We Democrats are a very fortunate party right now

[Samantha]

In this Presidential 2016 contest, the Republicans got nobody -- and I do mean nobody. We have 3 killer candidates. Any of the three could be accomplished Presidents.

In all seriousness, it is amazing that so many Republicans running are an embarrassment to this Country. All three Democrats are a credit.

In tonight's debate, I watched and thought O'Malley did in fact knock it out of the park. I thought when his segment ended, he just might win the debate. He ticked off all of his accomplishments as Governor of Maryland, and the list was impressive. He was energetic, focused and truly on his game. And the charm display did not hurt.

Then Sanders came on and he turned in a stellar performance. I think he barely edged it over O'Malley because he did make comments on foreign affairs and took the conversation to a higher level. But it is his passion for the income inequality issue, our need for a political revolution (to stoke a massive voter turnout in order to win) and his obvious outrage over "fixing" of elections and depriving people of their right to vote that made him a standout. Bernie's serious passion is totally sincere not borrowed.

Bernie also asked the audience why they voted against their own best interests. I thought the funniest moment of the whole evening was when Bernie was saying words to the effect to the people of South Carolina -- the gays are not your enemy, the immigrants are not your enemy, the Republicans are your problem (words to that effect). A gray-haired granny sitting in the audience was nodding her head as Sanders spoke, but mouthed the words "at a boy" to Sanders.

It occurred to me Sanders/O'Malley would make an incredible team. O'Malley was my governor for 8 years and I loved him. I was so proud to live in the State of Maryland under his leadership, proud of all that was accomplished.

I have watched Sanders for years and really admired him. I always thought I wish he would run for President, but I assumed it was out of the question because of his age. Not that I practice ageism, it just seems to me anyone that age would have to be crazy to ask for that job at this time. It is like asking for a premature death. But if the two of them teamed up, they could share that stress. Clinton offered Gore essentially a co-presidency to run with him, and Sanders could do the same. That would be great.

I had a difficult time being riveted by Hillary's contribution. It seemed to me like she was tired. I don't think she made any egregious mistakes. I do think she was not too truthful in saying she was not any more hawkish than Barack Obama. I believe she is. But I believe she served her supporters well, and the audience seemed thrilled with her.

So just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the winner of a political debate is perceived in the ear of the listener -- or so it seems.

No interruptions for soap opera. The very best thing about it to me was the collegiality.

In a way, one might say and the winner is all of us! - but especially Rachel Maddow.

Sam

[chillfactor]

1. a whole-hardheartedly agree....

I think we have three excellent candidates.....while the clown car party has NONE!

Rachel was a superb moderator...wish she could moderate a rethug debate..she would slaughter them!

[Samantha]

2. Well she could slaughter them

but they might gang up on her so perhaps we should keep her for ourselves.

In all honesty, that might just be the best moderated debate I have ever seen. Believe me when I tell you, I have seen quite a number of them.

Maddow was just outstanding, and the questions themselves superb.

Thanks for posting on my thread.

Sam

[chillfactor]

8. you are welcome..

I so enjoyed tonight's forum....what an outstanding job by EVERYone.....

[SleeplessinSoCal]

3. I agree that they are all markedly preferable to the Republicans

Hillary gets far more credit from me. I don' t think she seemed or looked tired. She just seemed comfortable in her skin and with her record. There is no denying that her total experience of politics in DC from varying points of view must make her feel the most qualiied. She also spoke eloquently about the need to correct the injustice happening to blacks all across the country. She made the best argument on that issue, which is paramount imho.

[Samantha]

4. Thank you for sharing your thoughts

It was a very enjoyable watch.

The best moment for me was the little old lady saying at a boy to Sanders. But I enjoyed the rest as well.

Another standout moment to me was when Sanders said putting people in prisons for profit was immoral and had to end.

It is shockingly outrageous. Slave labor is alive and well in the United States and must end.

Sam

[Samantha]

7. I also loved it when Rachel featured the picture of Bill and Hillary when they were first married

What a neat picture! And Rachel's question about when Bill ran for President, did she (Hillary) really think it should be her? Great, great question. Hillary said no, she was happy then with the work she was doing.

Sam

[oldandhappy]

5. Thank you. Excellent post. I agree.

I value the fact that we got to really listen to each one speak for more than half a sentence. It turned out to be a good format. I hope there will be another one in that style.

[Samantha]

6. Wait a minute, wait a minute!

This is the democraticunderground - Primaries forum. We are NOT suppose to agree here. We are supposed to shoot verbal spitballs at each other.

Other than that, thank you so much for your kind words. It is an amazing moment to have a great political debate without any venom, and then have the privilege of discussing here without any potshots.

Thanks for posting on my thread, old and happy

Sam

[lovemydog]

9. I'm looking forward to seeing it in full.

I've been watching snippets on msnbc.com.

Agree, Rachel Maddow is brilliant & personable.

And the winner is all of us for having three outstanding candidates, any of whom would make an excellent president (particularly with a more liberal Congress).

[Samantha]

10. First of all, I love my dog too and she is sitting at my feet wanting to go out

She runs the place here, and she does not care about politics, debates or much of anything else except going out when she wants and having food and water when she comes back.

It is really, really nice to watch a political debate that does not raise my blood pressure or make me feel angry. The whole tone this evening was cordial. There was not one angry moment or one word of snark. That is the way it used to be but hasn't been these last few years. It is great to see refinement show up again in our politics.

And yes, we need to get our liberal Congress back again. Hopefully, the voters are finally realizing this.

Thank you for posting on my thread.

Sam

[lovemydog]

11. Hope you enjoy a wonderful walk with your dog.

You're quite welcome, and thank you for this thread.

I couldn't agree with you more. All three candidates are exceptional and it really comes out via this type of style forum a thoughtful moderator like Rachel Maddow.

Have a great weekend.

[longship]

12. I did not see the forum,

however, I am thrilled by this positive thread in GD and am happy to support it.

There's not one post here indicative of the recent outright childishness.

I applaud every one who contributes to conversations like this one here on DU.


Keep it up, DUers. Keep it positive. Don't let the two year olds bring things down.

[Samantha]

13. I can't thank you enough for saying this

I feel exactly the same way. So many nights here, I have felt like my blood pressure was shooting up, and I was just getting so depressed. The inflammatory tone of so many threads has been discouraging.

I am a long-time political junkie, and I sincerely think both government and politics are fascinating to observe and to participate in. I started watching Meet the Press when I was 8 years old (which wasn't exactly yesterday) and I thought it was the best thing on television. All through my teenage years, my hobby was reading up on politics and learning a lot about elections. I just loved it.

It is hard to love politics today because of the way it is treated: often like a sporting contest, or a simple game, when really so much is at stake in our everyday life, it is something to be treated with respect and participated in with civility.

Those are the kinds of threads I like to start, the ones civil and thoughtful. So thank you for your kind words and for posting on my thread.

Sam

[longship]

14. I concur with you on this.

That is the way we can win.

[eridani]

15. Grownups discussing problems and how to solve them 100% of the time

The contrast with Republicans is highly revealing.

[Samantha]

16. I do believe the Democratic party as a well does strive to serve the best interests of the people

I also believe the Republicans, many of them, strive to serve only their own best interests. The Republican party does not attract the same quality of candidate, generally speaking, as it did in days gone by. Obviously, many of the prominent candidates running for President seek to serve only their own best interests, as well as their wealthy patrons who brought them to the dance.

Thank you for posting on my thread.

Sam