Everyone piling on Joe

[boston bean]

Only makes him more appealing to voters.

They ought to focus on criticizing Trumpass. They all made a mistake.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Agree

They are making Biden's case for him.

Can we not gild the lily?

Trump will NOT be debating anyone. 45 is too arrogant. You don't have to prove you can attack Trump on a stage as 45 won't be giving the opponent the opportunity.

[True Blue American]

6. Trump may be arrogant, but he also knows

He can not keep up. He has a history now. Before he could bellow and posture, look artogant, me he man, but he has been exposed now.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

17. My first reaction is that it wouldn't matter...but

The reason he can do it now is because he puts himself in a position where he can't be challenged. On a debate stage, that'd be different.

[JustAnotherGen]

73. He won't debate the nominee

Right now - I believe the ONLY person who can take a serious death blow punch in the election is Biden.

DeBlasio could never take Biden acting as the fourth moderator.

[DownriverDem]

57. Yes and No

The attacks on Biden only makes him stronger. There are too many folks running and the process is too long. We need to focus on who can win the Electoral College which means state by state.

[SouthernProgressive]

2. The hits I'm watching on him this morning are pathetic.

He must have done well last night. I saw some really weak shit about him saying “kid” to Harris. I laughed out loud and immediately thought he must have done well. I would be embarrassed to feel like I had to go after him for that.

[True Blue American]

9. Do not turn on CNN!

Awful this morning. Pundits full of themselves!

[SouthernProgressive]

10. Got rid of cable a long time ago.

CNN will do what they always do. Fight to make a horse race.

[True Blue American]

13. Wise move. i am

Learning to stream, but do enjoy the 3 CSPAN’s. I hoped it would be on.

[ginnyinWI]

34. I watch cspan programming online.

We have not had cable for nine years now. I watch some msnbc sometimes on YouTube. Also have an internet radio on which I can listen to cspan radio, which streams some good stuff. Can be done!

[True Blue American]

60. Thanks

Will check that out. We are getting a new internet provider that will cut my bill in half. They started installing April 1st. Have seen cable trucks so am waiting to see. Bundle.

[lark]

67. CNN should be totally ashamed of themselves.

They did drumpfs; work for him the past 2 nights.

[True Blue American]

68. Worst, one sided debate

I ever watched!

[hlthe2b]

3. What the hell were they thinking? Seeing (as I predicted) that Biden's support among black voters

(especially OLDER black voters) had only remained stable or even increased after Harris/Booker's attacks during the last debate and afterwards, they launch a campaign to criticize Obama's entire Presidency as a very desperate attempt to take Biden down a peg or two.

If that doesn't backfire and solidify Biden support among this same constituency--as well as others, I'll be shocked.

As Rev Al and the entire 'Morning Joe' panel said today (and for once I agree with Joe), who the hell is advising these campaigns? Foolish strategy does not begin to cover it.

There is a thread bemoaning CNN saying that Trump was the winner last night. Well, I can see why they might think so.

[True Blue American]

7. When you have Al speaking

Against you, you have a problem.

Biden and Bennett are right. Fix the ACA!

[in2herbs]

50. Just yesterday I watched a video that was posted on DU with Obama speaking to a group

and saying he was in favor of M4A.

[True Blue American]

4. Booker finally said that.

But the pile on last night was allowed to happen by CNN.

Now I understand that Trump commercials were shown in between. I seldom watch commercials so am not sure on that.

[hlthe2b]

5. Wasn't just "allowed to happen by CNN", it was purposely incited by CNN... Ratings, ya know...

[True Blue American]

8. Correct!

Like a reality show!

[ewagner]

45. [phone]

[uponit7771]

16. +1, CNN wanted fireworks and twerking not a debate of ideas

[JI7]

11. agree, i always said Biden hates to campaign and the best way to beat him

would be to mostly ignore him and let him slack off. why criticize him when he doesn't attend certain events ? use the opportunity to talk yourself up . soon he would fade as others become more familiar to voters and they see them as being more engaging.

but all this focus on him has just allowed him to keep more attention on him than anyone else. and he has an advantage since he is a known figure so he doesn't really need to work on getting others to know him as the other candidates do.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. Never knew that, that he didn't like to campaign.

I think Biden is ahead because he is the purest antitheses of Trump, and like you said, the well known one.

If I wasn't for him, advising another candidate, I think I'd say what you said too. Treat him with respect though. Don't light into him...think it only makes you look bad.

[Perseus]

25. I think the "moderators" are guilty of putting the focus on Biden

I have never seen a debate where one person is asked to respond so much as Biden was asked last night. The focus on him was orchestrated by the moderators, there seems to be a push to make Biden look better than he is. The same happened on the 11th hour with Brian Williams guests, starting with the Senator, claiming that the candidates were going after Obama...what a way to change the focus! They challenged Biden, not Obama, they challenged Biden on his decisions, on his lack of action when it counted, his opinions (OpEd) before Obama, and Biden has much more.

