6 takeaways from the Democratic debate [January 18,2016]

CNN ^ | 01/18/2016 | Eric Bradner, CNN

[SeekAndFind]

Bernie Sanders is mad as hell -- and he's hoping Democratic voters are, too.

The Vermont senator denounced a "corrupt" political system and cast himself as a break from it, while Hillary Clinton tied herself tightly with President Barack Obama and argued she'd build on his legacy, as the Democratic presidential contenders clashed Sunday night in Charleston.

Here are six takeaways from the final Democratic debate before the first votes are cast in Iowa and New Hampshire:

1. Sanders = Trump

It's not often you hear Sanders say the words "my good friend Donald Trump" -- but the two have something in common: Their tones match a moment of anger within the electorate.

Clinton promised continuity. She highlighted her record. She touted her ability to get results within the limitations of the modern political climate.

Sanders offered none of that. Like Trump, his cause is change, not compromise.

His take on why his Medicare-for-all proposal can't pass in Congress could have been applied to just about any of his arguments: "It's because we have a campaign finance system that is corrupt. We have super PACs. We have the pharmaceutical industry pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into campaign contributions and lobbying and the private insurance companies as well."

Sanders' fire-and-brimstone touches on some of the same topics as the Republican front-runner -- particularly super PACs and the influence of money.

Just like Trump, Sanders even riffed on polling when asked about his strategy to win over African-American voters, arguing that they'll like him more once he wins in Iowa and New Hampshire.

"Let me talk about polling. ... In terms of polling, guess what, we are running ahead of Secretary Clinton in terms of taking on my good friend Donald Trump," Sanders said. "We have the momentum.

[SeekAndFind]

OTHER TAKEAWAYS ( CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE REST ):

2. Hillary = Obama

3. Purity vs. pragmatism on health care

4. Clinton's foreign policy advantage

5. Nobody's hitting the Republicans

6. Sanders willing to throw punches

[jmaroneps37]

The Democrats had a debate? who knew? Why weren’t we told about this?

[SeekAndFind]

TAKEAWAYS FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL:

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/01/18/5-takeaways-from-the-democratic-presidential-debate/

1. It was a debate about Bernie Sanders.

2. The Clinton-Sanders fight is about realism vs. idealism

3. President Obama remains a powerful force within the Democratic Party.

4. Mr. Sanders stuck with a familiar script: A campaign-finance system that allows “billionaires” and Wall Street to buy public policy has created an economy that helps the wealthy.

5. Democrats agree on a lot of issues.

[thinden]

personally, I think sanders was hand picked and funded by the Xlintonistas to provided a “prop” opponent to make the hildabeast appear as the moderate, middle of the road & younger choice.

strange that the “angry voice” of bernie is not seen as a threat to destroy the democrat party.

p.s. you would think out of the millions of dems across the country they could come up with a better candidate than these two??

p.p.s. no I did not watch the debate.

[sport]

I agree with you. Sanders was picked only to make Hillary appear to be more sane.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“I agree with you. Sanders was picked only to make Hillary appear to be more sane.”

And how is that working out for her? I think this is all for show anyway. The real debate is which one is going to get stuck with O’Malley is their VP pick.

[Buckeye McFrog]

7) The Dems are going to use the water crisis in Flint, Michigan to argue nationally that EEEEEEEVIL Republican Austerity is KILLING black children.

Yeah, I know. With their positions on abortion that takes some big matzo balls.

[Leaning Right]

The Democrats had a debate? who knew? Why weren't we told about this?

The pro-Hillary DNC is deliberately scheduling the Dem debates at times when viewership is expected to be low. The Sanders folks think that's an attempt to keep Bernie out of the public eye. That would be an advantage to Hillary, who of course has the name recognition advantage.

The Sanders folks are right. But the DNC is taking a gamble here, as they are alienating many Sanders supporters. Those folks just might stay home if Hillary gets the nomination.

[Dante3]

I saw a small segment of the debate. Hillary was getting hysterical.

[Bob434]

7: BOTH candidates argued about who was more anti-gun anti-Second Amendment- and who would take more guns away if elected