The third 2020 Democratic Presidential debate just concluded in Houston on ABC-TV. It was longer the first four - nearly three hours - and was just one debate, of the ten leading candidates, rather than the two debates of ten each, one day after the other, which is the way the Democratic debates proceeded in June and July. I thought tonight's debate was also better.
Joe Biden, in his quiet way, had a very strong and successful night. He was excellent on a variety of topics, including health care. Contrary to Castro's calling out Biden for forgetting that Biden just said that Biden's health care plan required people to "opt in," Biden did say that people who couldn't afford any health care would be automatically enrolled. (More on Castro below, who owes Biden an apology.) Biden was also strong on both defending Obama's immigration policy and saying, also, that times have changed - I think that's a fair and accurate appraisal. Biden was also Presidential in the public appreciation he expressed to Beto about his comforting the survivors of the El Paso shooting. And Biden's closing response about the personal tragedies in his life and how those gave him purpose rang deep and true.
Amy Klobuchar also had a good night. She consistently was a unifying voice, and was 100% on target in her attack on Mitch McConnell. It's important but easy enough to say Trump is a disgrace to his office. But McConnell's freezing of the Senate on everything from gun control to immigration is also a crucial piece of why our country is in such difficult straits. Beto O'Rourke was especially good on gun control and his insistence on taking away the most dangerous guns that are out there in so many hands. And Kamala Harris had an effective night, with her blend of social sensitivity and prosecutorial zeal directed at Trump.
Elizabeth Warren was ok, and didn't get enough time. Cory Booker did a little better than in his previous two debates, but loses points for saying "dagnabbit". Pete Buttigieg were good but didn't really break any new ground.
And then it went seriously downhill. Bernie seemed haggard and haranguing, and also said nothing new. Yang was irrelevant. And, I truly think Castro talked himself out of Presidential contention with his ill-informed and graceless attack on Biden.
I'll see you back here after the next debate.
See also First 2020 Democratic Presidential Debate, Part 1 of 2: Winners and Losers ... First 2020 Democratic Presidential Debate, Part 2 of 2: Winners and Losers ... Second 2020 Democratic Presidential Debate, Part 1 of 2: Winners and Losers ... Second Democratic Presidential Debate, Part 2 of 2: Winners and Losers
Joe Biden, in his quiet way, had a very strong and successful night. He was excellent on a variety of topics, including health care. Contrary to Castro's calling out Biden for forgetting that Biden just said that Biden's health care plan required people to "opt in," Biden did say that people who couldn't afford any health care would be automatically enrolled. (More on Castro below, who owes Biden an apology.) Biden was also strong on both defending Obama's immigration policy and saying, also, that times have changed - I think that's a fair and accurate appraisal. Biden was also Presidential in the public appreciation he expressed to Beto about his comforting the survivors of the El Paso shooting. And Biden's closing response about the personal tragedies in his life and how those gave him purpose rang deep and true.
Amy Klobuchar also had a good night. She consistently was a unifying voice, and was 100% on target in her attack on Mitch McConnell. It's important but easy enough to say Trump is a disgrace to his office. But McConnell's freezing of the Senate on everything from gun control to immigration is also a crucial piece of why our country is in such difficult straits. Beto O'Rourke was especially good on gun control and his insistence on taking away the most dangerous guns that are out there in so many hands. And Kamala Harris had an effective night, with her blend of social sensitivity and prosecutorial zeal directed at Trump.
Elizabeth Warren was ok, and didn't get enough time. Cory Booker did a little better than in his previous two debates, but loses points for saying "dagnabbit". Pete Buttigieg were good but didn't really break any new ground.
And then it went seriously downhill. Bernie seemed haggard and haranguing, and also said nothing new. Yang was irrelevant. And, I truly think Castro talked himself out of Presidential contention with his ill-informed and graceless attack on Biden.
I'll see you back here after the next debate.
See also First 2020 Democratic Presidential Debate, Part 1 of 2: Winners and Losers ... First 2020 Democratic Presidential Debate, Part 2 of 2: Winners and Losers ... Second 2020 Democratic Presidential Debate, Part 1 of 2: Winners and Losers ... Second Democratic Presidential Debate, Part 2 of 2: Winners and Losers
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