To me, last night was a subtle demonstration of what the republicans will do to Biden if he wins the nomination, the democrats at the debate treated him with kids gloves, the republicans will not be that nice.

Anyone who doesn't see that Biden has behaved more like a conservative democrat, and not a moderate, and least of all a liberal has not been paying attention. No wonder he considers so many republicans his friends, like for example "Mitch", as he calls him.

I hope everyone paid attention to Michael Moore, he did not mention Biden as the one to avoid directly, but in many words he did. He spoke about the current Democratic demographic which is not a fan of Biden, but is progressive and must be represented accordingly.

As I said before, if Biden wins the nomination I will support him and vote for him, no doubt in my mind. Like someone on TV said the other day, I will vote for Bozo the Clown against the creature, but if we want the future that I believe we want as progressives then we need to be objective and realize that Biden does not represent those ideas, he represents the status quo, and he intends to keep it that way, that is where his comfort zone lies.

[Cha]

12. Yeah, strange strategy.. wonder

what President Obama is thinking about all of this?

Seems like Biden now has the "I'm with Obama" cornered!

He deserves it!

Thanks bean!

[True Blue American]

14. Bennett is now on

Biden/ Bennett, fix the ACA, bring down the debt. Bennett went up. Good news.

[Cha]

15. Good to know! Thanks

True Blue

[MFGsunny]

63. After last night, am leaning towards that same combo myself. Adult sanity with no screeds. n/t

[True Blue American]

65. You said it! Adults

Among the screeds! I want an adult, not an attacker of their own party. Inslee was good,too.

Warren spells out her plans with out attacking others. That is what I want to hear, not what happened 40,50 years ago. Times were different then, different problems. We do not need to fight those battles again.

[Perseus]

18. The way I saw it, it was Biden who went after Harris on the 1st question

I was surprised to see that, and he came ready to go after the front runners who are challenging his position.

The opinion from Joy Reid and the rest that they were going after Obama is not true, no one went after Obama. Let us not forget that Biden was part of the Obama administration, and like Booker pointed out, you cannot distance yourself from Obama when it is useful to you, back and forth.

I am not a fan of Michael Moore, but he was on the money, first no one was going after Obama, and the other is that we either get a progressive to represent the Democratic party or we will loose the demographic that represents us today, and that demographic is not represented by Biden, and I fear that if Biden becomes the nominee, that many of the young people will not vote.

We must be objective, Biden fumbled a lot when trying to express himself, he seemed to be very happy to stop talking when told his time was up.

Last night's group was not as good as the one on Tuesday where Sanders and Warren came out as the best, if we were to have a winner from last night's debate, I would say Booker, and Gabbard. Gabbard was very eloquent, she did not miss a bit and her timing was impeccable, I am not a fan of her, but being objective is important and I believe she was very good last night.

We must be objective, the goal IS to defeat the creature, to get a progressive to represent us, and a person who will genuinely work for the country, who will restore what the creature has destroyed, to make sure he is indicted and he doesn't win a 2nd term, I am convinced that Biden will not be the person to challenge the creature.

The other goal must be to defeat MoscowMitch, that is imperative.

[llmart]

21. Gabbard and Booker are going nowhere.

They'll be dropping out before long, as will some others.

[Perseus]

27. I don't doubt you are correct, but being objective means recognizing they performed very well

I am not a fanatic of anyone, I will not close my eyes when I see the person of my current choice does not perform well, I want the best we can get and who will perform well against the creature.

They may not be going anywhere but that doesn't take away the fact that last night performance by both was very good, and I would say the best of the lot.

[thesquanderer]

44. re: "if we were to have a winner from last night's debate, I would say Booker, and Gabbard"

Well, my predictions were on the money for at least one person here!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287219277

[Perseus]

59. Wow, impressive....

Your predictions were right on the money.

If you don't mind, what are the winning numbers for the next powerball?

[thesquanderer]

61. LOL (n/t)

[brer cat]

20. I agree.

trump is totally vulnerable, a golden target for them to attack. Going after Biden and Obama is terrible strategy.

[Vinca]

22. Totally agree. Democrats are tearing each other apart and leaving Trump alone. I don't get it.

[BeyondGeography]

23. His most challenging opponent last night was the English language

Without the verbal stumbles he would be getting a solid B instead of a gentleman’s C.

He also suffered from being in the duller debate. But as the front runner that’s at least partially on him. Forgot who made the point on CNN but it’s true; on Tuesday the “stars,” Warren and Sanders, delivered the goods. Last night, Biden and Harris were average at best. If it’s any consolation for Biden supporters, Harris was worse.

