– In a way, it was heart warming to hear two candidates for any office trying to out-progressive each other. I think you’d have to go all the back to Upton Sinclair’s 1920 run for US Congress to find something like that. And yet, it is a dumb argument that spirals down toward name calling and, as Sweet Brown once noted, “Ain’t nobody got time for that.”
– I liked the substance. If you are with Bernie, you know that everything flows from bringing more people into the political process and putting economic justice first. If you are with Sec. Clinton, you know that she is about evolution, not revolution. So there was nothing particularly new in the night’s remarks, but hearing the point, counterpoint was enlightening and interesting. To paraphrase Josh Marshall, you like Sanders if you think winning results from progressive Democratic values, and you like Clinton if you think Democratic progress results from winning.
– Secretary Clinton was more relaxed and seemed more fluid in many of her responses than usual. (Maybe being behind in New Hampshire gives her a little more freedom to swing with it?) Her calling Bernie out on his “artful smears” was handled well and I think perfectly appropriate.
– Sanders is a real gentleman. He frequently pointed out where he and Sec Clinton agree. Clinton was a little more in attack mode. Sander is also sharp as a tack and had a nice moment when he corrected Ralph Wigggum on just who was the spoiler in one of his early, unsuccessful, house races.
Anybody else watch?