the most qualified. Biden/ Warren would be the ticket. Then we could have her lead our country for 12 years.
3
I think Yang believes he can run a democracy like he would run his own private company. Offering to give 10 Americans $1000 a month? (Prompting the Times to ask, “Is that legal?”) Sorry, too much like the flip side of the Trump coin.
5
Please NYT this is not a horserace! It is an important primary debate for the people to elect/select a Presidential candidate.
These debates tell us about their knowledge, plans, policy specifics, personality, their values and vision.
The person who performed poorly was VP Joe Biden.
The person whose personality was too hot tempered was Julian Castro.
The person with terrific passion, but with not too much plan, was Beto O'Rourke.
Great motivational speaker materials are Cory Booker and Andrew Yang. CEO material, not POTUS yet.
Harris, great plan, perspective and personality...but too prosecutorial still. Can change.
Amy Klobuchar, smart, soft, sensible and savvy all at once. But weak on foreign policy, economics and a vision. Not progressive emough for some.
Buttegieg: young, smart honest and stable. But no standout, and not Presidential.
Bernie, salute him for what he has given and done so far. He deseves a standing ovation for two hours. But he will not win the nomination.
Warren is the most ready. Give her the baton, and a great team to prepare against Trump.
(Wish Tulasi Gabbard was in the debate).
Best wishes...
4
@ExhaustedFightingForJusticeEveryDay
Tulsi 2020!
2
Of the three debates, this was by far the best. We finally got to compare and contrast the top contenders; speakers had a little more time to respond to questions; moderators focused on most of the major issues and not on goading candidates into attacking one another or having to give “speed dating” responses; candidates respected time limits.
And yet...a number of candidates avoided answering key questions, or used cheap tricks to get attention, or sounded so same-old, same-old I wanted to scream. So no, it wasn’t perfect.
But I did come away from this marathon with a sense of the ticket I think can win: Senator Warren/Mayor Buttigieg.
6
If not the candidate, Pete Buttigieg should become a significant part of the next administration, either as chief-of-staff, a cabinet position or simply a Harry Hopkins, FDR's close friend and advisor.
7
Any admiration I have had for former Secretary Castro was obliterated after watching his Trumpian shots at VP Biden in last night’s debate. Suggesting to a 76yo, a statesman, that his memory, read “mind”, has failed him is at best an appalling display of bad manners, and came across as a desperate shot to appear tough. Surely you’re not taking cues from Trump are you? At 65, I’m not so naive as to expect politicians to play nice, but their maintaining dignity while challenging a rival IS something I expect, and something I have missed during the past two and a half years. Shame on you, Julian.
18
@JM
I'm not convinced that ageism was his intent but rather to catch Biden waffling, as he frequently does. Biden is a wonderful and decent man. He needs to exit the race.
3
To me it did not appear as if Biden was as lucid and clear thinking as a presidential candidate, much less a president, ought to be.
Harris used up all of her ammunition in her first debate appearance and has since not re-loaded with anything of substance.
Warren came off as loud and very strident, not someone you'd like to have around.
Bernie was Bernie. He stuck to his guns and did not waver from policies which he's been setting forth for over a decade. Kudos to him for opposing the war in Iraq which was brought about by our stupidest president, who, for all intents and purposes, should be deemed a war criminal.
The others? No brilliance there though Booker had the best comment of the night when he translated the English word "no" into Spanish. It's good to be multilingual.
As far as jokes go, offering $1,000 a month to families for a year was a good one.
6
Castro's jab was undignified, however the Vice President was once again inarticulate, at times nonsensical, and is clearly past his prime. Still, the NYT and mainstream media continue to identify him as a legitimate front-runner and candidate.
Watching Biden is akin to watching an athlete past her prime, or a 70's rock band that reminds baby boomers of those wonderful youthful years.
We need a candidate and a president at the top of his or her game.
9
Julian Castro's snarling disrespect and rude behavior tells me he is insecure, unqualified, desperate and cannot control his emotions.
We already have someone residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue who possess those character traits.
The last thing this country needs is a repeat of that kind of behavior.
18
Regardless of your choice of these Dem candidates, it is clear that anyone of them is hugely more intelligent, compassionate and capable of governing than the current Democracy Destructor in Chief currently "in charge". Bring it on.
6
Debate? Please! Politics as entertainment. What else could we expect from ABC or any other commercial outlet?
"Who'll be voted off the island next?"
9
Although Obama isn’t running again and wasn’t on the stage, he was omnipresent and should be counted as one of the winners of last night’s debate.
As former vice president, Biden wraps himself in Obama’s legacy. But the other candicates seemed to hug Obama’s achievements as well.
Julian Castro made a mistake when he alluded to voter concerns about Biden’s age. It wasn’t proper or decent and would come back to bite him.
“Are you forgetting what you said two minutes ago?” Castro asked, and boasted: “I’m fulfilling the legacy of Barack Obama and you’re not.”
He accused Biden of saying his plan would not automatically enroll people in his public health care option. But he was wrong. Biden said that “anyone who can’t afford it gets automatically enrolled in the Medicare-type option we have, et cetera.”
3
Another takeaway: if Democrats want to win, it’s time for the DNC to recruit a new electable candidate. Maybe Jamie Dimon?
1
The key take away from this debate; Tulsi Gabbard wasn’t there, even though every major poll has her ahead of Julián Castro and Amy Klobochar.
Tulsi is the only candidate who consistently stands up to the biggest drain on our security; the Military-Congressional-Industrial-Complex. Which means the establishment DNC is taking the same defense contractor poison as the GOP that’s sending us bankrupt into more contrived wars and keeping weapons of war killing our children in the streets.
The only other person running for President who marginally brings this up is Bernie Sanders, but he’s too busy attacking Biden, the corporatist gaff machine.
Bernie/Tulsi 2020
7
A vote for Biden is a vote for Obama and I like that idea. I wouldn't doubt if Biden brings Obama back and gives him a cabinet post. Who could be a better advisor to the President than Obama.
#Imwithjoe
2
Could Obama be Vice President? He can’t be elected president more than twice but can he be president more than eight years? I’ll have to check my pocket constitution.
"attack", "aim", "unscathed", scot-free", "frontal assault"...
Is this the New York Times? by focussing mostly on confrontation, thist article shows how the media can be akin with the public, with its unquenchable thirst for entertainment. Was it a game show? Who won?
The worst of all: "it will take another debate to see if anyone in the field will try to stop her" sounds almost designed to provoke more action, more conflict next time.
Unlike most other media, The NYT does not pander, but here it certainly shows a lack of wisdom. For someone like who didn't watch the debate, these "6 takeaways" do not provide anything of substance.
8
Not rating this debate, but ranking the candidates according to my impressions of them at this point in the campaign, I would keep five and lose five:
Very interested: Warren and Buttigieg
Somewhat interested: Castro, Booker, O'Rourke
- - - - -
Not interested at all: Biden, Sanders, Harris, Klobuchar
Shouldn’t even be in the race: Yang
3
During the debate's first break, ABC ran a vicious nasty political ad, truly worthy of Goebbels. It said AOC, as a socialist, was responsible for the Khmer Rouge Cambodian atrocities, complete with pictures of mounds of skulls and rows of dead bodies. It ended with a woman in a helicopter saying that she is a Republican. Unfortunately, this is the kind of viciousness we can expect from them during the campaign. (I didn't catch which group sponsored the ad. If you did, please post it in reply to this comment.)
(Paradoxically (check it out) the Republican administration of Gerald Ford backed the Khmer Rouge.
while opposing the "evil" Vietnamese military who ended their reign of terror.)
3
@Mike Gordon
New Faces GOP PAC, run by former congressional candidate from California, Elizabeth Heng
3
I’d rather hear Biden get honestly confused when he tries to answer extremely difficult questions than just try to gaslight me because he believes I’m so stupid like the current president. I would also rather have Biden and Warren, and all the rest of the Democratic contenders argue out what they feel are the best solutions to the most complicated issues of our day. Perhaps they say the wrong thing sometimes or not have that cleverly worded insult to bring down the other guys idea. I just want someone to work for me this time and stop always thinking about how to help him or herself. A couple of misspoken words doesn’t take away from a lifetime of service to this country. Why haven’t we learned this yet?
4
Here's the combo I'd like to see in the W/H: E. Warren, POTUS, Beto O'Roarke, Vice-Pres. Out of them all, these two strike me as the ones who really care about making a difference. I think Elizabeth Warren would make a fantastic President. She's as smart and experienced as Hillary, minus the Clinton baggage. However, I fear her position on healthcare is simply too radical for many.
2
A strong Democratic ticket is Warren & Castro
1
Come on. The MSM is desperately trying to avoid dealing with the biggest takeaway, which is that Joe Biden is suffering from something. He could not think or speak clearly. He could not hold on to a train of thought. The MSM has to tell the truth about this and stop covering for the guy. Too much is at stake. ABC and MSNBC pretended like the fumbling nonsense that came out of his mouth didn't happen. We can't put a man with early-onset senility, or a condition like that, in a race against Trump, nor should he be President.
8
Unfortunately, the record player analogy is all too appropriate for Biden. He's outdated technology, and his messages are a kind of skipped repeating of the past. Would he be 80 or 90 in office? It doesn't matter, for either decade is too old. Obama was a good president, but even he wasn't aggressive enough for his time (witness the lingering effects of the recession on the middle and lower classes.). We need someone bold who will unite the country in looking forward, making up for the lost time we have squandered with Trump. History hiccups and lurches and jumps forward. Its time for that jump to the future, not that skip to the past.
5
A new CNBC poll of top CEO’s expect Trump to be re-elected.
The business as usual and New Gilded Age crowd won’t give up easily, and neither will we.
This is a generational change in the making and an opportunity of a lifetime.
2
I agree that Elizabeth Warren is looking more and more electable all the time (with Pete Buttagieg as VP!)
However, the insistence on Medicare For All and cutting out the private payers in the current system is foolhardy. What do the single-payer supporters think is going to happen when all those people working in the current private healthcare industry lose their jobs?
6
@L in NL
I like Warren/Buttigieg too!
And I have similar concerns about Medicare For All. It's where we need to go, but how to get there is tricky. It needs to be a choice, not a dictate.
9
I’d love to see a Warren/Booker ticket. Brilliant minds and hearts and senses of humor. Policy wonks and policy innovators.
4
@Manny I don't think Booker would be a good partner. He likes the spotlight.
3
I noticed opposition ads DURING the debate, which should be done as a "public service."
In fact no commercials should be run at all.
Are the networks so greedy for cash that they need to accept funds from whomever pays?
4
I listened to the entire debate, obviously looking for substance, which there was a lot of, but more importantly to me, it felt good to hear every candidate on stage looking for policies to help me, my family, and my neighbors. I am so tired of waking up in the morning a feeling like I am in the middle of a Mad Max movie.
4
Thank god, the debate was 100% presidential. Front and foremost were issues and what fundamental reform would look like. I am so grateful to have such a great group of candidates to choose from.
4
My takeaway? Not a single one of them is electable in a general election. If a much more centrist candidate doesn’t enter the race as a late comer we’ll have four more years of Trump.
5
I really hope you are wrong. But I agree that a centrist is the only way to defeat Trump. And that matters to me more than anything.
4
@Eric
The Democrats have been nominating centrist "Republican-lite" candidates ever since Obama's first election in 2008, and they lost a thousand seats on the federal and state levels during his administration, culminating in the 2016 debacle which was their worst overall showing since 1928. Thinking a centrist will win "this time" is the very definition of insanity.
1
Regarding Joes, record-player puzzle, it reminds me of Lawton Chiles and the He-coon puzzle. I got it. Joe was saying kids need words, not pictures, to develop their intellectual ability. TV, and smartphones, what the kids are glued to if you let them, don't help. I suppose Joe could have explained that you need to turn off the video and turn on the audio, but he used record-player instead, which everyone knows, has no picture. He figured you'd figure it out.
6
@William Anderson, LMHC: I thought Biden was touting classical music when he referenced playing records.
1
Of the supporting cast, Pete Buttigieg was impressive, Beto O’Rourke seems to have recovered, thanks to El Paso, and Andrew Yang has likeable common sense. Amy Klobuchar has difficulty showing the relevance of her Minnesota experience.
Among the major candidates, Elizabeth Warren – by a combination of debate experience in the Senate, personal background and being naturally the anti-Trump – was dominant, and the other candidates were terrified of her.
Bernie Sanders did his usual routine, and other members of the group either ignored him or dismissed him as predictably different.
Kamala Harris appears too rehearsed – a bright woman with a good background, she is evasive and takes refuge in generalities.
Corey Booker usually makes a lot of sense and is likeable. If he were still a minor candidate, no one would notice that he is not yet presidential.
Julian Castro usually make a lot of sense, but he is unlikeable. His attack on Joe Biden was outrageous. Biden did not “forget” anything and was correct about people who could afford private insurance.
Joe Biden did fine. He will never excel in the quiz-show format. Biden has been near or at the center of national politics for more than a quarter century, so he has a long record, making him an easy target for newcomers.
Biden was also made a target by two of the ABC moderators. David Muir and Linsey Davis were nasty and belligerent. Why should any candidate be subjected to that? What purpose does that disrespect serve?
9
The moment Castro took aim at Biden with the unneeded cheap shot and followed by the rhapsodic oohs and aahs from the crowd was one of disgrace and repugnance for him and the democratic party. It was then I turned off the debate. It didn't elevate Biden for me, but it removed any consideration of Castro's candidacy. It also saddened me to hear the crowd respond in such fashion. Like it was entertainment. Like they were at a Trump rally. It made me question if the line of decency between the constituencies of the two parties is really that significant after all. One thing is clear for me though: we need to remove the crowds from these debates. Maybe then we can move ourselves away from these scripted zingers designed to get a reaction from the crowd and immediate gratification. Maybe then, we can start to restore some humanity back into the way we approach politics in this country (which is a spotted history for sure). Attack the policy not the person.
10
@Bryan
agreed
but
i believe the crowd was actually booing the bad manners
2
If the media hasn't noticed, having a record player and buying vinyl is a new trendy thing to do in the last five years....
3
Thank you Joe Biden for giving this debate your best shot. Just practice your closing statement that says : My depth of political experience and my obvious normalcy of values are what we need to go foreword purposefully .
Stop being a sad sack - start using over and over your commendable sense of purpose for growing Resilience on the campaign trail.
Then choose your younger VP carefully .
Good Luck - You are our best hope .
4
'...confidence in corporate America to fix the healthcare crisis?' seriously? isn't that why we're in a healthcare crisis? Cries of 'socialism' are a smokescreen to protect corporate America. If we fall for that, nothing will change. How many people actually like their 'private' insurance as opposed to being stuck with what they can get? Why don't we talk about all being provided with the medical coverage Congress gets?
8
@Henry: Congress blocked Medicare from negotiating any drug prices at all. And AARP is a joke. Its Medicare Part D coverage excludes erectile dysfunction drugs from its own formulary. It's just another lousy insurance peddler for the drug industry.
Last night we saw the next President, possibly Vice President, and some very able members of his/her Cabinet.
3
Despite Castro's really disappointing weak, desperate, and cheap shot at Biden, I felt really good watching ten authentically sincere and deeply talented candidates up there. This was a largely coherent team of people having an intelligent discussion each with something substantive to contribute. At times they even seemed to like each other. It was reassuring to listen to them.
5
The positive energy from all the candidates last night actually brought me to tears! Proud to be a Democrat!
4
I am donating to Warren, Klobuchar, and Buttigieg. I want to keep them on the stage as long as I can. Try to clear out a few others. I think those 3 can have an interesting substantive debate without the drama.
3
I think you meant to refer to Ms warren as Senator Warren. ... Mr. Biden came armed on the crucial topic of health care, with lines to joust with Senator Bernie Sanders and Ms. Warren over their support of an expansive Medicare for All plan.
2
The big question to me, both about the debate last night and the coming presidential election is “Do you trust democracy?” The clear thing is that Republicans do not. Why else would they do all the gerrymandering, misrepresentation, outright lying, and overt disregard of their duties (e.g., Merrick Garland) that they engage in? And I am not just talking about Trump, but a significant percentage of Republican elected officials, and the media that support them.
The biggest problem that democracy in this country faces is too much of the population does not pay close enough attention. In general, any one of the people on stage last night would do a better job of being president than the current occupant of the White House. It is clear that they, themselves, have done the studying and thinking necessary to actually address the problems we face as a country. (Yes, even Biden, although it seems that much of his thinking was done in the past and he is running mostly on 30 years of momentum.)
So (and here I am pretty sure I am “preaching to the choir” as the people who read this are reading The NY Times), study the issues, pick your favorite, evangelize for them, but, whatever the outcome of the Democratic primaries and caucuses, unite behind the winner in order to excise the anti-Democratic cancer that now sits behind the desk in the Oval Office.
7
Near the end,Joe Biden credited his father with telling him "Never complain, never explain". Doubtful. British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli is credited with originating the saying
and perhaps its best-known application in the U.S. came when Henry Ford II was released from an overnight incarceration for a moving violation, possibly a DUI.
2
Biden and Sanders need to get off the stage. Neither one has the mental agility to run the Executive Branch and rebuild our democratic institutions after Trump. And that is what this election is about.
2
Not a winner among them. If empty promises are all the DNC has to offer might as well come to terms Trump will win 2020. Beto claims they will come get all assault rifles, but the progressive left is anti police. Who will the left get to enforce their unconstitutional laws? It’s laughable.
If that's the best Democrats have to offer Trump's reelection is a shoe-in. Isn't there a better candidate to represent the party??
1
Just say “No”, Joe. As a 60-plus year old white woman, and a diehard liberal Democrat, I feel strongly that Joe Biden is not the one to stop Trump. Who are all these people who support Biden, making him a front runner? Everyone I know supports the other candidates. Joe’s time has come and gone. Time to surrender the keys to the car, Mr. Biden.
14
I can imagine anyone on the stage doing well against Trump in a debate setting except for Biden. He's too old as are his ideas.
5
The usual pointless debate after the debate in these comments. Democrats talking about niceties when the other side is playing dirty and in the process of sealing up America lock, stock and barrel for the mega-corporate titans that actually run this country.
Come on, grow a spine peeps...say it like it is. If Sanders can generate so much passion and inspire our youngest voters, why are the other candidates so tame and corporate sounding?
Rustle up some rhetoric, Dems...otherwise you'll all be roadkill on the way to a second republican awful term...
