2020 Democratic Presidential Debate #1

yes, don’t drop Castro through the floor. He just changed my mind. He can stay. Let’s drop Beto, guy next to DiBlasio (Ryan), and tall grey haired union guy (Jay?). We can keep 7 after this round.

nan said:
 Yes, Castro is way more articulate than Beto, but so is an average 10 year old. 
DeBlasio  is trying to be far left , but he's not.

 He's on the far left on the stage.

guy far right seems likeable enough but he can go too. 

Crime to prosecute people who come here?

Kobuchar - "economic imperative"  She says we need people to start businesses - but she does not support M4A. 

Ryan:  No need - it's on the law already. Says terrorists in Guantano bay get better treament. Huh? This guy is awful.  Get him out. Now grandstanding.

About families

Booker:  talking about private prisons.  He's so appalled.  He's talking about values.  snooooze

Inslee: standard operating Dem answer just like the rest.  He's talking about Trump's muslim ban--grandstanding.  Not answering the question.  He's giving a speech.   Get him off.  Where is the hook? Still talking. . .. shut up.

Someone yells out about their grandfather. . .

STANV said:
Can we expect Pete Buttigiege to translate his comments into Norwegian tomorrow night?

 It would go over with Trump who wondered aloud why we don't have people immigrating from Norway.

Easy Iran question: They will all agree that we should still be in the Iran deal. Asking what they think about the deal??????  Stupid question.

Booker: Talking about Trump. Will try to get a better deal.

Klobuchar:  Talking about Trump.  Just like Booker.  

Gabbard.  Shoved in Hezbollah for her (of course--gotcha).  She's giving her Tulsi speech which is better than everyone else by a long shot.  GREAT ANSWER.  They try to corner her.  She nails it!!!!!

@nan, I'm going downstairs to grab another Corona so if you say one more mean thing about Cory, I may start typing in Spanish in all caps.

BREAK:

I'm listening to the Convo Couch analysis--they make the good point that the reason we have an refugee problem is because of our foreign policy.   No one answered this way--they thought Tulsi should have done that. 

Beto, Ryan, Inslee -- they think they suck and can't believe the Spanish.  They think they are 

Delaney - says private insurance is working for people -- because he's rich.

They think Booker is giving platitude after platitude.

They think DeBlasio & Castor did good.

Tulsi is helping herself greatly. I think those who had no idea who she was are learning and may be impressed.

Liz Warren is holding her own but I'm not sure about any of the others.

Guns, this is Cory's issue.

Technical problems.

Back (will they mention reparations?????)

No, recapping rules.  Here comes Rachel and Todd (ugh) - they can't get the mikes working.

School shooting - gun violence - high school shooting.  Should gov get guns off streets.  Another easy question. 

Warren: 

Ops technical glitch.

The question about guns should be easy but let's see how they handle it.

Gabbard really screwed the pooch on  the question about equal pay towards the beginning.  She didn't address the subject at all and instead went off on some meandering thing about foreign policy that had nothing whatsoever to do with the the question.

Was she really so ill prepared that she couldn't respond to what ought to have been a slow pitch softball?

Convo couch analysis (4 people):

Beto sucks and is making Castro look good.  He should be done.  One says they feel sorry for him and that he hates fundraising.  He's in over his head.  He should have run for senate instead of president. 

Also, think Ryan has to go.  No presence.  Klobuchar made some points but needs to go.  Inselee sucks too.  DeBlasio & Castro did good.  Booker is full of crap.  They think he has some nerve to talk about corproate consolidation when he supported Bain capital.  And he voted against the bill to lower drug costs. 

Bad answer Liz.

DeBlasio...blowhard...goodbye!

Delaney...interesting, but ZERO personality...goodbye!

Gabbard...has yet to answer a question...goodbye!

Castro...VERY interesting, but personality seems light...???

Inslee...who?...goodbye!

Beto...good Spanish, but no substance...goodbye!

Booker...weak Spanish, but holding his own.

Klobuchar...mostly ignored, but sounds measured and reasonable.

Ryan...Is he there?

Other than Warren, I don't know who's left!...tonight!

Klinker said:
Gabbard really screwed the pooch on  the question about equal pay towards the beginning.  She didn't address the subject at all and instead went off on some meandering thing about foreign policy that had nothing whatsoever to do with the the question.
Was she really so ill prepared that she couldn't respond to what ought to have been a slow pitch softball?

