Tuesday was the first time the Democrats hoping to be elected next November took the stage together to debate. Donald Trump predicted a boring show with little energy. If by boring he meant that the candidates would not make offensive comments and would actually answer the questions, then sure, it was boring. To be honest, when it comes to debates among people who want to be the next President of the United States, I prefer them on the boring side.
Anderson Cooper and his team didn't let the candidates slide on the tough questions, which was good because some of them certainly tried. (We're looking at you, Hillary.) The lesser known candidates were a little frustrated at some points about getting less time, and things got a bit catty between Cooper and Jim Webb. Webb wouldn't stop when his time was up because he believed that others were getting more time. Cooper countered by reminding him that he had agreed to the rules, and he was wasting the time he had by arguing. Awkward. But for the most part, everyone was civil.
Let's begin with Hillary Clinton. To be honest, this is most likely her last shot at becoming President, and her desperation was almost palpable. On trial during the debate was her record both as a senator and as the Secretary of State. Her "damn emails" and Benghazi were discussed briefly, but Bernie Sanders basically said what every intelligent person has been thinking; Clinton quickly shut the discussion down after she said all she wanted to say. Another big struggle in the debate for Clinton was her record as a flip-flop. There are really two ways to look at this. The first is the way Clinton would like us to see it. She only changes her position when presented with additional information if she believes she was wrong. Unlike others, she doesn't play political chicken; she is willing to admit she was wrong and correct her course for the good of the country. The second way is how her opponents (and many other Americans) see it. At best she makes ill-informed decisions; at worst, she simply does whatever is most popular to get votes. Either way, this is something she will have to confront, especially if the Vice President enters the race.
Bernie Sanders, although sometimes hard of hearing, had many opportunities to rally the crowd. He defended Clinton (or at least lashed out at the obsessive interest in her correspondence), attacked Wall Street and big banks, touted his free education and healthcare systems, and named climate change the biggest threat to national security. Not bad for a first debate. But there are a few concerns for Sanders. He has great ideas. Popular ideas. What Democrat doesn't want free education and regulated banking? But people are concerned as to whether or not he can deliver. In a way, people were burned with President Obama. His promises of Hope and Change electrified voters, but he was blocked by Congress at many turns. Voters don't want promises that can't be delivered, especially when it comes to very big promises. Sanders is also a Democratic Socialist, and many people are unwilling to understand what this means or how it will effect policy. More and more people are "feeling the Bern," but he still has a long way to go.
Then there were the buffers. This debate was their introduction to America, and for the most part they held their own. Jim Webb, a former Marine, Vietnam veteran, and Secretary of the Navy, gave the perfect response when asked about Sanders application to be a conscientious objector during the Vietnam war. He didn't condemn or vilify. Whatever his personal convictions, Webb acknowledged the difficult nature of the decision and how personal it was.
O'Malley and Chafee chimed in when asked, but neither was electric. Other than Chafee's awkward non- answer to why he voted against Glass-Steagall*, the other candidates acted as a buffer between the two serious contenders, Clinton and Sanders.
For now, things are going as planned for Hillary. The future is uncertain, especially with speculation surrounding Joe Biden's possible bid. But no one should be discounted yet. After all, Obama was a little known senator from Illinois, and look what happened.
*For more info about Glass-Steagall, read this NY Times article.
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