4
Castro was out of line at the debate. I don't think he knows he cannot go any further in the line by taking a jab and challenging Biden on his memory loss. I hope he does not qualify for the next debate, he does not deserve it. Elizabeth Warren was not only debating her policies, she was teaching people what it meant. Her demeanor, her attitude and her tone was spot on. Harris was flying somewhere in the outer space. Poor Sanders, he was struggling with voice and watery eyes. Biden is nice but I think his time is up. Niceness is not enough to beat Trump in 2020.
5
All of the Democratic contenders all said the same thing, with different emphasis. Some said it better than others at times. Some are older than others. Some are wiser than others. All are highly intelligent. All of them would make a great President.
It was great to listen. closely, to real American leaders this evening, discussing real issues. It was uplifting, for a few hours, to not be reading the inane tweets, with misspellings and poor grammar, of the profoundly ignorant grifter we are currently stuck with in Washington.
9
How can what occurred be called a debate? It’s more like watching a middle school lunchroom squabble than a debate. You have the homecoming kings and queens, the bullies and the orchestra nerds. Those in charge seem to enjoy taunting the kids, seeing if they can get some fights going. It has been determined who is most entertaining, who are the targets, who is worth mocking, and who gets to speak.
6
I can't help but notice the article uses Sander's title and not Warren's. It's sexist to call one Senator Sanders and the other Ms. Warren.
6
Intelligent people with hopeful ideas. I hope the Democrats can support the nominee and not divide along their usual tribal choices. If Bernie doesn't get the nomination, will he help Trump win again? I plan to vote for the nominee, as one commentator said, they are all good and so much better than Trump who is destroying America for greed. The water and food is now no longer safe and on and on. Stick together Democrats no more Nadars or anti-vaxxers or other destructive choices. There is a greater evil.
2
Reading through so many of these comments (and recognizing that perhaps one who comments here is not the typical voter) one thing stands out- nobody’s mind has been changed. The comments in general do not cite the performances or substantive positions of the debaters to any great extent. Other than as entertainment for a niche audience, if it is not a medium to persuade or inform voters, is the dog and pony show really necessary or valuable? And was I the only one offended by Mr. Yang’s cutesy sweepstakes announcement? Don’t remember Cicero, Lincoln or Douglas trying that one.
4
I hope whoever wins the Dem primary and then the election will look seriously at the other candidates on this stage to fill important roles in the cabinet and to head the various departments. I hope those individuals would agree to serve. It would restore faith in government and also tap the talents and knowledge and connection to the voters each has developed. If it turns out to be Biden or Bernie the VP pick is of huge importance. Please no more stunt picks like Palin or Pence that appeal to a particular voting block but who could not be trusted with the office.
9
I believe that these kind of debates are the wrong way to pick presidents in the modern world.
I believe Obama was a good president, but he was lacking a bunch of knowledge on the most important issues of health care and global finance going into the presidency. He was a quick study, but he never did understand the global financial problem and the trade debacle that brought Trump into power.
Do any of these candidates understand the trade debacle that led to this presidency? I think that Sanders gets it intuitively, and I believe that Warren will get it if explained to her. Of the two, I believe that when explain to Warren, she'll make better and more informed decisions.
Trade is an extremely difficult issue to parse for anyone. It just so happens that a hack like Trump can satisfy the public sentiment and look out for national security while remaining a hack. I'm basically of the same mind as Soros on this issue, that I don't want Trump to back off. We have a confluence of greed and willful naiveté on these issues. It's sickining to me.
Sanders changed the national narrative, and I'm grateful to him! He deserves to be Vice President to Warren.
I want Warren as president. My daughter wants Warren as president. We need Warren as president.
When Trump mocked her it was the most sincere form of flattery. Without a doubt, Trump knows his biggest challenger is Warren.
She's the smartest, toughest, most socially conscience, and pragmatic of the lot. Nominate her!
3
@Dave: None of them even mentioned that the US is the last hold-out using an unscientific measurement system. When Reagan killed Metric conversion, manufacturers gave up on the US.
1
@Dave I agree that Sanders could be a good VP to Warren. Over the past year, I have come to admire and respect Warren. She is brilliant, and knows how to work hard. I recently listened to frightening information about the continued spread of terrorism in the world. Her comment on Afghanistan and recipe to restructure the worldwide US response was right on.
2
I am disappointed that the New York Times feels the need to emphasize the supposed "clashing" among the Democrats. With the exception of the one moment by Julian Castro, they were remarkably civil and mostly actually discussed issues and policy. I'd love for the media to focus on that. I agree with another commentator that we have an embarrassment of riches in these candidates. That said, I feel the pundits are being way too lenient with Joe Biden, who was sadly rambling and incoherent (do we need more of that)?
4
Best debate by far. Kudos to the moderators. They asked tough questions about all the important topics without interjecting themselves as combatants in the debate. Head and shoulders above the moderators in the previous two debates.
1
As long as Elizabeth Warren is allowed to evade the discussion of how her plans are to be paid for she will continue to tell the voters what more she can do for them
6
@RD: Nobody explains that there are public and private sectors to national health plans. Taxes only fund the public sector.
Warren would be the first female president if elected...but currently, Andrew Yang seems to be the only one who offers 'substantial' solutions to the economic problems of the middle class and he does not seem like a shady character either. Unless the $1000 is a gimmick. So, I am just wondering why the (media's) strong fixate on Biden, Sander or Harris, like there are no other candidates? Otherwise, Biden, albeit too old would be an ok candidate, yet I doubt with his penchant to talk aimlessly that he could beat Trump who has a 'direct' approach. Sanders is way too old (Sorry Sanders) while Harris carries a pretentious air with her.
2
@Vivian: What a dystopic vision it is to view human life as a market for the products of robots.
1
@Steve Bolger
Democrats want to beat Trump, right? So, the candidates need to be strategically all rounded, not deadpan robotic but rationally capable in an intelligent sort of way, so Warren or Yang seem to fit this bill.
As the Democratic Party has shown so little change in its handling of Presidential Politics one thing that remains clear is that the Party is divided as it was in 2016. Dangerously so, and presenting this divide so clearly, hopefully people who seriously seek change will support the Progressive Movement that clearly states that business as usual in our industrial military complex is not OK. Without bandaid solutions, status quo management and the underlying corruption of this sold out political system, to either the elite or the Russians, we are going to see our world as we have known it, destroyed. Lack of vigor to change, to address the complicit nature of our individual choices regarding our corporations, industry and politics, climate change will wipe out humanity. Will the Democrats lead or be a continued part of this crisis? Will the Party elite understand they are aiding in the 6th mass extinction, the only one made by man or not? Bernie Sanders is this movement. Like him or not, he was the leader that was thrown under the bus by the Party in 2016 and we are now paying for this. The youth get this. Hopefully they are paying attention and will come support this clear vision Sanders has had all along and bring back the hope of a non corrupt country prepared to make the changes we must. If not, I believe, we are doomed.
4
They are all fine and a breath of fresh air compared to the nightmare in the White House.
ABC’s commentators were the best so far, not interrupting candidates with excessive time rules like the previous debate.
Bernie looked red (makeup) and seemed a bit too angry - though I don’t blame him, I’m old and angry as well. Elizabeth Warren was the best by far - the smartest, calmest, and most articulate. She is by far the best candidate and would beat Trump.
7
I just wish Warren hadn't taken the same positioning as Bernie with regards to healthcare. Without that, she'd be an even greater threat to Biden.
6
What purpose does having an audience serve? What did applause add?
It was a more a contest of who has the best one-liners than a true debate.
Who won the "debate"? Trump.
5
Well, all 10 candidates looked like politicians to me. All you other Democrats can argue it out among yourselves. I would vote for any of them over Trump.
3
For someone like me - a person who has built themselves up through education and work - these guys offer nothing. Less than nothing, because they offer to take away more of my money to pay to people that are part of their base and, more insultingly, people that gatecrash our borders. The only reason to vote for them is because the alternative is Trump. So I will vote for the nominee and hope the Senate stays Republican. And hope that in 2024, the Republicans have someone sane on the ballot.
6
Bernie Sanders and Castro were awful last night. I wouldn't vote for either of them period. Nasty, strident and wrong for this country after 4 years of Trump.
Single payer was exposed last night to the detriment of both Warren and Sanders. Biden, Mayor Pete and Klobuchar made the case for strengthening the ACA and adding a public option.
I'm starting to be turned off by big corporations are evil by both Warren and Sanders. They need to be regulated and Citizens United needs to be turned over, they don't need to be demonized. They make stuff, provide services and have a lot of decent people working for them. Making a profit isn't evil in America.
Warren's tax plan for medicare is going to further damage the liberal states where higher incomes are needed to be in the middle class. She's talking about a significant amount of taxes on hard working people on both coasts.
I thought it was a good night for Booker. Andrew Yang is probably the most interesting candidate in the debate. Mayor Pete is credible.
I thought Harris was so scripted and really stopped caring about her story. Castro came off as nasty and willing to lie to take down Biden.
Beto was right on gun control. This weapons don't belong in the hands of the general public in a civilized society. Sadly this isn't a civilized society, this is the United States of America.
8
There are a number of Democratic candidates who can beat Trump but Sanders and Warren are sure losers. He keeps advocating socialized medicine after a few trips to Canada and Warren's only clear answer on that is " I'm with Bernie". This country will re-elect Trump before 180 million Americans agree to give up their health insurance and people like me on Medicare, which I love, weren't born yesterday and know for certain that if you add 180 million to Medicare you'll have to change my Medicare so I won't recognize it or bankrupt the country or both. Biden belongs in the White House, Warren belongs at Harvard, Trump belongs at Mar-A-Lago and Sanders should spend more time in Canada or Europe. He might learn a thing or two.
8
Not much new was learned from this debate with a huge exception.
The biggest impression was made by Julian Castro, and not in a good way. Beneath his positions, which are largely taken directly from Warren and Sanders, his true argument for himself was that since he possesses the virtues of unpresidential nastiness and untruthfulness which no other Democratic presidential candidate on the stage possesses, he'd be the best person to confront the nastiest, most vicious, untruthful, and unpresidential politician in the world.
Castro actually did the opposite of what he intended; he helped Biden, while causing enormous and irreparable damage to himself. What little chance he had in this primary is gone. This is said as someone who thought Castro was a fine candidate, though certainly not a first choice, (then again, neither was Biden).
When Pete Buttigieg rightly cut in to say that "This reminds everybody of what they cannot stand about Washington", he obviously meant Trump's viciousness. It was entirely lost on Castro who interrupted Buttigieg, and before you know it he was attacking both Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar as well.
Castro, like Trump, can pretend "That's called an election", but somehow Warren managed to appear presidential and make far better points, all without being vicious. (How she did it remains a total mystery to Castro).
It will be good to see Castro gone as the last thing the country needs is more Trumpian nastiness and untruthfulness from politicians.
11
@Robert B
I learned that you’re writing about Amy Klobochar and Julián Castro instead of Tulsi Gabbard when every major poll has Tulsi ahead of them. As a result, no one on that stage was talking about the Military-Congressional-Industrial-Complex. As a result we continue to get dragged into perpetually contrived wars and weapons of war continue to kill our children. The logical conclusion is the DNC takes the same treasonous defense contractor donor poison as the GOP, and Elizabeth Warren was right; electing publically funded candidates is the only solution.
5
I could very well take anyone else than Biden, but only if they can win. If Trump wins again, in eight years he may seat a total of SIX justices to SCOTUS.
Think about that.
3
Biden lost voters with the remark that '..if you lose your job, you can buy health insurance...'. Dude, if a young person loses a job, she or he is not going to have enough unemployment benefit to buy food AND pay the rent. Health insurance is far down on the priority list, well after transportation...so far down it isn't going to be purchased. Biden is way out of touch.
12
Thank you for the article. But why, in this day and age, would you refer to Senator Bernie Sanders and “Ms. Warren” in the same sentence? Elizabeth Warren is also a sitting senator and should have been referred to as such. Words matter, and given the interminable history of devaluing women’s accomplishments and the extra challenges facing any female candidate for the presidency, it is irresponsible for the Times to be so careless. Please do better. Thank you.
42
I liked Beto's comment about taking the AR15s.
Your 2nd Amendment right is for a gun that fires three rounds a minute, not three rounds a second.
Dan Kravitz
13
@Dan Kravitz oh really? What part of the second amendment says that?
2
@Eric
Actually, I'm keeping with the originalists, the second amendment should be interpreted to only allow muskets or other weapons available at the writing of the Constitution.
3
Amy. Experience ( including national security and foreign policy), intelligence, guts, strength, values, common sense, and a woman who knows the rooms she must navigate to move us forward
Pete. Youth, intelligence, values, common sense, military experience, non-washington perspective, strength, and a man who grasps complexities of “belonging” and takes none of his “privileges” for granted
Neither is handing us pipe dreams. Both exude integrity.
Both might win back the midwest.
12
My takeaways:
1. Joe seemed annoyed at every step of the way. He has a right to be there but he needs to stop treating the primaries as a nuance. He believes that the movement against gun violence after Sandy Hook is a success story. He is wrong. Not such movements should even exists. The movement of gun sense was a reaction of Biden’s failure to bring both side of the aisles when Obama appointed him to see a better path.
2. Amy got my attention. Articulate, confident, moderate and progressive at the same time. Strangely refreshing.
3. Warren is just so well prepared. She has mastered to turn the individual confrontations to highlight real issues in the country.
4. Beto had the courage to say something that a very large part of population of the United States thinks but can’t say it because we are scared of the gun lobby. By the end of the debate, he had already received threats (from elected officials).
5. Cory has a message, a good one.
6. Sanders is grumpy. I am tired of grumpy.
7. Pete had a couple of good moments but he also seemed annoyed at having to compete. Castro called him out.
8. Yang, not so great last night.
9. Moderators - stop bringing the latino card. Every moderator should be prepared to ask questions about people and children in cages.
10. The missing takeaways:
- Supreme Court - if we don’t vote democrat, we will never have a more balance court
- Deficit - i am liberal and i care about debt, deficit and growth.
- Better questions
5
Beto O' Rourke...for the empathy towards people effected by gun violence.
1
Based on the most popular comments, it seems most people think the way Castro went at Biden was deplorable.
But Biden IS embarrassingly inarticulate and forgetful! His rambling stream-of-consciousness answers often remind me of Trump’s incoherent speech.
Pointing out someone’s memory lapses and/or confusion and/or unintelligible answers isn’t ageism just because Biden happens to be old.
10
@Bill in Yokohama
Biden was making gaffs in his 30's. Why assume it's because of age? That is ageism.
As rambling as he was, early in the debate he completely changed the debate on single payer. Bernie was exposed as was Warren on this critical issue that may well bring down the Democrats best chance to beat Trump.
1
Harris is finished. Castro is finished. Booker is finished. Yang is finished. Beto is finished.
That leaves Joe, Bernie, Elizabeth, Pete, and Amy. None of them can beat Trump.
5
As if Trump doesn’t have remarkable weaknesses. Give me a break!
17
Glad we are down to 10. Hope we do not get anymore. I will take any of these people over Trump. Trump is the Worst President Ever. I cannot imagine any of these 10 inviting the Taliban to Camp David. I wish these debates focused more on policy and less on personality. Each is decent enough to be President. I was hoping to learn more about who would be the best President.
8
NYT, don't be sloppy. It's *Senator* Warren if you'll refer to the men using their titles: "In particular, Mr. Biden came armed on the crucial topic of health care, with lines to joust with Senator Bernie Sanders and Ms. Warren over their support of an expansive Medicare for All plan."
11
Absolutely terrifying! Is this the best America can produce? Not a capable leader in the bunch! The politics of hate and media savagery have scared away any qualified candidates. There is no wheat to separate from the chaff!
6
Thanks to Sanders for bringing Medicare-for-all into the national consciousness. However, it does not make the most sense to completely disrupt the industry for the sake of idealism. Medicare works. It’s cheaper to run than private insurance. But, millions use employer-subsidized coverage through private insurers. And, the majority of them are satisfied with it. Millions are employed in the insurance industry.
Biden is right to take the position of offering the choice, keep your current plan, or opt in to Medicare. Then, promote education so people will fully understand what their plan covers/costs. It will force private insurers to provide better benefits in order to compete. Over tine, it is likely people will transition to Medicare, especially those whose private insurance benefits are substandard.
Biden-Klobuchar
3
I recall Bill Clinton—during both campaigns and facing personal attacks—just never lost his cool. Warren seems to possess that quality, so far. Castro, on the other hand, loses by revealing his cheap, mean-spirited attacks on Biden.
9
I liked the candidates who kept their cool ...like Amy Klobuchar
..and Joe Biden....; but those that seemed to say "I " so much
...seemed to echo the chaos now in the Oval Office.
How about "WE"....instead of "I".....and address what we
the people need to hear....someone in the Oval Office who
is going to do something for We The People ...not just say how
"great" ...they are going to be on "day one"...
10
I expect a president to think clearly under all circumstances. These candidates have had plenty of time to polish their view points and plans. So much of the debate was fumbling for words, excess verbiage, half completed sentences, one generalization after another i was hard pressed to tease out facts and plans. Many on the stage seemed incapable of sticking with subject, verb and object. I wonder if any of these candidates have taken a science class. Play acting and verbal jabs have no place in early primary debates.. There was too much emotionality. I don’t need to know about personal resilience. That’s not what a debate should be about. Klobuchar, Buttigieg and Warren came across as the most clearheaded. I’d like to hear them debate policy without all the noise in the room.
8
Joe Biden is an old-style politician. Historically he has voted according to the desires of his corporate sponsors and is beholden to special interest groups. I did not hear anything that has changed in that regard. He sputters when asked a tough question. Biden does not have my vote.
Elizabeth Warren really has a solid gameplan for success. She articulates her ideas clearly, with enthusiasm, and actually answers the questions asked of her. She has my support.
Bernie Sanders sounds like he would be an effective senator in a Warren administration.
Corey Booker sounds like he would make a good AG in a Warren administration.
Two of the ABC commentators asked really solid pointed questions. Since I never watch ABC I don't recall their names but it was the black woman and the Hispanic man. Much better than the first two debates.
DNC should not add more people to the October debate unless some of the current 10 drop out. Seeing all candidates on the stage together was much more effective than splitting the group over 2 nights.
