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Monday, March 16, 2020

The Democrat Debate

I wonder how many people watched Biden and Sanders debate last night.  It seemed like a waste of time to watch.  I certainly didn't.  In the midst of the corona virus the last thing I needed was something to bring me down further.  This morning, I read the coverage of the debate.  Sounds like I made the correct choice.

The consensus in the media is that Biden won because he seemed rested and strong.  The evidence for that conclusion is that Biden got through the debate without making any major gaffes.  I'm not making that up; no MAJOR gaffes qualifies Old Joe for a victory.  But here are some things Biden said last night.

1.  He committed to ending the use of fracking in the USA.  That will destroy the US oil and gas industries.  Right now, those industries in the USA are being hurt as Saudi Arabia and Russia are fighting for control of the world oil industry.  Fortunately, America is no longer at the mercy of the country that wins that battle.  We are energy independent.  Biden (and Sanders too) want to throw away that energy independence and return to the good old days of gas shortages and price gouging.  One study estimated that the end of fracking would eventually cost the USA over 14 million jobs.  Just think how many people those jobs support.  In the midst of the current economic storm, Biden is still pushing for a program that would raise unemployment to levels last reached in the great recession in 2009 under Obama/Biden.

2.  Biden committed to naming a woman as his vice presidential candidate.  That's sad.  He should have committed to naming the best person for the job.  Then if he picked a woman, she wouldn't be seen as an affirmative action candidate, you know, the one who wasn't the best but who got the job based on her sex.

3.  Biden had nothing interesting to say about the corona virus -- at least nothing interesting that was reported.

For what it is worth, the consensus on Bernie is that he performed exactly the way he usually does.  He was a one track mind on Medicare for All.  He criticized the drug companies for being happy at all the profit opportunities the corona virus was bringing.  Of course, he had no proof for that charge; it was just more of Sanders' typical anti-capitalist braying.  According to the media, Sanders didn't land a glove on Biden.  No surprise there; Sanders never did that with Clinton last time either.  It's not who he is.

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