What are you hoping for in the democratic debate Saturday?

[lovemydog]

Saturday, November 14, 2015
CBS News Democratic Debate
9pm ET (8pm CT, 6pm PT)
Aired On: CBS
Location: Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa
Sponsors: CBS News, KCCI, the Des Moines Register
Moderator: John Dickerson
Candidates: Clinton, Sanders, O'Malley
Saturday, December 19, 2015
ABC News Democratic Primary Debate
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Sponsors: ABC News, WMUR
Candidates: TBD

Read more at http://www.uspresidentialelectionnews.com/2016-debate-schedule/2016-democratic-primary-debate-schedule/#CGGAFrqJIpwlWgcC.99

I'm hoping each candidate is asked specific policy questions, and how they plan to implement their overall policies. To me, the implementation part is significant. Rhetoric is fine and dandy. But I'd rather have a President who talks small ball and implements 50% progressive policies than one who talks a big game and could only implement like 10% progressive policies.

That's just my take. How about you? What would you like to see at the debate?

[NCTraveler]

1. Similar to the first debate.

An extreme contrast between what we are putting forward compared to the republicans. Keep an eye out for O'Malley to draw more direct distinction between himself and Clinton/Sanders.

[Agschmid]

22. Yup.

[lovemydog]

30. Yes, very good.

This will be fun to watch. For a geek like me.

[bravenak]

2. I want to know HOW they plan on getting their agenda through this congress.

[NanceGreggs]

4. ...

Easy: "Calling for" an end to this and that, and the implementation of something different.

Difficult: A viable plan for ending this and that, and implementing something different.


Some people obviously don't know the difference.

[bravenak]

14. And the idea of 'taking to the streets' is not a PLAN TO GET THINGS TO PASS CONGRESS!

Sorry. That was for them. It irritates me to ask how and get 'Revolution!' as my answer.

[HerbChestnut]

17. Then how would you like that question answered?

No candidate knows exactly how they'll get things done until it's time to actually sit down and negotiate. Even then, the Republicans might just stonewall them like they've done to Obama. The only thing we can do is vote for the person whose policies we support the most.

[bravenak]

18. Um? Answered with a coherent plan. One that does not include 'taking it to the street'.

[HerbChestnut]

19. Visit his website for plans.

[bravenak]

21. Not my job.

[HerbChestnut]

23. Well, if you're gonna sit back and complain that you don't know his plan

Then it's your own fault for not looking it up.

[bravenak]

24. Why should I look it up?

[HerbChestnut]

25. Because you said you wanted a plan on how Bernie (or anyone) will get things done

If they're available then you should look them up. Otherwise you have no right to complain.

[bravenak]

27. I have a right to complain as I please.

And no, I said I wanted to HEAR their plans. Not go searching, not MY JOB.

[HerbChestnut]

28. I don't even know what to say to that.

No candidate can formulate their entire plan for anything in a debate setting. That's why they have their websites. And as a voter, it *is* your job to be informed. You do that be researching.

Good night.

[bravenak]

31. No. A candidate has to get his or her message out. Not expect people to go research.

[AgingAmerican]

38. Willful ignorance

[2pooped2pop]

95. lol. n/t

[PatrickforO]

87. Well, where in that plan do our responsibilities as citizens of a republic come into play, then?

Because by and large the American people have given up on good civics. Many can't even find Canada or Mexico on a map. Most can't tell what the branches of government are, or how legislation becomes law. Rhetoric is almost a lost art - the ability to know a straw man argument from guilt by association.

Obama told us this as well. FDR even said it way back when, when a lady told him all about something she wanted him to do, he answered, "That's a good idea. Force me to do it."

Without us holding our politicians that we elected to represent our interests and spend our tax dollars wisely in ways that hopefully make our lives better more strictly accountable for their actions, God would fail to be an effective president.

The problem is that to be a responsible citizen takes work, organizing, grass roots efforts - you know this from your support of the BLM movement.

But many do not know this fundamental thing and just sit back and watch things get worse, don't think their vote counts and don't even imagine they can make any difference.

Bernie is calling for a broad based movement that may, but does not necessarily entail 'hitting the streets.' Yeah, marches work. So do strikes. So do letter writing campaigns and petitions. So does becoming more active with your local political party. For a long time, people have abrogated these basic responsibilities. Remember that when Franklin was asked what kind of government the founders were giving the fledgling United States, he said, "A republic, if you can hold on to it."