3
@me So if it comes down to Biden vs. Trump, you'll vote for Trump? Or you won't vote, which is pretty much the same thing? Because you think Trump is more likely to enact progressive policies? Or because if you can't have all you'd prefer none to some?
Seriously?
4
No one asked or answered what I consider the key question facing all the candidates: How will you enact any of your ideas if, as seems likely, the Republicans keep control of the Senate?
247
@Arundo Donax
An important question; it needs to be answered by the voters.
25
@Arundo Donax
The key question is whether Trump is invincible.
The media controlls the questioning to get increased ratings, not to further the Democratic cause.
I, personally, am now a yellow dog democrat. I'd vote for a golden retriever before Trump. I only want to know how each candidate would deal with the caudillo in office.
24
@Arundo Donax -- Our Revolution, and many other activist groups are loyal to Senator Bernie Sanders and will VOTE AND STAY ACTIVE after he becomes president. Senator Sanders has one million active donors, who are also pledged to help push the progressive agenda in Washington D.C. vs Biden's mostly big-donor maxed out base that will vote basically to return to that point where a desperate nation elected a reality TV show host rather than Hillary Clinton, the known global manufacturing and defense industry investment crowd's choice owned by the big banks etc. Biden is nothing like Obama. He's the typical regional choice, moderate that you pick to win the presidency. He does nothing to return the Democratic Party to the people. He's Clinton 2.0 a step back into the mud. I'll vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary. There are several, including Biden who would not get my vote in the general election because I want to see the corporate-wing Democrats OUT.
22
I came away from the debate with three impressions:
First, I now have real concerns about Joe Biden’s ability to withstand a general election against Trump and think that if all the candidates up there tonight he appeared the shakiest on electability
Second, Elizabeth Warren was top notch. She continually weaves together her cohesive policy arguments with her strong anticorruption stance and showed over and over again why reforming the political system is the most important change we need to make.
Third, overall they were a really impressive group. And while there was some divisiveness I was in the whole very impressed with the articulateness, thoughtfulness, unity and integrity shown tonight by the Democratic hopefuls!
Go Dems 2020!!!!
16
Thank you for your optimism! It’s sorely lacking these days.
1
The debate should spread over 2 nights with 5 on each night. Otherwise, still too left for the Midwest we lost and Trump can win: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. We need another centrist.
2
We already have one: Klobuchar
5
Americans value having choice and the freedom to make their own decisions. While there may be merits to a single payer system ultimately it means you lost the ability to do something that is more important to many. And then it will be questioned what other choices will the government take away. Slippery slope when such decisions will be seen as indicators of losing freedoms.
1
Joe Biden said that the government should send social workers into people's homes for the purpose of informing parents about the benefits of putting a record player on at night. That is a thing that actually happened.
6
One of the candidates--i forget which one--in a brief discussion of the tariffs and the China trade said that what we should also be negotiating with them is N. Korea and climate change, which is true and more important.
N. Korea is a client State of China. That they have nuclear weapons to threaten the U.S. couldn't have been done without China's support and approval. The latest is that N.K. also has Russian ICBMs, blueprints from them or just rolled across the border. In that the Chinese also have our military designs, it is likely that they have also stolen Russian designs, and then given them to N. Korea to cover their overt support for them. Either possibility, China holds the key for denuclearization of the North. Right now they want it both ways: more trade with the U.S. and Europe, and no accountability for the nukes in the North, which is a clear violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty that they have signed.
On China and climate change, given the air and water pollution in China, they are probably waiting for the U.S. to lead here. They are also the low cost producer of solar panels, which the whole world should welcome. Whether Trump is enriching himself and Republican campaigns on fossil fuel money, or just following orders from Putin, an oil oligarch, it would be hard to tell. But every day he blocks a response in the U.S. to climate change is another day--of his and Republican denial of climate change--of a crime against humanity just by a failure to act.
2
@loveman0: Ever since 1949, China has supported North Korea to trade for Taiwan.
So often, early debate strategy centers around the candidates taking the opening tack of hoping to be everything to everybody.
With that said, it's a strategy with each doing one's best to round-up on issues while coming across as sensible, practical, and all the while, not veering too far afield as to draw attention to themselves.
Last night, Joaquin Castro did just that. A testy exchange where he attempted to question Joe Biden's ability to remember something, referring to a moment just minutes earlier, resulted in an audience response which was telling.
And as far into the winnowing process these debates have gone, Castro most likely provided the electorate with a 'When push comes to shove' moment, where they could easily decide, "Well, this must be shove".
Result? In all probability, Joaquin Castro's poor judgement, his unreasonable tack cost him any chance of surviving this latest separation of the chaff from the wheat.
4
The Times is approaching the Debates like a movie to be reviewed. And the candidates actors. How "well did they do?"
Well, simply, all of them did very well. Even Biden. But The Times still infers he is the front runner - which he is not except The Times is doing their best to present him as such. Even Castro who provided a shocking moment of direct attack which was quickly questioned by some on stage and he went on without repetition. And I think he went on to promote well his candidacy.
But, secondly, The Times labeled Healthcare for All "expensive."
It is not MORE expensive than the non-system we now have and
in fact is LESS expensive it's question of cost reduction and who pays where along the line.
The Times may not be for universal health care and so it is not beholden to explain it in its true light - it can't do that - but other candidates can and should. Again, last night was an under-achieving opportunity to be absolutely clear about how it works and exactly how taxes will pay for it. There should be a debate about health care and a debate about climate change. Separately and completely. These two issues are so important that I think it unconscionable at this point in our history we do not give them
the overriding importance they now have. The 2020 election is no ordinary election. It will determine our future for generations to come.
6
"Socialist Sanders"? But he's a Democratic socialist, aiming to buttress the middle class and enable it to have more of a voice in our politics. That sounds very American.
FDR was a social democrat and the New Deal saved capitalism in the Great Depression.
Sanders wants a humane, regulated capitalism. Fair taxation for the rich, assertion of the public good vs corporate dominance. Health care and low cost education. Nothing radical there for a modern civilized democracy.
18
This debate was far better than the first two. For the most part, the moderators allowed the candidates to speak and reveal their positions, as they should. I learned a lot more about each candidate's policies, personality, and character in this debate.
In the first two debates (NBC and CNN), the moderators wanted to be the show. The debates are serious business (or should be), and not tabloid entertainment. ABC came much closer to this ideal last night.
12
I'm disappointed that the only thing written about Beto O'Roarke was his position on gun control and that nothing was said about his position on climate change. He was the ONLY candidate, at least that I could recall, who not only answered questions about the topic, but offered a detailed plan to address it. I was specifically impressed by his knowledge of no-till farming practices and the impact those could have on the environment and small farmer incomes.
8
Sanders was excruciating tonight. Not just his worn, raspy voice, but his constant scolding tone, his right arm always gesticulating above his head. Just imagine this persona on your nightly news week after week. No thank you.
13
The winner of this debate was America. These were 10 of the brightest minds in politics. They stayed close to the policy questions and had excellent policy answers. I found the evening riveting. The panel of questioners were excellent, well prepared and kept the debate moving and on target. I was proud to be a Liberal Democrat.
12
The statement I found most notable in the debate was Biden's where he said "No one should be in jail for a non violent crime".
Just think about what that means. Bernie Madoff getting released. Paul Manafort getting released. No prison time for white collar crimes, or selling drugs, running guns, distributing child porn, lying to the FBI, grand theft, and on and on. I really don't think Biden thought that one through.
14
@KR He was thinking about marijuana arrests. Read his website.
1
The #1 takeaway?
Trump was the winner of the debate.
5
The reason that Trump exists is because people mostly care about nothing other than themselves and listening to the democrats I suspect Trump won't be impeached until his second term, just as Nixon was. Vegas Odds anyone? If that doesn't keep you up at night you have stronger meds than I do.
No one is addressing the future to come when no manual labor of any kind will be necessary. The economy has not evolved along with the human race. "The poker chips in his bankrupt casinos"... that line will get her in the headlines. I see that woman running as VP. Unfortunately the party machine will be picking the presidential front man. I see a bunch of vice presidents on stage, no one stands out above the others. In a failing "democracy" it's all about who rules instead of who leads the majority. And yes that is my personal shot at the Electoral College, it needs to go.
Biden seems to be fairly lucid, bernie is still too far left to win, I hear a lot of canned responses from them all, well rehearsed. Trump rifting live on stage is much more effective as was Hitler and Churchill, FDR, and Kennedy who all had the charisma I have yet to see from the democrats running.
Trump has great appeal to the lowest common denominator, and it has been my experience that this is the real estate most fertile to be groomed and led by the nose in a stampede to leap off a cliff. "If Jimmy jumped out the window would you follow him Donald?" "No he would have to follow me." We get it.
5
@Abo
"No one is addressing the future to come when no manual labor of any kind will be necessary."
That prediction is utterly false. People have been saying this for centuries, and it has never become true and never will. There will always be work.
In the 19th century, half the people worked in agriculture. Today, about 2% of the people work in agriculture, yet we have more food for more people.
Yes, there are structural changes happening today in the economy and labor. And this is disruptive and painful for many in the short run. But for every job that disappears, there are new jobs that emerge. This has always been the case, and always will be.
There is nothing inherently more valuable about making widgets on a factory floor than there is in service jobs or other jobs of the future. We need to support the well-paying jobs of the future, rather than nostalgically bemoan the loss of factory jobs.
Technology is not "labor saving" or job killing. Rather, it creates new opportunities and new work. Anthropologists believe that our hunter-gatherer ancestors only worked about four hours per day. Contrast that with how busy everyone claims to be now, because of (not in spite of) all our technological advances.
4
@MidtownATL
I will admit that comment was a stretch considering how the trades are very much in need right now, and I wholeheartedly agree with you that nothing is more satisfying than seeing the fruits of your labor take shape.
However we need to take progress seriously and prepare for the day the shop closes, the factory moves away, brick and mortar store fronts are replaced by drones delivering our goods and the service industry diminishes, eliminating low skilled workers an opportunity to have an income. The "short run" is a convenient way of dodging the issue for those affected who are trying to survive that moment in time which usually lasts for the rest of their lifetime and that of their offspring.
A four hour work day a few days a week providing a living wage is the future we must accept or we will be dealing with a crisis of poverty which will destroy us even beyond the mass migrations that are now taking down our allies and even ourselves at our own borders. The root causes, both seemingly political and economic on the surface are fundamentally economic which as a member of a capitalist democracy you must agree is why we as a nation are still in play as failing empires self destruct.
Julian Castro did not have manners. Granted. But he is right. This is not tea with Queen Elizabeth. This is a presidential election. He as well as Kamala Harris demonstrated that he has what it takes to oust Trump. While being politically correct.
Castro was also successful in claiming the “Obama Heritage”. He also had a little help from Jorge Ramos.
1
My fellow Democrats: no candidate's bright ideas, terrific character or relevant experience matter if (s)he can't win. Who can win? All of them will win California and other Blue states. None of them will win Alabama and other Red states.
So all that matters is who can win in the battleground states such as the supposedly Democratic ones that tipped for Trump in 2016.
One bellwether is who gave us the House in 2018. It was Republican moderates voting for Democratic moderates. No progressive flipped a Republican seat. All they did was unseat another Democrat.
Even if a moderate Democratic nominee turns out fewer progressive voters in Blue states, the ones that held for Clinton in 2016 will hold for the Democrat, regardless, and fewer progressive voters in deep Red states are irrelevant for the presidential vote.
Can any of the progressives carry Pennsylvania? Michigan? Florida? Before you answer that to yourself, consider the vicious, underhanded, lying, lavishly financed campaign that the Russian-Republican Joint Propaganda Taskforce will launch against the Democratic candidate.
Our candidate needs to be one of the moderates. If you're a progressive, ask yourself whether four more years of "President" Trump is a price worth paying for ideological purity.
Factio Republicana delenda est!
8
To VP Biden, slavery existed in this country 156 years ago, and oppression continues to this day.
1
This old person who passed out literature for Adlai Stevenson smells prejudice against JB. All front runners and President Trump are in their seventies. JB is as he was! His voice has changed; it’s lower. His face has changed; it’s wrinkled and thinner. But make no mistake Joe is Joe. He is the person who has weathered political and personal storms with integrity, intelligence,skill , and awkwardness. Go Joe...
8
He could barely make a coherent sentence and was constantly rambling. He took a question about slavery and finished talking about Venezuela.
He looks old. He is old. Too old. It is difficult and sad to watch him try to hold on. That’s the person who’s going to beat trump? Good lord. These are the same people that tried to jam Hillary Clinton down our throats when it was clear she was a flawed and terrible candidate.
5
@Karl. Ed Rendell, would be Democratic king, or queen, maker started yesterday with an editorial in the WaPo calling Warren a hypocrite for transferring money from her senatorial campaign to her presidential campaign. Not every penny of that money apparently came from small donors. In addition to shoving Clinton at his Rendell backed an untested, never elected woman against an experienced naval officer, government official and congressman in the Pa. primary to run against incumbent Senator Toomey. She won the primary, lost to Toomey.
My takeaway from the 2016 election is to not listen to the media and the so called experts. They are not interested in you. They are looking out for themselves, like a Rendell. His Comcast buddies would not do so well in a Warren administration. Your own judgement, based on what you are hearing from the candidates and a little fact checking, is as good as theirs. And the polls all said Clinton was inevitable.
Beto's exploiting that massacre in El Paso is cynical and wrong. Why doesn't anyone call him on it?
8
"Mr. Biden came armed on the crucial topic of health care, with lines to joust with Senator Bernie Sanders and Ms. Warren ..." Really? Senator Sanders and Ms. Warren? When did Ms. Warren leave the Senate? Shame on you.
15
Castro is finished. His ageism was rude and unprofessional. We already have rude and unprofessional in the White House, Castro. We don't need another one. You lost it and came off as a childlike teenager who is mad they had to go with supper.
And lastly you forgot....older people vote!
9
Biden wants to run on his record, at least part of it, and that's the problem. It's the other part, that's not so savory.
But the real telling moment of the debate came when the idiot from ABC asked Bernie if he intended to turn the US into another Cuba or Venezuela?
In 2016 the DNC conspired to derail Bernie. Now it's the corporate media's turn. I thought we were passed this kind of shameless red baiting.
Not to be undone he then asked Corey Booker if he would impose veganism on American's to address global warming?
You can't make this stuff up. Bernie as Fidel Castro and Booker as a vegetarian fascist?
Everyone is quick to evaluate candidates "performance" but what about the shameless spectacle that the corporate media is putting on?
Why don't they just say that based on the millions in health care advertising revenue they get they have agreed with those corporate sponsors to find everyday possible to attack Medicare for all.
17
Anybody but Biden?
10
It's hard to "hug" Obama/Biden's legacy without giving an Obama/Biden-styled pass on Dick Cheney's mass murdering war crimes. I'm sorry, but "We're a country that looks forward, not backward" does not begin to bring justice to the thousands of Iraqi and American war casualties-- all for the profit of the Bush-Cheney family of war service corporations. It's hard to hug the Obama/Biden legacy on the ACA without nailing how the fetid fascists in the republican party destroyed a valid health care bill in order to ensure that corporations will continue to massively profit off of human suffering-- and Obama went for it without truly making a case to American public about just how corrupt the republican lobbyist were. Nevertheless, one necessarily votes for the lesser of evils in the fascist states of America. If it turns out to be Biden, a sort of Mike Pence lite in some way, so be it. Disgusting to think that the dullard old Biden will win out over an ultimately qualified person like Ms. Warren-- but America is a racist, misogynist nation that obviously prefers an unqualified male over any female anytime. You have to settle for the least of evils in order to overrule the gerrymandered electoral college. That's about the best the fascist states of American can muster at this point. You could just ask Vlad-- but he's not talking. Just orchestrating.
10
Warren-Buttegieg 2020!
17
Warren-Booker, I think.
2
Lightweights, all.
2
'Hell yes' we'll take your AR-15."
Bravo, Beto!
Defy the status quo on guns.
The bodies keep piling up.
The gun profits keep rolling in.
The lies about the 2nd Amendment continue.
Beto the Brave.
12
A few take-always from tonight’s debate:
1. Julian Castro just talked himself out of a possible VP seat.
2. Beto improved his standing, possibly edging Julian out of his previous standing.
3. Watching Joe Biden struggle is hard. He is a decent man. His service is appreciated.
4. Bernie needed something to soothe that raspy voice. Bernie is consistently correct. And more importantly, He, Is. Consistent.
5. Elizabeth Warren won. She is always on target. Bernie may have written the Damn Bill. Elizabeth carries the message effectively. Time for compassion, integrity, experience, intelligence in a Woman.
30
@GGram
Warren needs to own it then.
She is still dodging the middle class taxes M4A will demand. Tell us straight.
She can then say that Americans will pay less over all for HC and sell it.
The constant bobbing and weaving, using lawyerese is off putting. Give it to us straight.
OWN IT!
She's acting like a typical pol. Calculating and bending words and intents; weaseling.
That destroys ones honesty and authenticity.
Sorry, but I don't trust her to push for, or ignite the masses to bring forth M4A.
The mensch in the rumpled suit...he I trust.
4
All of the candidates would would be great Presidents. Watching from Canada it still amazes me that universal health care and even the faintest hint of socialism scare the hell out of Americans.
Even Klobuchar doesn't get it. Why worry about the private insurance companies. These people rip Americans off to bolster the wallets of their shareholders. In Canada we don't go bankrupt if we become seriously ill. We don't pay premiums, we don't have deductibles or co pay, what ever that is. The right wing and the moderates always cite the huge cost to the government of universal health care. They never tell individuals how mush less they will pay out of pocket. (Bernie and Elizabeth have explained it, but nobody listens) The amount you will be taxed is less than half what you would would pay for a crappy private insurance policy and the deductibles that come with it...It works here in Canada and we cannot believe that your country and citizens can't recognize the benefits.
24
Thanks , Tom . I'm a USA citizen and I can't understand why my countrymen can't understand that the healthcare insurance industry is simply an added cost and an impediment to healthcare delivery. But to not demand at least The Public Option is absurd .
3
Elizabeth Warren is my preferred candidate but her dogmatic insistence on Medicare for all, rather than a public buy-in for those who prefer Medicare to private insurance, is the wrong tactic to win over the majority of Democrats and those independents who are leaning Democratic. In addition she is vague on how the changeover will take place, how this will affect the thousands of people employed by the health insurance industry, how this will affect the financial stability of small and regional hospitals, and how this will be paid for, other than to say she will add a wealth tax. Let’s see the numbers for all of these questions first.
