Winners and losers from the December Democratic debate

[SunSeeker]

Winners

Joe Biden: I’ve had him as a loser in just about every debate thus far. He’s been halting, often confused and hasn’t shown himself to be the kind of debater Democrats will want going toe-to-toe with President Trump. Thursday night was better. It wasn’t flawless, but he kept things on the rails, had flashes of good humor, and was deft with tough moments he could see approaching, including about his age.

He dealt particularly well with the toughest question he got, which was about a recent Washington Post report on how leaders, including those in the Obama administration, misled the country about the status of the war in Afghanistan. He said he argued against nation-building there and emphasized disagreements with the Pentagon about things like the troops surge. And he’s got documents to back that up. He had previously struggled when asked to own particular elements of the Obama legacy, but not Thursday.

Biden also described how he connects with voters, including by talking like a child who stutters — something he struggled with when he was younger. President Trump’s former press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, appeared to not pick up on what Biden was actually doing and ridiculed him on Twitter, which could be a lasting moment from this debate. Sanders later apologized and deleted that tweet.

Perhaps most importantly for him, as the candidate who leads almost all of the national polls — and has in recent weeks reasserted that lead — the other candidates mostly gave him a pass. Even when the topic was conducting high-dollar fundraisers, most of the heat was trained on South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and when Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) seemed to want to press the issue on Biden, he was bypassed. Suddenly, we saw the Joe Biden who dealt with Paul D. Ryan in the 2012 vice presidential debate. Will he stick around, though?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/19/winners-losers-december-democratic-debate/

[NYMinute]

1. K&R nt

[Cha]

2. Interesting.. Losers: Bernie Sanders..

Losers

Bernie Sanders on race, again: If there was one issue that dogged Sanders in his 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton, it was his inability to appeal to minority voters. And for one striking moment on Thursday, that problem reared its ugly head

The candidates were asked about the declining diversity in their debate field, and when the question was presented to Sanders, he opted instead to try to talk return to a previous topic, climate change. Debate moderator Amna Nawaz of “PBS NewsHour” cut in, though. “Senator, with all respect, this question is about race. Can you answer the question as it was asked?”

The crowd roared. Sanders tried to rescue it by saying people of color would suffer from climate change, too, and then he offered some boilerplate about problems that plague minority communities. It was one moment, but it came just after the only minority candidate onstage, Andrew Yang, gave a detailed answer citing the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and it briefly revived some old demons.

Sanders also, shortly thereafter, responded to a quote Barack Obama recently gave about old white men running countries. When debate moderator Tim Alberta noted Sanders was the oldest candidate onstage, Sanders interjected, “And I’m white, as well!” It wasn’t awful, but it may not have been the time to emphasize that.

I didn't see anymore Losers.. am I missing something?

Thank you, SunSeeker!

[msongs]

7. being dismissive is one of bernie's major flaws IMO nt

[Cha]

8. I agree..

[PatSeg]

3. Yes, I think this Biden

will stick around. He had a really good night and he looked presidential standing on that stage.

[Cha]

4. And, Biden has had a really

great couple of months!

[PatSeg]

5. Joe is back in top form

This is the Joe who can win hearts and minds of American voters.

[Cha]

6. And, I'm so wonderfully

grateful!

[Mme. Defarge]

10. Good to know.

(You’re braver than Moi for watching.)

[PatSeg]

18. I really wasn't going to watch

I'm on political overload and there isn't much about the candidates that I haven't heard already. I'm glad I did though. It really was a much better debate than the others and reminded me of how much great talent we have. Trump should be very concerned.

[samnsara]

27. im like you..but i didnt watch this one either. i dont like the confrontations.

[PatSeg]

28. Most people don't like it

It is such a turnoff. I think some of these candidates are getting really bad political advice from their consultants.

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. So glad to hear good reports coming out of the debate. I don't watch them, and quite frankly....

I think there have been way too many of them, especially since they don't move the needle long term.

[Cha]

11. I don't watch them, either, Tarheel..

not since bush vs Gore.. my nerves won't take them.

I just read DU & Twiiter now.

Joe did Good by most accounts.. except the ones with an agenda to say he didn't.

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. I'm right there with you Cha. I don't see the point in these monthly pissing contests. It only...

helps the Big Orange Anus and his campaign. People seem to forget that what is said, can't be unsaid, and that only works to our detriment.

[Cha]

13. That's a good way to put it..

".. monthly pissing contests.." that I don't need to watch.

[myohmy2]

14. biggest winner...

Bernie,

"This is why 3 people own more wealth than the bottom half."

...

[Cha]

15. NO.. the WaPO in the OP says BS was a "Loser"..

Losers

Bernie Sanders on race, again: If there was one issue that dogged Sanders in his 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton, it was his inability to appeal to minority voters. And for one striking moment on Thursday, that problem reared its ugly head

The candidates were asked about the declining diversity in their debate field, and when the question was presented to Sanders, he opted instead to try to talk return to a previous topic, climate change. Debate moderator Amna Nawaz of “PBS NewsHour” cut in, though. “Senator, with all respect, this question is about race. Can you answer the question as it was asked?”

The crowd roared. Sanders tried to rescue it by saying people of color would suffer from climate change, too, and then he offered some boilerplate about problems that plague minority communities. It was one moment, but it came just after the only minority candidate onstage, Andrew Yang, gave a detailed answer citing the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and it briefly revived some old demons.

Sanders also, shortly thereafter, responded to a quote Barack Obama recently gave about old white men running countries. When debate moderator Tim Alberta noted Sanders was the oldest candidate onstage, Sanders interjected, “And I’m white, as well!” It wasn’t awful, but it may not have been the time to emphasize that.

[TidalWave46]

17. Was that his answer to education, women's issues,...

Or Russian interference in the 2016 election?

[hlthe2b]

16. I could not believe that Mediate had Biden as a "loser". He looked great, strong and he WAS strong

in this debate. The others had their moments too, but Biden, as front-runner wins by not (at all) losing in this context I do believe.

[Cha]

19. So wha't their agenda?!

[hlthe2b]

20. No idea...

[Cha]

21. They have BS in the Loser column..

[SunSeeker]

22. Yes, but I can only post 4 paragraphs in the OP. Thanks for your additions!

[Cha]

23. Right.. I just wanted

to kick your thread earlier and that's what I came it. lol

[SunSeeker]

24. LOL. Perfect.

[Cha]

25. ..

[samnsara]

26. Joe can walk into office and from MINUTE ONE...know his job and what to do next..