[jfern]

33. How about the major VA bill he got passed through the Republican House last year?

[bravenak]

34. His FUTURE plans

[jfern]

39. My point is that he has experience in getting bills though even a Republican House

Of course ideally we won't have a Republican House or Senate.

[bravenak]

40. That was not a difficult bill. Let me know when he gets them to pass some socialism for americans

as a whole and then i can believe

[jfern]

41. He got free community health clinics to cover another 10 million in the ACA

He snuck some BernieCare into ObamaCare.

[AgingAmerican]

45. Some people don't care about truth

[bravenak]

46. That I give obama credit for. Just like Bill gets credit for welfare reform.

Something done on his own?

[jfern]

48. That wouldn't have happened without Bernie

[bravenak]

50. I disagree. It is Obamacare, not Berniecare.

I love how people give Bernie the credit for Obamacare, but call Obama posucs. Or refuse to give him any credit.

[jfern]

53. The funding for the community healthcare centers was inserted by Bernie

I'm not talking about all of ObamaCare.

[bravenak]

54. Signed by Obama.

[jfern]

56. So according to you, Bernie can't have any accomplishments?

[bravenak]

57. Not on Obama's back. Obama gets NO credit around here.

[jfern]

59. That's not true, and it's clear Bernie gets no credit from you.

[bravenak]

61. It's just funny how folks who hate Obamacare, only love the part that they give Bernie credit for.

[jfern]

62. ObamaCare should have gone further

[bravenak]

63. Of course! The only good part are the part you give BERNIE credit for !!!!!!!!!!! I KNOW!

[jfern]

64. Come on, it's called ObamaCare, Obama gets quite a bit of credit for it

[bravenak]

65. Yes. Obama derserves mad criticism for the same bill that Bernie deserves accolades for. I KNOW.

The little part BERNIE did was the MOST IMPORTANT part!!! Obama sux!! Bernie rules!!

[Scootaloo]

86. I see you believe in recycling

Same arguments that were used against obama back in 2008.

[bravenak]

89. I was not doing it in 2008. I do not care about 2008.

[Scootaloo]

92. It's still the same argument

And it's still a bad argument.

[bravenak]

93. It is a winning argument this time.

[Scootaloo]

94. No, it's just a bad argument

That you happen to like making it doesn't alter it's efficacy.

[2pooped2pop]

96. its kind of like arguing with a kid there

sometimes isn't it?

[bravenak]

99. Then he should stop.

[bravenak]

98. Oh, I forgot. You make the decisions on good vs bad.

[JonLeibowitz]

51. Actually, the story told by those at the Brookings institution paints a different picture

http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2015/07/profiles-negotiation-veterans-lawrence

The ideological gulf between the parties makes all Capitol Hill negotiations difficult, but this one had some special challenges. The two chairman were as far apart as politically possible on the right-to-left spectrum, and the backdrop to their negotiations was a residue of Democratic bitterness over George W. Bush’s military and fiscal policies. The negotiators were also coping with a telescoped time period that didn’t allow for much study of options; non-stop press coverage that magnified every step forward or back; pressures from leadership on both sides, and repeated episodes of Republicans, Democrats or both feeling blindsided

Lots more good information in there; this bill was not assured, by any means. Also good reading if you like reading about how politics is done and how crazy congress can be, generally. Maybe I'm just a political junkie.

[jfern]

67. I mentioned the 10 million people being covered by community health clinics

because you said "Let me know when he gets them to pass some socialism for americans". I never said Bernie was responsible for most of ObamaCare.

[bravenak]

68. That was Obamacare. I want some Bernie legislation not wrapped into another bill. He has nothing.

[jfern]

70. Legislation wrapped into another bill is just as valid

But his VA bill was a standalone bill, so he has that too.

[bravenak]

71. The VA bill is accepted.

That is still a light record. Hillary has schip.
http://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/giving-hillary-credit-for-schip/

[jfern]

81. OK, she convinced her husband to support that

But the Clinton administration did plenty of bad things she supported too. But it seems Hillary supporters want her to get credit for SCHIP but not blame for DOMA, DADT, Glass Steagall, and other terrible Clinton administration policies she supported.

