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Dem Debate Wrap-up: October in Ohio
Twelve candidates. Three hours. And one guy dumb enough to watch it.
CNN and the New York Times teamed up Tuesday night for the latest cattle call. The contestants were Biden, Booker, Buttigieg, Castro, Gabbard, Harris, Klobuchar, O’Rourke, Sanders, Warren, Yang, and in his first debate appearance, businessman Tom Steyer. They met in Ohio at Otterbein University, which apparently is a real school.
For the first time, candidates focused most of their attacks on Sen. Elizabeth Warren instead of Joe Biden. Her polling rise to second-place has its disadvantages. Warren gave a typically polished performance, promising free-this and free-that, but kept dodging the trillions in tax hikes required. Instead, she promised that the ultra-rich will pay for everything.
“If we put a two-cent tax on their 50 millionth and first dollar, and on every dollar after that,” Warren said, “we would have enough money to provide universal childcare for every baby in this country, age zero to five, universal pre-K for every child, raise the wages of every childcare worker and preschool teacher in America, provide for universal tuition-free college, put $50 billion into historically black colleges and universities…”
The moderator cut her off at that point and hopefully handed her a calculator.
When Warren flatly refused to say “yes” or “no” to raising everyone’s taxes, other candidates called her out. “This is why people here in the Midwest are so frustrated with Washington in general and Capitol Hill in particular,” Pete Buttigieg said. “Your signature, Senator, is to have a plan for everything. Except this.”
But CNN still likes what Warren’s selling, even protecting her from certain attacks. Tulsi Gabbard masterfully took down Kamala Harris in her last appearance and, on Tuesday, aimed for Warren.
“I’d like to start with Sen. Warren,” Gabbard asked, “what her experience and background is to serve as commander-in-chief.” CNN cut her off mid-sentence and broke for a commercial. Considering the anti-Tulsi hit pieces by both CNN and the New York Times, their treatment was unsurprising.
Castro, Yang, and Gabbard had a good night but the moderators gave them so little time, viewers likely forgot they were on stage.
Biden was his usual clunky self, fumbling phrases and gaffeing it up, but maintained his energy for all 180 minutes. (No small feat if you watched the first debate.)
He promised, “I would eliminate the capital gains tax — I would raise the capital gains tax to the highest rate, of 39.5 percent,” and said he “was able to end Roe” before abruptly praising abortion.
Even so, with all the pie-in-the-sky promises being dished out, Biden seemed like the only sober guy at the bar. He focused on legislation that could actually be accomplished instead of promising free sex changes to border-crossing leprechauns.
For being fresh off a heart attack, Bernie Sanders was still yelling about billionaires, attacking them in every answer. Review any Sanders debate line since 1927 and you’d end up with his argument Tuesday night.
Sanders reassured supporters that he’s up for the job healthwise and closed the evening with a rare moment of gratitude for his colleagues’ “love, for their prayers, for their well wishes.” After a zillion-year career of nonstop complaining, the moment was jarring and welcome.
Trump’s abandonment of Kurdish allies in Syria drew further contrasts between the candidates. In his answer, Biden sounded like he wanted to invade Syria and Turkey. Gabbard called for an end to “regime-change wars” while fellow veteran Buttigieg said we should have stayed the course.
“The slaughter going on in Syria is not a consequence of America’s presence,” he replied, “it’s a consequence of a withdrawal and betrayal by this president of American allies and values.”
Beto O’Rourke remains the ever-shrinking candidate. He confirmed his plan to eliminate every AR-15 in America but still has no clue how to accomplish it. “We don’t go door-to-door to do anything in this country to enforce the law,” O’Rourke said. “I expect Republicans, Democrats, gun-owners, non-gun-owners alike to respect and follow the law.”
Surprisingly, Julián Castro gave Beto a nearly libertarian response. “In the places that I grew up in, we weren’t exactly looking for another reason for cops to come banging on the door.”
Cory Booker kept to his peacemaker role. “I’ve had the privilege of working with or being friends with everybody on this stage,” he said, “and tearing each other down because we have a different plan to me is unacceptable.” At this point, Booker’s campaigning to be vice president.
Oh, and Amy Klobuchar was there. She was fine. She’s always fine. She just never says anything memorable.
Not fine was Tom Steyer. It’s unclear how he ended up on stage instead of the dozen other no-chance Dems, but he made zero impact.
