November 21, 2019

I'll read the 3 articles about the debate that Real Clear Politics has selected.

Linked at the top of RCP:

1. "Democratic Debate Detente in Atlanta" Philip Wegmann, RealClearPolitics
Though each [of the candidates] wants to compete against Trump next November, all said he has committed impeachable offenses and should be removed from office early.

This may explain why they didn’t pull knives on one another. “There were no conflicts of consequence,” Democratic pollster John Zogby told RCP, “because it would have given ammunition to an incumbent president who has had arguably the worst days of his tenure.”...

“In a multi-candidate primary, it’s very difficult to make progress by attacking your opponent,” prominent Democrat Matt Bennett explained to RCP. “You might get a moment, but as [Julian] Castro and others have discovered, it’s just as easy to hurt yourself.”...

The co-chair of the Biden campaign... Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond said that the relative civility on stage was a reflection of the seriousness of the race.... A calm debate didn’t automatically mean substance, however. Richmond wasn’t happy with the format, asserting that “these debates are a clown show”...
2. "Debate Confirms There Is No Democratic Presidential Frontrunner," Ella Nilsen, Vox.
[T]he fundamental dynamic characterizing each debate so far did not change; the stage was incredibly crowded, leading to rushed responses. The top four candidates were drowned out by others.... Wednesday night featured few fireworks between the frontrunners themselves.... The night gave all four frontrunners some wins, and a few losses. Still, not much happened to dramatically reshape the state of the race.
3. "Biden Struggled, as He Always Does--But Is He Winning?" Damon Linker, The Week (at the link the title is "The unbearable persistence of Joe Biden").
Biden had a lot of competition in the “I-am-not-a-socialist” lane in Atlanta.... The need to become The One Who Can Step Into Biden's Shoes... set up what many commentators expected to be a tense evening.... It never happened.... It was a civil and somewhat bland night overall...

The one exception was Booker's indignant attack on Biden for supposedly opposing the legalization of marijuana.... Unfortunately for Booker, Biden kept his cool and calmly explained that... he supports decriminalizing marijuana and expunging drug arrests.... and ... left Booker looking like a man caught overacting in a repertory theater production....

Warren talked with fire in her eyes about all the amazing things she'll do with the money she takes from rich people. Sanders sounded just as angry and disgusted with American capitalism as he always does. Buttigieg looked like a guy who'll run a very effective campaign for president 15 years from now. Harris, Klobuchar, and Booker seemed frustrated at their inability to make any headway.

And Joe Biden kept right on winning, despite himself.
What can I say? Not much happened, and maybe there's something wrong with the debate format, but there's probably something very wrong with repeated debates with a large number of candidates. I don't know if it's worse because we're stuck with debates from only one party or whether these people have an advantage because the other party has its candidate and he's a glaringly specific target. Maybe Joe Biden is gumming up the works. They don't know how to attack him, and he stands there, undying, grinning forever, secure in the doting expectation that the nomination will wander over and snuggle into his lap like a new grandchild.

89 comments:

Michael K said...

Big day for Grampa Joe. 77 years and a new grand child.

And indictments, of course, but they're in Ukraine and far away.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

A man who actually used our tax payer dollars to BRIBE a nation's national security for the enrichment of his own son - is the front-runner.

Good to know.

This is how the deep state works.

Balfegor said...

The one exception was Booker's indignant attack on Biden for supposedly opposing the legalization of marijuana.... Unfortunately for Booker, Biden kept his cool and calmly explained that... he supports decriminalizing marijuana and expunging drug arrests.... and ... left Booker looking like a man caught overacting in a repertory theater production....

That's a good description. This is always Booker's problem -- either he's unable to control himself in public, or he thinks voters want someone who's unable to control himself in public, so he ends up looking like he's teetering on the edge of throwing a fit. In terms of resume and accomplishments, he ought to be doing much, much better, but the 30-something mayor of the fourth-largest town in Indiana has more "gravitas" than he does.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

AS seen on the interwebz.