I fear this one position will be her downfall in the general election, despite the fact that Trump continues to try all means, overt and covert, to end Obamacare. Polls show that Medicare for all is not a popular option.
16
All in all, it seemed as if the evening presented 2020 as a choice between emotional social justice themes, and the urgency of a post-Trump focus on economic justice.
@Sequel: Did you even hear one peep about the distinction between fiscal and monetary policies and how Congress has abrogated its fiscal responsibilities?
I remember the confidence before the last presidential election that many of my Democratic voting co-workers were expressing just before vote. I was the only one who was in touch with the conservative Christian communities, and I told them that Trump could win the election. I didn't vote for Trump, can't stand the man, and won't vote for him this time, but I think the Democrat candidates are underestimating the Christian coalition. Bill Clinton and Obama navigated the divide and won handily. The Democratic candidates need to speak effectively to this element of the constituency.
19
This being a primary debate the court question is not that important. The impact on the court will be about the same whichever candidate wins. The question of the court will become of prime importance during the general election debates.
1
This was the third debate and there has not been one question regarding the Supreme Court. Given what has been happening with the court and the rulings that are coming out, I find this shocking. It concerns me that not one of the candidates has thought to work the court (or the courts in general) into one of their responses. If you are a young person, the way the courts are being set up should be of concern.
23
I really appreciate Warren's distinguishing the difference between small farmers and corporate farmers. This whole subject is left very vague. The commodity "farmers" of Iowa are really agribusinessmen (and who get the farm subsidies). Rotational grazing, no-till farming and other carbon sequestration practices (mentioned by Beto) can be used on a large scale - and Monsanto/Bayer, Cargill, ADM, etc. are gearing up for this. These approaches will surely become "corporatized", just like most organic food production is now.
The unspoken reality is that local and small-scale production in agriculture or industry competes with corporate and large-scale production methods, so we can't, in all likelihood, "act locally" or "sustainably" and compete globally, i.e. we can't have it both ways. Globalization versus the need for a degree of isolation/protectionism will hopefully be addressed at the next debate. (Barriers/restrictions are actually good things and required for both cultural and biological adaptive evolution.) If Yang did his MATH I think he would see that in a free global market, China and India will always have superior work-forces to ours due to their population sizes, no matter what work it involves and even IF our workers are superior, on average (due to performance variances). "Believing in the American worker" is often a false sentiment used to justify their exploitation.
24
Independent of any chance against Trump, there were only 2 candidates I saw tonight that demonstrated the confidence and demeanor of national leadership - Beto O'Rourke and Pete Buttigieg.
To me, the rest of the candidates appeared determined, combative, and often defensive - but the overall effect was either shrill or over-engineered.
Dems are working overtime at increasing the popular vote - which is likely - but the larger question remains. Will that be enough to win against Trump's micro-engineering of Electoral College math? I have my doubts.
13
If some are still undecided about which candidate would make the best president, I urge them to read "A Fighting Chance" by Elizabeth Warren.
Clearly all the candidates would make a way better president than our Mr. Trump.
But I believe one continues to shine out amongst the others.
As Ms. Warren makes clear in her book, the present system is rigged. And I believe that those who take the time to read this book will agree that she has the ability - and the will - to unrig it.
32
I agree, thier the only two who have a chance and can definitely stand up to Trump.
I believe the women were more articulate than the men. I also liked Yang a lot, he is refreshing but got very little airtime, Bien comes across as old, like a placeholder for bigger interests, a placeholder that could trip and fall at the smallest breeze. A Warren- Sanders ticket would be great, or a Warren-Yang.
15
I don’t see a Warren Yang ticket. Where does Yang’s $1000/month fit into Warren’s vision? It seems like they have distinctly opposing views.
@Idealist
Yang lost me from the beginning when he turned his $1000/month idea into a contest. This isn’t a game show.
3
My ideal combination after watching several of these debates? Biden with Warren as VP. She can be placed in charge of developing and implementing innovative labor and financial legislation and related regulations to give the position greater impact. Let’s also throw in Mayor Pete as Secretary of Commerce. This sets up Warren to run for Biden’s second term, perhaps with Mayor Pete as VP. Biden wins 2020 while driving ever so slightly to the left, while Warren gets four years to win over centrist skeptics with significant pro-labor, pro-middle class work product to point at in 2024. Mayor Pete also gets to show America what he can do on a national stage, setting him up for a possible 2028 run at the top job once again.
44
@AndyW If Warren accepts being Biden's VP, she would be selling out everything she has run for, and against, so far.
1
Foreign policy is rarelytalked about, yet it is foreign policy where a president has the most power to act without Congress.
Warren and Sanders have similar domestic policy.
Warren has minimal familiarity with world affairs/foreign policy.
While Sanders' passion for forty years has been working to better the lives of ordinary people, he was always advocating for a demilitarized foreign policy.
Those advising Warren on foreign policy are from the Washington Establishment, boding little change.
Sanders, with his knowledge, courage and vision will be able to stand up to the considerable power of the Washington foreign policy Establishment and the military industrial complex and force a demilitarized foreign policy, making the US safer and the world more stable and sustainable.
President Bernie Sanders 2020
A Future To Believe In
19
@Lucy Cooke
All Warren needs in this respect is a good Secretary of State. I'd do it if nobody else is willing. I'd do just about any cabinet job if I can be sure my family is safe, 100%.
I worry about Biden's family being hit by a truck right after announcing his run. I'm crazy paranoid that some insane person could hurt my family.
If my family is 100% safe, well, I can take on just about anyone. Even Putin and Xi.
Heck, I'm doing it now. I just don't want to validate anybody's previous ideas, like those of the OSS. I'm not sorry to say, the values of this organization were extraordinarily aweful and inexcusable to me. It changes or I won't serve anyone related to that thing.
Compared to 2016, most have pretty similar, liberal positions (thanks in large part to Bernie and his supporters). The real question is HOW these ideas will get realized. It remains unclear whether progressive changes in the past did not occur because of pragmatism (i.e. lack of political/popular support) or for lack of conviction. Bernie clearly has time-tested conviction. Yang has an interesting idea about handing out $100 campaign funding allowances.
13
The most substantive line of attack on policy was Buttigieg asking Sanders (and Warren) why they didn't trust the American people to be given the choice and decide on the best medical plan for themselves. It was withering, and Sanders didn't know how to respond.
News analysis like these focus on the drama of the night and fail to address the substance, and this is a disservice to the critical job we all have right now, which is to assess candidates on their fitness to be president, beat Trump, and most importantly make our lives better. In his last answer in response to the question about professional setbacks, Buttigieg turned his answer about coming out into a response about this not being about the candidates but about us and how they will actually make our lives better. Too bad the media and pundits are too focused on the horserace and drama to help us figure this out.
64
@MT Pham
I agree, and this is why I believe debates are the wrong way to pick presidents.
It is easy as a voter to phrase a question to force a candidate to choose between answering earnestly or respectfully to the questioner. It's an impossible choice, because the audience will generally favor respect for the questioner, given that we have a democratic system.
Is this the best we can do for democracy? To televise the kind of event that would have taken place in the Colosseum? Maybe we should send out some gladiators to chase the candidates around the areana into a lion's den.
It's way to primitive given our communications systems. We can do better.
We need to fix some problems with Internet communications first. I've done that. Others have done that. We just need an incling of government support to make them work.
If we do these things, then we can pick presidents by their true intentions.
Lacking that, it requires more time than most people have. They have to trust those of us that know the issues. Why should they?
Anyway, Warren needs to win. Literally, billions of lives depend upon the next few decades of governance. We have to get this right. Warren.
7
@MT Pham That line came across to me as non-substantive and cheap. How many people in American choose their insurer? It revealed a lot about Mayor Pete.
6
@MT Pham You think what we have now is "choice" in medical care? That is classic blaming of individuals for the faults of a system that is rigged towards hospitals and insurers. Check out the Washington Post's article from 2 days ago about how the UVA medical system, a "non-profit", is suing people who owe them money and even barring UVA students who owe medical bills from re-enrolling at the University. The whole thing is out of control, and we don't need a "centrist" like Pete to do the bidding of the big players.
1
While it’s true that Andrew Yang has received considerably fewer minutes of airtime compared to the best-polling candidates, his own brisk speaking style and relatively lean policy discussion points (with no political record to reference when making a point) also take less time to delineate. Whether that is a cause or effect of Mr. Yang’s short time allotment isn’t completely clear to me.
7
@Joby -- he simply didnt get questions directed to him by the moderators, even tho he is polling higher than many of the others on the stage tonight. Here is an example of the effect of name recognition among the media gatekeepers. Theyve already decided he's marginal, in spite of his strong and rising showing in the polls.
3
@PL. They did the same thing with Jim Webb and Martin O’Malley in 2016. They barely got a chance to say more than their names. The display of favoritism and unfairness to the other candidates by the moderators didn’t make their obvious choice of Clinton any more palatable to me than she had been. When the combined tactics of the DNC and the media caused plausible candidates to drop out of the race I was done with the so called debates. The moderators should make every effort to at least appear impartial. Being knowledgeable about the issues is also a plus.
Ms. Harris, please deviate from your strategy of trashing Trump. You are preaching to the choir, and depriving anyone outside of California of your vision for the country, if you have one.
Your current position is quite secure. If you'd like to move to the White House, may I suggest you use your time in the public eye in a more productive manner.
Good luck.
23
Really? Many of us think she did very well. She did exactly what will be called for in the general. And let’s see how it plays out. It may have been the best strategy of the night. But in any event, why would she need your condescending advice? I’m pretty sure she does not.
She’s auditioning for VP.
@Kiki Gavilan. Harris apparently could use some advice from Bill or anyone else. In looking at a number of comments on WaPo and now here she doesn’t seem to be getting anything in the way of notice, outside of Bill’s comment. She doesn’t seem to have made much of an impact last night. Amy Klobucher may have knocked her out of her fourth place spot. I have seen Klobucher’s name mentioned a number of times today as a good choice for VP. I have not seen Harris mentioned at all.
Keep offering the suggestion Bill. Maybe they will help.
There is a fundamental problem with these debates, and it may be why support for the Democratic Party has slipped since these debates began, as reported yesterday in the NYT: the debates are exposing the fact that the Democratic Party has no cohesive vision. At this stage, a single vision should have emerged, and candidates should be discussing their electability on the basis of their experience and support for the vision. People should be thinking about which candidate is the best. Instead, people are being asked to choose a vision by picking a candidate. This is, to put it simply, political suicide. The Democratic Party is showing the lack of strategic leadership it displayed so clearly in the previous election by displaying its dirty washing for the entire country (and world) to see. It is too late to undo this, but it may be wise for the party to get together behind closed doors, and once and for all, hammer out its core principles, values, beliefs and manifesto.
18
If Biden is the candidate, Trump will remain in power. why? Baggage. so much baggage from Bidens past will play into trumps style. The repubs will love it.
25
How incredibly non-illuminating.
Enlightening us on "performance", one-liners, zingers, etc. are supposed to help us choose the candidate we think will beat Trump and run the country effectively for four years??
Other than voters getting a glimpse into how candidates handle themselves when attacked or put on the spot, debates are little more than theater. And the media treats them as such.
39
I agree. I saw everything they wrote about by watching the debate- I expected more deep background or additional information.
On the other hand- for those who did not watch it was a pretty decent summary.
6
I think all the candidates did well tonight except that Castro probably doomed himself with that attack on Biden and his implication that Biden is losing his memory.
But what is clear to me is that the media continues to try and marginalize Sanders, while propping up Biden and giving Warren a pass. Bernie Sanders has been the most consistent, for the longest period of time, in espousing his beliefs which boiled down are: the System is rigged for the 1% against the 99%, and he has well thought out plans to undo this disparity. Biden doesn't even recognize this as a problem, and has in fact been a participant in building the System this way. And while Warren also recognizes this disparity as central to all other problems we face, she hasn't been fighting it for as long as Sanders. I would not be unhappy if she gets the nomination, but I believe Bernie is the true 'outsider' that people want, and he'll be the best bet to win back those who voted for Trump believing his lies that he would break the System.
The bottom line is that really only Biden, Sanders, and Warren should be competing at this point. While the rest have some good ideas, they're simply a distraction and add confusion. Worse, they provide ammo to Trump to be used against the eventual nominee. Trim the field and then let's hear Biden, Sanders, and Warren truly debate each other, allowing their positions to be fully vetted, and letting the best person win.
36
@Kingfish52
Yes, Trump supporters will find Sanders more compelling than Warren. They won't believe she's an outsider... because she really isn't one. Don't count Tulsi Gabbard out quite yet.
10
@carl bumba
Sanders is more compelling than Warren because she’s not an outsider?
How on earth is Sanders an outsider? He’s been in government since what, 1980?
In our two-party system, anyone who isn't a card carrying Democrat or Republican is an outsider. Anyone who isn't a card carrying capitalist is an outsider. Bernie has proven over this great length of time that he is an outsider - the "fillibuster king" never sold out.
2
I wish we could have a debate based on substance. I would like to see how other candidates would address automation and job displacement in the next four to eight years.
22
If we did, Pete Buttigieg would be leading the pack.
5
Patience- wait for the field to thin a bit.
Amy Klobuchar is an adult in the room and would be a terrific President or Vice President . Why is she ignored?
40
@Julie B
Because she just isn't inspiring, in my opinion, especially compared with someone like Elizabeth Warren
@Julie B
She is being deliberately marginalized because Biden.
To anyone still considering Biden as a desirable front-runner, I refer you to one of his responses tonight:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/us/politics/biden-record-player.html?action=click&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=Article®ion=Footer&contentCollection=Politics
To anyone considering Trump as a desirable victor in '20, I refer you to a speech he made in Baltimore tonight:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/us/politics/trump-baltimore.html?action=click&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=Article®ion=Footer&contentCollection=Politics
People - we can do much better than this.
17
@James the election in 2016 proved otherwise. It appears we can’t do better than this.
1
From the cheap seats appears it is Warren with the best chance to win the nomination. She is bright on policy, right on most of it, articulate without the elite tag attached to her, so wish her the best. I am not at all concerned her debating Trump. She is more than capable of handling him.
95
@texsun
It's not about who can debate Trump. It's about who can win moderates and Independents in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
3
Biden did very well and did nothing to harm his front runner status — the record player reference notwithstanding. Even if Biden faltered occasionally (he periodically paused, searching for the correct word), he made his case clearly, struck back forcefully when pummeled by his opponents, and showed true command of foreign policy and health care reform economics.
Klobuchar also did well — focused, articulate and to-the-point.
Warren was good, but never provided the numbers associated with her tax plan and her Medicare for all proposal, leaving viewers to wonder whether her ideas made fiscal sense. I’d put her in the second tier tonight.
Sanders was Sanders. He deserves a round of applause for mainstreaming Medicare for all, the living wage, and free college. As always, he was forceful. Good performance, but not his best. He was hoarse and looked unwell (shaky, face mottled and flushed) at several points.
Castro’s attack on Biden failed— the proof was when the audience booed him.
Harris made some clever remarks, particularly the reference to Trump as a “small dude” (ahem), but she failed to sufficiently differentiate herself.
Buttigieg was articulate as always, but it’s too soon for him to be on a national ticket. He has a bright future, but needs more seasoning.
Yang gains strength from appearance to appearance, even though he’s not gained sufficient momentum. Good job for someone who’s never run for office before.
O’Rourke and Booker never broke through
16
I want to hear what is going to happen if Warren and Sanders pull out ahead of Biden. They are two like-minded fighters who are both very decent and happen to like each other deeply. What will happen?
13
@Bill -- team up and run on the same ticket? Please?
15
@PL
Warren/Booker will win. Black's will come out like they did for Obama in 2008, Women for Warren, besides the winning ring to it, women have waited too long for this moment to not embrace it.
Warren/Sanders will be low hanging fruit for Trump.
1
The two Texans made strong impressions. Beto's debate performance went up dramatically. His passion on the gun issue and on racism were inspirational. He is good on many issues, but has had to fight against the mocking, derisive tone the media has colored him with since he first announced. Julian, on the other hand, took a disgusting, desperate cheap shot against Joe Biden which will not serve his campaign well. That was the lowest moment of an overall informative, strong night for the Democrats.
22
@Joe Langford --could not agree more, on both points.
5
Julián Castro tried to do tonight what Bernie Sanders did in 2016 and that is go for the jugular against his leading Democratic primary opponent. In 2016 Bernie was successful only in so far as he gave Trump anti-Hillary ammunition and turned young Democrats against Hillary in the general election. Tonight Castro‘s ageist attack on Biden failed miserably and simply sounded mean. It’s hard to see how Castro could be considered a serious contender for the Democratic nomination after this debate.
30
@Patricia Lay-Dorsey
Right...Republicans and Trump, who have the most vile smear machine in modern politics, would have never figured out how to attack Hillary. They had 40yrs of practice...but somehow Sanders gave them the key they were missing.
Right...
Headshake, facepalm, sigh...
2
When I hear Yang all the others sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher. Oh, I like many of them, they just don’t seem to be making much sense. MATH
9
I need one of those hats!
Have a link?
Make America Think Harder!
Of course Canadian-style single payer health care is vastly superior to US health care, but I think Sanders and Warren are wrong to insist that all Americans would have to give up private insurance. Let them decide for themselves. It won't take long for a couple that is paying $60,000 a year on health care even though they have no serious health issues to realize that government provided health care is a helluva lot better deal. The rich will probably hold onto their very expensive health care, so they can jump queues for elective surgery, etc. In addition people who get health insurance through their employers already know that not everything is covered. Pretty soon there won't be many people left on private insurance.
Besides, if a Democrat wins they will be fortunate to have a majority in the Senate in 2020 and are very unlikely to have filibuster-proof numbers. Most likely single payer will be going nowhere, sadly.
16
@Tom Barrett As a dual US-Canadian citizen, it is still debatable to me whether the Canadian medical system is "of course" "vastly superior". I know too many Canadians who come across the border for medical care if they have a chronic but not life-threatening condition. Want to see a dermatologist in Toronto? Observe the sign in the doctor's office that there are only 500 dermatologists in Canada and that is the reason for your year-long wait; contrast that with New York with an immediate appointment. Break a wrist? Go to the ER in Toronto and be mis-diagnosed as I was, resulting in a very complicated surgery that could have been avoided had the fracture been properly diagnosed in the first place. The simple truth is that if you are not well-connected in either Toronto or New York, you will wait forever for low-cost or free medical care and much of it will be sub-standard in both places. Most people in the US are satisfied with their health care coverage.
