Democratic Debate #1 June 2019

The cast of characters:
4 current or former Congressmen/women: O’Rourke, Gabbard, Delaney, Ryan
3 Senators: Klobuchar, Booker, Warren
2 Mayors: Castro, de Blasio
1 Governor: Inslee

Gabbard has recently lost a lot of my interest, but still interested to see if she can surprise me.

O'Rourke had a debacle recently, suggesting families without service personnel in active wars shuld pay a war tax. I wonder if anyone has told him our tax money already pays plenty for wars...

Klobuchar might be the most conservative tonight - which will be interesting to see if she goes up or down because of it.

I think Delaney is an idiot musclehead. He promises to attack Bernie.

I know Warren is a favorite. I don't trust her to do anything she says.

De Blasio says a lot of stuff that sounds smart to me, but again. No trust.

I wonder if anybody has any ideas about what to do at the border and if anyone has commitment statements about addressing climate control meaningfully.

I have increased respect for Booker, but he comes off like a grandstander.

Getting close to time.

Beto spends most of his time speaking Spanish.

Everyone suddenly sounds like Bernie, but all the questions are based on Bernie's plans not working.

Castro gets points for ERA. Why in hell is that still not done?

Gabbard sounded great - anti-war.
De Blasio came out strong and progressive, but I don't believe him. What's he done?

Liz is scoring big points for leading in green energy and green jobs. I watched a magnificent documentary on it. It's the future, and it needs to start now.

Bernie has dragged this party left! I wish I believed any of these leftier people would commit to their plans.

Booker, Warren, Castro, Gabbard, and De Blasio talk impressively.
The others are too conservative.

Beto seems a little crazy.

Castro is attacking Beto. Not sure who looks worse.

Tim Ryan just doesn't resonate.
I can't stand Jay Inslee.

Did Savannah Guthrie forget to turn her mic off? Technical difficulties!

He wants to be king...er, I mean President. Seriously, he tries to present himself as a Progressive and even lists Bernie Sanders as a close friend. (Since when do friends try taking away the chance of a lifetime from another?)
He is environmentally unfriendly. A group of SUVs travel some 10 miles (each way) so he can still take a trip to Brooklyn where he is a gym member. It's at a YMCA. There are several closer locations which would not make a traffic nightmare or cause excessive polution.


What has he done? Mixed bag. Under his "leadership" NYC did get Pre-K for all. Free lunch for all . Rent increases have been at a smaller percentage than under his predecessor.

So, basically, DeBlasio knows how to campaign and talk. He also is a bit underhanded.

That's basically what I think of all of them. Several sounded great, but I could too if I just parroted everything Sanders has been saying.

There were some good moments.

Castro sort of won the thing if you go for who had the crowd, who came through with strong policies and made the most of their time.

Tulsi Gabbard was very strong with anti-war statements and clipped Ryan at the knees.

I hope Delaney, Ryan, and Klobuchar will go away.

Today, the fallout that I’m seeing is:
Beto is an idiot who can’t think on his feet.
Castro is going to get a bump and more funding, as is Tulsi.
Ryan, Delaney, Beto, Klobuchar, and Inslee should be dropping out soon.

TPM

And in further reference to the above...
BuzzFeed

If you watched the debate, you'd have to say that Gabbard was self-possessed, straight-forward, and commanding with foreign policy IF you are anti-war.

I realize a LOT of brigandage is afoot - especially from paid stooges by the elitist Biden donors and Hillaryites who feel a need to beat Bernie, so I guess some Trumpies might try to choose a D candidate they don't think can win. Certainly, that exact shite is why we have a president Trump - because Hillary's campaign elevated Trump, thinking she could beat him. We all saw how that went.

As you see, since I did a play by play, I mentioned when Tulsi did well. It wasn't fake.

Her primary problems - and she mentioned this one during the debate: she has a history of anti-gay feelings and, I think, action. She's repented since - if you believe her.

She met with Assad. Although that was a plus in my notebook, most people distrust her for it.

She cozied with Modi who is suspected widely of pretty damning behavior toward Muslims and Christians.

Some of this is without definitive proof, so I'm constantly getting splinters on the Tulsi fence.

But no one who is honest and has any sense of right and wrong can deny she rose to the top tier last night.

I'd say:

1. Castro
2. Warren (for just not vomiting on herself - which is all she really had to do)
3. Booker or Tulsi. (Booker talked a lot and didn't do poorly at all, but the few times Tulsi spoke - it mattered.)

I think Biden is going down.
Maybe Pete, too.
Kamala might dodge bullets because of the those disasters.

Williamson and Swalwell and Gillibrand should be confurmed as not ready for prime time tonight.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised but I am. Biden and Pete have skated so far.

My rubric just turned upside down: Marianne Williamson just called everybody else to account for what they are saying now with such urgency must be done... what have they BEEN DOING for years?

That’s MY line.

Kamala is having a good night. I like that she draws a distinction from Obama’s deportation policies.