Well, don't feel bad, nobody else watched it, either. Or just about nobody. Or at least just about nobody I know,
I nearly didn't watch it myself. Ever since the first debate back in August, which I found to be a nice getting-to-know-you event (see post from 6/28/2019, "The Air Is Hummin'), I haven't watched much of the subsequent debates, which, after the first one, seemed more like tiresome affairs with a dozen or so people vying to get a word in edgewise as opposed to imparting any relevant enlightenment.
And besides, there's so much alarming, consequential news constantly coming at us, day and night, night and day,
However, with expectations low and attention span at half-mast, I decided to watch at least the first few minutes of the debate.
And I'm glad that I did. Because, from the first few minutes onward, this one was a really good debate - at last.
And everyone spoke so coherently. Lots of straightforward “yes’s” and “no’s” to questions. So much meat and potatoes. So satisfying.
And there was so much civility among the candidates, and so much agreement on the issues and on policy. Sometimes the candidates even referenced or agreed with or emphasized each other’s ideas.
And though the candidates generally spun their ideas in their own way and in their own direction, there was general agreement over goals and principles.
Nobody went after each other. Nobody’s fangs were bared or claws were out. I liked it.
I especially liked that Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders cordially agreed to disagree over whether Sanders once told Warren that a woman couldn't be elected President, and when questioned by one of the moderators on the subject neither took the bait to fight.
Nor did any of the candidates waste time excessively slamming Donald Trump, but rather used their time to talk about their own ideas for bettering our country.
And what good, sensible, ideas. I found myself suddenly feeling optimistic and hopeful that big ideas were possible, big ideas that really could reform health care in this country, save the planet from climate change, pull us back from the brink of war with Iran.