In Rock Hill, SC. Rachel Maddow to moderate. It’s down to Clinton, Sanders and O’Malley now, Webb and Chafee have dropped out and Biden never showed up.
I don’t predict a lot of fireworks – these three seem to understand that the best way to contrast themselves favorably to the Pub field is to be grownups acting like grownups.
O’Malley should be gone also. Take away the moderators too.
The advantage (and the risk) is that each of the participants will get a lot more time in the spotlight that the 10-person train wreck the Repubs are showcasing. It may mean that they run out of platitudes and canned speeches quicker and have to rely on…I know, it’s controversial…talking about the issues.
Like I say, it could work out to the participants benefit, but it also allows more time for one or more of them to say ‘the wrong thing’, (depending of course on what you think the wrong thing is).
We shall see.
I’m interested only to see how much offense Bernie will play. He says he’s going to attack her policies more aggressively. This debate needs to be a turning point for him or else he’ll be completely left in the dust. Even though his numbers are technically up, it’s only because Biden’s not polling anymore. The gap between Clinton and him has grown since the last debate.
Actually, this isn’t a debate, it’s a “forum” – the candidates won’t all be on stage at the same time. Essentially it’s each one of them being separately interviewed.
This is the forum added in response to complaints about the short debate schedule. (And to interject here, when it comes to Democratic primaries the more exposure the better for underdogs and also the eventual nominee so that should be the default. Period.) I think Ms Maddow is a solid choice for interviewer and I approve of the format. Not that we shouldn’t have actual debates (great idea TriPolar to lose the moderators) but in the meantime lets not pretend that what we do have qualifies as debates. (How in the hell did the Democratic Party get away with ditching the debates sponsored by the National Organization of Women?)
As a Sanders supporter I resent the minutes apportioned to Martin O’Malley who doesn’t even seem to bring a common sense issue like electoral reform or the metric system to the table. I hope he looks vice-presidential enough. For my candidate, this is his opportunity to gain some ground. Hillary won the last debate on the back of a prolonged negative media frame that lowered expectations such that media persons were actually questioning her basic political skills. A woman who got her husband to the White House…
So Senator Sanders has his work cut out for him. But it’s not hopeless. From now on Ms Clinton is the front runner expected to dispatch Bernie Sanders post haste. And remember that the post-debate Hillary bump was also post-punditry and includes people who watched only highlights of the debate. All three media focus groups (FOX, CNN, and Fusion) who gave their opinions in real time without the media filter picked Bernie Sanders as the big winner.
Obviously Hillary Clinton remains the prohibitive favorite but Bernie Sanders still has a chance if he can get his message out. The more people learn about him the more people seem to like him.
Just heard that my mother got a last minute ticket courtesy of the O’Malley campaign. I’m fairly sure she is in Hillary’s camp though. Kinda sad O’Malley wasn;t able to get his sahre of tickets out to his supporters.
Or maybe he did?
Mom has arrived at Rock Hill and is excited. I told her to get a question ready in case she gets to ask. I think she could make a good use of the opportunity.
And put in an octagon.
Good for Rachel Maddow to make it clear: “This a forum, not a debate”.
Filled knee-deep with Jell-O.
I feel so bad for her having to waste her time with Martin O’Malley.
Rachel does this better than anybody. It’s so nice to hear the candidates able to give detailed thoughtful responses to well posed questions without getting interrupted by the others. Both O’Malley and Sanders have done well so far, I’m sure Hillary will as well. O’Malley may get himself a veep nomination out of this.
Bernie knocked it out of the park! Very personable, very likable, and over all very good answers. The only issue I had with his segment was his ridiculous response on the guns issue.
Clinton and O’Malley came off as standard politicians, which is what they are.
I actually like O’Malley a great deal. Sure, many of his policies were questionable to say the least whilst he was governor of Maryland. But he seems very competent. After Bernie he would be my second choice as POTUS. Failing that I’m sure he would be an excellent VP.
Eta: which is the position he’s probably campaigning for at this point.
This is all useful experience for O’Malley. And I’m sure she wouldn’t consider her time wasted.
First, I didn’t realize this wasn’t a debate until I turned it on. So that was disappointing. Why did they have to gather in one building to do separarte interviews?
O’Malley was pretty good. I think he probably helped himself. He’s not as moderate as I thought. Pretty far left but sounds like he has a good record.
Sanders was endearing but his policy ideas are just too far out there. We’re gonna raise wages, raise corporate taxes and attract companies to the US. Looks great on paper.
And frankly, I thought Hillary was the most boring. She speaks only in generalities. She probably is the most moderate and, of the Democrats, most aligned with my own politics, but there’s not much substance there. Maybe she played it ultra safe because she’s got a comfortable lead and neither of the others launched a fierce attack.
It certainly wasn’t a debate. I was expecting a bit more at the end where they could at least all get the same questions.
I thought the questions were fair and tough, although the “choose an envelope” had some strange questions. I can see the GOP debate squad squawking that this wasn’t a debate (no, it wasn’t) and the questions were too easy (no, they weren’t).
I know I have no chance of marrying Rachel Maddow, but can I vote for her? President? Senator? Pope? She is so sharp, witty and intelligent that its seems she shouldn’t be on television.
I’d hardly heard of O’Malley but he impressed me very favorable here.
I especially liked the way he got angry when he talked about GWB’s war. Democrats, and Americans generally, need to be angry about such travesties. (If Americans weren’t so ignorant, they’d be too enraged to elect Republicans.)