"Did anyone congratulate Joe on becoming a new grandfather?"

ouch.

tcrosse said...

Buttigieg looked like a guy who'll run a very effective campaign for president 15 years from now.

That campaign 15 years from now won't be derailed when the Horowitz report eventually comes out.

Balfegor said...

All that said, I'm mostly checked out from the Democratic debates at this point. All I really want to see is Tulsi Gabbard beat Kamala Harris in one of the early primaries. I'm a sick man, a spiteful man, an unpleasant man, and sometimes I just want to watch people get their comeuppance. It helps my liver.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Richmond wasn’t happy with the format, asserting that “these debates are a clown show”...

That is a consequence of the participants, not the format

rcocean said...

"They don't know how to attack him, and he stands there, undying, grinning forever, secure in the doting expectation that the nomination will wander over and snuggle into his lap like a new grandchild."

Ha -good writing. Judging by my local radio talk show, no one watched or cared. BTW, i didn't know that legalized MJ was now the Standard Democrat Position. They just keep moving further and further to the left.

mockturtle said...

Apparently, Biden said he would 'keep punching' at domestic violence. What a way with words!

MadisonMan said...

Things I noted in the paper this morning.

Impeachment Article was below the fold, and right underneath that was an article that said 53% of Wisconsin Residents don't think Impeachment should be happening. This is from a pro-Democratic Party newspaper! (Witness the article -- also on the Front Page -- about Union Membership that starts out talking about Walker's Union-Busting Act 10 -- which made me wonder why they didn't describe it as a bill that freed local bodies from the shackles of Union requirements; I digress)
The summary of the Democratic Candidate "Debate" was relegated to the bottom of page 4.

Conclusion: The Democratic Party is in deep doo-doo and denial, hence the Impeachment Hearings, to provide cover.

buwaya said...

The Biden corruption is just a bit of sideline scavenging. Biden and co. were just grabbing a small bite off a much bigger piece of business.

The big time winners, those who took the major part of the mordida off of the US aid money, are not evident. And the Ukraine thing is relatively small time as these things go.

tim maguire said...

Maybe, since it's not a debate, they can stop calling it a debate. And if they stop calling it a debate, maybe they will see how pointless it is. If they really want to explore candidate views on issues, they should hold individual long-form interviews.

Or just skip the whole thing and let the candidates themselves put out long-form interviews on YouTube.

Howard said...

It's a repeat of the 2016 campaign except the Democratics is the one having debating within the peanut gallery this year. The only thing different is they lack a telegenic glib court jester.

Kay said...

I like Biden because he’s funny and would annoy so many people if he got elected. His politics don’t really reflect my worldview at all. I imagine it’d be a lot of sitting back and eating popcorn. If I were to vote in general election, it could maybe, quite possibly be for him.

rhhardin said...

"Word has somehow got around that a split infinitive is always wrong. This is of a piece with the sentimental and outworn notion that it is always wrong to strike a lady. Everybody will recall at least one woman of his acquaintance whom, at one time, or another, he has had to punch or slap. I have in mind a charming lady who is overcome by the unaccountable desire, at formal dinners with red and white wines, to climb up on the table and lie down. Her dinner companions used at first to pinch her, under cover of the conversation, but she pinched right back or, what is even less defensible, tickled. They finally learned that they could make her hold her seat only by fetching her a smart downward blow on the head. She would then sit quietly through the rest of the dinner, smiling dreamily and nodding at people, and looking altogether charming.

A man who does not know his own strength could, of course, all too easily overshoot the mark and, instead of producing the delightful languor to which I have alluded, knock his companion completely under the table, an awkward situation which should be avoided at all costs because it would leave two men seated next to each other...

http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2009/12/thurber-tonight-ladies-and-gentlemens_23.html

tim maguire said...

Balfegor said... In terms of resume and accomplishments, he ought to be doing much, much better,

I remember when Booker was the Golden Boy of Newark, but that was during the mayoral campaign. Once settled in as mayor, it was same old same old. He may have been less corrupt than his predecessors, but as a city manager, he was no more effective.

