Democratic Debate

[Mike Sixel]

narrative, gentlemen, it is all about narrative. It's 100% analogous to the narrative vs facts discussions in sports.......

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I work in the defense sector.  She knows the rules.  We all do.  That was a blatant violation.  If I did that, I'd be in jail.  Period.

 

Colin Powell used private email in state matters. Right?

 

What gives?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

So how many people watched the debate?

 

"Nielsen reported Wednesday afternoon that 15.3 million viewers — the sixth-biggest nonsports cable telecast in history"

 

Holy crap.

Any explanations or ideas for why it drew so well or if that number is inflated?

[Squirrel]

 

narrative, gentlemen, it is all about narrative. It's 100% analogous to the narrative vs facts discussions in sports.......

I was sitting here thinking ... who the hell is that? Then I read below the user name. 'Light bulb!'

[Mike Sixel]

I was sitting here thinking ... who the hell is that? Then I read below the user name. 'Light bulb!'

I think he sounds about as smart as mike wants wins, but it's hard to tell so far.....and I guess I should have typed "gentlemen and ladies" above.

 

I've decided to mostly use my real name on websites from now on. Not sure why, but I have.

[Squirrel]

 

I think he sounds about as smart as mike wants wins, but it's hard to tell so far.....and I guess I should have typed "gentlemen and ladies" above.

I've decided to mostly use my real name on websites from now on. Not sure why, but I have.

Transparency is a good thing. Mostly. Well, some of the time.

 

[Craig Arko]

 

I think he sounds about as smart as mike wants wins, but it's hard to tell so far.....and I guess I should have typed "gentlemen and ladies" above.

I've decided to mostly use my real name on websites from now on. Not sure why, but I have.

I approve of this message.

[Badsmerf]

I still prefer to hide behind my ambiguity in order to not hold back the magnetic urge to inject snark into almost every conversation.

[Mike Sixel]

I still prefer to hide behind my ambiguity in order to not hold back the magnetic urge to inject snark into almost every conversation.

Trust me, Mike Sixel has plenty of snark, nothing much will change here.

[Badsmerf]

Trust me, Mike Sixel has plenty of snark, nothing much will change here.

I suggest you continue to use first person from now on. Really adds to the authenticity.

[Mike Sixel]

I suggest you continue to use first person from now on. Really adds to the authenticity.

Mike has thought about that, but Mike isn't sure he can type like that over and over. Mike may have to think about that while drinking a new beer tonight after Mike gets his massage.

[Craig Arko]

 

I suggest you continue to use first person from now on. Really adds to the authenticity.

Hershel's gotta do what's best for Herschel.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I think politicians should use aliases. If someone named raptor53 were running for president in 2016, I'd probably vote for them instead.

[TheLeviathan]

Interesting pushback on Sanders.  I don't think he handled that well at all.

[ashbury]

Interesting pushback on Sanders.  I don't think he handled that well at all.

I have yet to hear how Democrats plan to deal with the onslaught of Republican ads that will start *before* the Democratic convention, if Bernie looks like the favorite to win the nomination, that hammer the phrase "Socialist Bernie Sanders wants to...".

 

Indeed if he gets a lot of convention votes, the ads will tar Hillary (or whoever) with things like "Socialist Democrats who now throw their support to Clinton want to..."

 

Bernie's responses here on the show represent the start of a very long education process, that won't nearly have time to complete a year from now. People will hear individual points, but still hold the general view that "Socialism doesn't work".

 

The Republicans will make it Socialism vs. Freedom, and it will work.

[USAFChief]

Trust me, Mike Sixel has plenty of snark, nothing much will change here.

So you're really NOT Mike Wants Wins?

[TheLeviathan]

 

The Republicans will make it Socialism vs. Freedom, and it will work.

 

I agree and I don't blame Sanders for skirting that issue a bit, but Maher laid out just how effective that strategy would be.  

 

I think, though, that Hillary answered that socialism question well in the debate.  I thought she made a good case for what the Dems should stand for (reigned in capitalism from time to time, curbing the excesses, etc.) and that message will work for moderates.

 

Where Sanders is going to get killed is the Vermont health insurance point that Maher made.  Or other nuances that make his populist appeal less appealing.  I feel like every time I hear him say "free college" I put it at about equal intellectual merit as "I'll make Mexico build a big wall".

[ashbury]

I think, though, that Hillary answered that socialism question well in the debate.

She may get to reprise that performance repeatedly, after the convention. Bernie has put the S-word in play for the Democrats, in a way that the Republicans tried but never succeeded in doing on their own, despite attempts to pin the word on Obama. If I were the Republicans every ad on TV would find a way to include the word, suggesting for example that her administration will be filled with socialist also-rans who couldn't find their way in via the front door through elective office in order to take away your hard-won^* freedoms. The socialist wing of the Democratic party has now united behind Hillary. Etc. Socialists. Democrats. Socialists. Democrats. Freedom.

 

It's very hard to fight a constant drumbeat with measured answers. Remember how John Kerry's military service somehow became a negative for him?

 

_{^* While you lie on the couch watching the ad}

[Craig Arko]

No one in this world, so far as I know - and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me - has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people.

 

H. L. Mencken

[Badsmerf]

This is going to be a tough item to sell for Sanders. Hopefully, his campaign can find a way to address this issue.

 

I don't think comparing this election to Obama is fair. Obama only won because of the disaster George w had going at the time. Then, the Republicans team a horrible campaign in 2012.

 

If Sanders wants to win this thing, he has to patch the issues in his message, and has to expose Clinton where she is vulnerable.

 

P.s. How would the gop race look with Palin running? I think she would have a legitimate shot.

[glunn]

It seems to me that FDR was more of a socialist than Bernie.  FDR advocated top marginal tax rates of more than 90% and created government agencies that provided millions of jobs.

[Shane Wahl]

 

What ideas of Bernie's seem so incredibly intransigent?  (This question is for Dave too).  

 

I do agree Bernie was stumping more than engaging the questions, but I didn't find anything he said akin to Trump's rhetoric or ideas.

 

Clinton did come off utterly competent.   I especially like when she said, "I'm progressive, but I'm a progressive who likes to get things done."

 

I agree fully with this post.

[Shane Wahl]

Anderson Cooper is in the uber-elite. Everything Sanders said was deeply offensive to him.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Anderson Cooper is in the uber-elite. Everything Sanders said was deeply offensive to him.

 

Cooper is also fairly common sense in his approach, which is also doesn't jive well with a lot of the stuff Sanders says.