 I disagree. She did exactly what a candidate in her position should do. She is hardly scoring in Polls and unknown to most. She used her time to introduce herself to the American People and did a good job. What would she have accomplished by saying she is for equal pay for women? Who isn't?

On guns. Not an answer Castro. Love you but not much of an answer. Cory has the most extensive gun plan.. As for Ryan, he takes his kid hunting so let's get real.

Beto and inslee are lame, they should drop out tomorrow morning. Gabbard is weird and also lame. Ryan is invisible. Castro, booker trying hard but just ok.

Delaney sounds decent. Oddly enough, as no-hope as deblasio is, he may be doing best as far as beating expectations (which were super low).

Klobuchar is okay but meh-ish, she has no chance. 

Warren not killing it but not making any mistakes either. 

Dennis_Seelbach said:
DeBlasio...blowhard...goodbye!
Gabbard...has yet to answer a question...goodbye!

Yeah, what is it with DeBlasio?  He sounds hella angry but it is unclear as to why that is.  As for Gabbard, one gets the feeling she isn't very comfortable at unscripted events.  Neither of them are ready for prime time.

Klobuchar, another plug for the hunting tradition. So of course we need guns. Grrrr.

Yessss, Cory!

Back to guns:

Warren:  Telling stories about little kids.  Maudlin stories.  She is going on and on. . they have to give her a followup.  She's not really giving a good answer. . .going on saying nothing. . they can't get her off.

Booker:  Ask about his buy back plan.  He's hearing gun shots in his neighborhood.  Bragging about his bad neighborhood.  He gives his emotional story.  are they all going to give personal stories.  looks that way.  

Castro:  asked about active shooter drills - (easy question) - Will this get worse.  Oh, MORE PERSONAL STORIES.   Shut up - now we are going to have all Dems running everything.  Giving a speech - 

Easy question and none of them can answer this well.  

Ryan:  Trauma based caring - social and emotional learning.  bullied. connected kids -mental health counselor.  

Beto:  How you going to campaign in Texas for gun control:  Another personal story.  Who has the worst story.  Let's take a vote.  He says "weapons of war" just like Tulsi does.  Interesting--he's trying to sound like her now.  . . going on platitudes. . .word salad. . . 

30 secs to Klobuchar. - gun confiscation - Klobuchar - proud hunting and fishing family - Personal story  . . .they are cutting her off. . .

B

STANV said:

Klinker said:
Gabbard really screwed the pooch on  the question about equal pay towards the beginning.  She didn't address the subject at all and instead went off on some meandering thing about foreign policy that had nothing whatsoever to do with the the question.
Was she really so ill prepared that she couldn't respond to what ought to have been a slow pitch softball?

 I disagree. She did exactly what a candidate in her position should do. She is hardly scoring in Polls and unknown to most. She used her time to introduce herself to the American People and did a good job. What would she have accomplished by saying she is for equal pay for women? Who isn't?

 Being the progressive candidate, she should have had an answer to that very important question that did all of that.  Instead she went off on some sort of off topic rant about foreign policy which is pretty abstract to a lot of people who are wondering why their pay checks are 20% smaller than the guy across the aisle.  

It was an epic fail.

Smedley said:

Warren not killing it but not making any mistakes either. 

 She was very strong at the beginning. As the "front runner" against so many weak candidates, as long as she doesn't make a mistake she's good.

Give deblasio credit, he’s playing as if he has nothing to lose. And considering he’s <1%, that’s probably a good strategy. 

the problem with having 20 people is that you don’t get to hear enough from the actual contenders. This has to be fixed and soon. Let’s hope for early drop outs.

Morganna said:
Yessss, Cory!

 You said he was good with the gun policy, right?  Is this it?  He's talking about that and Supreme court too.  

Supreme Court nominees (dumb question)

DeBlasio: Getting back to guns since he wants to give HIS personal story.  Now on to Mitch McC - sounding Progressive . . .

Warren:  They are trying to get Warrren some time.  Mitch McC.  Do you have a plan to deal with Mitch McConnell.  Crowd goes wild (cause they are Warren supporters probably)

She is giving back ground. . . the fight still goes on.  Everyone we energize on the front lines. . .she's going on and on. . . 

Delaney:  (bipartisan manner--why do you think McC will work that way?)  He stands up for  bipartisan - He needs to drop out like yesterday.  He's awful.  Just get him off. . they are trying but he won't shut up.

Booker:  The Mitch question?  He's trying to out African American DeBlasio.  Liberation.  

Chuck Todd needs to accept the fact he's going bald.  Embrace it Chuck.