Big Mike said...

Though each [of the candidates] wants to compete against Trump next November, all said he has committed impeachable offenses and should be removed from office early.

I interpret that to mean that they know they can't beat Donald Trump so they are hoping he is removed through extra-legal shenanigans.

Crimso said...

"They don't know how to attack him"

They know exactly how to attack him, but they can't due to circumstances beyond their control. The attacks that would normally be launched against him have to be withheld since they would shine a light on what Schiff is very desperately (I mean that literally) trying to keep concealed.

Anybody think that if this "impeachment inquiry" wasn't happening that at least one of Biden's opponents would bring up his extortion of Ukraine? They'd beat him to a pulp with it.

buwaya said...

"they lack a telegenic glib court jester."

They lack the most brilliant American politician of the last 50 years, or more.

Trumps victorious campaign in 2016 is similar in type, in a different field, to Napoleon's Italian campaign of 1796-97. A poorly backed, relative amateur underdog leading "deplorable" troops outmaneuvers and crushes a professional, well trained and vastly better financed opponent.

Howard said...

Booker is too bookish for politics

Browndog said...

I got this tweet off Molly Hemingway's twitter page:

Peter J. Hasson
‏Verified account @peterjhasson

First question of the debate: Maddow asks Warren if she'll try to convince GOP senators to vote yes on impeachment. Hard hitting stuff!


I consider myself up caught up, and up to speed.

Moving on...

Howard said...

Buwaya Puti. I might respect your opinions better if you made more appropriate analogies. I think a better example although perhaps fictitious, was Marc Anthony's great speech at Caesars funeral in which he turned the plebs against the elitist Senate by appealing to their base low IQ instincts

Anonymous said...

They don't know how to attack him, and he stands there, undying, grinning forever, secure in the doting expectation that the nomination will wander over and snuggle into his lap like a new grandchild.

A nice bit of drollery apparently too subtle for some posters. (Or maybe they're just so eager to post they don't read through to the end.)

Howard said...

Balfegor. I'm happy for your liver, but it is much more likely that the kidneys will fail in the end. Do you have any of that ancient Asian wisdom on how to heal your kidneys in terms of political support. That would benefit all of us

Howard said...

If you guys are right about the fisa report coming soon, the Dems really don't have to do anything to diminish biting because you people are going to do it for us I've no extra optional additional charge

Howard said...

By then Biden not biting

Howard said...

I really need to upgrade my voice recognition software

Sebastian said...

So, Althouse, do you still consider any of these people "serious" and "competent" and "expressing American values"? If so, why?

And since they all support the impeachment you have claimed to oppose, does the coup attempt override your commitment to "seriousness," or will you let bygones be bygones next November?

rcocean said...

We need to stop domestic violence. If elected, I will grab it by the pussy...

Limited blogger said...

No one's talking about Tulsi's late breaking attack on mayor Pete.

It did feel mis-timed and heavy handed.

Was it scripted?

Tulsi is invisible to the MSM.

cf said...

did not watch the debates, and this morning I see a screen grab of the panel of questioners.

Really?! Four smug females?

My contempt matches theirs.

MayBee said...

How in the world can they stand there and say their political rival must be removed from office to clear the space for them?

It seems a little corrupt!

Michael K said...

The only thing different is they lack a telegenic glib court jester.

That's Biden. Too bad he doesn't know it, or much else.

Howard said...

Maybe 20 years ago dr. Michael Kennedy. But as you can attest from personal experience nowadays he is just a hollow shell of his former self. I agree with Joe Rogan mr. Biden needs to start taking pseudoephedrine the super strength kind that you can still get an England like mr. Trump in order to return to is former level of Glory

tim maguire said...

rhhardin, is it ok to be proud of myself that I knew it was Thurber before I got to the link, even though I don't think I've ever read that passage before?

Birkel said...

