2nd DEM Debate Thread: July 30 & 31, Detroit (MI), CNN

[GeorgiaModerate]

I hope the line-up is something like:

Night 1: Biden, Warren, Castro, Klobuchar, Delaney, Gillibrand, O'Rourke, Yang, Bullock
Night 2: Harris, Sanders, Gabbard, deBlasio, Inslee, Williamson, Bennet, Booker, Ryan

Will they randomly draw the lineups again or make an effort to have different matchups this time?

[GeorgiaModerate]

Question:

Are seated debates not common in the US ?

I’d like to have a debate where candidates are seated in cozy chairs like we have here in Austria.

Debate podiums are unnecessarily stiff.

There was a 2008 GOP primary debate that looked like a game show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9EzQy1qHMc

Seated debates just look weird, they look less like presidential debates and more like a family dinner conversation. Truly, if a candidate can't be standing for thirty minutes till a commercial break then that candidate probably isn't strong enough to be president

You just gave me an idea. A presidential debate around a literal dinner table.

Seated around a campfire would be even better.

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1151619323255054336

[GeorgiaModerate]

Which combination of splits for the top tier do people most want, and which one do they least want?

Possibilities:
1) Biden and Harris are on one night, while Sanders and Warren are on the other.
2) Biden and Sanders are on one night, while Harris and Warren are on the other.
3) Biden and Warren are on one night, while Harris and Sanders are on the other.

(I ignore the question of which group goes on Night 1 vs. Night 2.)

3 > 2 > 1 for me, but all of them are preferable to the way it worked out last time.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Yang will go hard after Michael Bennet in the second debate.

??

Yang and Bennet have been having some fun sniping at each on Twitter about the debate.  See https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/454938-andrew-yang-and-michael-bennet-engage-in-satirical-pre-debate-twitter-feud for several of the tweets.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Does anybody else think Biden is gonna go after Harris on something and it's gonna massively backfire?

Actually I think Harris is going to embarrass herself attacking Biden on something.

A smarter move on her part would be to stay above the fray and let others attack Biden (which they will probably do since it worked for Harris last time).

[GeorgiaModerate]

Bullock has practiced this statement so much. He sounds like he's trying to sell me a used car.

Somewhat true, but I like what he's saying.

[GeorgiaModerate]

What snacks are everyone eating?

I just had some red velvet cake.

Klobuchar's opening statement was good.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Are these people all insane? How you can win at a democratic primary with these messages?

Let's face it, none of those who spoke so far are going to win the primary.

[GeorgiaModerate]

The mods are losing control of this debate already.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Anyone else think Inslee looks like Barry Goldwater?

I don't see it.

[GeorgiaModerate]

After the first debate, I was worried about how Biden would fare in a debate against Trump.  But if he performs as well as he is tonight, I think Biden would win it easily.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Y'all thinking Biden is excelling must be delusional.

Pretty sure the only people that think this have blue avatars.

Nope.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Booker is certainly the best speaker in tonight's group.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Biden is much more prepared with attack material tonight.

[GeorgiaModerate]

We're still talking about busing? Boo.

If we're going to keep rehashing 70's issues we should bring up airline deregulation, putting lead back in gasoline, and the wonderful (and incredibly safe) machine known as the Ford Pinto.

And Disco.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Gillibrand has been weak tonight, but "the first thing I'm going to do is Clorox the Oval Office" was hilarious.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Biden was ready for that question about Michigan.  His preparation has been so much better tonight (admittedly his last performance was a low bar).

[GeorgiaModerate]

Biden was ready for that question about Michigan.  His preparation has been so much better tonight (admittedly his last performance was a low bar).

You must be joking? Terrible performance all night.

Are you watching a rerun of the first debate?

[GeorgiaModerate]

I’m sorry, but Biden is gone.

You're a troll lmao, get lost.

Given his track record in the midterms, I'm pleased to see him predict Biden's demise.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Why hasn’t anyone mentioned Russia, or Mueller in these two debates? Hahahahaha wha5 a joke of a party.

If you are going to be a troll, just leave this thread.

He has a point...

There's probably zero separation among the candidates on this topic.  What would be the point in a primary debate?

[GeorgiaModerate]

Kamala Harris has sent people to prison for far less than what Donald Trump has done.

So Trump deserves prison. We already knew that.

[GeorgiaModerate]

LOL all most democrats ever do is pit people against each other racially. Pleaseeee

Your party just screams racism to win as many white people as possible.

Your party screams racism to win as many minorities as possible.

Racism is "screamed" when it really occurs. Get over it snowflake.

Manufactured racism isn’t racism. There is no racism.

trump is manufacturing racism in the US. That's all you need to know.

There is no racism to be manufactured. Dems are making this stuff up, admit it already.

Congratulations.  That's the most absurd statement of the night.

[GeorgiaModerate]

My take: exactly two people in that group (Biden and Harris) started the night with a reasonable chance of being the nominee.  Nothing in the debate changed this.

[GeorgiaModerate]

I'm gonna say this. I can say that Warren actually believes what she states in a debate. I can laugh at her ideas but unlike Harris I do get the feeling she is genuine. Warren actually has legitimate policy proposals that are fleshed while Harris just tries to piggy back on whatever is the most woke.

Indeed.  Warren not only comes across as believing in her policies, she's very good at articulating them.