Thread by @trickybluemage

About to start the debate coverage, but first a couple ground rules.

1. Anyone who uses any takeaways, ledes, or other puns involving the fact that there are 12 candidates on stage is fired.

2. Since CNN will take any ad money, setting the over/under for anti-Dem ads at 6.

Here we go.

And the first question goes right to Warren and right about impeachment. The question - with the election only (or rather oh god still) a year away, why bother to impeach?

Well that's a nice lob across the plate.

Sanders echoes the sentiment that we must do it for, again, obvious reasons

Biden's response is similar - impeachment has become an imperative as of now, even if he was slow to come to it.

To Harris: Pelosi says the Senate has to be fair in the trial of Trump to attempt to exonerate himself. Yet she already has called for his removal. Is that fair?

Harris: It's being observant.

lawls

Same question, but to Booker - can he be fair?

Similar answer but a Booker flair for optimism.

(A reminder: Senators are the jurors in an impeachment trial.)

Both KLo and Castro is asked if the impeachment would backfire on Dems?

It's a fear a lot of people have for sure.

Both are emphatic that it's not only necessary, it could actually be beneficial to keeping the system from falling apart.

Gabbard on the other hand is much more skeptical it's a good idea. She thinks it'll make things worse since the Senate will acquit him.

You can really feel the warm and fuzzies from Tulsi

Steyer got his first response on impeachment (despite advocating for it for 2 years). He reminds people that any 12 of the candidates are better. But yeah, impeachment is necessary due to rampant corruption.

Beto concurs.

As does Yang, but also points out that Dems need to do much better at inspiring people, especially in a state like Ohio.

And THERE it is - got through the initial opening run before going right to the Hunter Biden thing.

Flatly states neither did anything wrong, and then says Biden says Trump did Ukraine b/c he's fearful of going against Biden. (Likely true.)

Moving to economic matters. Warren is asked how she manages to pay for her ambitious plans. i.e. will taxes go up?

For the wealthy and corporations, yes.

Also a humblebrag about 70k selfies.

Buttigieg doubles down on his 'Warren is evasive' line of attack. For one, it's one of the few to attack her position and two, he needs to.

Warren retorts but I hope someone has a screenshot on how much he wants to pounce on her stance like an eager puppy. Which he does.

Sanders wades in to essentially back Warren up but admits taxes will go up. Klobuchar jumps in on the optional Medicare option and makes the strongest attack on Warren so far in all of the debates so far.

The difference between a plan and a pipedream is one can be get done.

How long did she rehearse that in the mirror?

Biden talks about his approach to ACA 2.0. Bernie rails against pharmaceuticals. Harris points out that women's reproduction rights are under siege and no one has brought it up.

It's a health care greatest hit.

On to jobs

To Sanders: automation will kill jobs, esp in Ohio. Will those people still have jobs with his federal jobs guarantee and how?

Sanders: Damn right we will.

Gotta love old man sass

(the answer is infrastructure. Because it's literally falling apart.)

To Yang - why is his $1,000 a month option better than a federal jobs guarantee?

1. Not everyone wants to work for the feds.
2. Not everyone likes their job.
3. Not everyone benefits.

He's not entirely wrong, but still skeptical the 12k dividend is enough by itself either.

Booker jumps in with some great lines saying that A) attacking Biden's son only benefits Trump and B) women shouldn't be defending reproductive rights.

It's a pivot from the topic at hand, but it was a good bit of venting once he got the mic.

Back to infrastructure: Warren addresses her stance that automation isn't the sole problem for job loss, touts unions.

Castro expands on that notion too, including suggesting that a mix of different ideas would be good approach.

Yang insists that automation IS the big deal, including the part about self-driving trucks being tested.

Those are still a ways off, but the larger point that low-skill jobs are in danger of being lost over the next decade.

Gabbard says the heart of automation concerns is fear, would prefer UBI over federal jobs guarantee.

To Booker: GM used to be the 2nd largest employer in Ohio, now it's in the 70s. (Damn.) Solve that real quick.

Ugh. That's the kind of question that seems super easy (unions! trade deals!), but is actually a highly complicated one needing multilateral efforts.

The top 1% have more wealth than the bottom 90. Sanders is asked to explain his remark that billionaires shouldn't exist and whether he'd tax them out of existence.

Long answer, but yep.

Naturally they pivot to Steyer - the billionaire on stage - and asks if he's right?

Steyer: Yes. And we need to fix the systemic wealth inequality shifts over the last 40 years but undoing the things that caused them.

Fair play to Steyer for putting his mouth where his money is

They switch to Biden to see if he'll bite about his past remarks that demonizing rich people is bad. He dodges half, agrees with half.

Warren talks about what you can do with taxing the uber rich.

Klobuchar is back on the heavy attack on Warren although they're not that far apart. Clearly this was her plan going in.

Warren defends, but Klobuchar plays the 'real America' card.

Effectively she's trying to insinuate Warren is out of touch - one of those evil coastal elites. Which, ugh.