Howard blames the voice recognition software but that doesn't explain the quality of his thoughts.

Original Mike said...

It sounds like the not-Bidens are making the same mistake Bernie made with Hillary; not attaching Hillary/Biden where s/he's vulnerable; emails/Ukraine.

tim maguire said...

Howard said...I really need to upgrade my voice recognition software

Or you could read your post before hitting send and stop clogging up the thread with literal nonsense instead of your usual figurative nonsense.

Howard said...

Thanks for that Tim I really appreciate your vote of confidence

Steven Wilson said...

My take on the impeachment melodrama is, to me at least, obvious yet one I have yet to hear anyone espouse. They are trying to convict Trump of Joe Biden's crime.

Howard said...

No I'm afraid that's not it. The Deep State finally got a semi non corrupt president of Ukraine installed after the Putin puppet was defeated. Then they lobbied long and hard to get javelin missiles approved for sale to them in order to reestablish the front line against Russian aggression and there designs on invading Europe. So of course the Deep State wants to protect our NATO allies and the issue is that by preventing the aid from getting to Ukraine he buys Putin his patron time for his plans for empire which requires the defeat of Ukraine

Howard said...

At least that was quite clear from The limited testimony I listen to yesterday which is really the first time I paid any attention to this bullshit

buwaya said...

The Javelin missiles were not delivered until Trump permitted it. They were requested since 2014, and held up by the previous administration, and notably when they were most needed, when the Ukraine was engaged in active warfare.

And who says the previous lot in Ukraine were more honest than the orevious-previous lot?

buwaya said...

Also note that the previous US administration was very bad about supporting Poland, the actual NATO ally in the frontline. And that the other "NATO allies" have been next to useless re Poland. In fact the US has been rather useless re supporting NATO allies.
I suspect Russian collusion dating to the end of the Bush administration.

Howard said...

That's right BP, the problem was the Ukraine leadership at the time was not trustworthy. In any event the holdup of the aid and the missiles or at the heart of the quick pro quo investigation whether or not it is true doesn't matter

Amadeus 48 said...

Rep. Richmond stumbles on to an inconvenient truth:

“these debates are a clown show”

buwaya said...

To call the goings-on in Washington as a swamp is to insult swamps. These people are not simply useless, but your bitter enemies.

Birkel said...

The corruption in Ukraine was useful to grifters who had n'er-do-well children to support.
Poland was of no use because it is not, comparatively, corrupt.

Trump is supplying arms to Poland that Obama withheld.
It's a pattern.

Jerry said...

There isn't a Dem running I think could manage an out-of-the-way McDonald's, much less manage the country.

The ex-mayors - are their cities better off after their time in office, or worse?

The career pols - is it just 'their turn' - regardless of competence or ability?

After a certain point, you've GOT to look at whether the candidate's got what it takes to be President. And none of these are.

Qwinn said...

I think Howard just formulated the Dems 2020 strategy perfectly.

"whether or not it is true doesn't matter".

Actually, come to think of it, that's been their strategy for at least 8 decades. Since the McCarthy hearings, at least.

Michael The Magnificent said...

Why is Biden still in the race?

Why isn't there a gaggle of Democrats telling him he needs to drop out because he's on video confessing to a quid pro quo with the Ukraine for the personal gain of keeping his son's employer from being investigated, which I have been told is an impeachable offense?

Michael said...

The reason the debates are clown shows is that the most likely Democratic primary voters are not serious people and won't sit still for someone who would "deny that Wishes were Horses, and deny that Pigs have Wings."

J. Farmer said...

In fact the US has been rather useless re supporting NATO allies.

All the more reason to wind the old dinosaur down. But instead, zombie NATO expansion marches forward. We are in the process of adding North Macedonia. A couple of years ago we added Montenegro.

mockturtle said...

Farmer observes: All the more reason to wind the old dinosaur down. But instead, zombie NATO expansion marches forward. We are in the process of adding North Macedonia. A couple of years ago we added Montenegro.

