There Was a Democratic Debate Last Night

I missed it, too.

These people watched, and I excerpted their Twitter comments.  Adam Johnson: Freelance, contributing write to Fair, Alternet et al.; Nicholas Kristof: journalist, NYT; Remi Kanazi: Poets for Palestine; David Johnson: OpEditor, Al Jazeera

Because it would be too hard to answer?

Apparently, Hillary made her claim that Sanders wants to destroy health care in America.

That might embarrass her.

Are you serious?  The pronunciation of a foreign name indicates knowledge of foreign affairs?  How about this, then:  Remember when Hillary Clinton gave the Russian Foreign Minister a "Reset" button to show how there would be new, friendlier relations with his country?  

  

Clinton said [...] she was presenting the gift because it "represents what President Obama and Vice President Biden and I have been saying and that is, 'We want to reset our relationship.' And so we will do it together."

[...]

"We worked hard to get the right Russian word. Do you think we got it?" Clinton asked Lavrov.

"You got it wrong," Lavrov said. "This says 'peregruzka,' which means overcharged."

  Fox

Yeah, they worked hard. They stole it from a hotel jacuzzi in Geneva.

Back to the "debate" - from the Guardian:

The candidates raced to the left on Wall Street, each arguing that their presidency would terrify financiers most. Sanders invoked Teddy Roosevelt and called for the dismantling of big banks, Clinton said she would build on the moderate Dodd-Frank regulation, and Martin O’Malley criticized her for taking hefty speaking fees from the finance industry.

[...]

Sanders said he wants universal healthcare – a trade of small tax increases for big insurance savings. Clinton said she would improve Barack Obama’s healthcare act – and not increase taxes on the middle class. O’Malley said he knows how to balance a budget and increase services.

Did those last two say how?

Clinton said the US has a problem of “systemic racism in our criminal justice system”, and that police departments should retrain to end racial profiling. Sanders didn’t disagree, though he had different priorities. He underscored the problem of mass incarceration, the “failure” of the war on drugs, and the militarization of police.

[...]

Everybody mostly agreed about foreign policy, too, saying the US should not get involved in a “quagmire” in the Middle East, and instead support allies.

Yeah, isn't that getting involved?

Sanders argued for the abolishment of big money from politics and a “revolution” to transform the US. Clinton jumped in to argue that she’s the only candidate who can get things done.

And she may well be right, considering her banker backing.

However, if we were actually electing presidents by vote - which I grant you, we do not - Sanders could well be the one to defeat a Republican candidate in November, by garnering the independent and conservative Republican votes.

And, to answer my unspoken question: Yep.  Martin O'Malley still exists.  Somebody is going to make sure he does, because it would look too obvious to just have Clinton and Sanders on stage.  Gotta love the American pretense of a strong democracy.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.