Debate Takeaways: Gloves come off between Clinton, Sanders

Logan
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Debate Takeaways: Gloves come off between Clinton, Sanders Jan 18, 2016 8:07:49 GMT -6

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Post by Logan on Jan 18, 2016 8:07:49 GMT -6

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- In their final debate before the Iowa caucuses, the gloves came off between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Shouting over each other at times, the two leading Democratic presidential candidates engaged in some of their toughest exchanges of the campaign on Sunday night, underscoring the narrowing race between them in the first-to-vote states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

Clinton sought an advantage over the Vermont senator on curbing gun violence. Sanders, meanwhile, twice assailed the former secretary of state for accepting big money in speaking fees from Wall Street, drawing some boos as he did so.

Health care emerged as a major dividing line, placing the future of President Barack Obama's health care law in the spotlight. Just two hours before the debate, Sanders released a proposal that would create a "Medicare for all" health care system funded by higher taxes on middle class families and the wealthy. Clinton warned that reopening the health care debate would put Obama's health care law at risk.

Continue reading at hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DEM_2016_DEBATE_TAKEAWAYS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-18-03-35-35 .

nobody
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Debate Takeaways: Gloves come off between Clinton, Sanders Jan 18, 2016 9:05:10 GMT -6 Logan likes this

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Post by nobody on Jan 18, 2016 9:05:10 GMT -6

I know somebody at USA Today declared Hillary to be the winner. I think they all did well. Hillary's style is to be totally smooth and confident and unless she cracks those who like her will always consider her the winner. To some her confidence comes across as smugness, even to those who claim not to dislike her, so there are two edges to that sword.

I give O'Malley an A for earnestness, Hillary an A for smooth unflappable confidence, and Bernie an A as the Harvard-prof issue-maven.

This was a debate where everybody with a favorite goes away with the justified impression their candidate won! Seriously, they all deserve As. A model debate.

Logan
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Debate Takeaways: Gloves come off between Clinton, Sanders Jan 18, 2016 9:27:43 GMT -6

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Post by Logan on Jan 18, 2016 9:27:43 GMT -6

I watched most of the debate live and also watched it a second time because on some interruptions. My personal opinion was that Clinton was an A-, O'Malley was a B and Sanders was a B-. I thought that Clinton could have done a bit more to fend off the charges that she was a corporatist. O'Malley's delivery was rushed which did not allow his message to be absorbed by the audience or the viewers. Sanders looked somewhat flustered in the first segment of the debate which made him somewhat unlikable. I believe that Sanders staff talked with him after the first segment and his performance and body language improved afterward (biting his tongue, rolling the eyes and hand gestures) However, there is something to be said about first impressions.

I felt a bit sorry for O'Malley since the moderators limited his time speaking knowing that the main card of the debate was between Clinton and Sanders. However, any of three candidates are far superior than the options that are being presented by the GOP and they appear more inclined to get something done rather through slow progress as Clinton suggests, by initiative as stated by O'Malley, or by revolutionary change that Bernie advocates. I tend to be someone who is content with incremental changes forward rather than by revolutionary changes since I've worked in state government and understand the necessity of building coalitions and I'm middle-aged. I suppose that I would be more insistent for sweeping changes if I were in my twilight years though.