Before long even Russia will be a member. ;-)

mockturtle said...

To engage the likes of H-w--d, just as with I--a, is to throw br'er rabbit into the briar patch.

Original Mike said...

"Before long even Russia will be a member. ;-)"

That would be a good thing, assuming they start short-funding their military spending like everybody else.

Francisco D said...

Why is Biden still in the race?

If he drops out (as he soon will, citing health reasons) he is no longer a political opponent of Trump. Thus, his corruption can be investigated.

I say that with the desperate hope that Biden is the nominee, but it will never happen.

Michael K said...

The Deep State finally got a semi non corrupt president of Ukraine installed after the Putin puppet was defeated

The president Howard doesn't like was elected in a fairly honest vote. The "Deep State" ran the "Orange Revolution" which installed a puppet of Soros. Good work

Virgil Hilts said...

Once "climate change" came up I was hoping for the obvious unanswerable question that no one will ask -- "The experts all say that unless countries like India and China severely curb their emissions it doesn't matter what the U.S. does - it will not make any difference; given the risk to the planet and civilization, do you agree that the U.S. must be willing to use military force, at least as a last resort, against India and China to force them to curb their emissions?"

narciso said...

Poroshenko the chocolate king was an oligarch who made his accomodation with zylochevsky and was funded by kolomoisky the ultimate owner of burisma.

Oso Negro said...

It would be interesting to have a blog composed of Top 3 stories Democrats want you to consider, and Top 3 articles Republicans want you to consider. Balance it with Top 3 from progressives, conservatives, Chinese Government, Russian Government. Just get it all right there.

narciso said...

I try to come up with counter examples, besudes the blank pages.

Yancey Ward said...

Original Mike wrote:

"It sounds like the not-Bidens are making the same mistake Bernie made with Hillary; not attaching Hillary/Biden where s/he's vulnerable; emails/Ukraine."

This says it all. You have to win the nomination to get to the White House, and to win any kind of election, you have to attack the opponent/s with the best rhetorical weapons at your disposal. Here is how I would do it were I Sanders, Warren, or Buttuvwxyz:

"We are today holding hearings on whether President Trump used the promise of US aid as a cudgel to coerce the Ukraine president into opening politically favorable investigations. We will fail in this process because on this stage with us is a man who is literally on video bragging about doing the exact same thing. If we are serious about impeaching Trump on this matter, then we cannot allow Joe Biden to be the nominee- to do so makes up hypocrites of the highest order."

It amazes me that Biden's strongest rivals haven't done this yet- it would end Biden instantly, and every one knows it, too. Can you imagine Trump not using such ammunition come the general election? Seriously, Trump showed you how to win a nomination in a crowded field in 2016, and he didn't do it by speaking no evil about same-party rivals.

Yancey Ward said...

I watched the debate last night. I thought Buttuvwxyz probably had the best night, and Biden his worst night since the 2nd debate. Warren didn't hurt herself, but it was still another missed opportunity to take Biden out and stake some solid ground against corruption, but then they all missed that, too.

gilbar said...

J. Farmer pointed out, that...
We are in the process of adding North Macedonia. A couple of years ago we added Montenegro.


Serious Question
How long would it take a person to go from North Macedonia (or, for that matter; Turkey) to the North Atlantic? Could you do it by car in a day? or two?

Yancey Ward said...

The Democrats have painted themselves into a corner here- they can't cut Biden loose without admitting that the impeachment circus is failure, but the ironic thing is that cutting Biden loose is a necessary step if the impeachment is to gain any traction publicly. You can't both impeach Trump for this while having Biden be the nominal front runner for the primaries. It only seems like a Catch 22, but it isn't- it is more like the Gordian Knot.

narciso said...

A bus would take you 29 hours via milan.

gilbar said...

thanx nar
That's a BIG treaty organization! When do we add Sri Lanka?

narciso said...