8
@skeptic
Really?
The 45,000 that die ea. yr. from lack of HC?
I'd imagine their families aren't satisfied.
How about the estimated 600,000 that declare med. bankruptcy ea. yr. Many of them with Insur. I'd bet they aren't satisfied. Again, add in their families.
How about the 30 million that don't have HC Insur.?
How about the estimated 100 million that can't afford to use or access said HC Insur.
Satisfied? Really?
Safe to say...our definitions of "most people" being satisfied with the HC system are wildly different.
Would it be safe to guess you aren't one of the 78% of 'merican's that live paycheck to paycheck?
That unlike 43% who can't come up with $400. that isn't a problem for you?! How about the 67% that can't swing a $1000. hit...again, bet you and most commenters here don't fall into this category of Americans.
The HC system in the US is awful and fraught with worry, uncertainty and hugely expensive. It can be lost, denied and or taken away at any moment for many reasons.
To think that "Most people in the US are satisfied with their health care coverage" beggars belief.
Then again...'merica isn't the brightest is it.
3
Warren is the only person on the stage who answered the questions that were asked of her. And except for Medicare for All (where I favor Castro/Buttigieg), I agreed with her. She has the combination of personal story and policy chops that none of the rest have. Compare her ending story with Biden's. Biden spoke only of family personal tragedies and never about career. Warren spoke about how her personal story led to her career. Sanders was, as always, a disappointment. He has only one note in his vocal repertory, and it is often the wrong note. A question about Maduro is not a question about Wall Street.
14
I really liked what I heard from Yang, until he made that joke about Asians. I’m Asian, and I’m applying to medical school. But I made that decision only a year ago. Before that, for 3 years, I wanted to do consulting for non-profits. Medicine wasn’t precast in my genes.
To see him broadcast and perpetuate the stereotype over national television, over such an exalted stage, was a huge turn off. It also makes me think about Asians are one of the last races it’s okay to make jokes about. Zero outrage tonight. Imagine if Cory Booker has make a black joke on the stage tonight.
Unless he wins the nomination, he will not get my vote.
14
@John -- Cory Booker could have made a black joke because he's black. Yang is Asian, and is known for self-deprecating humor. In today's Democratic party, race will trip you up every time. It is The Thing That Must Not be Joked About. Fortunately, Yang appeals to voters beyond the Democratic party, who arent so hung up on race. Even some Democrats are tired of all the outrage.
3
With such a broad field of capable candidates, it's a shame that many are eliminated from contention based on the requirements to appear in a primetime debate. Several candidates on stage tonight had a compelling message but still may not qualify to participate in the fourth debate, essentially ending their candidacy before a single vote is cast.
4
Elizabeth Warren is also over 70 years old, and she had an absolutely excellent day at the beauty parlor. No visible grey hair.
The possibility of Elizabeth Warren's nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate is probably Trump's best hope for a 2nd term.
Bernie's prospects seemed particularly weak tonight with his sore throat making him seem very vulnerable on personal medical issues.
Polls still indicate VP Biden would be the powerful candidate the Dems could nominate in 2020.
5
@David
You apparently do not often find yourself onstage, with your appearance being evaluated by countless strangers. So Warren doesn't like her hair gray. So what? You're going by that? You think Trump is still blond? Or Jagger, or McCartney or blah blah blah on and on endlessly.
I for one would pay to see Warren onstage debating Donald Trump. It's my belief he would be quivering in a corner inside of 20 minutes. But that's me.
9
I witnessed our next president, vice president and a competent and decent cabinet of eight on stage tonight.
Way to go Democrats!
42
This was a good debate. I thought Yang had the best performance. I liked how he reframed the immigration issue from a niche issue for Hispanic voters (which is a frame that plays right into Trump) to something that benefits everyone (which it is). I also liked that he wasn’t afraid to make a self-deprecating joke about his background. The largest problem in the US is too much identitarianism, on both sides (though worse on the right). Yang seems to treat ethnic differences as no big deal and that’s exactly what we need.
27
@Time - Space says "I like Bernie, but he is too old," thereby dismissing him in one disgustingly ageist expostulation. Bernie has as much energy and clarity as Warren and twice as much as any of the other candidates. And yet people feel entirely comfortable dismissing him publicly as "too old" in spite of his energy, clarity, feistiness, and eloquence. Truly, ageism is the last allowable bigotry in our otherwise oh-so-sensitive society. Here's hoping the o-word soon goes the way of the n-word. Then maybe we'll be truly grown up.
20
After watching it all I came away with the same conclusion and opinion that I held prior to the debate. Pete/Warren Ticket would be my preference.
Pete is just so well spoken and not constantly on the offensive, it's a very nice change of pace. Hopefully he will receive some more positive attention in the future!
36
Americans want safe, reliable consistent, gravitas and respect brought back to America and to the office of the presidency. We want common sense, we want to feel like we live in a democracy not an aristocracy, we want to matter even if we don’t earn over a million a year. I want to be able to have respect for someone even if I am republican and they are democratic. I pay taxes just like Christians pay taxes, why do they get to say where it can and can not be spent. Separate religion from politics as it should be. I just want normalcy along with a choice, and to put the environment and safety of the earth above greed, power and money. Old ideas you may say but sanity needs to be brought back. Americans started as frogs in a cold pot of water and now it is boiling and it happened so slowly we all think it is normal now. One last thing, Elizabeth Warren, your ideas are too radical to win this race. Get your foot in the door, then ease us into a common sense direction and progress. America cannot survive 4 more years of trump and he will win if he dems don’t keep there eyes on the prize. Please-we are desperate.
16
@EFlanagan
yes to all
but
sen warren is the opposite of radical : read one of her books
1
Best debate so far. It was good to see that the predicted battle between Biden and Warren didn't happen...both were too classy to stoop to that. People were given enough time to explain themselves in greater depth than in previous debates. Yang was a surprise--he has a great sense of humor. Klobuchar did very well for herself, as did Beto. I I wouldn't count him out. It was heartening to see Biden perk up. I thought he handled the attacks very well and I disagree that he wouldn't be able to go toe-to-toe with Trump. I think Trump would land on his derriere in a debate with Biden.
Bernie is a great guy but he looked old. Shouting and waving his hands around with no modulation to his tone eventually makes people tune out. Booker is so naturally gifted in stature and charisma, it's a pleasure to see and watch him. However if he is to win over the people who voted for Trump he'd better stop boasting about living in a neighborhood where everyone else is below the poverty level and fears for their daily safety. Mayor Pete is smart as ever but placing him next to Booker may have been a mistake...he looked very small and pale. It was not one of his best nights. Harris is another naturally gifted and attractive candidate and it was good to see her not go after Biden again. She's a smart woman and should stay in the Senate . Warren came through, time and time again, with fresh ideas and just the right balance of passion and reason.
19
@Christa
Good recap!
1
I LOVE Mayor Pete. More than any other candidate he projects a calm, articulate intelligence that would let me sleep well at night and go through my day feeling that whatever's going on, he'll handle it adroitly and confidently. I'm over 60, he's 38 - he is young, but I just feel he's got totally got what it takes to make us ALL proud.
137
@formernewyorker
Agree. When I listen to him speak, my blood pressure goes down. I won’t have to wake up every morning worried that the demented one in the White House has declared war on some country in his desperate bid to stay president.
47
@formernewyorker.
I agree! Pete and Elizabeth should be together, one way or the other. Two great minds, with big hearts and a lot of soul.
79
@formernewyorker I think all the current candidates are atrociously awful, but I agree that Mayor Pete seems like the best choice out of a crummy group. Is it too late to persuade Jamie Dimon to run?
The bar is so unfairly low for Biden. He only has to not say something insensitive or stupid to win. And then, the news stations blitz the story all over the airwaves. “He didn’t make any gaffes.” “He was really on message today.” Remind you of someone?
I want to adore my candidate. I want someone who has a vision for this country, not some politician whose only argument is, “I can win the election.”
57
Biden did not sound bad to me. I’m not too keen anymore on Dems who say that “we will pay any price, bear any burden...” We’ve been doing that for decades. What do we have to show for it? Maybe it’s time to take care of hard working Americans, for a change. Biden and the midwestern candidates are probably our best bets in that regard.
Castro? Fidel’s got more life to him right now.
2
I deplore Trump. None of these can beat Trump. Is this the best ”the greatest country on earth”(tm) can do?
6
And just like that my faith in the Republican Party and Donald Trump was restored. Walk away.
6
A Biden/Beto combination sounds good to me!
4
Dear Shane Goldmacher, Bernie Sanders is a democratic socialist, not a socialist.
16
@chris. Thanks for pointing that out. ;-)
3
@chris
Please explain the difference.
3
Actually, Sanders is a social democrat, not a democratic socialist.
1
The only person who can beat Trump is Andrew Yang. They are diametrically opposite, both dark horses, unusual, the news that Americans are thirsty for. Seeing how Trump will debate Yang is going to make it very clear who should be in the WH.
7
Yang is brilliant. Trump is appalling. Yang can’t beat Bernie, much less Trump. Trump will win in 2020. America is “the greatest country on earth (tm)l.
4
This is a keeper:
“Mr. Biden exited the stage the same way he entered it: the embattled-yet-clear front-runner, no matter if his meandering syntax and twisting verbal gymnastics sometimes failed to land clear points.”
6
For the record (pun intended), sales of vinyl are stronger than CDs...pretty sure it was reported in the Times. So Biden’s record player comment was unintentionally in the groove.
33
Elizabeth W. Just say you are tough on immigration, call an illegal an illegal, believe that China has not been fair in its trade and its geopolitical power needs to be curbed...
and its yours.
Please. For all our sakes.
34
Harris disgraced herself once more with her "small dude" remark.
No way would or should Biden choose Harris as his VP candidate because
she is much too personally aggressive and has a poor record as Attorney General of California and DA of San Francisco.
19
Did the media watch the same debate I did? When Biden was asked about “reparations” generally, he gave the most rambling senile off topic answer. He didn’t respond. He went off in four different directions.
Yet, the media assessment says he did fine tonight.
I like Joe; he was a solid VP, but he is in a mental decline that is sad to watch and embarrassing to watch.
Having said that, I share the fear expressed by many that the middle of the political spectrum feels that the two other leading candidates can’t win the general election, so perhaps that’s why the media avoids criticism of the obvious aging problems with Biden. I saw what I saw tonight, and he is struggling with mental decline.
Would I still vote for him over Trump? You betcha. I’d vote for my Sheepdogs over Trump.
76
It was a cheap shot on the part of Julian Castro, attacking Joe Biden. Castro should know better, especially with his position, amongst the ten candidates, far down the ladder. It was from the playbook of Kamala Harris, which we all saw on a previous debate. These politicians do not learn.
19
@citizen - Castro took a page from trumps playbook, where is your respect son? You know better
7
Everyone walking in the middle-of-the-road with an eye focused on scraping up disaffected Trump voters and the electoral college. Americans are just too timid: Go BOLD and you might lose. Running in place- and we WILL lose.
14
Amy Klobuchar would be an excellent choice for Vice-President with Joe Biden. Unlike Warren, she seems to know how to talk to people, not at them, to speak in a language that addresses their needs and priorities as they see them, not as most candidates think they ought to see them. As well, she knows how to listen. Four years of national exposure, and Amy Klobuchar would likely be our first female President in 2024.
22
I could just feel Obama wincing. Joe and Bernie need to pack it in. Kamala and Liz need to join forces and take us over the line. I really don't care who is in the POTOS spot and who takes VP...they'd be an incredibly effective team.
7
“who can win over moderate Republicans” — do they exist? 90% of Republicans_approve_ Trump. How many of the rest live in swing ztates?
7
Beto and Booker shone tonight---both vp candidates for whoever wins the Dem nomination for president. Booker in particular has eloquence, humor and intellectual cred.
12
Need all Democratic Senators to remain in place.
21
Biden did come across uneven - at times o the attack, and other times doing a political version of rope-a-dope. Warren made her case succinctly and once again avoided sounding like a left wing harpie. Bernie once again was Bernie, a broken record albeit with a good message. Seriously doesn't he have any other message? We get it the 1% are rich. Castro came across as angry; Beto had a stronger outing but is it enough? Harris, Klobuchar, Buttigieg and Yang are treading water. Booker may have gained ground; again, is it enough to help?
To Shane Goldmacher and Reid J. Epstein, what do you have against a record player? It isn't dated in the least (well we call it a turntable) and vinyl is outselling CDs (though lagging behind streaming.) Those of us who want to own something physical will stick to LPs and turntables. (And in case you're wondering, I am not a hipster; more like a grey haired hippie-type who went straight after post graduate school.)
8
And throughout it all the sanest comments were delivered by Pete Buttigieg who has been left out of your article. PB was articulate and grounded. Beto also rose up for this debate. He spoke well and with passion.
Overall, I thought this debate was handled very well by the hosts although none of the candidates stood out far above the others. We still have a long way to go.
46
Armchair Captain Bill de Blasio to publish his YouTube rebuttal on Friday the 13th. The fact he stood at a Gracy Mansion podium pretending to be in the debates speaks volumes. Come onBill, face the music and cease this charade of a candidacy.
14
People might be angry with Castro for pointing out Biden's memory problem, but it needed to be done. Trump certainly would've pounced on that and we can't have slips like that in the general. Castro will suffer for what he did, but so will Biden. Like it or not, Biden's cognition is on the decline. He can't be the nominee.
20
@Go Fish
Would Trump remember to point out a memory problem?
18
@gofish . To use trump as an example of “what he would to” and intimate that is the bar to raise to or example to emulate is disturbing. Castro should not have done that. Yeah, Biden forgets things and makes some rambling statements. Anyone over 60 does the same thing. But he still makes sense and gets his point across with dignity. The prize is to beat trump. Castro was disrespectful and it was a cheap shot. And Castr’s facts were wrong , Biden did not say that. Castro was just taking a cheap shot, to get noticed, and it will hurt him more than make him look “aggressive, strong and unafraid”. I hope he apologized to Biden off stage
5
@EFlanagan
Castro will only realize his mistake when he learns how most people feel about it. His ambition appears much greater than his character. Is he capable of feeling ashamed at himself?
3
"Biden-style unifier who can win over moderate Republicans in a general election."
What moderate republicans? People who support Trump over any of these candidates isn't a moderate.
23
I find it interesting to read so little about Elizabeth Warren even though she is listed as having spoken almost as much as much as Joe Biden.
That there is no criticism of her and no apparent high pitch attacks makes me even more convinced she is the lady for the job.
22
Sorry, I didn't watch any of it. We've still got another year of this.
10
My favorite moment was when Julian Castro was accusing Biden of forgetting what he had just said. Since Biden and Castro were talking at the same time, Biden was apparently unable to hear what Castro had said that elicited boos from the audience. So Joe leans over to Bernie and seems to be asking "What did that guy just say?" And Bernie leans back over and tells him.
That was just such a human exchange, with the two senior (in a good way) statesmen kibitzing over some upstart's unmannerly outburst. And Bernie helping out his colleague like they were old friends.
54
Castro, from an old political active family with roots in America for many generations, paints himself as a poor soul Latino.
Her was highly privileged to be educated at Stanford University and Harvard Law School.
His condescending attitude generally and his attempt to Trash Vice President Biden specifically, is universally condemned.
Castro is the one candidate who could never be elected president after his performance tonight.
34
I still don't know who I would vote for, but any one of them would be a better president than Trump, that's for sure.
25
I had thought of O'Rourke as a relative lightweight. To say on national television "Hell yes, we're going to take your AR-15!" took genuine guts. Bravo.
106
@Dean James
I disagree entirely. I thought it was divisive, deliberate provocation, which we don’t need now. Saying that in that crowd was pandering, not brave, but it will be used as fuel on the other side.
3
One of the best highlights of this debate was about who was not there. You know, the guy who religiously works out every morning....
5
The only reason to vote Democrat is because the alternative is worse. So I'll vote for whoever is the nominee and hope the Senate stays in Republican hands until the Republicans can nominate someone sensible like Haley.
2
Seriously? For what’s wrong in America, you would leave the Senate to McConnell and Haley? To any morally bankrupt Republican? Is this a joke? Have you been following the Supreme Court thanks to Trump?
20
I'm surprised Bernie didn't have a better answer to the anti-socialism comparison with Venezuela - a cheap-shot question by Jorge Ramos but rightfully asked because Republicans will ask and criticize it too. Maduro is a dictator AND a tyrant, but he's NOT not a socialist! He's a thief. There is nothing socialistic about Maduro. Venezuela has the same problem America has now with the trump in charge - rampant unadulterated unaccountable corruption. Venezuela's doesn't have a socialism problem - it's corruption. America's problem is trump's "crystal clear" corruption. And corruption destroys socialism and capitalism. Bernie recovered a bit by clarifying he's thinking of a Scandinavian type of socialism.
Americans should understand that Scandinavian countries have essentially capitalistic economies and socialistic governments. America has a government that is reneging on its social responsibilities to society, giving it to capitalists to economically exploit without limit. Worse yet, since under Republicans capitalists have taken over government too, exploiting it and draining it of society's resources. Unlike Scandinavia, we waste our high taxes on the rich, and see little in return.
The undeclared Pearl Harbor-like war on Democrats and America by the Republicans the day they installed an illegitimate POTUS, I echo Beto's call that “Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47” - why else are Republicans so desperate to keep their weapons of war on America's streets?
21
Obama’s record was flawed as well, we have to do better than that in 2020!
6
My takeway: Mayor Pete is not comfortable with being gay, so he should take time to mature into his chosen lifestyle. He couldn't help mentioning Pence was governor when Pete "came out". Sooooo? Pence has always been kind and supportive of him, per his own statement early on. But, he's so uncomfortable in his own skin that he can't help taking cheap shots. And...He also labeled millions of voters as racists, so they will not crossover to vote for him. He's not the one to unite this country! He's done but may die a slow death.
Beto ranted on Trump being a racist and said Trump was responsible for the El Paso shootings. He's not the one to unite this country! No crossover votes for Beto, either. He's done.
Booker's obsession with systemic and institutional racism is only shared by African Americans. He's appealing to a small audience. And, he implies Trump voters are racists. Those crossover voters won't vote for him...he's alienated them like some of his fellow-candidates. He's not a uniting figure. But, he also may die a slow death.