[bravenak]

82. And Bernie supporters want to ignore his light record, lack of foreign policy, and vote for mass

incarceration.

[jfern]

83. Ummm

Bernie doesn't have a light record.
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/bernie-gets-it-done-sanders-record-pushing-through-major-reforms-will-surprise-you

He voted against the Iraq war resolution, the Kyl-Lieberman amendment allowing Bush to go to war with Iran, and together with Obama opposed a no fly zone where Russian planes are flying. That's definitely a better record than someone who supports all that, plus after Netanyahu's crazy comments about Palestinians causing the holocaust said that we should be better pals with him. Hillary is the ultimate hawk.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/30/1442802/-Make-no-mistake-A-vote-for-Hillary-is-a-vote-for-war

As for 1994 bill, it was a huge bill with lots of components. Bill and Hillary both pushed hard for it. Bernie voted against amendments that passed that added more prisons and prevented claims against the death penalty for racial disparities. However, he did vote for the final bill. It had a lot of other stuff in it, such as the Violence against Women act and the assault weapon ban.

[AgingAmerican]

35. Use presidential powers to bypass the Congress

Between Reagan and GW Bush there were 672 executive orders. Issue executive orders and let them fight it out in the courts.

Use the bully pulpit the way it's supposed to be used to bring public pressure on lawmakers. There's lots a president can do..

[bravenak]

36. Yeah right

[AgingAmerican]

37. All it takes is a little courage

Which we won't get from a 'moderate'.

[lovemydog]

15. Yup. Calling for policy is not the same

as actually getting it implemented. A meaningful long-term coalition is more valuable than a 'savior.'

I'm always amazed at how few people who claim to know or care about politics seem to grasp that meaningful progressive change occurs through big coalitions. Or even how a bill becomes law.

Yelling & screaming a bunch of rhetoric doesn't really make one a progressive. It makes one a keyboard warrior, nothing more or less.

[lovemydog]

11. We're on exactly the same wavelength here.

[bravenak]

13. Ha!

[morningfog]

55. I want to know how they will help this congress be booted.

I want a candidate who will help change the make up of congress so that the assfuck goppers are a minority.

[coyote]

97. Is this the new talking point now....

you cannot go after Bernie on the issues, but you think he will not be able to implement his plan.

It will be tough for sure. Corporate sponsored legislation is a breeze to get through when you govenment is bought and owned by the top 1%. Legislation for the little people....well, not so easy.

[Liberal Jesus Freak]

3. What am I hoping for?

I'm hoping people watch. The scheduling of the debates suck. DNC should be ashamed

[bobbobbins01]

6. Exactly.

I was going to so I'm hoping they move it to a different day, but since that isn't possible, I guess this time around I'm hoping Hillary's checks to all the pundits bounce on Friday.

[restorefreedom]

10. + 1000 nt

[demwing]

20. first and best answer /nt

[lovemydog]

74. I agree LJF.

I'm a nerd and will most definitely watch. Maybe not at that exact time but if I'm out I'll find it on the CBS web site. But man oh man the DNC really dropped the ball on giving the public the numerous debates we deserve. The DNC should satisfy the League of Women Voters requirements for fair and honest debates. It should be ashamed of itself for losing the LWV endorsement. It should do what is necessary to get it back. Fuck the DNC. Anti-democratic bullshit. We deserve much much better.

[Starry Messenger]

5. Specifics on domestic issues.

The last debate seemed to be the the "Getting to know you" show.

[Eric J in MN]

9. Yeah, the last debate also had a lot of

..."How would you respond to your critics who say ___ about you?" instead of domestic policy position questions.

[chillfactor]

7. I like the way Rachel did it...

All three candidates had time to fully answer questions w/o interruptions.

[liberal_at_heart]

32. I agree. I like the forum setting much better than the debate. Much less time trying

to defend oneself against what the other candidate just said about you and more time spent talking about policy position.

[Eric J in MN]

8. I want questions about Chained CPI.

Does Hillary Clinton want to cut Social Security with Chained CPI? As far as I can tell, she's never said.

I also want her questioned about Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). Those are special courts which can be used by corporations through trade deals (NAFTA, TPP) to hurt the environment, but can't be used by environmental groups to protect the environment.