Of course she then ends her attack by saying the candidates shouldn't be attacking each other and should be attacking Biden.

Nice having it both ways.

In between Mayor Pete gives a remark about needing to have answers that Midwesterners are comfortable with - i.e. Warren and Sanders are scary.

Harris talks about the fears of every day Americans.

Yang says a VAT is better than a wealth tax.

Beto is asked about the wealth tax issue and says Warren wants to be punitive.

I've heard people call Warren a number of things. Punitive certainly isn't one of them.

I think that one missed the mark.

Castro's suggested approach is a wide-ranging series of tax adjustments.

Booker interject to the debate so far - overly attacking each other just because they differ on plan implementations only helps Trump because demonizing one another led to 2016.

His point: Advocate FOR things, not AGAINST each other.

I enjoy Booker's optimism, not just because it's aspirational but because it's genuine. Debates are fine. Attacks aren't.

His desire for civility in a debate is admirable. But this won't stop the 1% candidates - they need to to get attention. (KLo, Beto esp)

Hour 2 stars with foreign policy. Namely, the total and complete clusterfuck that is Kurdish abandonment.

Should troops be sent back in? Biden says he'd want those troops be in place and be protected and to stand up to Turkey.

Gabbard says the Syrian war has culpability from politicians on both sides and is publicly attacked because she supported Syrian withdrawal. Also Yemen.

Then seemingly tries to get Warren go on the record about leaving Syria. And...Warren agrees if done right. So good job?

Mayor Pete vehemently disagrees with that ethos and remarks on the damaging effect it has on the word of Americans.

Tulsi and Pete go after each other heavily on this.

To Sanders: Should Turkey remain a NATO ally?

Sanders say no, not if they do stuff like this.
(Weirdly this is the first time I've seen this brought up ANYWHERE)

Several candidates address the issue about whether the US can be trusted going forward. Klobuchar focuses on Turkey. Harris lays Syria at Trump's feet.

Castro is very pointed - we let ISIS go free but cage kids on the border.

Castro: Trump is turning the moral leadership of this country into a dumpster fire.

Another good line, then talks about how to stand up to Putin.

Biden says Trump is an erratic, crazy president that doesn't know a damn thing about foreign policy.

It's true though. Trump has been an isolationist since the 80s.

An interesting Russia question for once - would you expose Putin's corruption and squeeze his finances as a way of standing up to him.

Beto's response is measured and focuses on diplomacy over military goals.

Steyer concurs.

Also an answer of 'duh' would also have sufficed.

Yang follows up with fears of AI and other cybersecurity concerns as well.

Klobuchar reminds us that protecting the 2020 election is also essential.

Oh good - let's talk about the Dayton shooting. And they naturally go to Beto's remark from last debate.

He's asked how he'd do a mandatory buyback program would work if he doesn't want to do mass enforcement and believes people would do it voluntarily.

Buttigieg advocates we pass the laws already in the hopper first before.

Beto and Mayor Pete then spar on policy and scope.

Booker is asked to weigh in.

He de-escalates from the two of them slightly and reminds people that the issue is very real, stating that there are more duck and cover drills in school now than fire drills. Damn.

Klobuchar is in camp Pete, saying essentially don't rock the boat of the current bill efforts. She'd be fine for voluntary buybacks. Mandatory buybacks in her mind would scuttle those efforts.

In contrast to earlier, both her and Warren are in agreement on this (mostly).

Harris says she's in favor mandatory buybacks because it's an epidemic. And that she's hugged more family members, seen more autopsy photos, police funerals than she cares to tell us.

She's also told us that before.

On to opioids. So uplifting these topics get.

Klobuchar is asked how she'd handle the epidemic, especially in rural areas.

Her take is to make the manufacturers pay for them. Which would be the least they could do.

Steyer agrees.

Yang points out that the recent fine of the manufacturer paid out all of 2% of their revenue in that time frame. But he also advocates decriminalizing small amounts of opioids as part of the solution. Beto concurs, saying it would be better to dispense pot over opioids as well.

Harris and Castro also says phama execs should be criminally liable and go to jail.

Oh one could only hope. The Sackler family would be a good start.

Biden stumps a bit before being asked about his health in a presidency.

He pivots and gives a genuine thanks for the care and well-wishes from everyone. Gets a nice round of applause from the crowd and the dais.

Biden is also asked about his age. His retort is that he's been there and knows what to do.

As does Warren. And says she'll outlast anyone the Republicans end up running. Love the shade.

As Gabbard would be the youngest, they go to the other end and ask her if age should matter.

In short, no. Age isn't a fair assessment. Experience and temperament is paramount.

Agree...but to a point.

2/3 through and there's been some substance, some insight, some bickering, and a lot of prepared remarks.

Is it bad I kind of miss Williamson breaking things up a little? The debate really could use more of whatever crystals she hoards.

Focusing on tech issues:

Yang is asked if Warren is right that breaking up big tech companies. He agrees that she's right about the problem but not necessarily the solution.

