Category Archives: Democrats

9/12 …And Then There Are Ten: DNC 2019 Debate #3 Live Blog

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Tonight is the 3rd DNC sanctioned debate. Some basics (courtesy of NPR and NYT):

  • When & Where? 7-10 p.m. ET, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX

    The debate will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Central) and last until 11 p.m. Eastern, so the debate will be three hours long. It’s worth noting that the debate this month is estimated to last 30 minutes to an hour longer than the July debates.

  • What channel is it on? ABC and Univision (with Spanish translation); also via websites for Good Morning America and Five Thirty-eight.com, Hulu Live, Apple TV, Apple News, Amazon FireTV, The Roku Channel, YT, and Twitter. (Note: it’s all ABC sites, except for Univision).
  • Debate format? The debate format will be one minute and 15 seconds for direct responses to questions and 45 seconds for responses and rebuttals. Candidates will have the opportunity to deliver opening statements, but there will be no closing statements.
  • Who are the moderators? ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, David Muir, Linsey Davis and Univision’s Jorge Ramos
  • Who’s on the stage? Fmr VP Joe Biden, Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, as well as South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Obama Housing Secretary Julián Castro, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas and tech investor Andrew Yang.

(photo: NYT)

The media’s eyes are on Biden and Warren, who will share the center space. However, Andrew Yang promises something different:

Meantime, the horse race state polls continue, this one out of NH:

Any predictions about the other candidates and how they will get noticed? Will Bernie be ignored?

Please join us in the comments.

8/1 Evening OT: Lunch is Over

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

We’ve had two debate rounds with 20 candidates. Like having extra long lunches with the candidates, at a lengthy table with a microphone. They’re tested by the media with questions about past comments, op-eds, and whether or not it’s better to be a centrist or a progressive. Fare is broiled chicken and salads (vegan for Booker)Light conversation but at a West Wing pace. Sometimes there is strong coffee served to keep the energy going.

August is the month whereby the candidates who are currently serving in Congress don’t have to worry about committee votes, hearings, or votes on the floor. They have a month to go to county fairs in Iowa & NH, and other events in SC, NV, and CA to court potential voters. Some candidates may be spending time on Martha’s Vineyard, NAPA, Santa Barbara, or the Hamptons to meet with the wine & cheese crowds in hopes that some cash is coming their way to get ready for the dinners coming this fall.

On Real Time, Bill Maher culled all of the candidates pictures and decided which ones should be eliminated. Take a look:

On all of them, I would agree. They aren’t gaining much traction from the debates. Eric Swalwell did drop out, but I think Bullock, Steyer, and Sestek should rethink why they are in this race. Inslee doesn’t inspire people for his GND because already it has a spokesperson: AOC. Amy Klobuchar is invisible with Biden and Harris in the top tier. Seems to me Bullock would be better off running for Senate, as well as Hickenlooper, and Beto. I would also argue anyone who is polling below 5% consistently should know that the lunch dates are over.

Despite continued teeth gnashing by WaPo’s Jen Rubin, WaPo finally gave Sanders (and Warren) some sherry in their press coverage of the debates. MSNBC, which is notorious for its bias against Sanders, invited him on Morning Joe this morning, and asked him some more centrist questions. But their tone was slighty different: they were polite and more patient.

Good press pays off.

It’s interesting though that stockholder-driven media for the most part didn’t pick up on the nuances in the second debate. How Harris and Castro struck back by telling CNN their framing of the questions was from GOP talking points. Biden was indirectly laced with the GOP label, which he resented. But Joe Scarborough finally acknowledged that Sanders’ ideas have more than just spilled over into 2020 cycle: they are driving the debate. And Steve Rattner was scared s**tless.

I hope the dinners are more sober and not about the best quip. Yes, the candidates should fight for their ideas. Biden and Harris: you are on notice that the progressive wing has lots of little birdies to carry their candidates with the seeds given to them by those who want a more just government. And independent media is finally getting its due by appearing as guest contributors on cable networks and on the Hill’s Rising.

This also serves as an open thread. What’s on your mind?

Warren’s adorable dog & Sunday 5/19 Open Thread

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Good Morning All!

Just thought I’d get a fresh thread going and that maybe it wouldn’t hurt your eyes to see this tweet from Elizabeth Warren’s Twitter account.

Please share anything down below!

I hope you all have a fine and happy Sunday!!

The time for playing games on Medicare For All is over

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Abdul El-Sayed said something yesterday that brings into focus the essential dysfunction which is the US health-care system: Cost of a SINGLE vial of insulin: Canada: $32United States: $300 That's TEN TIMES more for the same exact drug. Our healthcare system is broken — and it's putting lives at risk. We're long overdue for #MedicareForAll— Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) April 2, 2019 Millions of Americans need insulin to survive. The researchers (Frederick Banting, Charles Best and James Collip) who developed insulin in the 1920s knew this and wanted to ensure the medication would remain affordable and safe. They assigned the patent to the … Continue reading →

Elizabeth Warren visits Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, highlights poverty, housing, small farms

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

One of the positive aspects of a competitive primary is seeing candidates campaign in a lot of states, not just the traditional “battle-grounds”. Candidates for president don’t always go to MS, TN, or AL because they aren’t battleground states. But I’m running to be president of the entire United States. I’m planning to travel to every corner of this country—and I’ve got the best staff who will make it happen! pic.twitter.com/8J1finLQZO — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) March 28, 2019 It is significant that Senator Warren conducted a three-state tour visiting Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. It is rare for Democratic primary candidates to … Continue reading →