She wrote in a book that she's concerned about ISDS. But when she recently changed her position to oppose the TPP, the issue of ISDS wasn't one of the reasons she gave. I want the moderator to ask, "Would you ever support a trade deal as president with ISDS?"

[lovemydog]

73. Excellent questions.

They merit meaningful responses, and getting each of the three candidates on the record.

[onehandle]

12. Hoping for more great dialog, but expecting another win for our nominee.

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[Hepburn]

47. Yes, I am expecting Bernie to do very well. n/t

[winter is coming]

16. Discuss the TPP. n/t

[HerbChestnut]

26. I'm hoping the moderators will stick to the issues and not political gossip.

I also hope Bernie puts in a strong performance and really makes this a race.

[lovemydog]

72. Same here.

Both of those two things, I feel, are good for everyone. I also hope Martin O'Malley puts in a strong performance and really makes this a race, too.

[kelliekat44]

29. I'm hoping they will use the time to address each of the lies told by the GOP tonight AND

remind people about the records under Democrats. Remind people about what a catastrophe we were facing when Obama came into office, remind them how the GOP met to undermine Obama before he was even sworn in, remind people of where we are now (including wages rising, unemployment 5.0, bin Laden dead, consumer confidence up). Remind people that there many problems facing us tell what and how they will address the issues. But most of all point out the disinformation of the GOP candidates and remind the people that the GOP regards their social security as "free stuff."

[Hekate]

42. Intelligent questions. Intelligent answers. Would love to have Rachel again...

....but since that won't happen, would love to have the moderators follow her example.

[Blue_Adept]

43. The day after Star Wars opens

Yeah, lots of people at home that weekend with nothing to do. Oof.

[Fumesucker]

44. That someone other than hard core political junkies who have already made up their minds will watch?

[Aerows]

49. That it wouldn't have been scheduled so

clearly as to ensure the least number of people watch it.

I understand why, now. Major Hogwash called it a couple of days ago - DWS limited the debates because they were terrified Hillary Clinton would go off on another "Bosnian Sniper" riff.

Which she, of course, did, with the "Marines did not want a healthy Ivy League graduate that lied about her age because JAG does not exist and sexism."

On the day of the memorial of the founding of the Marines, and the day before Veteran's Day.

Good Luck if you can support someone with judgment that flawed.

[DJ13]

52. An honest assessment by the MS pundits about who really "wins"

An assessment divorced from who is providing their paychecks, one that more accurately reflects the opinions of the majority of those who watched.

[lovemydog]

75. That won't happen.

That's why I don't bother watching those paid lackeys.

[aidbo]

58. Any kind of discussion of how to stop big money in politics..

..and overturn Citizens United.

I expect it may be brought up, but will not be dwelt on for any good length of time.

[Agnosticsherbet]

60. I look forward to the Scientific Polls after the debate.

[artislife]

66. Not interested in content...good to know. nt

[Agnosticsherbet]

69. going to watch, but they are really just long political commercials

Candidates plan their gotchas, and strategies over possible ways to turn the gotchas again sr the other candidates.

They plan ahead how to answer the questions the want asked and to avoid those they do not want to answer.

At one time in our history debates meant something. We learned things from them. Now, they are tightly orchestrated campaign events.

The way they nudge scientific polls tells us something about the Democratic party electorate. The anger and acrimony over who won, or the lack thereof, measures the stresses between factions within the party.

[lovemydog]

77. Correct. I believe we must return to the League of Women Voters'

standards for fair debates.

http://lwv.org/content/guidance-statelocal-leagues-regarding-co-sponsorship-presidential-primary-debates-ef-03-06

It's a travesty that this great nonpartisan nonprofit organization no longer endorses presidential primary debates.

The DNC should return to the League of Women Voters' high standards. Not try and drag we the general public down to the DNC's lousy standards. That the DNC this year forced all participating candidates to not take part in any debates not approved by the DNC - that's undemocratic & disgusting. Might as well change its name to the UNDC (the Undemocratic National Committee) until they return to truly democratic standards.

Martin O'Malley has been the most critical of the DNC in this regard, and has eloquently spoken of the importance of fair and open debates to a democracy.

