We had so much fun watching the debate together last time, I thought we’d do it again.
I’ll share my thoughts before the debate begins, but I want to hear from you first. What are you looking for tonight? Which candidate needs a good debate the most? What issues do you want to hear about?
Feel free to leave any questions in the thread, and I’ll try to get to them.
I think Biden and Harris need a good debate, or it is over. I'd love to see clarity on issues of religious freedom. I was pretty concerned with some of the LGBTQIA Town Hall comments. Also, I'd like to see candidates pressed to ensure their responses are truthful, and not simply pandering to the audience. I was impressed that Klobuchar responded honestly to the question about legalizing sex workers. She seems consistently truthful in her responses despite the audience. I expect Beto to be fed to the wolves. And I think he probably deserves it.
I'll be missing our Colorado candidate. I'm looking for some statements that say there's a place for people of traditional faith values in the party. Last week's debate left me feeling like we're the enemy rather than part of the team.
I keep waiting for Booker to have his moment and I hope tonight is the night. Especially after the O'Rourke townhall comment, I think Booker can really lean into his deep ties to religion to make some insightful comments.
Really not wise for Biden to end his answer there saying Trump is attacking him because he knows Biden will beat him. He's fortunate the moderator moved the conversation, as he invited a pile-on there.
I'll note that many Democrats are sharing their view that Ohio is out of reach for Democrats, and we ought to move on. I disagree, and would love to hear a discussion about what kind of Democratic Party we need to be able to win in Ohio.
Such great comments so far. Here's what I'm looking for tonight:
1. Much of the commentary has suggested that a focus in this debate on Trump's attacks on Biden and his family would be bad for Biden. I disagree. One of the most helpful things for Biden would be for the first 30 minutes of this debate to focus in on Trump v. Biden as if Biden has the nomination already and the general election has already started. Barring a major flub, Biden benefits from being able to defend himself against a president who is uniquely discredited among Democrats.
2. Do other candidates continue to honor Warren's detente, or do we finally see sustained critiques of her?
3. My expectations for a nuanced discussion of religious freedom are pretty low for this debate. My guess would be that the moderator will let the candidates off with just affirming that churches won't be forced to officiate same-sex weddings, and the sweeping implications for religious freedom of their other proposals around LGBT rights will go mostly unexamined. A few caveats on this: Tulsi might stir this up! Don't forget she wrote an op-ed back in the Spring accusing some Democrats of religious bigotry. Also, the NYT editorial board was very vocal on religious exemptions during the Obama years, and so don't be surprised if they address this from the left, and try to get the candidates to reject the idea of religious exemptions. Expect Buttigieg to jump in first. Expect Biden to hang back, if he can, and see how this all plays out.
4. Speaking of Buttigieg, it's possible Buttigieg and Beto both have a rough night, as oddly they've come under the most fire in the days leading up to this debate. You also get the sense that there is some deep antagonism between the Buttigieg, Beto, Booker and Castro camps and all four of them really shouldn't be in this race come mid-January.
Would love to hear some more in depth explanation and analysis of the different positions on splitting up the big tech companies (and how it relates to capitalism vs. democratic socialism, something I don't understand very well) on either of your two podcasts!
Biden's laugh when Warren name-checked Obama to pointedly deny Biden credit for getting the CFPB done! Warren's trying not to attack but that was pretty obvious.
I'm here for Mayor Pete asking to get away from partisan combat, too.
I think there are some very solid VP candidates in this field, but I'm only marginally optimistic about the chances of one of the three current front-runners to take on Trump.
With 12 candidates, it just feels like there are too many "storylines" and the constant jockeying from everyone down from Biden/Warren/Sanders is already wearing on me.
Hi Michael, my top issue is Universal Basic Income. Right now, only Yang is talking about it. I like it because UBI directly addresses inequality and gives power to people to solve their own problems rather than coming up with another government program.
Quite a line: https://twitter.com/MariaTeresa1/status/1184278071345594369
Hey! A UBI question!
Senator Harris trying to pick up where Gillibrand left off
I think Biden and Harris need a good debate, or it is over. I'd love to see clarity on issues of religious freedom. I was pretty concerned with some of the LGBTQIA Town Hall comments. Also, I'd like to see candidates pressed to ensure their responses are truthful, and not simply pandering to the audience. I was impressed that Klobuchar responded honestly to the question about legalizing sex workers. She seems consistently truthful in her responses despite the audience. I expect Beto to be fed to the wolves. And I think he probably deserves it.
