Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
On the Democratic Debate
Esta noche, vi el debate presidencial Demócrata. Lo siento … Tonight, I watched the Democratic presidential debate. Bilingual statements in broken Spanish (and broken English) were a theme, as were dire warnings on climate change, attacks on Trump, and a general thrashing of Beto. In summary, I’ll second the President:
BORING!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2019
Whether you supported Trump in the primaries or not, at least he made the debates interesting. None of the ten candidates on tonight’s stage lit a fire in the public imagination or gave them a reason to sit through the two-hour event.
Standing behind the lecterns were Cory Booker, Julián Castro, Bill de Blasio, John Delaney, Tulsi Gabbard, Jay Inslee, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Tim Ryan, and Elizabeth Warren. If you asked “who?” after at least five of those candidates, you weren’t alone.
Ohio Rep. Ryan promoted the need for a working-class party that doesn’t pander to the coasts or play identity politics. It was nice knowing you, Congressman. Former Maryland Rep. John Delaney also hewed centrist, stressing his business experience. However, one eagle-eyed viewer was distracted by his resemblance to a popular cartoon character.
#DemDebate pic.twitter.com/AeNPOR7wU5
— jon gabriel (@exjon) June 27, 2019
O’Rourke looked like a child lost in a department store; his clammy fear wasn’t helped by the haymakers thrown by NYC Mayor de Blasio and former San Antonio Mayor Castro. Beto has devolved from last year’s media darling to this year’s punching bag. He doesn’t know what to make of it.
Like Beto and Julián, Booker also flaunted his rudimentary understanding of español while stressing inner-city poverty and, oddly, trans politics. Seems a rather niche issue to repeatedly return to. Castro one-upped him in the pandering department, however, scoffing at the idea of mere reproductive rights since he wants “reproductive justice” for trans Americans. Whatever the hell that means.
Washington Gov. Inslee focused exclusively on the “climate crisis,” while Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard made waves among the non-intervention set. She wasn’t queried about her apparent respect for Syria’s Assad, yet demanded America bring back her fellow servicemembers and keep them here. (She also won the Google primary.)
Minnesota Sen. Klobuchar attempted a zinger by calling Trump “all foam and no beer,” which fell as flat as week-old can of Hamm’s. Her workmanlike performance was dull but avoided falling to either extreme of her party.
That leaves current media favorite Elizabeth Warren who stood centerstage. The NBC hosts gave her a remarkable amount of time early in the proceedings, but as the debate dragged on she was less and less visible. I forgot she was on stage for the last 30 minutes.
Since few voters made it the whole two hours, I doubt that will hurt her much.
Published in General
It was eating the “regenerative” dirt that did it.
I can’t stop thinking about Castro’s support of the right to abortions for “transwomen” thing.
Jimmy McMillan’s “Rent is Too Damn High Party” is better suited to govern than any of these bozos.
He was Obama’s choice; it’s no wonder that he’s imploded.
I agree — boring.
Percentage of Americans who identify as transgender: 0.6%
Percentage of Americans who live in a home with a gun: 41%
Percentage of Americans who want abortion restrictions after the 1st Trimester: 65%
Percentage of Americans who want illegal aliens deported: 64%
That’s a hard center to run to if the primary season starts like this.
You know who would know about that:
What does that map tell us? That the overwhelming number of debate watchers thought Tulsi was cute and Googled her for more pictures. And Southern blacks were looking up Cory Booker wanting to know if the brother was gay.
I love how Oklahoma needs to search for Liz Warren. The opposite of Massachusetts. Who’s this lady? Wasn’t she my third grade teacher?
It’s the Cherokee connection.
Can’t wait for the sniffy cries of ‘unpresidential’.
Cory Booker was fantastic. He talked about hearing gunshots all the time in his hometown of Newark. Why, somebody he knew was just killed by an assault rifle last week.
Dude, you’re New Jersey’s Senator. If you’re talking about solving the entire nation’s gun violence problem, it’s probably not politically wise to bring up the fact that the state who elected you has a serious gun violence problem.
I want him to win just to watch Trump eat him alive.
Was it T-bone?
Thanks for taking that bullet @Jon Gabriel. I’m a Conservative so I’ve naturally unimpressed with Democrat candidate fields for decades but this year, wow! Talk about underwhelming.
Folks in OKC wanted to see if the crazy lady was from Tulsa, and the folks in Tulsa were doing the opposite.
So I take it the “robots are going to steal our jobs so we need a Universal Basic Income” guy didn’t make the cut?
We all loved all our elementary school teachers. Except THAT one. THAT one you remember, and still shudder. And Liz Warren reminds everyone of THAT one.
Figuratively or literally? I will be disappointed when it is figurative.
Right there with ya. I’ve never been a fan of freak shows, so…
A concise summary of the Democratic platform from last night…
“Castro one-upped him in the pandering department, however, scoffing at the idea of mere reproductive rights since he wants “reproductive justice” for trans Americans. Whatever the hell that means.”
Easy.
That men get to murder their unborn children too.
Wonder how many googled Booker and learned all about “T-Bone”….
Must be all the Cherokee in Oklahoma who didn’t know she was a cousin….
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/06/25/new-york-new-jersey-least-patriotic/
I thought he solved all those problems while he was mayor . . .
One of the hosts of Smart Girl Politics thinks he is. The guy even has a bread on standby (forgot what her name is).
The truth be known, blacks are the least likely group to vote for a gay candidate . . .
I think you mean “piñata“.
Thanks for doing the heavy lifting so we didn’t have to . . .
The Ricochet live chat was more interesting than the “debate”.
5 Conservative tweets that perfectly sum up the first night of the 2020 democrat debate …