This is one of the reasons why Hillary Clinton is my third choice in the primaries. My first two being O'Malley and Sanders.

[daleanime]

76. DWS resignation announcement.

[lovemydog]

78. That would be a great start to the debate!

[PatrickforO]

79. Well, I'd like to see a post-debate bump for Bernie.

That said, I agree with the poster. I want to hear good what and why questions centered on policy NOT about Clinton's email or some other bullshit that doesn't mean a hill of beans to me economically.

I want to know about how they are planning on keeping Social Security strong, NOT raising the retirement age, NOT cutting or means testing benefits and getting rid of the payroll tax cap so the wealthy pay their full share. I get sick almost to the point of puking when I hear a politician say, "Well we have to do SOMETHING about entitlements..."

Bullshit. Social Security is a social INSURANCE program. When you take out insurance on your car and then make a claim, you don't expect your check to be means tested. You PAID, and when it is time you get the BENEFIT, period.

I also want to hear more specifics about what a single payer system will look like. The Repubs want to repeal the ACA, which has proven to be a giant corporate welfare program for the insurance industry, but they want to take us back to what we had, which was nothing. Fiorina claims that the 'free market' (meaning without all those pesky regulations) has never been tried. Geez.

And I want to know exactly, specifically, line by line, in exhaustive detail from Clinton why single payer isn't something 'she can believe.' Politically unfeasible. Bullshit. It's the right thing to do. All it will take is a group of politicians who have the guts to pass Medicare for all Americans into law. Period.

I also want to know more about Clinton's plan for 'debt free' college education. Bernie's is more straightforward, but I want to know from him about all the Millennials who have carried huge debtloads into their post college careers and live from paycheck to paycheck buried in a hole of debt they probably won't ever be able to get out of. I'd like also to have them both answer questions about the current bankruptcy laws and the feasibility of changing them.

I want to know from both candidates what their plans are for getting all those corporations that aren't paying any US income tax on billions in profits to pay their fair share. What does that look like? How will you change the tax code? And how will you capture taxes on the $20 trillion plus in untaxed income that's been put overseas?

Lastly, these police murders of people of color are getting totally out of hand. I want to know the specifics from each candidate about how to change leadership, culture, demilitarize, put body cams on all the officers, have a more active and aggressive DOJ and de-privatize prisons. I'd like a whole discussion around the morality of private prisons.

Of course, these things are gonna be WAY too substantive for the turkeys at CBS. After all, they aren't really NEWS media. They are corporate propagandists whose main job is to garner profits through increasing controversy, even if they must make it up.

[lovemydog]

84. Bravo.

Great post.

Specifics. Get all three on record.

Every analysis of potential voters says the same thing. We want more substance. Tell us what you plan to do to improve the economy. Specifically. Tell us how you plan to stop the killings of unarmed black people. Specifically. Tell us about your tax plan. Specifically.

Yes as you say these overpaid news readers (they are not journalists) at the networks keep asking these inane questions like 'Emails Benghazi Socialist Stalin?' or 'Some are saying you're an idiot how do you respond?'

[delrem]

80. I want broad guaranteed public access to a livestream,

with guaranteed public access to download the entire unedited livestream afterwards.

Then I want a paper hand counted ballot in the GE.

I don't want much, and it doesn't cost a cent.

[lovemydog]

85. Great points, these should all be live streamed for free.

And accessible online thereafter.

Paper hand counted ballots in the GE. Absolutely. Doesn't cost a cent.

I'm sick of large networks controlling the flow of information.

Information has a way of wanting to be free, the internet taught us that.

The Democratic National Committee should act democratic. Free the debates.

[delrem]

88. We're losing the concept of a general free and disinterested agora.

A truly free place for ideas.

[lovemydog]

90. My girlfriend had an agora sweater.

LOL. I had to look it up on wiki: The Agora (/ˈæɡərə/; Ancient Greek: Ἀ???ά Agorá) was a central spot in ancient Greek city-states. The literal meaning of the word is "gathering place" or "assembly". The agora was the center of athletic, artistic, spiritual and political life of the city.[1] The Ancient Agora of Athens was the best-known example.

Very cool. Great reference. I love learning things here.

[delrem]

91. heh. I knew what it meant but I looked it up there, too,

before posting.