Castro is, for all intents and purposes, Count Dracula. He's invited to the dinner and appears to be charming and gracious, then without warning he grabs Biden by the neck and bites hard. What a little (figuratively and literally) vicious trouble-maker he is. Not only did he cancel crossover voters, but he also lost DNC votes. He's done, and not a moment too soon.
It's still Biden, Warren, Sanders!
12
Mayor Pete’s “chosen lifestyle” ?
24
@J. G. Smith I - a white female, share Booker's concern about institutional racism. And plenty I know like me do as well.
18
I thought the stupidist question was how Sanders' socialism was different from that in Cuba and Venezuela. Sanders had a good answer but if the questioner had half a brain and wasn't try to demonize Bernie, why didn't he ask his how his brand of socialism was different from that of the kibbutzum in Israel, one of which Sanders worked on in his youth.
15
The Republicans cannot reelect Trump. Only the Democrats can do that. Unfortunately, their circular firing squad, the only thing they are currently adept at, is heading in that direction.
The 2020 election will boil down to Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and, perhaps, one other state. It is absolutely irrelevant if another million people vote for the Democrat in California and New York or another million people vote for Trump in Indiana and Alabama. And the folks the Democrats need to reach are ones who did not vote for Clinton for whatever reasons. Such voters tend toward politicians who they feel can deliver on their immediate interests, not long-term abstractions.
What those who want to oust Trump need to do is focus on what's actually relevant to the voters up for grabs, not a fantasy wish list. Warren's "plans" may appeal to the (mostly white and college-educated) twitterati and punditocracy, but the people the Democrats need have heard promises for decades, and they are looking for candidates who will deliver on a limited but realistic agenda, not a candidate who promises utopia with no indication that she or he actually knows how to accomplish anything in the Washington of 2020. That's why Biden is the large polling favorite of Blacks and Hispanics. And with the real-world, very competent Klobuchar as Vice President, thus giving her the national exposure she deserves but is currently denied, she would be our first Female President in 2024.
12
Well, I have an assault rifle, but just like to shoot it. I’m not a mass murderer. Don’t intend to be ever be one. Because I want to keep my rifle, I won’t be voting Democrat.
4
I guess you don’t care about education, healthcare, jobs, or peace in the country? You only care about a rifle and because you like to shoot it? You only think about yourself?
55
@Joseph Falconejoe
What do you need an assault rifle for? For fun? The problem is, by allowing you to keep one, we also allow millions of potential mass murderers to have one. Not to mention, how do I know you won’t get really angry one day and go on a rampage? I would bet money you fit the description of the majority of mass murderers: white, male and obsessed with his guns.
Sorry, the lives of thousands of innocent Americans (including the 1st graders from Sandy Hook) are more important than your childish and insecure need to have fun shooting an assault rifle (an assault rifle! Really? Why stop there - why not a nuclear bomb?).
32
@josephfalconejoe I’m sure you are an upstanding person but the point is in the statistics. I’m sure if it was your 5 year old daughter or 15 year old son that was killed by one you wouldn’t think it was worth the “fun” you have shooting one and would think of those kids every time you fire one. Find another hobby, help save some children. You’d do it fo your own family, have empathy
23
Castro mocked Biden's memory tonight. Meanwhile, Trump was making a speech tonight and got his vice-president's name wrong. We now have Vice President Pounce. Why not point out that either Trump's memory is failing or Mike Pence has turned into a cat?
49
I wish Bernie, Biden and Warren were all twenty years younger.
Much, if not all, depends on whether the Republicans control
the Senate after 2020.
If they do, then you want Biden or Warren.
If they don't, then why not Bernie ?
I think the remaining seven would make good Vice Presidential
candidates.
I thought Beto and Pete picked up their game.
I like Amy Klobuchar, she like Biden seem to have a realistic
view of what it will take to change things in Washington.
I would not mind having Andrew as President,
Cory as Vice President, Harris as Attorney General,
Peter as Secretary of Defense, Beto as a Texas Senator
and Warren as Secretary of the Treasury.
Julian seems to be pushing the margins a tad too much
but he might end up as Vice President.
5
If we keep expanding life-span potential, it should become routine to see competent and knowledgeable professionals with a lifetime of experience, at the top of their game, across all fields of human endeavor- isn’t that the goal? Of longevity?
Don’t you want to grow older and still be contributing and using everything that you’ve learned and all the decades you’ve witnessed to help guide society and the next generation?
Don’t you want to be around to help solve the climate crisis and to just see what happens?
Don’t be so quick to hurry the septuagenarians off of the debate stage or out of the corridors of power- they have much wisdom and experience.
Hopefully, one day, when we are old, many of us will still be contributing and enjoying all that life has to offer.
Why not?
The Democratic field is blessed with an embarrassment of riches. This debate has proven it.
That said, of the ten on stage tonight, while I like Julian Castro, appreciate his service and his good positions, he should be in the cabinet or Congress. I think Andrew Yang is also not the right choice, as to me his ideas aren't realistic although his intentions are good. Same with Bernie, who I hope will strongly drive his supporters to the eventual nominee. But: any of the people on tonight's debate would be light years better than the criminally despicable and desperate Trump, and I would be very happy with any of the seven others in the White House. I hope that all nine who don't win the nomination remain active and strongly support our candidate. What a great talent pool we have; fellow Democrats, plan and think ahead, unite and let's not blow it.
10
Let’s send the politicians against Medicare for All to the exchanges for their insurance - maybe then they will understand.
9
@rebecca1048
You should brush up on current events. Since the ACA went into effect, members of congress buy their insurance on the exchanges.
QUOTE: The result of the final version of ObamaCare (the Affordable Care Act) is that members of Congress, and their staffers, have to buy their health insurance on the exchanges along with millions of other Americans… more or less. In reality, they got to follow some special rules.
https://obamacarefacts.com/congress-obamacare/
They do get a nice discount but so do many citizens. You really should look before you leap to conclusions.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
4
@Rev. E. M. Camarena, PhD
Ya, right.
2
@rebecca1048
Sorry, I didn’t check, they do buy it on the exchanges, but not like we buy it. They choose from four gold plans and pay 25% of the cost, we pay the other 75%. So, I’ll rephrase it, send them to the exchanges like we’re sent to the exchanges.
10
Easy Trump 2.0.
4
Remind me was the economy in the debate at all. So much for the saying...
4
Of the top three contenders, Biden, Warren and Sanders.
Biden is too old and not as passionate. Sanders and Warren are passionate but too far to the left and that may be a liability in a general election where Americans are more center. Sanders and Warren are very good but can they beat Trump?
I will vote for anyone who has the best chance of beating Trump. We need to be practical. The country will not survive another 4 years of Trump.
4
I don’t see any good candidates here! Perhaps Warren on a half chance.
1
I didn't hear Kamala Harris challenged on her work as prosecutor. Her record of prosecutorial misconduct doesn't get enough attention and should be disqualifying: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/opinion/kamala-harris-criminal-justice.html
7
Up until now I just found Castro uninteresting. Now I actively dislike him.
23
I know you wanted to get this coverage out the door asap, but the number of grammatical errors is staggering. I thought the Times was more careful.
7
Truly absurd! I kept going back to the beginning of sentences thinking I was reading too fast.
3
I love how Dems debates are “spirited” but Reps debates are “hateful “.
4
Beto had a great night. He was sharp and clear. I like his healthcare plan and hell ya, get AR-15’s and AK47’s off the streets. Those things are worse then crack.
21
Aside from the amusement factor, I have zero interest in watching aging millionaires squabble.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
2
Perhaps we need to re-think the office and the role of the Vice President. After eight years in the post, Joe Biden is so out-of-touch that he's giving me flashbacks of the time when GHWB kvelled idiotically over a supermarket scanner.
On healthcare: "I'm with Barack!" Seriously????? Even if you've never heard of out-of-network balance billing, how is that a great way to win back the rust-belt voters who voted for "Barack" twice yet flipped to Trump in 2016?
10
What a pathetic display...pandering to whichever grievance group they hope can garner them the most votes.
10
Biden was so traditional and old fashioned - he kept asking how are you going to pay for it? Bernie had it right - "We are the richest nation on this Earth." Bernie should have reminded people that in 50's and 60's top tax rates were 90%. It is easy to pay for all those things Bernie promises.
23
Typically, this summary from the Times is slim on the many interesting policy ideas and knowledge demonstrated by the candidates. Instead they summarize the horse-race.
No point in reading the Times if you just watch the debate yourself.
6
Well, at least the old fellow didn't refer to the Victrola...
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
4
Vinyl is in Rev.
7
Julian Castro really stepped in it tonight with his vitriol and ageism aimed at Biden. It was really awful to witness and a really unpresidential showing. I imagine his candidacy breathed its last breath tonight.
802
Hope so.
58
@Brooklyn Dog Geek
It was the sort of soulless, pushy striving rewarded by some elite institutions. It shouldn't have a place in government.
35
@Brooklyn Dog Geek
Yes. It was Trumpian. Yuck.
34
I find that campaigning is making Elizabeth Warren a better candidate all the time. Among her adjustments the best might be to have just stopped talking about Trump at all. There really is nothing to be gained from it since it is really just belaboring the obvious, and the bonus is to have more time to spend talking about what she is for, which covers a lot of ground.
She is making an increasingly clear and common sense case for single payer, for example, but could go even further. The profit skimmed off the system by private insurance is really only the smallest part of what they are costing us because it leaves out the cost of running these huge bureaucracies themselves, and the cost they impose on health care providers to interact with them.
People might be really amazed to learn that they could be so much less out-of-pocket with single payer. Might turn out to be very popular once people figure it out.
But is she electable? Yes, very, and getting more so.
1447
@Bill Levine
I agree with you. The challenge Warren will have to face are all the misrepresentations, lies and scare tactics the Republican backed special interests with all of OUR money play as they play a game of Monty with our money, premiums and taxes to confuse us as to where our money actually goes and why our healthcare costs are double that of other developed nations.
46
@Bill Levine
I totally agree that she is electable, but don't believe that people are able to do the math. If they were, we would have had single payer even before Tommy Douglas delivered Canadians from the scourge of corporate medicine.
63
@David
People keep saying that, but never give reasons. I suspect the reasons are "Well, I don't like her as much as I like [this random, usually white guy.]"
60
Wow, what a sad, uninspiring performance! Most of the candidates seemed focused on insulting President Trump, which shows us what, exactly? That they read the newspaper? Very good. Biden wants to be Barack 2.0, a dubious claim to fame, at best. He should ask Hillary how that sort of thing works as a campaign strategy. Yang provided comedy, at least and Booker inadvertently gave himself away when he admitted to being from the suburbs. Sanders and Warren are at least content to be themselves and that should be enough to sink both of them. There isn’t an honest-to-god leader in the whole bunch.
6
After Beto O’Rourke spoke, it seemed like we were watching the picking of teams for school sports and that, although Beto was not going to be a captain this time around, the captains wanted him as their running mate.
1
@Lone Poster Totally felt that way, agreed.
1
Cheap shot by Castro against Biden. Probably lost even more of the little support he had.
17
This article was not proofed. There are many mistakes in grammar and pronoun subject agreement. Whatever happened to proofreading?
25
They all need to come behind one person and make 45th one time POTUS.
8
Dems looking VERY solid tonight.
Trump is in deep trouble. He won't be able to
motivate his base in 2020 as he did in 2016.
He won't have an easy enemy/target in two years.
His base have already had their petulant
protest vote from last time and the Dems
WILL motivate their base this time around.
It may not even be a close race.
Trump will be a one term blip of a President.
8
Warren always impresses me!
19
I have been an adult for twenty years now. The first 10 I had no health insurance. Most of my doctor visits aside from blood tests cost me $65 to $120. For the last few years I've been on my wife's employer provided insurance. We pay $500 a month on top of what her employer pays, have a $3500 deductable, and doctor visits other than the annual exam are $120 minimum out of pocket on top of $200-400 paid by insurance. From what I hear we have it pretty decent. No more meddling with ACA, or private insurance, I want Medicare for all!
64
And I'm not saying give it to me free. Tax us for it. At least when the government takes the $500 "the invisible hand of the market" does not get to take that sum into consideration, and people are not forced to make a choice between their health and paying the rent.
19
It just tickles me how a Senator who enjoys government provided healthcare, at taxpayer expense, can call those asking for Medicare for All, extreme?
18
Senators are employed by the Federal Government. Where else are they going to get health care? You could say the same about the military.
2
@KJ
Maybe they should go to the exchanges and see what real life is like? I bet they wouldn’t be saying Medicare for All was extreme, then. They’d find out premiums are extreme
8
@rebecca1048: You should brush up on current events. Since the ACA went into effect, members of congress buy their insurance on the exchanges.
QUOTE: The result of the final version of ObamaCare (the Affordable Care Act) is that members of Congress, and their staffers, have to buy their health insurance on the exchanges along with millions of other Americans… more or less. In reality, they got to follow some special rules.
https://obamacarefacts.com/congress-obamacare/
They do get a nice discount but so do many citizens. You really should look before you leap to conclusions.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
4
I find the reporting on how much time candidates spoke to be annoying as that time is a function of how many questions each candidate was asked by the commentators. It does not appear that every candidate is given equal numbers of questions so this type of analysis seems flawed. Thanks
6
The sad fact is that Biden does not have the mental sharpness to be president. That has nothing to do with his age - Pelosi and Bernie Sanders are older than Biden and have mental acuity equal to people half their age. Biden is the only moderate and the remaining contenders have pie in the sky ideas which are compassionate but totally unrealistic and not thought through. I can't vote for any of them. Should I vote for Trump? I'm beginning to wonder.
4
I’m a Democrat and I’ll not vote for Biden but I’ll tell you this, the wry, sarcastic attitude that Castro had toward Biden made me furious. Disrespecting 1 of the greatest srs of the Dem Party in history... wow... my opinion of Castro dropped from 80 to 1 on scale of 100. That’s the way Republicans treat Dems. You Sir were way out of line. And I had you ranked high on my list but that’s was despicable. Even Bratty. We certainly don’t need another smart Alec Brat as President! And why was Senator Booker overlooked all night??? I just don’t truly like any candidate but Warren is gaining weight with this KY WASP. She knows what she’s talking about and has spent her life researching the negative effects of the rich ruling the rest of us. Her work with the CFPB should make good honest Americans look at what she’s all about. Research the CFPB... see what she’s done for consumers... I’m a banker and most bankers hate her for making refs tougher for us bankers but she stands for the middle class and her tenacious ways to get those laws passed impresses me and it’s clear she knows what needs to be done to start shrinking the gap between the1% and the rest of us. No she’ll not erase the gap by any means lol, but I’ll be content knowing we have a President who’s at least started working toward that end. The rich are ruining our country and while it’s not always true... it seems so many rich folks have gotten there in ways that most Americans would consider unscrupulous and immoral.
39
They eat their own. A pitiful display of a broken party with no leadership.
5
Castro came across as mean and aggressive. There is too much at stake in this election for Democrats to attack each other. This is about policy. I thought Warren was strong, as were Buttigieg and O’Rourke.
16
The number of typos in this article is staggering.
8
@Todd. I for one don’t care about any typos. I am interested in the content. This article like those at other outlets is put together quickly and rushed to publication for understandable reasons. If there’s a typo. Well, then there’s a typo. This country and our world have much bigger problems to deal with.
7
Hell yeah! Take away their stupid assault rifles! 2nd amendment cowards!!
6
I would vote for any of these candidates over Trump, but I fail to see how Biden, who can barely handle badgering from Castro and the protesters in the crowd without getting incredibly flustered, can take on Trump. Everyone seems to tout that he's the "most likely to win" but with performances like tonight I continue to fail to see why.
1492
@Michael Yup. There's no debate from me that Biden is principled and thoughtful and has an estimable career.
But he will be steamrolled in a debate with Trump because he will get too flustered.
Or seeing how more incoherent Trump has gotten over just the past few years, the whole thing would be a weird, embarrassing mess.
222
@Michael
I could not agree more. I love Joe Biden but I winced at some of what he said. He knows his stuff, but this campaign will most likely be the nastiest personally hateful campaign ever. I want to see a street fighter, not a saint.
116
@Michael - Biden has had a distinguished career in public service, but it has come to a close without his realizing it. It is upsetting to watch, to be honest.
185
Mayor Pete and Senator Warren continue to impress me with their clear and concise messaging on education policy. Both made some fine points about raising the value of educators, while also installing an experienced educator as Sec. of Education. If only education were a top priority in this country as it is elsewhere! In the end, I will vote for the dem nominee who wins the primary, but I hope this conversation on education continues should one of them be elected. - a high school teacher
66
To Elizabeth Warren, who said she doesn't know anyone who likes their healthcare. You have not spoken to me. I LIKE my health care insurance! I have a significant health care issue that requires regular visits to several special doctors all year long and extensive medications to keep me healthy and all through the year, I have not had any issues with my insurance. I like my health care and I do not want the government to take it over.
12
@ActualScience
What kind and how much do you pay?
12
@ActualScience
I like my healthcare too. I find it disingenuous of Warren and Sanders to keep saying that nobody does, when clearly millions of Americans do.
I support Medicare for All as an option, but not as the only option.
1
@ActualScience
I like my healthcare too. Have a son with extremely serious Crohn's, had an Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant for it. Remicade (the drug he is on) is extremely expensive, but totally free to us, $20 co-pay for the doctor visit. Now my wife and I have prioritized our child and made sure we have good insurance, but I find Bernie and Liz's statements to be full of a lot of hyperbole and short on specifics. That said, something does need to change, and Trump is our worst nightmare on so many levels, including health care (pre-existing conditions and lifetime maximum).
The environment will do us in because the government is not meaningfully involved, even in the Dem Party
If it doesn't do us in, income and wealth inequality will lead to uprisings around the country and perhaps the world.
10
The sooner the Democrats can get this silliness over the better.
Biden and Warren should start thinking about diving into the middle of the pool and not the left side of the pool.
If they keep diving for the left they could hit their head on the edge of the pool.
4
A big thank you to all the moderators. Finally a debate that was well done and provided the country with some much needed optimism.
12
@Diane L. What channel were you watching?
2
Can someone proofread this?
15
Is Joe Biden a broken record? But I sympathize as modern technology like casett tapes are a puzzle to me. It was a funny moment and for me makes him more human. Joe as President? far better than the other option.