[Perseus]

33. Agree with your assesment

I wish everyone would look at the video of Micheal Moore when Brian Williams interviewed him, he is correct about the Democratic party needing a progressive, and Biden is not one, neither is Harris. I was for Harris at the beginning, but she has been disappointing, I believe we need her more as a senator, she is very good in that role.

[thesquanderer]

47. re: "His most challenging opponent last night was the English language"

That's been the case for Biden... but I thought he was better last night than before. Or maybe I'm getting used to it.

[True Blue American]

62. I am liking Bennett.

CNN sure messed up this debate. Not a bit fair on timing. They just wanted a cat fight.

At least MSNBC tried to be fair.

[Perseus]

71. Yes, CNN went for ratings, you are correct about the cat fight and all, but Booker, fell for it.

Jake Tapper has become part of the Chuck Todd idiots club now.

If anyone wants to challenge me about Booker not falling for it. The one time Booker got into it was when Biden attacked him so he went "There's a saying in my community," Booker told Joe Biden while responding to the former vice president's criticism of his crime-fighting record as mayor of Newark, N.J., “You’re dipping into the Kool-Aid and you don’t even know the flavor.”

Also when he told Biden, and rightly so, that he cannot associate with Obama only when it is convenient. When Biden was challenged about Obama's immigration policies he passed the ball to Obama and tried to disassociate himself from the stuff that was not convenient to him. You have to take the good and the bad, you cannot be selective.

[True Blue American]

74. That Kool Aid bit

Was the subject of hilarity with April Ryan and the other pundits. She claimed she used those worfs and was laughing hysterically. So were the other so called pundis. That is why I tuned CNN out. They went on and on while the 2 hosts sat there!

The fools do not realize this is not a show. Real lives are on the line while they laugh and make fun.

CNN, Tapper and the other 2 used no common sense at all. Frankly,I went to bed in the middle because the 3 were such fools.

Booker did,at leasrpt address Trump, but not one of them mentioned Trump attacking Elijah Cummings this week. That should have been center of the MOD questions.

[FakeNoose]

24. Right you are

The Dems weren't piling on Obama - they were attacking the front-running candidate Joe Biden. The plan is to never say anything that could possibly reflect well on Biden, and that includes saying good things about Obama.

What a bunch of idiots!

[Perseus]

64. They are not idiots, they are making their points heard and pointing out what will be embarrassing

for Biden. Lets face it, Biden has been on the wrong side many times throughout his career and if you think the Democrats went hard at him, just wait and see if Biden wins the nomination, the republicans can't wait to have him as a target.

The republicans are salivating at the prospect of Biden being the nominee, the show the creature is putting out pretending he is afraid of Biden is just a show, they want Biden more than anyone, they know Biden wants to be liked, they know his entire history and they will attack him very hard. Last night was nothing, and I believe Biden brought it on to himself, he got the first question and did not waste any time to go after Harris, after that it was total chaos.

We need to be objective, we need to look at all the candidates careers and see where they have stood, and Biden, even before the Anita Hill debacle, has a history of being more on the right of the issues than on the left, if we fail to recognize that fact we will fail come 2020. His agenda, if he were to become president, is more of the status quo, nothing he is offering, despite of flip-flops last night, is what progressives want, and the majority of the Democratic base today is progressive.

I thank Biden for his service, I now think he should go back home, write a book, do a book tour and give speeches, retirement is actually very good, and he deserves it.

[treestar]

26. Even seemed they get applause for it

But joe does not get much for what he says. Like his supporters did not get in.

[Tarc]

28. Everyone piling on Joe by pointing out, rightfully, his many flaws

Having an anointed candidate right out of the gate didn't work so well the last time.

[Cha]

30. Ha! Biden did great last night!

He's leading... so the lower tiers are trying to drag him down.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287220745

[boston bean]

36. Who said anything about anointing?

I said it was bad strategy and a mistake for them. If they want to beat him they did the wrong thing.

Stop with the twisting.

[Perseus]

38. And it won't work this time either.

The media, and the republicans seem eager to nominate Biden, I wonder why.

And no, he didn't do well last night, he fumbled a lot, he yelled a lot, and he showed that his plan is not solid, he changed tunes as he was challenged.

[Tarc]

75. Quite so

The NYT headline of "Joe Biden Did Fine, and That Might Have Been Enough" speaks volumes

[Cha]

40. No one is "annointing" anyone .. that's

just an accusation when you have nothing real.

[emmaverybo]

70. Only prospective voters have made him the front-runner because he is the best

qualified for the job and the electorate perceives him as electable. People aware of his long record of accomplishments and his tested character respect him. Has the media been all in for Joe or the DNC? Who has anointed him?