Beto is the first person I’ve heard take the old joke “if you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns” and propose to make it governmental policy.
Go home, Beto. Your cornbread ain’t done in the middle yet.
Buttigieg, Yang, and Gabbard were all pretty strong. Klobuchar did surprisingly well after a couple of lackluster performances. Booker seemed to remember he was most popular when he projected sunniness. O’ Rourke was pathetic. Steyer had nothin’, besides being anti-Trump. Castro was marginally better than last time, but–eh. Harris keeps affecting African-American speech patterns that she surely did not learn at home (mother from India; father from Jamaica).
In the top three: Sanders was sharper and more energetic than before. When people say “At least Bernie is honest”, it sounds condescending, but it’s accurate; compared to dishonest leftists like Harris, it stands out. Biden didn’t hurt himself, didn’t impress. Warren continues to be really irritating. I’m sick and tired of “personal” anecdotes that sound fake and pre-packaged. (To be fair, that isn’t just a Democrat affectation). Her smug act during last week’s LGBT town hall was repellent, utterly pleased with herself for no discernable reason, and I’m one of the few Ricochetti in favor of same sex marriage.
Thank you for watching so I didn’t have to… and the real question is will Trump get a bump.
It actually sounds like they didn’t do anything as bad as saying illegal aliens can have free healthcare, so this was probably a better debate for them, and Trump may not get that bump.
Oh well, the news from Moody’s is spectacular!
Beto expects non-gun owners to obey the law not to own guns? Clever.
I got a special contempt for the above phrase. If you say, ‘objectionable’ we get that you object to something, if you say any number of other things we understand what you mean.
‘Unacceptable’ means that you don’t accept something, and therefore you’re gonna…not believe it happened?
‘Unacceptable’ is something you say to people you have authority over. If you use it in the Booker fashion you are essentially declaring betahood.
Andrew Yang wore a “math” lapel pin. He’s such a nerd.
Beto looks across the river at the law enforcement situation in Juarez from his home in El Paso and sees it as a ‘how-to’ guide.
If you have to signal nerdishness, you’re a wannabe.
He’s paying for those microphones, Mr. Gabriel.
See now, here is where Bernie could have scored a twofer, reviving his status as the real peoples’ candidate being robbed by the establishment, by shouting when they came back from break that CNN was rigging the election again and demanding that Tulsi Gabbard being given equal time immediately to make her point.
Spartacus could have elevated his profile by throwing down the intersectional card on the “moderators” by demanding a Pacific Islander woman and veteran be allowed to speak.
Apparently, none of this crew can see past their own prep books.
The winners of these things are the ones who typically get the zingers in, spontaneously, or respond well to anything that’s not on the script. When you’re screamingly non-humorous, like Liz Warren, you only have one card to play, over and over.
It’ll work, though, as long as she doesn’t screw that up too bad. The networks like her.
What Sash said. I’m sure that reading your summary was much less painful.
I’ll take “Billionaire Donor” for 500 Alex….
Elizabeth Warren is jerky, pleading and hectoring at the same time. She’s way to reactive physically.
I’m unable to picture any of these candidates as an actual POTUS, except Biden, but if I were casting a movie he’d be my choice for the guy who’s a really bad President. As absurd as the idea of Trump as President may have been in 2015, I could still see him as a President. Some of the other GOP contenders looked Presidential. This crowd?
Kamala Harris has a head-tilt problem. She does not project leadership qualities.
The audience in the hall, and probably those at home started to get overwhelmed by the endless problems with conflicting solutions. I almost could here them lamenting, can’t we just go back to OMB, getting rid of Trump …and everything will be okay? This is too hard…
Biggest winner: the Trump campaign
Bernie is either crazier, or stupider than AOC.
Bernie Sanders New Green Deal
Some highlights
Reaching 100 percent renewable energy for electricity and transportation by no later than 2030 and complete decarbonization of the economy by 2050 at latest
The idiocy of this program is breathtaking.
A breakdown of this nonsense available here.
Does he know that marijuana use is not carbon-neutral?
It’s the cheekbones.
He has had a lot more practice.
Don’t you remember thhe SSM flame wars here, Gary? Seemed to me we were about half and half. And some of the opposers were opposed to any governmental marriage recognition.
