Anybody else watch Democratic debate last night?

[rodeosweetheart]

I had gotten an invitation to go watch it as a Bernie Sanders event and really wanted to go, as we don't have cable and we don't get CBS. But there was a limit of 50 and by time I RVSP'd it was too late. I thought it would be fun to watch it with others and get other reactions to things.

Figured out how to watch it on Roku, which was really exciting, as the last election coverage I saw was only available on Al Jazheera and boy was that a weird experience (I used to watch election returns with reporters from the Chicago Tribune, which was great fun). So we got to see the debate last night, last 3/4 of it, since it took that long to figure out the Roku!

Did anybody watch it, and what did you think? I thought the questions were good, the part I saw, and the answers interesting and on point for the most part, although O'Malley seemed out of place.

[Alan]

I didn't have the opportunity to see it, although I wish I had. I understand CBS changed the focus of the debate to terrorism in-lieu of Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris, I'm disappointed that I missed it.

So, without first person knowledge of the debate itself, I can't help but be disappointed in the Democratic debate philosophy in general. They're only sanctioning 6 debates this cycle as opposed to the twenty-something of last cycle, and they're scheduled for Saturday evenings, where even non-cable outlets such as CBS was only able to draw a third of the audience the Republicans have been able to garner on cable outlets. This seems like a purposeful attempt to limit viewer participation, but maybe I'm biased.

CNN posted a summary video of the debate titled "The CBS Democratic Debate, in 2 minutes". I'm assuming it hit all the highlights.

http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/11/15/clinton-sanders-omalley-cbs-democratic-debate-two-minutes-origwx-js.cnn

[rodeosweetheart]

I didn't have the opportunity to see it, although I wish I had. I understand CBS changed the focus of the debate to terrorism in-lieu of Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris, I'm disappointed that I missed it.

So, without first person knowledge of the debate itself, I can't help but be disappointed in the Democratic debate philosophy in general. They're only sanctioning 6 debates this cycle as opposed to the twenty-something of last cycle, and they're scheduled for Saturday evenings, where even non-cable outlets such as CBS was only able to draw a third of the audience the Republicans have been able to garner on cable outlets. This seems like a purposeful attempt to limit viewer participation, but maybe I'm biased.

CNN posted a summary video of the debate titled "The CBS Democratic Debate, in 2 minutes". I'm assuming it hit all the highlights.

http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/11/15/clinton-sanders-omalley-cbs-democratic-debate-two-minutes-origwx-js.cnn


I found it very odd that it was so hard to view, too-- "a purposeful attempt to limit viewer participation"--yeah, it kind of seemed that way. And then to get the invitation to the viewing but that being limited to 50--I would think this would be a great opportunity for Sanders to get out the interested voters. So it was odd.

Because it took so long to figure out how to FIND CBSN on Roku, we missed the beginning, which I understand was the reconfigured part to address terrorism. By the time we got it to stream, at 9:30, they were on to other things.

Both Sanders and Clinton did very, very well, I thought, so I wonder why they are not promoting more viewing of the candidates.

[Alan]

I would think this would be a great opportunity for Sanders to get out the interested voters. So it was odd.
.........
Both Sanders and Clinton did very, very well, I thought, so I wonder why they are not promoting more viewing of the candidates.
I honestly believe the Democratic Party Apparatchiks are making every effort to diminish Clinton's competition. She's well enough known to every eligible voter that it doesn't make sense to assist in the promotion of others that most of the base know next to nothing about. It's one thing to have competition, it's another thing to give them free access to the hoi polloi.

When asked about debate frequency and schedules, the head of the DNC has defended the limited number by claiming to have consulted previous DNC chairs and coming to a consensus. Unfortunately, none of the previous DNC chairs can remember being consulted.I'm thinking Debbie Wasserman Schultz is auditioning for a post-political position with the Clinton Foundation.

[Gardenarian]

My husband watched it on his Ipad- he had to get the CBS app for it to work. I'm assuming it's still online, and maybe I'll borrow his Ipad to watch it.

[LDAHL]

Bernie was doing his usual the-game-is-rigged thing, and started talking about Hillary's Wall Street contributions. Her response was classic Clintonian bafflegab about their gratitude for her "help in rebuilding after 9/11" and some non-specific feminist pieties. I can kind of see why they'd want to bury the thing on Saturday night opposite the Iowa-Minnesota game.

[rodeosweetheart]

Bernie was doing his usual the-game-is-rigged thing, and started talking about Hillary's Wall Street contributions. Her response was classic Clintonian bafflegab about their gratitude for her "help in rebuilding after 9/11" and some non-specific feminist pieties. I can kind of see why they'd want to bury the thing on Saturday night opposite the Iowa-Minnesota game.

That 9-11 comment of hers was pretty awful, and had no bearing on anything. The questioner brought that up in a Twitter question, where someone pointed that out.

[catherine]

I watched some of it, and recorded it all (haven't watched it yet). Hillary is a masterful debater, but Bernie was pretty good, too.

I agree with Alan that the Dems are going to do whatever they can to to push Hil and minimize any opposition--I think one of you guys cited a CNN focus group that claimed Bernie to be the winner in the last debate, and then that headline was pulled.