[emulatorloo]

77. Can y'all drop this "anointed" bullshit? HRC won the nomination because she got more votes

That’s how this Primary will play out too. The one who gets the most votes will get the nomination.

[elocs]

29. Well, if he gets he nomination, Trump will mock, trash, and belittle him

and then he will go after Biden's family, living and dead to provoke him to play Trump's game.
Any piling on that Biden gets from his primary opponents is going to be child's play compared to what will be coming from Trump.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

31. BINGO!!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Cha]

32. Well, the best thing is.. if

Biden wins the nom.. he's not afraid one bit of that stupid asshole.

Link to tweet

[Perseus]

35. He may not be afraid of the creature, but Biden fumbles under pressure

And he showed that last night. His flip-flop will not help him either.

We need a progressive, we don't need a status quo, and Biden shows he doesn't intend to change anything, he is delusional about being able to negotiate with "Mitch", as he likes to call the turtle, and the republicans.

[Cha]

39. Oh that's your opinion.. Biden

did great last night.'

[elocs]

37. I has nothing to do with fear

but with everything to do with being provoked into playing Trump's game and when that happens it puts you on the defensive, always responding, and allowing Trump to dictate the conversation.
Trump is very, very good at playing his game.

[Cha]

41. I think Biden can handle trump.

[emulatorloo]

79. Except if you follow Trump's tweets, you'll see Biden has gotten under his skin already

Biden dismantled Paul Ryan and Sarah Palin in those debates. He didn’t fall for their bullshit, certainly not going to fall for Trumps bs either.

[LincolnRossiter]

43. Trump's an idiot. When did he garner this reputation as a masterdebater?

He sucks at it and comes across as an agitated buffoon. And yes, Hillary's a better debater than Biden, but she certainly isn't a better retail politician. And she still won by almost 3M votes.

[Perseus]

72. The creature is not a great debater, he is a bully who draws you into a squabble

That is his art, he can get under people's skin and even under the most thick-skinned people, the creature is the ultimate asshole who, and I don't know if on purpose, but makes the impression of being a master at getting people upset. Biden doesn't seem to handle that well, and his flaw of wanting to be liked by everyone will get him in trouble. The moment he starts calling the creature by his first name, that will be the end of him, just like when he "negotiated" with "Mitch".

[Duppers]

46. If hump can remember his lines.

He's lost it and his memory has gone. I wonder if he will even debate.

[CatMor]

54. trump will mock, trash and belittle the nominee ...

no matter who it is. I'm sure Biden will have no problem handling that.

[LincolnRossiter]

42. Solidifies my support.

Over the course of the last two debates I'd say Booker and Kamala have solidified their places at the bottom of my list of candidates (next to Bill DeBlasio).

[watoos]

48. Joe needs to defend himself,

CNN didn't just go after Joe, as a matter of fact IMO they went harder after Bernie, Warren and Harris.

Where are the threads talking about how CNN tried to bring down Bernie, Warren, and Harris?

Jesus, CNN had a question solely aimed at one candidate, Bernie. What's with this question? Will Bernie's radical ideas hurt Democrats in beating Trump? That is an example of piling on. IMO CNN took it easy on Joe, it was our own candidates who roughed him up.

[BeyondGeography]

51. Agreed, Tapper was downright passive last night compared with Tuesday's version

“Gov. Hickenlooper, Senator Warren hates bunnies. What do you think of bunnies?”

[ananda]

49. Agree.

Go Joe !!!

[Cosmocat]

52. I tend to agree

Particularly with Kamila - the shot at him the last debate should have been a one off.

She is not particularly popular with the black community going into this, and Biden had good support there and it has only grown since.

She in particular is doing herself no favors, should have been more collegial with him as Warren was with Bernie, assuming his level in the field instead of doubling down on attacking up and risking strengthening the divide with support from blacks.

[stonecutter357]

53. let's go Joe !

[joshcryer]

55. They don't understand how this works.

And Sanders needs to step down as soon as possible if Warren or Harris are going to have a shot.

[watoos]

58. If Sanders steps down and

Throws his support to Warren, Biden is toast.

[joshcryer]

69. Yep.

But as it stands now there's going to be a 3 way split among Harris, Warren, and Sanders. It will be enough to give Biden the votes.

[jayschool2013]

56. I like it when journalists moderate

And not talk-show hosts and TV personalities.

[True Blue American]

66. Agree!

[Vegas Roller]

80. Candidates piling on Joe

looked immature, foolish, unstatesmanlike and juvenile.

If they had treated him with respect and highlighted their differences without name calling and acrimony, they would have looked far better.

As in "I respect the VP for his role in establishing Obamacare and it has done a lot of good. However, we can do better and here is my take on it..... etc. etc."