The Third Debate: "This is why Presidential debates are becoming unwatchable."
It’s been a busy month but I feel committed to this thing so let’s blog about the third debate.
My favorite part was Final Jeopardy where Alex asked who composed “Transcendental Etudes”.
Seriously though, this was supposed to be the one that had all the heavyweights on the same stage together for the first time.
My favorite part was Final Jeopardy where Alex asked who composed “Transcendental Etudes”.
Seriously though, this was supposed to be the one that had all the heavyweights on the same stage together for the first time.
What we got was a reminder that this Party is getting old.
In place of the youth of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama was Metamucil and Matlock.
In place of the youth of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama was Metamucil and Matlock.
Oh, I suppose it wasn’t so bad, but I will remember this debate for Bernie Sanders's constant hacking and Joe Biden telling parents to have the record player on at night.
Vinyl will outsell Compact Discs in 2019 for the first time since 1986, so let's not be too harsh on Joe. Besides, from what I can tell, hipsters love Joe Biden. Not you, of course, reading this while wearing a Biden button and listening to Deafheaven. I mean, the other hipsters.
This guy's dream ticket is Joe Biden and Father John Misty.
Seriously, though, the moment of the night was probably Beto O'Rourke and his appeal to gun control, an issue that he says has been around for all of his life. His words about 'a weapon design for the battlefield' will be one of the most memorable of this election cycle. For Beto, who had struggled in the first two debates showed passion, and showed why Beto was on the national spotlight in the first place.
For me, my favorite moment was Andrew Yang's quote about immigration. His response about his father being born in Asia in a peanut farm with no floor, and advising others to come to America to "build a company, build a family, and build a life." In a country where people like Nikola Tesla, Joseph Pulitzer, and Enrico Fermi, to name a few, brought their talents onshore- I am onboard with the Dems proclaiming this as their approach to immigration.
Julian Castro's stab at Joe Biden in which Castro put himself, not Biden as the heir to Obama; was given a lot of ink by the media. Still, the response I got from the crowd was "Julian Castro was on the stage?"
I liked Pete Buttigieg's retort to Trump- "I'd like to see (Trump) making a deal with Xi Jinping". It made me think a Pete vs Donald debate might be quite lively. Pete's quote of "This is why Presidential debates are becoming unwatchable. This reminds everybody of what they cannot stand about Washington", might be the best description of the third debate.
As much as I love these things, my observation was that those like me were watching, but I am not sure anyone else was. Friends of mine of Democrat, Republican, and Libertarian stripes tuned in, but were the great undecided. This debate was limited to ten candidates, and truth be told, perhaps, Tulsi Gabbard, Steve Bullock, and Tom Steyer were better served by being in Iowa that day or the following; than by appearing briefly in a debate.
That said, I think the Dems made the wrong choice in limiting voices. For one, it reeks of Party Manipulation, the kind of thing that might push liberal voters away as in 2016.More voices (even dissenting voices) might sharpen the blade, as it did for the Dems in 2008, and in 2016, when 17 Republican candidates ran.
Instead of focusing the 10 candidates on stage, I focus on who was missing.
-Tulsi Gabbard, who brings Libertarian and isolationist ideas to the table
-Steve Bullock, who has won an election in a red state
-Tom Steyer, a billionaire maverick who mirrors the man he is trying to impeach
-Joe Sestak, an admiral with incomparable Foreign Affairs experience
-John Delaney, moderate voice in a liberal and progressive crowd
-Marianne Williamson, who, in last debate, advocated in changes of behavior, not empty rhetoric
Of course, Andrew Yang was right when he bemoaned that the Dem debate took place during Thursday Night Football. "Football fans vote, too". I can't help but wonder what Hunter S Thompson would have thought.
Vinyl will outsell Compact Discs in 2019 for the first time since 1986, so let's not be too harsh on Joe. Besides, from what I can tell, hipsters love Joe Biden. Not you, of course, reading this while wearing a Biden button and listening to Deafheaven. I mean, the other hipsters.
This guy's dream ticket is Joe Biden and Father John Misty.
Seriously, though, the moment of the night was probably Beto O'Rourke and his appeal to gun control, an issue that he says has been around for all of his life. His words about 'a weapon design for the battlefield' will be one of the most memorable of this election cycle. For Beto, who had struggled in the first two debates showed passion, and showed why Beto was on the national spotlight in the first place.
For me, my favorite moment was Andrew Yang's quote about immigration. His response about his father being born in Asia in a peanut farm with no floor, and advising others to come to America to "build a company, build a family, and build a life." In a country where people like Nikola Tesla, Joseph Pulitzer, and Enrico Fermi, to name a few, brought their talents onshore- I am onboard with the Dems proclaiming this as their approach to immigration.
Julian Castro's stab at Joe Biden in which Castro put himself, not Biden as the heir to Obama; was given a lot of ink by the media. Still, the response I got from the crowd was "Julian Castro was on the stage?"
I liked Pete Buttigieg's retort to Trump- "I'd like to see (Trump) making a deal with Xi Jinping". It made me think a Pete vs Donald debate might be quite lively. Pete's quote of "This is why Presidential debates are becoming unwatchable. This reminds everybody of what they cannot stand about Washington", might be the best description of the third debate.
As much as I love these things, my observation was that those like me were watching, but I am not sure anyone else was. Friends of mine of Democrat, Republican, and Libertarian stripes tuned in, but were the great undecided. This debate was limited to ten candidates, and truth be told, perhaps, Tulsi Gabbard, Steve Bullock, and Tom Steyer were better served by being in Iowa that day or the following; than by appearing briefly in a debate.
That said, I think the Dems made the wrong choice in limiting voices. For one, it reeks of Party Manipulation, the kind of thing that might push liberal voters away as in 2016.More voices (even dissenting voices) might sharpen the blade, as it did for the Dems in 2008, and in 2016, when 17 Republican candidates ran.
Instead of focusing the 10 candidates on stage, I focus on who was missing.
-Tulsi Gabbard, who brings Libertarian and isolationist ideas to the table
-Steve Bullock, who has won an election in a red state
-Tom Steyer, a billionaire maverick who mirrors the man he is trying to impeach
-Joe Sestak, an admiral with incomparable Foreign Affairs experience
-John Delaney, moderate voice in a liberal and progressive crowd
-Marianne Williamson, who, in last debate, advocated in changes of behavior, not empty rhetoric
Of course, Andrew Yang was right when he bemoaned that the Dem debate took place during Thursday Night Football. "Football fans vote, too". I can't help but wonder what Hunter S Thompson would have thought.
So, that was the third debate- one that was perhaps destined to be what it was- given a recent tendency of Beto O'Rourke to throw out four-letter words in speeches; CNN warned the candidates not to swear.
Advice heeded as Cory Booker who said "Dagnabbit!" and even turned it into a bumper sticker.
Which, probably best sums up Debate #3, a debate where everyone seemed evasive or too reserved or just plain grumpy- all disappointing outcomes, though, I suppose any of that is probably better than being Joe Biden, who is taking lumps from all sides. There will be at least, two more debates. October will bring Gabbard back on stage, and the first appearance of Tom Steyer on the debates.
Advice heeded as Cory Booker who said "Dagnabbit!" and even turned it into a bumper sticker.
Which, probably best sums up Debate #3, a debate where everyone seemed evasive or too reserved or just plain grumpy- all disappointing outcomes, though, I suppose any of that is probably better than being Joe Biden, who is taking lumps from all sides. There will be at least, two more debates. October will bring Gabbard back on stage, and the first appearance of Tom Steyer on the debates.
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