7
Vinyl is in dude.
4
For the most part, I did not see any of the candidates speak spontaneously. They came with prepared remarks and figured out how to get them out.
Best moment: Booker translating into Spanish the word "no".
4
Unless I missed it, not a single candidate mentioned Social Security and the deficit that the GOP has run up. Maybe some passing references. Major omissions if so.
10
Democrats should be more anxious after tonight. The front-runner, the one who scores highest against Trump was spunkier but stumbled over words, didn't finish sentences, thoughts were disconnected, seemed like some issues were over his head. As a debater, Biden vs. Trump, who is smooth and makes himself understood easily, would be no contest. None. After watching Biden tonight, Democrats need to coalesce around a new leading candidate.
15
@blgreenie
Ya, Bernie!
2
Judging from the speaking times... the debate already looks rigged i.e. carefully regimented. First Biden, then Warren ... etc
2
I watched the debate in a bar because the internet went out at home just as the debate was about to start. One of the bartenders was nice enough to let me watch the debate in the back pool room even though the local NFL football team was playing at the same time.
The television I watched was near the restrooms. So. numerous people walked past me as the night went on. Unfortunately, no one else was interested enough to watch the debate for more than maybe 30 seconds. But everyone was nice to me. One man asked whether Tulsi was on stage. One lady said she was taping the debate at home. Maybe a half-dozen others asked me a quick question.
I felt a little bad there was not more interest in watching the debate. But I cannot blame people. They can watch it later on YouTube if they want, and very few people go to a bar to watch a presidential debate anyway. Especially when the local NFL team is on also.
I felt worse that corporate media is still essentially doing everything they can to prevent Andrew Yang from speaking regardless of the undeniable growth in interest in his campaign. A 3-hour debate among 10 people and he gets to speak for 8 minutes? Yet he remains upbeat, polite (even humorous), informative and focused with every opportunity he is given.
438
@Mark W. Miller How is that the fault of some sort of amorphous thing as "corporate media"?
7
@Mark W. Miller
"The internet was out?" What, you don't own a TV set? Even a small one that costs $150 and gets "over the air" reception?
Any city with an NFL team also has three local TV stations (ABC, NBC and CBS) that broadcast over the air signals directly to a TV set equipped with an antenna. No cable, satellite or internet connection required. And it's free (with commercials, of course).
This 1980s technology still works - and sometimes "simple is best".
9
@Mark W. Miller
This is the best comment on the board, imho, up until the last paragraph, which is unfounded. Even though he is not my preferred candidate, Andrew Yang made a favorable impression on me last night in contrast to the windiness of some of the others.
9
Let's please get beyond the made for TV performances and sound bites. Experience, a solid running mate like Warren and pulling together a great team of Cabinet members will make Joe Biden a great candidate to support and get this Country back on track. I thank him for running.
5
Biden will lose against Trump. He changes the debate -- the Democrats must move past the Clinton-Obama years. Their failures are a reason that Trump won. We must have a new vision for our country.
16
We began the 21st Century with 9/11 which changed the course of history, and the world has still not recovered from the chain reaction set in motion on that sad day. The world has become far more conservative and intolerant of liberal ideas, and sadly the USA is leading the way. Putin was right when he commented at the recent G20 that liberalism is all but dead. We need a strong world leader who can make a strong case for liberalism not socialism, and a more tolerant and kinder world. But right now the USA and the world are experimenting with narrowminded policies of conservatism. And that’s why Trump will win.
5
@Hobo
I don't think most people know what socialism is. I confess to being at least partly ignorant on the subject too. What is clear, however, that it's being used as an epithet against Bernie Sanders by those who also clearly do not know its meaning. Maduro, really? It's time a neutral entity like the League of Women Voters resumed the role of moderating the debates. Some of the "moderators" asked questions transparently framed to benefit their corporate masters rather than enlighten the viewers, and seemed intent on discrediting certain candidates, sometimes with falsely framed questions. I found this the least enlightening of the Democratic debates thus far. I didn't think that anyone particularly distinguished him or herself, and this was due at least in part to poor questions.
3
The NYT is part of the problem. Amy is a viable candidate? Yet you focus on the shiny. Cover everyone. America is losing because you don’t. I don’t want four more trump years, but you’re handing it to him with your incomplete coverage
13
@Jody Gehrmann
Amy should buy her insurance on the exchanges and then she wouldn’t think those pushing for Medicare for All so extreme.
6
In assessing these candidates there is only one question which candidate can win in the rust belt those States Trump won .
To me it’s Biden.
All impressed tonight except Castro .
7
I thought most of them were great tonight - it really does give me hope for our country! I especially liked Pete, Beto, Biden, Kamala (she was great), Amy, Cory.
6
Of course we all want someone other than Trump. But let's be honest, these people are, as is typical of all politicians regardless of affiliation, empty, preening individuals who overstate and underdeliver.
4
Biden’s performance has me worried. Way too easily flustered, trump would have a field day with him at a debate. Democrats need to pick a fighter with a clean record ie. warren. The county is at stake, don’t use failed strategy from 2016.
6
ABC is congratulating theirselves on the successful debate. What in heavens name was debated? !0 people on that stage - all better on their worst day than trump. It could end up like an nba all- star game - lots of pretty, talented faces but the game itself is horrible. They could easily have progressives flee from the party and elections, with the moderates gathering around the water cooler saying "what happened?" Split the vote, have the bernie bros. walk away again and voila - tump for another 4 years.
1
Harris wins the award for the "Debater who Laughs Hardest at her Own (carefully orchestrated) Joke".
That'll get her a bug bump in the polls.
10
@Bill
Yes, she comes across as insincere.
8
This was the best debate so far, the questions were on point. All of the candidates did well and all of them would be better than 45. Biden, Warren and Bernie seemed to me get more time than the others, but I think that had the most to do with the first question on Health Care. I am still undecided, on who I will support in the VA primary, but will support whoever wins the nomination. Thank you ABC for hosting this event. The only thing I would have like to see more attention paid to would have been Foriegn Policy and the Climate. The U.S. must assume the leadership position in the World on these issues. I would have also liked to see questions regarding Russian interference on our Elections, Cyber Security, Republican Gerrymandering and Voter Suppression. The U.S. and the rest of the Democracies of the World are under assault on all these issues.
3
The federal government could not implement an income tax until a constitutional amendment was passed allowing for it.
So Warren thinks it is constitutional to confiscate the wealth of the rich. It is not. And is there one country in Europe that does this? I think not.
And she is considered the "intellectual" of the candidates.
5
Speaking of intellectuals, you might want to look up the diff between, a) confiscate and tax, and b) European tax rates.
Since we’re being all intellectual and stuff.
11
@Robert Tax rates are one thing. Having the IRS go through someone's financial statements and force him to get his real estate, artwork and other possessions appraised, is another thing. Warren is totally foolish for proposing this.
3
@Erik, Spain and Norway both have “wealth taxes” and several other European countries tax “wealth” in ways that go beyond income. We even have a type of wealth tax here in the US — the property tax. It’s a good idea to look this kind of information up instead of just making an assumption based on what you want to believe.
14
These are all very impressive people, every one of them. So accomplished and intelligent. Really remarkable stories.
10
"fiery exchange", "fired back". "punching back". "aiming at" , "goes after"...
These are the descriptors one would use to describe a military offensive.
Instead, they are used to describe a Democratic presidential debate in the Unites States of America.
No American should wonder why their society has hopelessly devolved into a pugilist winner vs loser way of life when the media pits candidates (labeling them as opponents) against each other, prodding them to deride one another rather than have a reasonable discussion.
It is time the media understand that raising taxes to fund Medicare for All means not paying premiums and deductibles. Stop framing the issue as a tax increase while ignoring the savings.
20
Medicare comes with premiums and deductibles. Trust me on this.
8
@Bullmoose
Regarding the first line of your comment, it's click-bait, pure and simple. The NYT is no more immune to it than than any other media outlet. Using phrases like "collegially disagreed" or "not on the same page" don't have the same....impact.
1
@Bullmoose
That's why we need neutral debate moderators instead of employees of corporate media with conflicts of interest. They had "gotcha" questions for some candidates and some of them were dishonestly framed. Some of them may just as well have been working indirectly for the insurance companies -- and maybe they are. People who like their insurance companies? We would rather have it than not have it, but that's because there is currently no other option.
5
At this moment I feel as though Americas only savior is Elizabeth Warren as her policies are more ambitious than Biden's and more logical than Bernies (but still progressive). She's a good middle ground between the two. She also knows how to fight back when attacked unlike Biden who always appears distraught when named.
21
All I can say is that I missed Tulsi Gabbard.
18
Sanders and Warren were standouts in this debate. I also liked Beto's strong emotional stance on guns and Corey's passion for criminal justice reform.
Biden's long rambling responses was painful to watch. Yet such corporate cable media panels such as CNN praised him for his performance.
9
I'm surprised that the NY Times did not proofreed for pronouns very well, "he" frequently for "her", What gives?
3
These are the best the Democrats can offer?
5
My suggestion is that Trumpists avoid such complaints, as they do the Constitution.
7
Warren was the only one to mention US companies' exploitation of Latin American workers in their own country. Yang saying, "[he's] Asian, so [he] knows a lot of doctors," was strange. There was no mention of China's huge holding of our national dept as a factor in the trade debate. O'Rourke's praise of no-till farming belies the danger of soon to be outlawed GMO chemicals like Roundup rampant in the practice. Sanders was correct to question Biden's revision of his hawk stance toward the Iraq War. Harris couldn't rewrite her terrible civil rights history as California's top prosecuter, but it had to help her that Tulsi Gabbard was kept off the stage.
4
@C No chance glyphosate will be banned in the near future.
Beto is right to keep farmers actively in the discussion.
1
The only reason we're having progressive policies in the public discussion is Bernie.
I for one thank him, and I am always impressed by the simple clarity of his consistent message. Most Democratic messaging is sadly muddy. Most of them try to appeal to everyone and end up spouting multiple feel good, theoretical, contradictory vagaries.
448
@Naples
You mean the guy who voted against the Brady bill five times?
22
@Naples You misspelled Hillary Clinton.
8
@Todd Nothing about Hillary is even adjacent to progressive. What's the saying? If people have a choice between a false Republican or a true one, they'll vote for the true, I believe. And that took care of Hillary.
28
I was disappointed with Sanders and Warren for not explaining well enough why we need Medicare for All rather than a public option. It is really quite simple:
with a public option, people either would ave to pay. or the people who didn't choose the option would be taxed to pay for them. With Medicare for All, all healthcare would be paid for by progressive taxes, and the total cost (as Sanders explained) would be much less. Have you ever heard of anybody wishing they weren't on Medicare? I have it, and wish everyone could share my luck.
Biden did better tonight, but still flubbed and made gaffs. trump would eat him for breakfast.
6
Perhaps one of the most obvious differences between Trump and any one of this lot is that Trump laid out a set of things that he would attempt to accomplish, and has set about addressing each and every one of them.
The feel good spouting being done tonight is a peacock parade that nobody in their right mind believes they are actually going to attempt to follow through on if by chance they are elected.
The choice will boil down to flowery feel good and no substance vs. indelicate action.
3
@Ken
As I recall, Trump never used the word attempt. Like every other word out of his mouth, or through Twitter, his campaign “promises” were lies.
2
We Democrats are still far enough from the convention to afford some sharp debate.
4
@Entre, You ask “what was with the thick accent of the moderator.....”. That moderator with an accent is a highly respected journalist. His name is Jorge Ramos. He is “best-known Spanish-language news anchor in the United States of America; he has been referred to as "The Walter Cronkite of Latin America”. Thank your lucky stars he cares.
6
Curious why is it now so unpopular that Obama deported illegal aliens? Please tell me another country that one could go to and not be deported if entered illegally.
19
The one that let Melania in?
9
I'm glad I watched this. It was the perfect antidote to yet another week of horrible news. Felt something I hadn't felt in ages, hope that we might get our country back!
455
@Ann America is Great; our politicians are what are disgusting ie most of them. I'm leary that any DEMS can beat Trump and for sure not Biden,Harris, or Warren. Take my word. My fellow DEMS are really leaning with the wrong candidates.
7
@Ann
And for me the "we" that might "get our country back" is not just the Democrats who might win back the White House. The "we" is all sane, humane and decent Americans, of all political persuasions, who would welcome once again the presence in the oval Office of a competent, well-intentioned, ethical president for all of us.
10
@Ann Right, the us vs them isn't helping. Republicans also have a right to their views and until the Democrats wake up to and willing to actually hear what is in that conversation, they will not be moving any Trump voters to their team. I would say the same for Republicans, but they have already won the last election so something worked for them. I still remember those colored maps and how much of the country went to Trump. That strategy of urban strongholds wasn't enough, and the elitism of thinking we are better just drives people away.
2
I hope everyone realizes that in all three debates so far, there has not been one "oops" moment or candidate. We have an embarrassment of riches in the field of Democratic candidates. The party with capability, compassion and conscience is clearly the Democrats. A big bravo to all of them.
829
@nycptc de Blasio and Delaney probably count as oops candidates. But of real candidates, you're totally right.
9
@nycptc
Julian Castro had a huge "oops moment" that should end his campaign,
45
@nycptc. Isn't Biden having nonstop "oops"moments? Like his argument that we should be proud to pay the most in the world for healthcare because "this is America"?
12
Biden is the only candidate with chances to beat president Trump. The others are disconnect with our political and social realities.Dems should be concerned with the vice president candidate.
I respect Bernie for his consistency and honesty thought.
1
Wish Andrew Yang had more opportunity to speak. I found today’s The Daily interview of him incredibly inspiring.
15
Biden said that non-violent criminals should not be in prison. That would include Bernie Madoff, Paul Manafort, car thieves, shoplifters of diamonds, and burglars who avoid confrontations with homeowners.
This is worse than Bernie giving voting rights to felons who are still in jail.
Game, set, match Trump.
6
NYT, you need to do better on editing. I know there's a rush to do this "real time," but the many typos in this work does a disservice to your reputation as America's paper of record. My 12 year-old caught 4 typos in one post, shook her head, and said, "This is the New York Times?" Do better.
16
It’s “the many typos do,” actually.
7
Am I the only one out there who is getting a bit bored by the repetition in these"debates?" I'm a fairly political person but I think I've heard a lot and haven't been swayed by anyone so far. Whoever is the candidate on the Democratic side will have my vote against that guy who is now in the Oval Office.
5
Media including the NYT love to focus on conflict and differences, but to me the power of these candidates every single one of them is in their integrity as human beings. This was especially evident in their answers to the last question which allowed them to focus on their personal hardships and the struggle each had to overcome them. To me it was very moving and led me to realize that I would be proud to have any of them as the leader of our country.
I can not help but see how bankrupt in character our current president is. If our country can not see this contrast and insist on reelecting him, it will only show how bankrupt in character our nation has become. Vote for whoever is nominated and give that person the support in Congress to achieve their vision.
15
One of the quieter tragedies of this debate night is the absence of Jay Inslee, who of course has ended his campaign.
I don't care what the candidates say, climate is indeed everyone's "second best friend" - second to healthcare, second to immigration, etc. They all genuinely care about climate issues, but none with the necessary urgency.
We don't have the time to wait for Day 2 of the new democratic administration to learn about their new climate initiatives -- we'll probably be dead by Day 3.
7
Amy checks so many boxes and has the experience and age to make it work. Being from Minnesota does not help much... But, she would WIN.
11
So Sen. Harris came to the event "with preplanned lines."
Love those lines or hate 'em, they sure beat the "post-planned" variety.
6
Reading comments, I can't help but wonder at the degree to which some folks actually believe these were debates rather than just another TV show. The adjacent article is titled, "How Did the Top Four Candidates Perform Last Time?" Unintentionally, that precisely describes these non-debates: performances.
These shows are merely the Democrats' version of The Apprentice, with the twitterati, punditocracy, and commentariat getting to feel good saying, "You're fired!" and "You're hired!" I seriously doubt that people with genuinely open minds are even watching, as there is no relationship between how a person comes off on TV to how that person would actually function as President. Look what happened in 2016 when people went for the histrionic TV performer.
In any case, keep in mind that the number of recommends to these comments is subject to bots, trolls, and the like from anybody with an agenda. Trump, Russia, wall-building corporations, other candidates, China, Aunt Martha, Uncle Harry, etc. Decide for yourself on substance, not what the herd or the echo chamber says.
And, no, I did not watch the show. The election will boil down to Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and perhaps one more state. You can have the noblest talking points and most complex plans, but if you don't win, you lose, and a Biden/Klobuchar ticket is the likeliest to appeal to swing voters in those states. Unfortunately, the only thing the Dems seem adept at at the moment is a circular firing squad.
7
Oh man oh man that Pete is one cool cat. He may not have top billing just yet but watch him fly folks ‘cause he’s going up.
40
Why is Bernie Sanders even allowed a voice in the Democratic debates? He isn't even a Democrat, is he? He's freeloading.
If he isn't even prepared to stand for the party, he should formally announce his candidacy as an independent and get off the stage.
18
@LauraF
Well, then who do I keep donating money too, because it says ActBlue.
1
@LauraF
Then many of us would go with him. You can't continue to blame Sanders' supporters for losing, a la 2016, and at the same time tell them to get out of the party. Or, I guess you can, and you will, if Trump wins again.
1
No matter how you feel about his policies, Bernie Sanders comes across like the owner of the candy store that would holler at us kid for looking at the magazines. That's why Elizabeth Warren is going up in the polls and he is going down.
18
Mr. Castro was running for President two minutes ago.
6
Thank you, ABC, for letting me stream the debate on YouTube.
Signed - Millennial without cable or rabbit ears. If I can't stream it on my PS4, I don't watch it!
9
I would drool over a Booker Buttigieg ticket. Worked hard on Bernie's campaign in 2016 for 8 months, but this is a new era.
13
My takeaway from this debate: Castro has to drop out, and fast. His attack on Biden was an obnoxious desperate attempt to break out of the cellar and it fell flat.
16
Winner. Warren.
Loser. Castro.
Better. Klobuchar.
Unsteady still. Biden.
Disappeared. Buttigieg.
Most improved. Beto. Booker.
Least appealing. Harris.
Marginal. Yang.
Consistently cantankerous. Bernie.
44
I wouldn't vote for Castro for dog catcher after that cheap shot. And he was also wrong factually and Biden was correct.
