Round 2 of the 2019-2020 Democratic debates occurred Tuesday night at the Fox Theater in Detroit, Michigan. So, how did Bernie, Liz, Pete, and the gang do?
Politics
With 20+ Democrats still vying for the Oval Office, the CNN sponsored debate was once again split into a 2-night event. Tuesday night featured Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, as well as a motley crew of others including Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, former Maryland Rep. John Delaney, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, and author Marianne Williamson.
With such a large list of candidates remaining in the contest, it was all but crucial for at least half of the night’s 10 participants to immediately seize the stage and deliver a breakout performance. Regrettably, it doesn’t seem as if any of them struck a resounding chord.
Or, to put it bluntly, the evening was a great big yawn-fest.
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STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
If for no other reason than their current stature, Bernie, Liz Warren, and Mayor Pete were the night’s standout participants, while the rest were all but invisible and unmemorable.
During Tuesday’s debate, Bernie and Liz (at center stage) basically canceled each other out with their more than similar political platforms. This left plenty of room for Mayor Pete to continue to rise and shine and build on what was once a long-shot candidacy.
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STANDOUT LINES OF THE NIGHT
Mayor Buttigieg warned that another 4 years of Trump would come with frightening results.
“How did someone like Trump get within cheating distance of the Oval Office?” Mayor Pete asked rhetorically. He then warned that with Trump and Pence at the helm, “A woman’s right to choose may not even exist” within just a few short years.
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Sen. Elizabeth Warren also took her own shot at Trump.
“Donald Trump disgraces the office of president every single day,” she reprimanded.
Next, Bernie Sanders took aim at Trump, saying, “We have to use Trump’s racism, sexism, and xenophobia to defeat him.”
However, an exchange between Bernie and Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio probably won the prize for line of the night.
During a discussion regarding universal health care, Sanders said his Medicare for all plan would provide comprehensive coverage — particularly “dental care, hearing aids, and eyeglasses” for senior citizens.
“But you don’t know that. You don’t know that, Bernie,” Ryan interrupted.
“I do know. I wrote the damn bill,” Sanders quipped to an ovation of applause.
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Political analysts are already predicting we’ll see the phrase “I wrote the damn bill” emblazoned on Bernie 2020 t-shirts relatively soon.
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SO, WHO WON?
Had Bernie, Liz, and Mayor Pete not been on the stage, Tuesday night’s debate would have been an epic fail. However, even with those 3 big names in the mix, the evening still ended as a snooze-fest.
As previously mentioned, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are so similar, they each canceled out the other and will probably not end up winning the nomination. Beto O’Rourke remained missing in action and proved that his candidacy is on life support. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper each blended in with all the others and never gained any traction to rise above the pack. And of course, author and resident guru Marianne Williamson provided comic relief for the night with her mere presence — although she did initiate some rather substantial and surprising discussions regarding universal health care/medicare for all and slavery reparations for African-Americans.
So, if there was 1 winner, Pete Buttigieg was probably it. He continues to look more impressive and appear more and more presidential.
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UP NEXT:
Former Vice President Joe Biden, California Sen. Kamala Harris, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, and businessman Andrew Yang will all take the stage Wednesday night at 8pm on CNN.
Stay tuned for the OK WASSUP! debate recap Part 2 on Thursday!
Great summary DJ. Your points are spot on, beginning with: “Had Bernie, Liz, and Mayor Pete not been on the stage, Tuesday night’s debate would have been an epic fail. However, even with those 3 big names in the mix, the evening still ended as a snooze-fest.”
I agree with you on Marianne Williamson – “she did initiate some rather substantial and surprising discussions regarding universal health care/medicare for all and slavery reparations for African-Americans.”
And Pete Buttigieg: “So, if there was 1 winner, Pete Buttigieg was probably it. He continues to look more impressive and appear more and more presidential.”
Frankly, if it were not for the fact that Buttigieg is a Gay man married to a man – AND the racial conflict in his city that he admittedly Failed to address – I think he’d actually be Joe Biden’s biggest challenger.