The official scorekeeper and referee of Westlemania has made it a unanimous decision

[Jersey Devil]

Last edited Thu Feb 20, 2020, 09:57 AM - Edit history (1)

1 - Biden had his best night of the debates and followed it up with a terrific interview on MSNBC. He was calm in the midst of the storm, clear and logical in his answers and when he had to show toughness he did it with dignity.

2 - Elizabeth Warren was, for the night, "The Undertaker" of wrestling fame and at one point had to be held back from picking up Mike Bloomberg over her head and tossing him up the aisle into the audience. She showed the ability to fight and let's just say I wouldn't want to meet her in a dark alley.

3 - Bloomberg got the living piss knocked out of him. All the other candidates hit him with sharp jabs while Elizabeth body slammed him into the floor of the ring. There was so much blood people had to turn their heads and look away.

4 - I thought Pete was pretty sharp until the end when for some reason he turned on Amy and tried to get her in a headlock with one arm while giving her kidney punches with the other. To Amy's credit, she fought back and delivered a few sharp blows of her own. But neither was up to their usual good game imo. I was somewhat disappointed with Amy after her great performance in the previous debate.

5- Bernie was Bernie, waving his arms all around and yelling at everyone like he was their uncle and they were kids he caught eating dessert before dinner at his house.

6 - The Moderators were absolutely terrible, never once even attempting to gain control of the free for all and even joining in on attacks against some of the candidates. Frankly, I think the Mexico question and its accusatory tone what what threw Amy off her game. They were disgraceful.

Effect? Probably none in Nevada because there have been so many early voters there who voted before the debate. But I think SC and the Super Tuesday states will see a rise in Joe Biden's strength as he gets back some of his support from Bloomberg, who, if he is smart, will stay in the hospital for the next debate. Warren should also gain support as well.

[dem4decades]

1. Pretty good analysis. The first debate I ever saw where everyone attacked someone not on ballot.

And allowed the front runner free rein to continue to build a lead. I hope everyone enjoyed the attacks on Bloomberg, I know Trump certainly did.

Trump will run a campaign against Sanders that will have anyone with a 401k, healthcare from an employer, or pays taxes thinking of voting for his second term.

[Sloumeau]

2. I believe this to be pretty accurate.

However, because I think Bernie currently has a greater chance of winning the nomination, the other candidates should have saved half of their shots for him. Instead, they went for the easy shots against Bloomberg.

[Jersey Devil]

3. I thought they DID go after Bernie

Bloomberg went way too far comparing Bernie to a Communist, but the stuff about Bernie's 3 houses turned out, unintended, to be funny, so it really did not hit its mark. Mayor Pete, with his usual wit, had me cracking up about how he only owns one house.

I don't think Bernie did that well. Maybe it's just me, but Bernie always sounds to me like the Uncle we used to visit in Staten Island who yelled at all the kids and waved his arms all around when he caught them doing naughty stuff in the yard. My uncle had good intentions but was a bit batty. That's how I feel about Bernie.

[Brainstormy]

4. Disagree about Biden

think he came across as just, well, old. But in the interviews afterward he was terrific. ???? The losers, besides Bloomberg, were Amy and Pete. Warren was awesome! And you're right. The moderators sucked.

[Jersey Devil]

8. Agree somewhat

I thought Biden was very slow in the beginning but then picked it up significiantly about 1/3 of the way through. Sometimes he hesistates severely before forming an answer and I wonder if that might be the effects of fighting off the stuttering problem he had as a boy and young man.

Warren was awesome. I just hope it is not too late for her. If she showed that kind of energy and fight throughout the debates I think she would be the leader right now instead of Bernie. She has to keep it up.

[democratisphere]

5. Joe Biden had a great night and showed US why he should be our next President.

[Peacetrain]

6. I only got to see the first half.. and your assessment is right on

point!

[brooklynite]

7. Re: 6. The moderators can never win...

For months, people have complained that the moderators were "out to get (fill in name of candidate you like" or were just ginning up fightgs between candidates. Whether by intent or incapability they let the debate go where the candidates wanted it to go.

[MFGsunny]

9. Nice work and very good analysis imho.

In addition, the spectacle last night (except for Biden) proved too many candidates are still sorely lacking messaging skills, messaging delivery and messaging discipline.
As everyone in my household said (even when we had the debate on mute) "just that constantly angry angry angry face of Bernie Sanders was a reminder of crazy-looking, out-of-control defacing of intelligent leadership."

Tomorrow is indeed another day. "Quo vadis" remains to be seen.

[ashredux]

10. Only One Plan! Defeat Trump!

Only One Plan! Defeat Trump!

Calling oneself a “socialist” of any kind is suicidal in a general election....sorry, but this is true.

I know, I know....we have a “socialism” mix here in America, but the WORD is tainted. Just a fact.

[tekriter]

11. Very true

While I pledge to Vote Blue, No Matter Who, you are correct that the “socialist” label just might be too much for swing voters to bear.