I couldn't bring myself to watch the Democratic debate because of what I feared was coming.

[TomSlick]

Sure enough, watching the post-debate spin, all the talk is about the candidates attacking each other.

I don't understand what is to be gained by this. Our candidates should talk about Trump, the issues, how much they love their mother - just don't attack each other. They ought not be providing clips for Trump's campaign ads in the general election.

The Republic is at stake! Stop shooting at each other. Stop it - just stop it.

[cilla4progress]

1. I'm right with you,

they are their own worst enemies. What is the point of this? Crappy strategy from Tom Perez. Schiff, Pelosi, Swalwell need to strategize.

[JoeOtterbein]

3. I thought Liz did great! Thanks for sticking with Warren!

Please don't change your support! (unless you switch to Bernie, of course!)

[The Valley Below]

10. No. She blew it tonight. Big mistake going negative.

So unnecessary.

[blm]

12. So Warren should take the hits debate after debate and not swing back

because .......?

[The Valley Below]

14. LOL. She took hits on policy. Return fire on "policy" is totally kosher.

Smears like she engaged in tonight are not kosher. She came out diminished. Her slide will continue.

Too bad. I like her. But I saw this coming and tried to warn against it.

Big mistake.

[blm]

15. She was smeared as dishonest. She is not dishonest.

She was smeared as a stubborn bully “my way or the highway”. She is not a stubborn bully. She is known for her receptiveness to new data or when the facts change.

Too bad. I don’t think you are being at all fair minded about Warren.

And, to quote the great musical, Chicago......he had it coming.

[JoeOtterbein]

2. Or if you "can't stand the heat"...

...learn how to cook real quick!

[SKKY]

4. I wouldn't classify it as attacking each other. I thought it was...

...a spirited, very policy dense debate, but they didn’t outright attack each other.. Best debate thus far by a country mile.

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. I didn't either, but am watching the analysis.

It's too much like watching sausage making.

[question everything]

6. At some point Klobuchar detailed the accomplishments of the other

“Washington Insiders.” To show that “we did improve the lives of many” (OK I am paraphrasing)

[ecstatic]

7. The moderators set it up that way, although I'm sure they're all skilled enough

to pivot and redirect the discussion.

[napi21]

8. The field is narrowing & they HAVE TO demonstrate the differences between each other. I watched

every debate & this one was the best by far, but the reason is there are fewer candidates in stage so each one can answer the questions the are asked with a cogent response instead of being restricted to 30 secs or 1 min. at the most. It gives the audience a real chance to understand each candidate.

[KPN]

9. When attacks actually happened, the panel put them in that position with the questions they asked in

my view. I only watched the first two hours so can't speak for it all. But as I said, in my view, the attacks were set up. Once again, the media isn't helpful ... or more like harmful. PBS has lost track of its soul.

[ChubbyStar]

11. The panel was disgraceful

Snarky, haughty, condescending, and pushing issues with the intent to cause discourse. Fuck PBS.

[nolabear]

13. Actually they did very well.

Yes, Warren and Buttigieg argues a bit and Klobuchar went after him as well, but honestly they were smart, they stuck to issues and I felt hope.

Those focusing on the tussles just wanted to play on whatever drama they could.

[BlueMTexpat]

16. This.

My impression too.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. I couldn't agree more!

And I too felt hope.

This was an excellent debate. I wouldn't have any real problem voting for any of these candidates.

[redqueen]

18. They're doing what politicians do. Losing sight of what matters

and focusing on their own immediate future.

It's disappointing but hardly surprising.

[Hortensis]

19. Slick, you really should have watched. Then you wouldn't have

been victimized by the spins of those who get paid to mine for bits to blow up into dramatic takeaways to not to be boring -- AND as you really should know, many of those are being paid to sabotage Democrats.

And here's your post. Imo, judging from it, your intake from others has badly warped your picture and it's all too easy to see how that happened.

Best to first get understanding, then move to anxious ranting if inclined.

[TidalWave46]

20. Most of what I saw was well withing the scope of differences.

I think they were all just about fair with one an other when it comes to highlighting exactly what they wanted to highlight.