Its ridiculous, poland would face the brunt of it like last time. Finland would surrender ahead of time



https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/the-morning-briefing-trump-is-bobby-fischer-playing-3-d-chess-as-impeachment-dems-play-checkers/

Real American said...

they need to have bracket style debates. the candidates are seeded based on polling. If there's an odd number then the top seed gets a bye. have a winners bracket and then losers bracket double elimination. let Oprah pick the winners.

Big Mike said...

@Althouse, you really should consider reading the fourth article at RCP: “Andrew McCarthy: Schiff games Trump impeachment show – In legitimate proceedings, you can't have it both ways”

Infinite Monkeys said...

The unbearable persistence of Joe Biden

I thought persisting was the sole domain of Warren and the "nevertheless, she persisted" business. For an example, look at all the "persist" merch in the her campaign store.

A pint glass that says, "persist responsibly", a mug that says, "persist but first, coffee" (good to know her priorities), another mug that says "putting the tea in persist", plus a couple more that just have "persist" and her name. The tea one annoys me the most because it doesn't make sense - or makes even less sense than the others. "Tea" in a meme sense implies gossip, which has nothing to do with persisting, plus Warren's not "spilling the tea". The left really can't meme.

She's gonna get testy if Joe takes "persist" away from her, even if she was handed a meme on a platter but can't figure out how to use it for good effect.

J. Farmer said...

thanx nar
That's a BIG treaty organization! When do we add Sri Lanka?


And it isn't really worth the paper it's printed on. Does any halfway sane person think that the political autonomy of, say, Estonia is worth a war with Russia?

TJM said...

without a corrupt, national media which serves as a Dem SuperPac, all of these clowns would be laughing stocks

narciso said...

Codevilla pointed out, soviet nuclear strategy was nuke the firward bases then procede with forces

LA_Bob said...

Althouse,

The last paragraph of the post is great.

Yes, the debate format is badly flawed. The moderators are no help. They ask different questions of different candidates, and very often the questions assume the "right" answers (Don Lemon's question about Trump's "racism" a few debates ago comes to mind). I think each candidate should be given a couple of chances and a few minutes each time, to discuss what she / he feels is important. Maybe some back and forth between them with light moderation. The current format makes them look like they're in a beauty pageant, and they're all losing.

Yes, there are too many candidates and monthly debates aren't really winnowing the field. The primaries will quickly take care of that, of course, but not until next year. I suppose I don't have to watch or even read your son's (very fine) live-blogging, but I do.

"...secure in the doting expectation that the nomination will wander over and snuggle into his lap like a new grandchild." Pure gold. Too nuanced for Trump or Trevor Noah to use, but I'd be delighted if some TV pundit or another Democrat described Biden in those terms.

LA_Bob said...

Balfegor said, " All I really want to see is Tulsi Gabbard beat Kamala Harris in one of the early primaries."

I'd really like to see Tulsi beat her in the octagon.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

Last night's debate was a nine or ten-way tie, and ties go to the frontrunner.

Biden has resumed his lead in the polls, and Warren has fallen out of competition with Biden and back into competition with Sanders. Accepting Althouse's assessment that the Democrats have a weak field, one might expect Biden to have a bigger lead.

The bettors over at PredictIt are putting the odds of Elizabeth Warren at 26%, Pete Buttigieg at 23%, Joe Biden at 21%, Bernie Sanders at 14%, Mike Bloomberg at 8%, and everyone else at less than 5%.

I think they are betting that Biden is going to get tarred up before the impeachment business is over. It seems to me a given that Hunter Biden will be called as a witness if there is a trial in the Senate, and perhaps Joe Biden will be called too. But it's not a string bet, perhaps a 33% chance of Biden getting the feathers. And that prospect is why Bloomberg may come in.

traditionalguy said...

NB: the debates are used being only to cue the pre-scripted media talkers who have practiced their roles to act out a pro Dem narrative. All candidates are replaceable pawns , as we await the Queen’s appearance at Convention.

Yancey Ward said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yancey Ward said...

