I hate to say this, but I think we need another "2nd tier candidates" debate

[ecstatic]

We still have fairly electable candidates like Deval Patrick, Michael Bennet, and Cory Booker running, but they won't be in the next debate.

[femmocrat]

1. Whatever happened to the primary process?

Isn’t the “winnowing out” process the role of the primaries? I don’t think these truncated debates are helping to showcase our candidates. Remember how John Kerry came from behind to win Iowa? I think the rules need to be reexamined again! There is no way that outstanding candidates like Kamala Harris should have been shuffled out the door so early. This is a letdown for those of us who really want to consider the issues instead of being offered fewer choices.

[Demsrule86]

7. A primary is a process to pick a nominee...we should all be familiar with the issues now.Harris had

no AA support and Warren has little too...you can't be the nominee without such support. And maybe if we had our first primaries in more diverse state non-white candidates would have more of a chance. Iowa and New Hampshire are probably the worst states to have primaries in early...they do not reflect our party...but it is what it is...and we need to move on from the primary...a year from today one of our folks will be sitting in the White House or they won't...let get to the task of beating the crap out of Trump.

[MineralMan]

2. Well, that wouldn't actually help any of them gain enough support to matter.

While polling isn't always the most accurate way to assess public opinion, if multiple polls indicate that a candidate is not faring well, then that candidate is not faring well. An appearance in another debate won't change that.

At this stage in the primary cycle, we are almost to the point where the first events are about to be held. It's actually too late for candidates who have one or two percent in the polls to rise high enough to have any chance at all of becoming the nominee.

We had too many primary candidates from the very beginning. That meant that the most recognizable people got the most support and have hung onto that support. That was inevitable in a field that large. There is absolutely no way, now, that a candidate who has not earned much support will suddenly jump up in the standings.

That's just not how it works.

[Thekaspervote]

5. +1000

[rampartc]

3. i'm sure c span would broadcast such a debate

and i think it is a good idea.

[Demsrule86]

10. But who would watch it? There are fewer and fewer people who watch the debates with the top

polling candidates. I wouldn't watch it...no interest. I know whom I will be supporting.

[rampartc]

11. assume you are correct and most people don't see hope for the minor candidates

they are still the people most likely to be considered for cabinet posts, ambassadorships, etc, and will remain leaders of the party.

their policy nuances may contain good ideas that can be adopted, or adapted, by the eventual nominee.

wonky stuff, i agree, but many of us are "wonks," and more of us should be.

[Demsrule86]

12. I go to a website and read about policy...I wouldn't watch it...prefer to read about it. As for

cabinet posts...the sitting Senators like Warren and Sanders who have GOP governors...need to stay in the Senate...I add Amy to this also as Minnesota is turning too purple for my liking...I think the Senate is very important so...I wouldn't put any senator in the cabinet unless they were retiring for some reason. As for the lesser experienced candidates like Yang and Buttigieg....they need more years and more experience...run for the House maybe.

[rampartc]

14. i do agree about senators in states with repub governors

include ms warren in that i think.

but yang anf buttigerg would be valuable appointees in any administration, and certainly something useful can be found for steyer and Bloomberg to do. their (both steyer and Bloomberg) are running some great anti trump ads. that may be the best use of their money at this time.

[Demsrule86]

15. They are both young...wouldn't elected office be better? Get some experience. I agree they are

talented and smart.

[rampartc]

19. they seem to like campaigning

[in2herbs]

4. Even if these three were in another debate I still wouldn't think they were electable. nt

[Demsrule86]

6. No we don't. We need such candidates to drop out as they have no chance...time to move on and

determine who are nominee will be...beating Trump will be tough...the sooner we can pivot to the general the better..it is never good to have our eventual nominee attacked on the right and the left at the same time.

[Thekaspervote]

8. Agree!

[Demsrule86]

9. Time to start voting and field our nominee...it looks like Warren is slipping below 15% which means,

Last edited Tue Jan 7, 2020, 11:14 PM - Edit history (1)

we will have two candidates most likely...Biden and Sanders ( distant second IMHO). I don't see a brokered convention either.

update...Looking at 538 warren appears to have stopped dropping...so we shall see. I can't understand why some would choose Sanders over her personally.

[Sloumeau]

13. Those three are second tier for a reason.

Almost no Democrats want to vote for Mr. Bain Capital, who mainly never got in the debates because he showed up so late to the party.

Bennett is running as a moderate, and no Biden supporters want to abandon moderate Biden for moderate Bennett. This is because Biden is still leading after a bunch of debates. If you want a moderate to win, you would have to be a fool to trade Biden in at this point for Bennett.

As far as Cory Booker, I think he has a big future ahead of him. He's young enough, good looking enough, smart enough, and personable enough to go far. I just think that Biden, Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and Harris all had the edge on him, and I am far from alone on that.

About half of the Democrats are in the moderate or conservative wing, and Biden fits them just fine. The other roughly half are in the liberal wing, and they love both Sanders and Warren. Who is Booker going to knock off? He seems to be running as a moderate, and there is no way he can displace Biden's name recognition, his level of experience, and his wide support among moderates of all colors. As a moderate, he really cannot touch the liberals that are rooting for Sanders and Warren. You could put Booker on a debate every week and it would not make a difference.

As much as I have heard people say how we need someone younger, look at who is getting the most support. About 65% of it is going to the three people in the 70ish area. Why is that? Because Democrats like experience. This is why we also voted for Hillary. Donald Trump had ZERO experience in government, and it SHOWS. Boy, does it show. Whether or not to target a high-level Iranian General should have been a decision made by Trump's generals, not Trump. However, Trump thinks he knows better than everyone else. Of all of the potential Democratic nominees, not one of them would have made the mistake Trump made. Yet, Trump thinks that he must always do the opposite of whatever Obama does. This is because Trump is a moron.

Democrats like experience. It is because we are smart. We want the surgeon who has been doing the surgery for 20 years to do our surgery, not the guy straight out of medical school. We want the plumber who has been doing the job for years to unclog our pipes, not his newly hired apprentice. This is why we wanted Nancy Pelosi to lead the House because we knew that with her experience, she would kick Trump's butt.

Democrats are most likely going with experience, and I think that is great. Most likely your nominee will be Biden or Sanders or Warren. One look at Trump will tell you why Democrats want wisdom and experience over the inexperienced, bumbling fool that is Donald Trump. I think Americans, after seeing what a fool Trump has been, will choose experience as well. Sorry, younger candidates. Your day will come.

[Demsrule86]

16. What a well thought out post...I agree with it...but even if I didn't it would still be a great

post...

[Sloumeau]

17. Thank you very much. :)

The compliment is even better coming from a fellow Biden supporter.

[Demsrule86]

18. Well you are a great supporter ...and have a way with words...well done.

[TidalWave46]

20. They have been campaigning for long enough.

The debate stage clearly hasn’t helped them as candidates. Less than a month until voting starts. Let’s see what changes after Iowa and NH.