DH is a Republican and at this point, he's feeling it's very, very likely that Hillary will be the next president, given the choice of Republican candidates at this point. If I were inclined to vote Republican (which I'm not), I think I'd vote for Rubio, but he's not big enough to stand up to the Clinton machine. Maybe only Trump is that strong, but the thought of him as the Republican nominee is truly incredible.

[LDAHL]

That 9-11 comment of hers was pretty awful, and had no bearing on anything. The questioner brought that up in a Twitter question, where someone pointed that out.

Bernie seems more comfortable with harangue than debate. You would think a more skilled opponent would have made more of the opportunity.

[Williamsmith]

Bernie is the token "chosen" opponent to Hillary. After all they have to have something that looks like a competition amidst the coronation of Clinton. Bernie being the chosen one is following the script. Shooting himself in the foot with his claim that climate change is the biggest threat even as blood is still drying in the streets of Paris. What a fool believes....he sees.

[Ultralight]

Bernie is the token "chosen" opponent to Hillary. After all they have to have something that looks like a competition amidst the coronation of Clinton. Bernie being the chosen one is following the script.

You are very right up to this point in your statement. So true!

[Rogar]

I thought Bernie did respectively well or even better than Hillary, although I'm not so sure that makes any difference. His marketing people need to counsel him on not coming off as a grumpy old fellow on a rant. I'm sort of pulling for some of his proposed policies, but by the end he had repeated how corrupt wall street is and how the elections are rigged by big money a few too many times.

[LDAHL]

Shooting himself in the foot with his claim that climate change is the biggest threat even as blood is still drying in the streets of Paris. What a fool believes....he sees.

He seems so fixated on his class war narrative that he's tone deaf to everything else. He couldn't even fake much expedient sympathy for Paris. I remember how Bill Clinton could summon up tears at will to signal how he felt your pain. That level of virtuoso hypocrisy is rare, but you would think a seasoned professional could display a higher level of meretriciousness.

[rodeosweetheart]

Bernie seems more comfortable with harangue than debate. You would think a more skilled opponent would have made more of the opportunity.
I know, right? He was also very red-faced, (which I think helps make him look "grumpy" as you said, Rogar, which does not look good--sort of like the sweating thing with Nixon in that debate.. .

[Ultralight]

I remember how Bill Clinton could summon up tears at will to signal how he felt your pain. That level of virtuoso hypocrisy is rare...

LOL!

[catherine]

I know, right? He was also very red-faced, (which I think helps make him look "grumpy" as you said, Rogar, which does not look good--sort of like the sweating thing with Nixon in that debate.. .

Have you seen Larry David spoof him? He is spot on. Sorry, but I love Bernie. I don't care if he's grumpy.

[rodeosweetheart]

Have you seen Larry David spoof him? He is spot on. Sorry, but I love Bernie. I don't care if he's grumpy.

No, I am with you, I had just never seen him on camera like that, looking so red. He does look like Larry David, whom I also love. I will have to check that out.
I don't think he comes across so much as grumpy as speaking the truth about things and maybe impatient, a little? I prefer that to the faux- inspirational thing Hillary is striving for.

[rodeosweetheart]

Oh Catherine, here's a link--how funny-

http://jerrybeller.com/larry-david-for-president-larry-does-bernie/

"I'm gonna dial it right up to a 10. We're doomed. We need a revolution. Millions of people in the streets."

and

"Not a fan of the banks.. . And why do they chain all their pens to the desks?"

[LDAHL]

Sorry, but I love Bernie. I don't care if he's grumpy.

People in our media-addled age place too much premium on personality. Bernie's an obsessed grump. Obama's crippled by vanity. Trump is an arrogant blowhard who conflates wealth with merit. Hillary is an alien reptile infiltrator attempting to mimic human emotions. Cruz projects a certain elegant creepiness. So what? We aren't electing a BFF. Otherwise I'd nominate my dog.

Some, if not most, of my best friends are grumpy to the point of misanthropy. That doesn't mean I'd trust them with the nuclear launch codes though.

[kib]

People in our media-addled age place too much premium on personality. Bernie's an obsessed grump. Obama's crippled by vanity. Trump is an arrogant blowhard who conflates wealth with merit. Hillary is an alien reptile infiltrator attempting to mimic human emotions. Cruz projects a certain elegant creepiness. So what? We aren't electing a BFF. Otherwise I'd nominate my dog. Made me laugh and to a point I agree, but I do feel the whole world is getting more superficial; will a candidate who doesn't garner the respect of the superfistas succeed in negotiations with anyone?

[margene]

I went to an event in support of Bernie Sanders, to watch the debate but ended up liking Martin O'malley better. He seems to have accomplished, in Maryland, a lot of the things the other two are talking about. He was funny also not saying that should be a reason to vote for him. Clinton's knowledge of foreign affairs seems to surpass the others. But the fact that she was for the invasion of Iraq turns me off. I agree to a point with LDAHL that Sanders is overly fixated on class warfare. I don't believe equality is gonna be as simple as taxing the crap out of the rich.