Warren and the rest of the bunch had the same talking points they have every campaign – and yet, when they’re in charge, they accomplish none of it, except multi-gender bathrooms. Maybe because none of it is achievable, desirable or fair – a disheveled pile of nothingness.
I do love a good sense of humor. A lot of the piece made me smile, but that actually made me laugh.
Even so, one does now need to ask… what do you have against leprechauns looking for their pot of free hormones and new sex organs, Jon??? Huh? Huh? If it’s their American Dream, then why shouldn’t you pay for it???
Anti-magic-ist.
Thank you for clarifying the last point.
Same sex marriage is freedom. In a world of slavery, indenture, crown preference, and debtor prisons, the Declaration of Independence set forth economic freedoms (Locke’s entitlement to all of life, liberty and pursuit of property, ergo Jefferson’s happiness). In contrast, the Bill of Rights is broader and deals with personal freedom – expression, thought, and belief. Same sex marriage is personal freedom, with implications for economic freedom (marriage status conveys economic and personal rights and obligations legislated and adjudicated by the state).
We should be free to live our lives according to our beliefs unless those beliefs damage, harm or unduly impose upon others or society. How people live, love and have sex is generally not harmful to a society that possesses a strong sense of honesty, integrity, self-discipline, responsibility, and accountability – i.e. mature adults. When it comes to sex, the compulsive nature of sexual behavior requires we protect those who might be exploited, but not those who are of the age of maturity and exercising free-will.
At the same time we must not compel people to participate in rituals if they choose otherwise. Relatively few will fall into this latter category as they voluntarily restrict their own economic and personal freedom (their business and social association) to avoid the affair. Access to bakeries is a public conveyance, decorative art on a wedding cake is not. Let the laws of economics and choice determine the outcome of such narrow issues, as the Declaration of Independence intended.
He’s obviously not aware of what’s happened in countries where owners were told to register their guns – massive non-compliance. And why? Because registration is the first step, confiscation the next.
Jon,
My personal wrapup on the debate.
Through the absurd idiocy of Elizebeth Warren, the Democratic Party is now firmly committed to hard socialism. Venezuela here we come. Beto O’Rourke has been so kind as to clear up the real Democratic Party’s intention on the 2nd Amendment and Religion in America. The Democratic Party, the first chance it gets, will confiscate guns. The Democratic Party, the first chance it gets, will destroy Freedom of Religion by simply destroying Religion. Those too shy to bring out the Free Exercise Clause argument had better limber it up quick. All of the Democrats have signed on to the extreme environmental position in which the economy will be sacrificed to solve an imaginary problem.
Finally, the Democratic Party is fine with the most repulsive form of child abuse yet conceived that of gender mutilation.
I recommend that the Republican Party start an AD campaign of very short very inexpensive ADs that quickly makes voters aware of these new clear radical stances that the Democratic Party is now wholly subscribed to. Credit should be given where credit is due. The Democrats are now the Party of complete insanity. Let’s let everybody know.
Regards,
Jim
We need a comprehensive microphone buyback program to keep Beto from talking anymore. Enough is enough. How many more bad takes need to be made before we stop this madness?
I want him to keep talking. He is the id of the Democratic Party.
He was designed in a lab by the Koch brothers to act as an agent provocateur. If we had stronger political parties these days the DNC would have cut him off months ago.
The abrupt Gabbard cut-to-commercial could have been an SNL bit. Only thing I laughed at harder was the Nats’ first inning.
Warren’s marketing hook is brilliant “I have a plan” but she lives in a world where if asked about details or a “and then what” she’s like “well, I’ll have to go look at it”
She has a narrative problem, and a bigger one than people prone to support her think. White liberals are all on board with another Wilsonian autocrat who is smart so they can turn to people like us and say “see, we’re the smart ones.” Her whole campaign image and selling point is that the system is rigged against you the little guy.
But her personal tales of struggle are all based on lies or ways she’s gamed the same system to get ahead of the little guys doing things the right way.
She wasn’t fired due to a pregnancy, and she rose above her station by lying about her ethnicity. She was never a victim and worse yet, she stole someone else’s
Which is why I cringe when I see someone like Jonathan V Last of the Bulwark, he of the virtuous wing of Conservatism, who opined this morning:
So let’s clear a couple things up: I’m not anti-Warren by any means. I like her!
I thought it was that road in Germany where you can drive really fast.