The Final Democratic Debate | National Catholic Reporter

The Final Democratic Debate | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I did not watch the debate.  The general election debates are usually better viewing.  I am glad that Bernie, though a Jew, spoke out in favor of the humanity of the residents of the Gaza strip.  While I am sure that some displaced settlers want their old land back, it was not really theirs in the first place.  The solution here is ceding it to Egypt and being done with it (which the settler familier will hate - all the more reason to do it now).



Bernie is going good on his theme, although, unless it was never reported, I wish he had said more about his tax plan vs. Mrs. Clilnton's proposals.  On the topic of Wall Street, he should have said that she raised tons of money for her husband's campaigns and it bought them unregulated hedge funds (why Greece and Puerto Rico are in trouble) and the repeal of Glass-Stiegal, as well as cuts to capital gains taxes which made buying mortgage backed securities a good idea at the time.  She can claim these were her husband's decisions, not hers, but he could have fired back with the question of what she would have done differently.



Is New York a done deal?  Polls said Hillary would win Iowa by large margins.  It was a tie.  We could be seeing the Douglas Wilder effect, where people feel funny saying they won't vote for a woman, but really do not.  This could be closer than we think on Friday and even closer after people realize there is an election Tuesday and start watching the ads. Anything but a big Clinton win keeps Sanders in the race through California (he may stay in regardless) - but if he won, that would be a reason for Super-Delegates to change their minds - and that will change everything.



Its a pity we are not more ideological.  If the race were framed as a neo-liberal vs. a democratic socialist, where neo-liberals include Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and probably both Bushes then calls for a change election would be obvious for more voters giving Hillary their vote now who might vote differently when radicalized.



Should Bernie start playing nice?  In California, yes, but not now.  Hillary should wait until then to so as not to sound condescending - and be very willing to be gracious when it is time to write the Party platform.  The only thing the platform should say about abortion is that the issue is a fraud and the Party, while condemning Trap laws (which might be struck down by June anyway), will no longer engage on the issue unless the Republicans actually make proposals on what they would do, since Roe v. Wade appears to be the most settled of precedents