Thoughts on the Oz-Fetterman Debate
Video of the full debate is just below.
Probably the most anticipated debate of this election cycle, between a doctor who got famous on TV and a massive (literally and figuratively) Bernie Sanders acolyte who, respectively, the Republican and Democratic candidates for an absolutely critical Senate seat...a seat that's open because incumbent retiring Republican Sen Pat Toomey is riding off into the sunset. Therefore, a Dem win here is a "flip" and would make it MUCH harder for the GOP to take control of the Senate.
This debate was an utter disaster for John Fetterman (and, not that anybody cares, but Oz did fairly well.) Both men dodged almost every question and I think the moderators didn't push Oz very hard to answer what was asked because they were terrified to do so with Fetterman because of the risk of looking unsympathetic. So many possible answers to interesting questions were instead pivots to attacking the other guy.
Fetterman began with "Good night, everybody." And basically he was right...he should have left right after that.
A few key points:
- The moderators showed on the screen two interview quotes from John Fetterman. In one, from a few years ago, he said that he didn't support fracking and never has. Now he claims he does. His answer was, to put it politely, unconvincing.
- Oz claimed (and I haven't researched the truth of this but nobody last night said it wasn't true) that Fetterman's ads have been taking off of TV stations because they were outright lies. Apparently including the claim that Oz wants to "cut Social Security." Oz argued convincingly that he doesn't believe that and has NEVER said anything like that and that Fetterman was just making it up. At the end of the debate, during Oz's closing statement, Fetterman yelled "he'll cut Social Security!" It was desperate, pathetic, and embarrassing.
- Fetterman refused to commit to releasing his medical records.
- Oz said he would support Trump if Trump were the GOP nominee in 2024.
- Fetterman said he would support the use of federal funds to pay for transportation for women to get an abortion if they live in states where abortion isn't permitted. Oz repeatedly pointed out Fetterman's support for a bill that would allow abortion with no restrictions up to 38 weeks of pregnancy.
- Fetterman's answer to college affordability is to have government pay the tuition for state colleges and universities, and vocational/technical schools
Here's an example of the liberal media burying the biggest takeaway of the night, that Fetterman is CLEARLY not up for this job: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/5-takeaways-from-the-pennsylvania-senate-debate/ar-AA13nB6u
Here's a more honest discussion: Fetterman's painful debate (axios.com)
It's not surprising that the left wants to keep focusing on abortion even though Oz's position was quite reasonable and it's Fetterman's that's out of step with most Americans: The Pennsylvania Oz-Fetterman debate's real takeaway (msnbc.com)
Just One Thing
A NY State Supreme Court judge yesterday slapped down New York City for firing unvaccinated workers, ordering them to be rehired and given back-pay. The city is appealing the ruling. (I have to include "the ruling" there because I don't want to be mistaken as saying that New York is appealing, if you get my meaning.)
The conclusion in the opinion is short and worth reading: DocumentDisplayServlet (state.ny.us)
Today's Guest
Craig Singleton is a fellow for China (basically meaning for the study of China) at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. I studied Chinese politics in college (along with Soviet politics) and remain fascinated by it. We'll talk about what the consolidation of power by Xi Jinping means for China and for the rest of the world, including the major selloff in Hong Kong stocks and the value of the Chinese yuan (their currency) after Xi's even-more-aggressive-than-expected takeover of the control of China.
FDD | The Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Xi's Third Term Is a Gift in Disguise (foreignpolicy.com)
China’s strongman is here to stay. And weaker than he looks. - POLITICO
China names Xi Jinping loyalists for core leadership group (cnbc.com)
Foreigners Flee China Stocks at Record Pace as Panic Spreads (yahoo.com)
Yuan plunged but recovered: Chinese Yuan Renminbi to US Dollar Exchange Rate Chart | Xe
Hong Kong stocks plunged but really didn't recover: HSI 15,317.67 (▲1.00%) Hang Seng Index | Google Finance
Other Stuff
Joe O'Dea and Michael Bennet debated yesterday. I didn't watch but I read that it was mostly about issues quite related to western Colorado. I do like Joe's line to Bennet: "While you were creating dependency, I was creating opportunity." (See video clip below.)
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New York Supreme Court judge orders NYC to reinstate and give back pay to workers fired for not taking COVID vaccination:
Conclusion is short and worth reading in its entirety: DocumentDisplayServlet (state.ny.us)
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The whole story is disturbing but what about the people who saw the situation and didn't report it?
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Even Bono has figured out that capitalism is the worst system except for all the others.
Bono Is Still Trying to Figure Out U2 and Himself - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
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THIS STORY IS NUTS...WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD GET THE BABY?
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CNN job cuts coming as CEO Chris Licht concludes business review (cnbc.com)
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Does anybody believe these lunatics that the letter was released in error? House Democrats Retract Ukraine Letter After Backlash
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I don't have time to research judicial retention votes and apparently nobody else does either. It's RIDICULOUS that every judge is judges as worthy of retention. I mean, it's possible they all are but it's unlikely.
Colorado judge retention questions: How to vote on your 2022 ballot (denverpost.com)
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Other states' Senate races
Utah emerges as wild card in battle for the Senate | The Hill
Can you imagine if Georgia goes to a runoff again? It's definitely possible:
RealClearPolitics - Election 2022 - Georgia Senate - Walker vs. Warnock
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For today's videos please watch at least some of the Oz-Fetterman debate posted above and this one good line from Joe O'Dea in his debate with Michael Bennet in Grand Junction yesterday. Also, the full CO Senate debate is below.