ADDED (27/2): the final question was in two parts: (1) name a major misconception people have about you and (2) what is your motto. Ann Althouse considers the misconceptions here and the mottos here.
On stage, L to R: Mike (Bloomberg), Liz (Warren), Bernie (Sanders), Joe (Biden), Pete (Buttigieg), Amy (Klobuchar), Tom (Steyer).
01:00 GMT:
First question is to Bernie about how good the economy is and he flips it to how bad billionaires are.
Bernie getting attacked from all sides but not really hard and sharp alike last week.
Joe zooms from discussion of the economy to gun control.
The moderators don’t seem to be controlling the subject.
Liz says Bloomberg more dangerous than Bernie.
Most applause seems to be for Joe and Bernie.
It’s the sideshows: Liz v Mike. Pete v Bernie. Amy on her own. Tom on his own. Joe pretty much on his own too.
Bernie is in his favourite subject: Health care. Gotta give it for the man, he’s been banging in about this for forty years.
Amy is droning. Moderate applause.
Now it’s Pete v Tom. On healthcare. Oh dear...
Tom bores them with his mani thing: climate change.
Joe boring them with “what I’ve done”. Joe’s campaign / debating is all in the past. “Bernie hasn’t passed much of anything”. True! Joe is now punchier.
Tom and Joe hammer and tongs.
Amy says she can “get things done”.
Mike whoops! He nearly said “bought” when he meant to say “supported”, with money, 20 of forty Democrats to the House.
Boos to Bernie when he mentions billionaires.
Not clear if they’re booing Bernie or the billionaires.
Seems a dogs breakfast so far.
Topics covered — the economy, gun control, tax, racism, billionaires, being a mayor, Mike is right wing, Bernie is left wing and ..and ... Trump, and how he’ll win if we’re not careful.
01:40 GMT: ~BREAK~
01:42: GMT
Gun control: to Joe. I beat the NRA says Joe. Gun control: I got it done. Attacks Bernie for supporting the NRA.
Liz: need to roll back the filibuster to get gun control.
Bernie gets boos again for flipping it to “Joe supported bad trade deals”. Amy says she’s tough too! And Mike dips in.
Joe appears revived.
Mike is trying to be tougher. Not sure he’s succeeding.
Pete’s again a true filibuster. Mentions his military service (which is pretty sketchy, TBF).
Education: to Mike re charter schools.
Liz wants to get rid of “high stakes testing”.
Bernie blames billionaires! (From what I’ve read the problems in Ed are as much with declining discipline as lack of money).
Housing: to Amy. Something, something. Liz: it’s race! Redlining! It’s Mike’s fault. Liz sure is cutting in! It’s her last chance ...
Mike: I stopped redlining! Makes a joke, about how well he did last week,,, It’s pathetic and gets zero laughs.
Wages for blacks: to Joe. I’ve worked in this all my life! says Joe. The past again. He’s go after gentrification. Hmmm. It’s racism!
Tom: everything is about race. Housing, guns, education. Supports reparation for slavery. Muted applause.
Healthcare to rural areas: to Amy. Something, something. Pete: it affects blacks more! And it’s voter suppression. The Republicans! Muted applause. Bernie:It’s part of Medicare for all!
Sugary drinks: to Mike. Makes another “joke”. Falls flat. Talks of bans on smoking. Which started in New York and spread. He’s right. Blames Trump for coronavirus. Joe: a DARPA for obesity and cancer. Good idea!
Legalise marijuana: to Amy. Agrees. And also something, something. Mike: let’s be careful and get the science first. True.
02:13 GMT ~BREAK~
[so far my impression: Joe and Mike are doing a bit better than usual. Amy a bit worse. Liz seems desperate. Bernie his usual solid self. He’s been saying this stuff for fifty years. Tom and Pete are pretty much irrelevant and people seems to give them little shrift]
02:19
The military: to Liz. We need diplomacy awa military. Mike:have to keep troops where terrorists congregate. Assured response. Military are doing a good job now. Pete: President has torn US credibility “to shreds”.
Covid-19: to Amy. Would you close borders? Need to follow CDC. Blames Trump, again. Joe: I controlled Ebola! The past yet again. I’d be on the phone to China. Strong. Bernie: have to increase WHO, CDC.
China: to Mike re Xi Jinping. Wouldn’t allow Huawei. Would criticise china’s human rights. Xi serves at behest of politburo. Has a lot of power, sure. Garbled. Joe: I spent more time with Xi than anyone (the past!). Xi is a dictator. But we need to be involved with them. Strong.
Liz: pivots to Mike’s taxes! Huh?
Tom:biggest problem is climate change.
Support of socialism: to Bernie. Pivots to criticise Mike’s Xi comment. Criticised American foreign policy and say nice things again about Cuba. Joe: Barack Barack... who criticised Cuba. Pete has another canned response (Trump is 50s Bernie is 60s). Mixed cheers and boos. Bernie hits back hard. Amy:
We need someone in the middle. Criticises Bernie. Who hits back hard on beating T and voter turn out.
Russia interference: to Joe. Talks of 2016. The past! Should sanction Russia (which, TBF, the T admin has done). Tom: attacks T. Also “we are under attack”.
Re Jews and AIPAC: to Bernie. I’m proud of being Jewish. Lived in Israel for some months. But Bibi is horrid right winger. Have to recognise the Palestinians. Mike: have to leave the capital in Jerusalem. Two state solution. Liz: TSS. Encourage the two parties. Criticises T. His finger on the scale. Cheers for mention of Palestinians, boos for mentions of Israel…
North Korea: to Amy. I’d meet with Kim but not like T (of course!). Work with allies. Back into Iran Nike deal, deal with Russia new START. Joe: don’t negotiate with a dictator... without a quid pro quo (!).
Idlib/Syria, how to stop mass slaughter: to Pete. Work with allies.... Liz: work with allies. Need a plan!
02:51 GMT -BREAK~
[at least this debate seems to be covering more issues than previous. My current rating: Mike a bit better but not enough. Joe showing some spunk but not enough. Polished Pete nothing new. Annoying Liz nothing new. Bernie Bern same as usual. Amiable Amy having a bad debate, and ignored. Tom not bad but has an obsession (climate) that gets in the way and is irrelevant anyway. Everything else involves race, race, race!]
02:56 GMT. What’s your motto?
Tom: always tell the truth
Amy: improve peoples lives
Joe: I do what I say
Bernie: everything is impossible until it happens (Mandela)
Liz: treat others well
Pete: from the Bible: treat others as you would be treated yourself. [it’s Matthew, iirc]
Mike: I’m gonna do something, not just talk about it.
03:03. FINISH
CNN Panel: David Yang and David Axelrod agree with me: Joe did well. Mike better than last week but his jokes bad. Amy irrelevant. Pete polished, also irrelevant. Liz make or break. Tom Steyer is completely ignored. Van Jones: Bernie is a bulldozer. I agree!
Pretty much seems to be in sync with my observations above, which is not usually the case.
Moderators did not control the debate enough (I agree).
