All three candidates for the Dem nod did VERY WELL. O'Malley the clear winner

[alcibiades_mystery]

First off, if you're perceiving some "bias" in the way the candidates were treated, it is mainly your own bias stepping in. All candidates got some softballs, got some crowd-pleasers, got some odd Cuomo-isms masquerading as political analysis, got some screwdriver jabs from the audience. That's how these things work. Take a deep breath and check your own biases. The ref always makes the bad call on our team and favors the other guy. Our team is always made up of angels, the other team of thugs. Grown-ups can feel that in the thick of the competition, and still know that it is just their enthusiasm doing the statistics.

So, that out of the way...

All three candidates were very good, very on game, very electable, very awesomely focused on left-progressive issues. They have a range of solutions, but they're mostly good.

If there is a big winner tonight to be picked at all, it was Martin O'Malley. Given the chance to speak, he makes sense and knows how to bring it. I knew what I'd be getting from Bernie and Hillary. They're both great, but their spiels are predictable at this point. O'Malley had some fire, and some strong answers that cut a new line. I didn't like it all, but I found myself nodding.

If only for the surprise element, the passion, and the policy clarity, O'Malley took the forum. His numbers will move over the next few days.

[elleng]

1. Yes, he always makes sense,

but too often people here see his presentations as 'pandering.' Damned if I get THAT! Too reasonable, I guess.

And he received less time than the others, at least 10 minutes less than Bernie, 45 minutes for Bernie.. then 35 minutes for Martin, and that REALLY pisses me off!

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. I'm not too worried about that

They have to go by the clear polling

[Matariki]

6. I guess I'm one of those folks who reads O'Malley as pandering

I've tried to figure it out. It's not what he's saying, but there's something in his demeanor that just seems insincere - or like he's trying a little too hard. That might not be fair, but I really can't shake that impression.

[elleng]

9. He HAS to try harder,

he's ALWAYS short changed, tonight 10 minutes less than Sanders, who KNOWS how many less than hrc.

[one_voice]

10. Really? 10 minutes less? Jeeze I knew he wasn't getting the time at the debates...

but I figured tonight it would be divided equally.

[elleng]

12. Yes, someone's son timed them.

I too thought it would be divided equally.

[Matariki]

13. There's a reason why his campaign never took off

[elleng]

14. Yes, he's continually cheated of time

before the public, because the STARS deserve MORE, in our democracy.

[Matariki]

15. So was Sanders though - ignored and cheated out of time

I agree that it's unfair and it sucks and the dice are loaded. It would have been good to hear more from O'Malley. But at the same time I think there's something about the way he presents himself and his ideas that just doesn't inspire. Which ultimately is the real problem for him. Politicians go no where complaining about fairness to their campaigns.

[elleng]

16. HE doesn't complain (except for more debates, as did bernie briefly,)

his SUPPORTERS (I) complain.

[loyalsister]

21. He doesn't tap into anger the way Bernie does

That is the one thing that I dislike about Bernie's campaign. I like what he says, but the bluster bothers me. In the end, stoking anger is not productive when many of us are trying to challenge the media and cultural adoption of conflict as entertainment.

[Jim Lane]

24. I wonder if he seems insincere just because his demographics are more conventional.

We've never elected a Jew, a self-described democratic socialist, or a septuagenarian. On the issues, there's not that much daylight between Sanders and O'Malley, and O'Malley is notably to Sanders's left on gun control. Nevertheless, for voters unhappy with business as usual, there are respects in which Sanders more obviously represents a change.

O'Malley has experience as a governor (like four of the last six Presidents), is in the age range that usually wins, and even has more "normal"-looking hair. He's clearly not the "fringe" candidate in that literal sense or in any other sense. In many contexts, these factors would work in his favor. In a year in which the unexpected strength of both Sanders and Trump is showing that a lot of voters reject the more conventional candidates of their party's establishments, though, it may be that being a more conventional candidate causes O'Malley to seem insincere.

I like both Sanders and O'Malley. I think either would be an excellent President (better than Clinton and much better than any Republican). My guess is that O'Malley would be the stronger general-election candidate, because some of the factors that help Sanders among Democrats would work against him in November. My dilemma is that neither of them gets to be the nominee unless he can stop Clinton, who's still the favorite IMO, and Sanders obviously has the much better chance of doing that.

[StevieM]

11. I didn't watch most of the forum, so I didn't realize that he got less time. I agree that it was

unfair to give him less time.

I am supporting Hillary, but I like O'Malley a lot.

[ecstatic]

2. I think he came across the best as well. I wouldn't be surprised if

there was an upset in Iowa.

[Matariki]

4. "O'Malley the clear winner"??

To quote the Twitters "O'Malley sounds like he recites the Golden Rule as he counts sheep.. "

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Quote the Twitters all you want

O'Malley took the forum. Will start to see solidifying support over the next few days.

[Matariki]

7. If you say so

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. If the "Twitters" say so

[Motown_Johnny]

17. He didn't even get one foreign policy question. Plus one question was

(paraphrased) as a young person, what do you think I should care about?

If you can think of a softer softball question then please post it here.


I don't think they took him seriously. The questions were not of the caliber that a viable Presidential candidate should be asked.



I like the guy, but I didn't see much substance in his performance tonight.

[Peacetrain]

18. I love the observation about the turbines going down I-80

being American production jobs.. (they are too big to be imported from China) and good paying jobs... take the climate crisis and working on it..being 100% electrical grid by 2050 and the millions of great jobs that will go with that transition..

[JustAnotherGen]

20. It's one sector

Where you defeat the purpose of you import items for implementation.

It's also very difficult to export jobs that shift our infrastructure to one that is sustainable and green.

Train them (transformation of Sr Year of high school) then pay them for their unique skilled labor. Set aside a specific number of slots for our poorest urban schools to bring those inner city kids who grew up in redlined poverty into the middle class.

[jillan]

19. I really like him. I'd love to see him on the environmental cabinet in the next administration.

I think that's the one are where he shines.

[NurseJackie]

22. If/When O'Malley benefits, it's likely to be at Bernie's expense.

[FSogol]

23. The crowd was wildly ethusiatic for what he was saying.

Still hoping he can pull off an Iowa surprise.