Warren isn't having it, and explains why Amazon specifically needs to be addressed.

Steyer agrees but pivots to touting the economy. Ok?

Booker says we need to enforce anti-trust laws from pharma to farms.

Beto is a bit more tepid. He states that Facebook is a publisher, not a utility - which is how it's treated. He would if need be but worries slippery slope.

Also some fun statistics shared in this segment:

Amazon makes up nearly half of all online sales.
Walmart makes up almost 10% of all brick & mortar sales
6 banks control half the GDP of the US
10 media companies control 90% of what Americans see.

I need a hug.

Harris follows up saying breakups would be good. She also points out that @Twitter should shut down Trump's Twitter account because of the repercussions of what he says. Then digs Warren for not agreeing with her and tries to get her on record - twice.

@Twitter The amount of swiping at her illustrates that Warren's in front-runner status now.

@Twitter Klobuchar encourages competition and thinks that's the angle to use - encouraging competition.

Castro agrees, saying enforcing monopoly policies.

@Twitter Yang also reminds us that a big proponent of tech regulation would be something akin to what the EU did - ensure that stating our data about ourselves is ours and those companies can't profit from it.

On to abortion and how to stop states from rolling back Roe. Harris gives an earnest and forceful statement about the imperative needed to fix it.

Klobuchar echoes the same idea, but then pretends Trump is on stage with her and then takes the invisible him to task for his actions.

I almost feel like she would have used puppets here if given the chance.

Gabbard and Booker second that sentiment.

Honestly if anyone up there didn't wholeheartedly, they should just get out of the race.

Should Roe get overturned, Biden is asked if he'd pack the court to protect abortion rights if he couldn't use Congress.

Mayor Pete talks about SCOTUS reforms instead, be it a 15 person court, rotating benches, and other ways of diminishing the politicization of appointments.

Castro and Warren are also on board with the idea of reform but not court packing.

We're into the home stretch now. The wrap up starts by asking Biden if Warren and Biden's approach for big systemic change is the best way to beat Trump.

You hear this a lot by the moderate wing.

Biden uses this to talk about being a negotiator and straight shooter.

Sanders defends his vision - one Biden considers unrealistic. Warren reminds people she got the CFPB created so she knows how to get things done too.

She's been hit a lot tonight but due credit for (mostly) being able to respond in time.

Buttigieg says that voters are given a false narrative between Trump as an aberration and a Warren-style systemic fight. i.e. let's make center-left choices incrementally and have that be the change we want.

Klobuchar's take is that Here in the Heartland - WHERE REAL AMERICANS LIVE - bold grand approaches aren't as important as real everyday issues.

Sanders says that the reason he advocates big change is that it's what people want.

I get the mindset but my god I am so absolutely sick of the idea that 'real Americans' don't exist in urban or coastal areas. I get many are dismissive of the Midwest but you know what doesn't help you? Calling the majority of those coastal urban citizens less American. JFC.

Last question for the evening...and it's about Ellen.

(The Ellen/Bush thing.)

Each candidate is now asked to talk about a relationship that would surprise the audience and its impact on them.

Castro: The wisdom of older people. Also pro Ellen's philosophy.
Gabbard: Trey Gowdy. Also Aloha.
Klobuchar: McCain. (Is that a shock? She's touted it repeatedly.) Also tone matters as much as policy.

Steyer: An environmental advocate woman from South Dakota. Also suck it corporations.
Beto: A GOP Congressman who I did a 1600 mile road trip with to DC. Also be sure to like and subscribe to that livestream.

Booker: I have so many to choose from. [So I won't choose any.] Also the belief we got here as a country solely by rugged individualism is myth. (It is.)
Yang: A MAGA trucker I rode with. Also tune into my 10 hour AMA on Friday

Harris: Probably Rand Paul. Also I'm unique.
Buttigieg: My fellow soldiers. Also hoo-rah.
Sanders: McCain. (See, that is surprising). Also, yes, I have what it takes to be president.

Warren: Charles Fried (GOP Solicitor General). Also the system is broken and you know it.
Biden: McCain again. (This is less surprising than Klobuchar. That was known for years.) Also get up. Period.

So where does it leave us?

1. Warren is definitely the frontrunner now, and while she was able to generally hold her own, she definitely wasn't used to being on defense so much.

2. Nothing said tonight will drastically shake up the standings.

3. Most of the candidates had decent nights, particularly Biden, Klobuchar, Steyer, and Booker.

4. Klobuchar and Pete are definitely fighting for the moderate lane.

5. Yes, Steyer is legit, at least for now. And he has the money to ride it out a while.

6. Unless something changes in the next month, Gabbard, Castro, and Beto may be on their last legs.

6B. If you didn't make this debate, it's time to drop.

7. Harris really seems to have plateaued and she's going to need to fix that going forward.

Ok, so we're done for the night here. You can go back to the regular Twitter schedule of actively ignoring things that matter.