I'll be missing our Colorado candidate. I'm looking for some statements that say there's a place for people of traditional faith values in the party. Last week's debate left me feeling like we're the enemy rather than part of the team.
I keep waiting for Booker to have his moment and I hope tonight is the night. Especially after the O'Rourke townhall comment, I think Booker can really lean into his deep ties to religion to make some insightful comments.
Sanders missed his calling as a comic.
well...it looks like Booker is doubling down on abortion. Ugh.
OK, folks! What did you think? Who stuck out to you tonight?
Really not wise for Biden to end his answer there saying Trump is attacking him because he knows Biden will beat him. He's fortunate the moderator moved the conversation, as he invited a pile-on there.
Mayor Pete the first to talk directly to the viewer, to the voter.
Great little stat from Castro about OH, PA, MI losing jobs in last economic report.
I'll note that many Democrats are sharing their view that Ohio is out of reach for Democrats, and we ought to move on. I disagree, and would love to hear a discussion about what kind of Democratic Party we need to be able to win in Ohio.
OK. The debate starts now!
Such great comments so far. Here's what I'm looking for tonight:
1. Much of the commentary has suggested that a focus in this debate on Trump's attacks on Biden and his family would be bad for Biden. I disagree. One of the most helpful things for Biden would be for the first 30 minutes of this debate to focus in on Trump v. Biden as if Biden has the nomination already and the general election has already started. Barring a major flub, Biden benefits from being able to defend himself against a president who is uniquely discredited among Democrats.
2. Do other candidates continue to honor Warren's detente, or do we finally see sustained critiques of her?
3. My expectations for a nuanced discussion of religious freedom are pretty low for this debate. My guess would be that the moderator will let the candidates off with just affirming that churches won't be forced to officiate same-sex weddings, and the sweeping implications for religious freedom of their other proposals around LGBT rights will go mostly unexamined. A few caveats on this: Tulsi might stir this up! Don't forget she wrote an op-ed back in the Spring accusing some Democrats of religious bigotry. Also, the NYT editorial board was very vocal on religious exemptions during the Obama years, and so don't be surprised if they address this from the left, and try to get the candidates to reject the idea of religious exemptions. Expect Buttigieg to jump in first. Expect Biden to hang back, if he can, and see how this all plays out.
4. Speaking of Buttigieg, it's possible Buttigieg and Beto both have a rough night, as oddly they've come under the most fire in the days leading up to this debate. You also get the sense that there is some deep antagonism between the Buttigieg, Beto, Booker and Castro camps and all four of them really shouldn't be in this race come mid-January.
5. HOW DOES TOM STEYER DO?!?!?!?
Alright, fam. Let's do this.
Harris makes an interesting juxtaposition between "created function" and "autonomy."
Would love to hear some more in depth explanation and analysis of the different positions on splitting up the big tech companies (and how it relates to capitalism vs. democratic socialism, something I don't understand very well) on either of your two podcasts!
I think it's pretty cool that Warren's brothers are still Republicans.
Biden's laugh when Warren name-checked Obama to pointedly deny Biden credit for getting the CFPB done! Warren's trying not to attack but that was pretty obvious.
I'm here for Mayor Pete asking to get away from partisan combat, too.
Finally Liz Warren takes the monopoly discussion to campaign finance...
Has there been a substantive health care discussion yet?
Am I understanding correctly that religious liberty and tax exemption hasn't come up yet?
I iust turned this on after the soccer match. Has it all been this disjointed? Why did Beto and Mayor Pete get 10 minutes of 1v1 on guns?
Is there a strategy behind so much focus on Trump? Or is it just low-hanging fruit?
Warren makes a great point about billionaires building their wealth with the help of the rest of the American society. No one is self made!
Go Amy!
Is having Steyer on the stage good or bad for the legitimate contenders?
I think Beto will need to be careful his last few statements have very much turned off conservatives and Democrats of faith such as me.
How do you think Bernie stepping away for health reasons will be addressed? I'm guessing a moderator will be the first to bring it up.
I think there are some very solid VP candidates in this field, but I'm only marginally optimistic about the chances of one of the three current front-runners to take on Trump.
With 12 candidates, it just feels like there are too many "storylines" and the constant jockeying from everyone down from Biden/Warren/Sanders is already wearing on me.
Hi Michael, my top issue is Universal Basic Income. Right now, only Yang is talking about it. I like it because UBI directly addresses inequality and gives power to people to solve their own problems rather than coming up with another government program.