You will be down to two candidates after South Carolina- that is the reality. It happens every time, literally every time. With the 15% rule, third place is worth nothing. My conditional predictions:

If it is Warren vs Biden, Biden has a chance to win it due to his strength through the South and Mountain west, but Warren will run better in states like CA, NY, MA, MN, WI, and she is female which put her in at least one of the favored identity lanes that are important Democrat primary voters.

If it is Warren vs Buttuvwxyz, then Warren wins in a cakewalk.

If it is Biden vs Buttuvwxyz, then Biden wins in a cakewalk.

If it is Biden vs Sanders, this would an epic battle, but I would bet on Biden like I would have bet on Clinton in 2016.

If is Sanders vs Warren, then Warren wins easily, but this is the least likely two way matchup after South Carolina.

Kyzer SoSay said...

I see Howard is trying to be less snarky. Bravo. Sadly, his reduction in snark has not been matched by a commensurate increase in intellect. Sad!

FullMoon said...

All I really want to see is Tulsi Gabbard beat Kamala Harris in one of the early primaries.

I don't have a link, but Harris attacked Tulsi with a prepared statement. Harris wa ready to cry as she spoke, looked scared and weak. Tulsi's confident smirk acknowledged her beatdown of Harris . Quite a contrast..

FullMoon said...

A bus would take you 29 hours via milan.

Well, if it is like San Francisco, that means you could walk it in about 26 hours.

Nichevo said...

another mug that says "putting the tea in persist" ... The tea one annoys me the most because it doesn't make sense - or makes even less sense than the others. "Tea" in a meme sense implies gossip, which has nothing to do with persisting, plus Warren's not "spilling the tea". The left really can't meme.


No No No. For tea drinkers this was not optional. Putting the T(ea) in persis(T). You cannot satisfy a tea purist with a coffee meme, I do assure you.

Nichevo said...

Blogger Howard said...
No I'm afraid that's not it.


Is this your bid to be taken serious like? Your posting is much improved when you switch from samogon to vodka. People you have burnt like Mike K are too far gone, but if you act like a human being, I will treat you like a human being.

gbarto said...

Hunter Biden's business partner was Chris Heinz, stepson of John Kerry. He's in the news today because his firm, Rosemont Capital, managed to grab $130M government money from TARP's cousin, TALF. Nancy Pelosi's son had business in the Ukraine and Diane Feinstein's husband has done even better off government contracts than Joe Biden's brother, though he did at least bring a little bit of experience to the table.

We all saw the reaction of official Washington to Hunter Biden's sinecure. They were aghast that anyone would see a problem. Even the impeachment witnesses mainly worried that it looked bad, not that someone might actually be compromised. If it were as easy as throwing Hunter to the wolves, and Joe after, they'd do it. But it's not that easy. Any move against Biden exposes how Washington DC actually works: I hire your brother-in-law, you pass the bill that helps my firm. Backs get scratched left and right. And that makes Trump's point about the swamp.

For what it's worth, Biden is probably the Democrat's best bet in the election. Sure, he's got a lot of weaknesses. But goofy old Joe will say anything, whether it makes sense or not, that pops into his head. He's genuine, even if it's genuinely awful. He's the one candidate who could share a debate stage with Trump and enjoy slinging the mud back and forth. And after, he's the one candidate who could go out and declare victory and look like he means it, no matter what actually happened.

In sum, Joe's perfectly positioned. His opponents can't take him out without weakening trust in government and supporting Trump's swamp narrative. And in the general, this son of a coal miner will finally be able to pitch a nation living in the same post-truth world he's inhabited for the entirety of my lifetime.

Saint Croix said...

What the Democrats need is some Republican moderator to ask tough questions and get them worked up and fighting back. You have to have somebody to fight against.

The DNC is trying to remove a moderator because he worked for National Review for one year and they can't stand the thought of this guy asking some unexpected question.

So their debates are boring as shit. Because they are predictable as shit.

Saint Croix said...

Smart ass question for Joe Biden at the next debate: "What are the three genders, Joe?"