23
@savks
You stole my thought. It was a vile, flailing moment, and he doesn't deserve an ounce of respect in future.
6
Wow. Is it just me? Really? Not one question, not one comment about foreign interference in our elections. Not one allusion to Putin or his complicit puppet in the White House. Not one mention of how we ensure a free and fair election in 2020. So that whoever ultimately gets chosen as the candidate might actually make it into office through our democratic process. There is a very real possibility that, like in 2000, the election might be stolen again. I'm amazed that this didn't come up.
20
@LS
Your Russian excuse is totally worn out.
5
@Dr. John
“Russian excuse?”
Is that like, “"I said, 'did you do it?' And he [Putin] said no, I did not. Absolutely not,” Donald Trump 2017?
4
@Dr. John Tell that to all the house committees still following up on the Mueller findings.
4
The world is nearly to the breaking point by foreign interference and a mentally unstable fit throwing emotional child in the White House. But true to form, when a candidate can't gain traction by being who they are they go on the attack. Is that really what voters are looking for? An attack dog to replace the current office holder or a well respected pubic servant. The attacks speak to blind ambition more than careful planning.
Sure, it's tough to get noticed. And sure, some of his policies need clarification, to be polite. Trump will dictate the narrative, he always has and watching the Democratic challengers have a go is doing his work for him. Not that he needs the help.
Joe Biden has flaws. The world has changed and he hasn't always caught up. But he does know how it works and his calm presence to world leaders, with a strong support team, will bring us back from the brink. The others are trying too hard and it's awkward to watch.
The nominee has to be Joe Biden. He will not just win but let us catch our breath, he will let the world realize we had an illness but are better now. It's unlikely he'll go for eight years and the rest of the field, I'd vote for any of them in 2024.
Elizabeth Warren as VP would probably give everyone part of what they want.
12
I'm an immigrant & have marched in many protests in support of immigrants and against the abhorrent practice of breaking up immigrant families.
However, a country needs borders and borders need to be respected otherwise there is no country. President Obama was just implementing the law with the deportations. He was simultaneously pushing for DACA. I'd say that is exactly what comprehensive immigration reform looks like.
So why have we let aggressive left wing moderators like Jorge Ramos define this narrative? There is a YUGE difference between inciting hatred towards Hispanics like this president does and implementing immigration laws. Why are we letting people like Ramos conflate the two?
90
Perhaps if Sanders had ever held a private sector job, or really any job, he might have a better understanding how private insurance works.
4
@Joseph
If they love their private insurance, they should be able to keep it when they turn 65, too. But, they always want Medicare!
4
@Joseph
It works by losing it if you lose the job! Or accepting increasingly more expensive, less comprehensive plans if your employer decides to change their plans to save money. You are at the mercy of the employer and the insurance companies, who will fight you tooth and nail to exclude coverage every single time you use the "plan." Sanders knows EXACTLY how private insurance plans work!!!
15
I did not like Castro’s tactics at all but there IS definitely something WRONG with Biden’s word grasp, word delivery and occasionally his memory. People, please, you need to realize this! I have lived with cognitive decline in several family members and friends. The signs in Biden’s case are clear. If you were aware of the beginning stages of cognitive decline you would have seen him stumbling over some words and looking for the right words, etc. Yes, it is subtle but that’s how these symptoms start. This is absolutely true and we cannot afford to have this overlooked. This is quite worrisome. NYT, please bring this issue to light.
80
@Hortencia I don't know if the problem is age or something else, but I also thought Biden sounded terrible. I quite simply could not follow what he was talking about most of the time. He rambled and he truncated sentences. His answers were little more than a stream of loosely related half-statements that mostly had little to do with the question being asked. Trump also has difficulty speaking coherently. Tonight Biden was much the same in that regard.
20
@Peter
I think he said Afghanistan a couple of times when meant to say Iraq. He certainly seemed to be conflating the two. Similar to confusing NH and VT. Either he has difficulty expressing his thoughts clearly or he has difficulty thinking clearly.
13
@Hortencia I observed Biden as head of the Judiciary Committee in the 1980s, when I was a reporter. He jumbled up words then. It appears to be something neurological, but I'm not sure it's gotten that much worse over the years.
3
Since when is Medicare for someone under 65 extreme?
4
Klobuchar can beat Trump. The rest ? No chance.
7
Unbelievable report - because it doesn't include a single substantive reference to Warren.
3
According to Joe Biden, “Nobody should be in jail for a nonviolent crime.” Really? We should just excuse the devastating crimes of Bernie Madoff, Ken Lay, Bernard Ebbers, Jack Abramoff, Dennis Kozlowski and Mark H. Swartz, and all the other white-collar criminals? But throw the book at everyone else.
13
@Ockham9
Thank you for noticing that !
Very surprised no one called him out on that statement.
Wow! It’s a wild circus - who can promise the most free stuff!
9
Worried yet, Democrats?
What a sorry lot.
4
@Ken
Nope. Not worried at all.
8
Castro put himself back 100 yards at the start with his snarly, "are you forgetting something ?"
He was the one forgetting something.
11
At a certain point, like now, I'd like there to be a moratorium on presentations about the neighborhood the candidate is from, their challenges, how they personally got through college, and the rest of the stuff which merits a cheesy movie soundtrack in the background.
I don't even particularly care about them defending their past political positions. What matters is what they believe now, and how much power they can accumulate behind them, from the voters, to enact it.
All I care about is policy. And policy is what I hope the voters engage with as well, because if they don't, even if we elect a fine person as the next president, there won't be any strength behind them.
FDR didn't just snap his fingers to make the New Deal happen, he had the electorate in the streets, compelling him to do it.
We need the electorate to be concerned about good alternatives in immigration, foreign affairs, healthcare, incarceration and criminal justice, homelessness, and the rest of it.
I'm looking for the candidate who is best at involving all of us in great policy.
9
This is riddled with grammatical errors!!!
9
castro will go the way of harris. she brought up bussing. i have children and i worked extremely hard to get them into good schools at GREAT sacrifice to me financially. i will pay for this in my retirement. you buss my kids to a poor performing school and all hell would break out. she will not get the nomination. castro, mocking a very important senior statesman who is not without his flaws but still a great compassionate leader, drop out. you are now an annoyance that we don't need or want.
17
I’m now watching the talking heads post debate, and I’m actually astounded that they thought Biden did well. Was I in an alternative debate dimension? I thought he sounded incoherent and bumbled through whatever points he tried to convey.
143
@Chase I absolutely agree. Biden sounded as incoherent as Trump often does. While I have never been excited about Biden, I did respect him. After tonight, I feel like he is one of the worst candidates running.
18
Castro's attack on Biden was inappropriate and overblown. Unfortunately, Biden didn't mount a strong defense. If he doesn't become a lot stronger at combatting unjustified attacks, he'll be blown off the stage by Trump.
15
This will not have changed anyone’s mind. Iowa and NH are toss-ups. After that, it is Biden.
2
Abc did a good job of unfair air time for candidates. It is clear who abc favors who they don’t. Corporate media...
6
Look, questions about Kamala Harris' record as AG have been asked for eons. Don't these moderators have a creative bone in their heads that leads them to ask NEW questions? So predictable and boring - aiming for a gotcha moment. Voters want to know more than just about that record.
3
Yang has the least speaking time, yet he is polling above the next 3. Especially ridiculous considering his unique insights and particularly uncommon platform.
419
@Bill He brought up some fantastic points and truths that needed to be heard.
42
He’s Asian so he knows a lot of doctors? Interesting insight indeed.
19
@KJ He's a well educated Asian man, so yes, he does.
31
The election is over a year away. Many things could happen in the meanwhile - not just to the candidates, but to any of us.
After watching this, and contemplating, let us think about the last question - resiliency. Did we listen to the candidates? I hope so.
Life is not perfect, circumstances aren’t perfect. But if we can seriously and thoughtfully contemplate the candidates’ words, not only their times of strife, but how they handled that strife and how they went forward - perhaps we can really consider the importance of their work, and perhaps the importance of our own work and lives, too. How did or do we make a difference, and what lessons are there to make a great difference in the world we live in, no matter mistakes or hindrances.
That question and their answers gives us hope for taking our country back with respect, and yes, glory.
14
Sanders needs to declare first that he’s a Democrat, hows he even on this stage. He should probably be running for Venezuela, Sweden and dare I say Pakistan. Even Russia would be a better bet.
1
You like Buttigieg / Yang. ?
4
@New World
Yang! I like the ones who think a little deeper than surface value — like Bernie, healthcare is a human right! (Some call that extreme? Shallow!)
4
I want a Warren/Pete ticket so much
167
I concur.
9
@Travis. I do too.
4
@Travis... I double down in that!
1
I'm voting for a Democratic candidate who is for Medicare for All, regardless who the Dems nominate. And a lot of people feel the same way. Reason: we will not have true equality and racial justice among our citizens until the day that we enact Medicare for ALL. My pick for President - Elizabeth Warren. Biden's been there and we still have thousands uninsured. I like Bernie, but he is too old. I thought Castro was inspirational on his opening comments.
301
@Time - Space, so Lincoln was just spinning his wheels?
2
@Time - Space -- you may get a medicare for all promise but Trump will be re-elected, at which point you may see your medicare and social security cut or eliminated.
But dream on.
38
@Time - Space
“ Bernie is too old.”
Sorry to say, but being just Bernie’s age, I happen to be a vital, fully engaged member of society- currently in Amsterdam doing research for a book. Bernie is like fine wine, and we are lucky to have him. Many of the other candidates are imitating him. Bernie 2020...p.s., he is the only one who can beat Trump. Trump is a fake Bernie Sanders.
27
Elizabeth and Bernie warm my heart.
Biden tried.
Gotta love Yang
Pete's perfect VP material.
I forget. Who else is there?
(this is not a haiku)
33
Most impressed by Amy.
13
@turbot
But she thinks Medicare for All is extreme?
2
@rebecca1048
It is. And impossible without 60 votes.
1
As with previous debates, tonight's event produced a single, clear winner.
Donald Trump.
The extreme liberal positions of the primaries will become anchors in the general election.
37
@John not for Biden they won’t.
3
@John
I think you underestimate how badly Americans want universal health care and meaningful gun controls.
28
@John
What is it about the positions expressed tonight that scares you so much?
We saw ten basically honest people with morals and intelligence. Is that what the problem is?
32
Three hours takes some stamina on all sides but this is an impressive slate of candidates.
Here's my take: Castro, Wang, Harris, Klobuchar and Buttigieg should go quietly into that good night. They are not going to expand their support nor gain any traction from this debate. Castro had a desperate quality about him. How many times did Klobuchar say she came from the Midwest?
Among the second tier candidates - Booker and O'Rourke stood out: passionate, engaged, decisive, good ideas. They should stay in the race because their voices need to be heard.
Biden was rambling and struggling. As much as I like and admire him for his long career of public service, his time is past and his mind is no longer sharp.
It will be a three-way race going forward but I think Warren or Sanders will win the nomination.
16
@Michael
And Trump will win in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. What is most frustrating is that none of their agenda will ever see the light of day because Republicans will continue to control the Senate after the 2020 election.
3
@Michael Who is Wang?
4
@Michael -- And how many times did Booker say he was from Detroit? Don't dismiss Yang -- the moderators certainly did, but he's polling better than Booker, O'Rourke, Klobuchar, and Castro! Buttegieg is everyones favorite pick for vp. Beto had some great moments. Biden was much more energetic than he was in the first two debates; I wouldnt count him out, either. But Warren really shown, and Bernie was on point as ever -- his defense of democratic socialism was powerful. I woulnt mind seeing them together on a ticket (if Burregieg didn't have a lock on it).
8
I have a feeling it's going to be a Biden/Booker ticket. What an interesting flip.
6
@Fromjersey
Yes, Biden for the independents and moderates, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. Booker for the youngins and African Americans.
2
@dba
Why are all these posters saying that Biden will take Michigan? Not even close! They went for Bernie in the last primary. They are not looking for Hillary 2.0 or even Obama 2.0.
2
So Castro's vile and aggressive attack on Biden has been fact-checked as false, and he enters the Harris category of pols who will say anything.
43
The biggest impediment to a well functioning democracy are many critical complex problems. Politicians must offer simplistic explanations an simplistic resolutions or the public tunes them out. It means that the same problems keep returning because the simplistic approach makes it inevitable. The electorate wants to feel it, even if it’s irrelevant.
4
For the Biden supporters complaining about Castro’s comments, what in God’s name do you think will happen if Biden is against TRUMP?? This is why I’m convinced he will lose in a general election. He crumbles under criticism. Legacy or not I have no idea how anyone could look at Biden after tonight and not realize he is completely in over his head. Also, for anyone making an argument of ageism, Bernie was excellent.
76
@RSK
As far as "party" elder's (Bernie is only conveniently a Democrat when he runs for President") both Bernie and Joe, falter on words and well worn banners ... but Elizabeth, she remains sharp and ready and politely, fully engaged.
18
@RSK -- I didnt think Biden crumbled at anything. Castro just hurt himself with his mean, cheap shot. As for debating Trump, why does everyone think Trump is such a formidable debater? He just barks insults. And Biden is a lot harder to attack for being an "extreme liberal."
7
I thought Biden handled Castro well. Did broad smile and gave off "what was that" sentiment. It was good recovery from bulldog attack. Biden's going to need practice going against Trump.
12
@TWShe Said
The debate with Trump will not matter. It's the personality that will count. Trump will always have his base that will follow him off a cliff and swoon at his insults and viciousness. Most of the electorate will gravitate towards Biden's warmth and empathy.
Hillary handled Trump quite well in the debates, but she still lost because too many did not connect to her and hated her more than they hated Trump.
6
"I led the opposition to the war in Iraq." - Sen. Bernie Sanders
Yet another example of his towering failures...
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
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@Rev. E. M. Camarena, PhD
Towering failures? Even Colin Powell warned “you break it, you own it.” Smart people knew it was a mistake. It’s certainly not safer over there, now that they have removed Saddam.
3
@rebecca1048: Wow, you sure did miss the point. The senator's opposition was as much a failure as the Cheney/Bush war itself.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
2
Donald Trump is winning
6
@MoneyRules
We know...so much winning:
the Trade War with China
convincing sane people he’s the “least racist” person there is
the love of Kim Jong-Un
the battle with English grammar
a job with Putin
an agreement with the Taliban
Sharpie-gate
the wall Mexico will pay for
more revenue for the Turnberry
the most lies told in a single minute, hour, month, year and presidential term
the respect of allies
erudition — yuge, bigly, covfefe, boneheads
the inner workings of the mind of a stable genius
bringing coal miners’ jobs back
a great healthcare plan for all citizens
and on and on and on
6
What was with the thick accent of the Latino moderator? And does he think all Latinos care only about illegal immigration and the circumstances of Venezuela?
20
This was a great debate! Such fantastic candidates we have! How lucky we are! (My favorite, an underdog, Cory!!)
7
Biden-Klobuchar
10
I’ve never hated politicians so much in my life. What a nightmare.
It’s beyond the point when it may have mattered about the actual substance of what these candidates are putting forward. What matters, in effect, is to what degree each of their words can be used to pigeonhole them for rest of the campaign.
I’d say that this resembled the fall of the Weimar Republic, but as I understand it, their educational standards far exceeded what we’re working with.
12
@ubique
Whose intelligence are you questioning — that of voters, the candidates or your own?
Are you’re using these debates as the only method of choosing a candidate? Or is Twitter your favored medium? It’s kind of surprising that someone who is everywhere can only look to the past when thinking of the future.
2
@Dunn Arceneaux
I think at this point it may be fair to call our collective understanding of the concept of intelligence itself into question, so my criticism does not exclude myself.
But as we all know, Medium.com is the message, and history is best left forgotten.
@ubique
History moves us forward, but it can also hold us back if not interpreted correctly.
P. S. Sorry about your nightmare — my daydream was more fulfilling.
Record player.
Biden's trying to show off how neo-cool he is.
He should just be himself, and say gramophone.
13
Your not so hip either. There not called records any more. It’s vinyl dude.
6
Listening to the positions taken in this debate, it's clear that Sanders won the Democratic primary for 2016. His agenda and his positions now drive the discourse and I truly believe he doesn't care about winning this primary either - he wants to seed change for a new Democratic party that will be honest and true to its professed values. Biden on the other hand, appears to be running on defending the failed legacy of a broken party that lost its relevance decades ago. Warren was spectacular - she's the future front runner and Sanders will champion her.
79
Joe Biden is confused and rambling. Bernie Sanders is focused and sharp. Warren is sparkling.
173
Biden has the foreign policy knowledge that the rest just don’t show. Few of the electorate have bothered to read about and to study history and foreign policy. It allows candidates with thin understanding to still seem knowledgeable to most voters. But if one has the knowledge ten those who know and who don’t stand out. The war in Afghanistan is a hair ball which we cannot win but we dare not abandon. If we do, the next manifestation of Islamist terrorists will strike out freely from there. It’s not a state but an ancient collection of tribes and diverse cultures. The Taliban is not a single entity but more like a confederation of groups joined to oppose the government in Kabul. Pakistan and India and Iran and China are all stakeholders who are all involved one way or another.
There is not much daylight between any of the candidates with regards to domestic issues, although within this group they seem to think they have widely different views.
The presentation offered voters a pretty clear picture of what the Democrats are going to run with during the primaries. It’s going to be higher paying jobs, resolving trade disputes, restoring relations with allies, universal health care, eliminating energy systems based upon fossil fuels, undoing all effects of racism, reducing wealth inequality by radical redistribution, eliminating guns used to murder people, and to do so by executive order and legislative majorities. They are convinced that they have popular support.
8
Biden has the foreign policy experience and knowledge, but he voted for the disastrous Iraq war...
1
@John That was asked on the info that Bush gave out. Many voted for that war. AND regretted it. We should have attacked Saudi Arabia But they were Bush's friends.
1
Robert Francis O’Rourke a/k/a “Beto” — Someone poke a fork in him. He’s done.
19
Personal rather than policy attacks among Democrats turn off most Democratic and independent voters, period. What idiots are advising candidates like Castro? He just sunk his own ship, and I donated to him!
36
He came off as a real jerk.
14
Attacking each other just gives Trump ammunition. He will use whatever bad things he hears against the Democratic candidate. They need to be bringing up Trump's bad memory, not Biden's. Tearing each other down only gives Trump and other Republicans ideas.
13