If I just met all the candidates for the first time on the street, I'd probably like Booker the most. I really wish we would of dropped all his corporate ties a long time ago.
Cool. But I'm trying to do my part to change that. You bet your ass that I'll be looking at who's in touch with the struggles of my generation.
Speaking times have started to level off. Yang still 10th despite being 6th in polling. In case anyone needs a visual reminder of how little @AndrewYang has spoken. #YangMediaBlackout #LetYangSpeak @ABC pic.twitter.com/AeDnGJp3Jc— Paget Kagy ✨ (@PagetKagy) September 13, 2019
True that. He answers questions pretty directly. This is also Yang's 3rd debate not attacking others on stage. He speaks directly to the viewer 100% of the time. A lot of people find that refreshing. Makes him look like an adult.
Early in the evening Nate Silver made a comment that was some like "Does Kamala Harris have a Marianne Williamson vibe tonight"... while I wouldn't go that far its about as damning a description as it gets for a serious candidate.
Must be nice to be privileged enough to shit on what $1K could mean for some people. One person's vote buying is another person's policy. By your standard they're all buying votes. Bernie is offering 100% student loan forgiveness and 100% free college. That goes further than Yang's proposal. The reason Yang pushes for direct investment in American people is because he has more faith in them than the government bureaucracy to decide how to spend these resources.
Like I said, I don't mind when candidates criticize each other and I think a big part of a functional democracy is a vigorous debate in which people highlight disagreements. Maybe I'm in the minority on that but I think that's fine. EDIT: Better here than in ads over the airwaves.
Beto got some good debate prep. He picked his themes (guns, racism) and is sticking to it. Agree or not with his policies, I appreciate clarity.
My final take ... Biden started strong but fizzled out into incoherence later. If this guy was 15 years younger I think he could do it. Bernie and Warren - I just can't get over the fact they think they can take away private insurance from 150 million Americans without major problems. More importantly I don't get why they would do that. It just makes their plan more expensive because now you have to cover even people who would prefer to stay in private insurance. Klobuchar - pretty forgettable Kamala - She made a strong appeal to the black vote, but otherwise I think she has a lot of problems. At one point she laughed at the Constitution, which is really bizarre for an x prosecutor. Castro - did OK, but he'll be remembered for that petty attack on Biden that did not go well with the viewers Buttigieg - mixed performance. He's so light on policy that I'm happy I learned a couple of more details from him which I found myself agreeing with. I still think he wasted too much of his time on vapid value statements (Beto, Warren and Harris are also guilty of indulging too much in this). Beto - not my cup of tea, but aesthetically he put in a solid performance. He played his home field advantage (kind of) masterfully. Still don't understand the gun confiscation policy. I also need a lot more clarity on how reparations would work because I have major doubts. Booker - Probably the winner of the night. I appreciate that he has a moderating temperament which appeals to me. He's smart, eloquent and for the most part I believe well intentioned. Love the fact that he didn't categorically slam charter schools. Yang - no comment since I support him and I'm biased.
Despite the fact that I rate Booker the highest, it's still mind boggling to see him in 3rd place for number of questions asked. The guy is polling somewhere around 8th place.
I say "Thank you." 17 years out if law school and still $60,000 in debt (plus about $20,000 from graduate school). I HAVE sacrficed everything as a legal aid lawyer who is paying off my debt. Despite meeting the debt, income and time requirements for the current forgiveness program, I am not eligible, due to a refinance before the program began. Your comment is understandable, but not relevant. Personally, I think loan forgiveness should be tied to income and ability to pay. I make enough to pay something, but I would like a portion relieved. By the way, I think the same about scholarships. You receive a football scholarship and make the NFL, it should be recoverable. You receive a full ride to law school and land a spot at a top firm, you give it back. Make state institutions tuition "free," but there is a 2-5% tax on future earnings.
Does anyone else find it unflattering that these debates are always followed by a 'spin room'? I really don't want spin.
Ok, which is it? Is it buying votes from m the young, or is it a balancing of the scales? Your contrarian schtick is boring.