Morning Jolt: Slogging Our Way through the Democratic Debates

Making the click-through worthwhile: America's debate watchers learn that Kamala Harris can't really defend her record; most candidates' debate playbooks are predictable; and Kirsten Gillibrand manages to pick the single least-effective and least-plausible line of attack against Joe Biden.

Kamala Harris, a Bit More Brittle Than Most Democrats Thought

On paper, Kamala Harris is a really strong contender for the 2020 Democratic nomination. But last night, on the debate stage in Detroit, she demonstrated that as good as she is when she's on the attack, she looks brittle, flustered, and flailing when other candidates attack her.

Harris's first move when attacked is to simply deny the accusation. Five times last night, Harris began a sentence with "the reality is. . . ," and what follows from Harris rarely directly refutes the accusation; she usually emphasizes a slightly different point.

Dana Bash asked Harris about the Biden campaign's claim that her health care plan was "a have-it-every-which-way approach." Harris's responded, "the reality is that I have been spending time in this campaign listening to American families, listening to ...

August 01 2019

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Slogging Our Way through the Democratic Debates Jim Geraghty Making the click-through worthwhile: America's debate watchers learn that Kamala Harris can't really defend her record; most candidates' debate playbooks are predictable; and Kirsten Gillibrand manages to pick the single least-effective and least-plausible line of attack against Joe Biden. Kamala Harris, a Bit More Brittle Than Most Democrats Thought On paper, Kamala Harris is a really strong contender for the 2020 Democratic nomination. But last night, on the debate stage in Detroit, she demonstrated that as good as she is when she's on the attack, she looks brittle, flustered, and flailing when other candidates attack her. Harris's first move when attacked is to simply deny the accusation. Five times last night, Harris began a sentence with "the reality is. . . ," and what follows from Harris rarely directly refutes the accusation; she usually emphasizes a slightly different point. Dana Bash asked Harris about the Biden campaign's claim that her health care plan was "a have-it-every-which-way approach." Harris's responded, "the reality is that I have been spending time in this campaign listening to American families, listening to ... Read More ADVERTISEMENT Top Stories The Democrats and the 1919 World Series George Will They are similar to the Chicago White Sox in the 1919 World Series: They seem to be trying to lose. Trump: A Brief History Thereof Conrad Black The political debate has become so unfathomably absurd it may be worthwhile to retrace how we got here. Majority of House Dems Support Impeachment Inquiry Jack Crowe Representative Ted Deutch of Florida became the 118th House Democrat to come out in favor of opening an impeachment inquiry. ADVERTISEMENT The Dangerous Invective against Trump Victor Davis Hanson The continued litany of threats to physically assault or kill a president is lowering the bar of assassination, and it will haunt the country long after Trump is gone. Progressives' Push for Campaign-Finance Reform Is an Assault on Free-Speech Rights Nate Hochman Left-wing efforts to efforts to ban or severely restrict lobbying and PAC spending would silence the average Americans whose voices they promise to amplify. What Bret Stephens Gets Wrong about National Conservatives David Brog Our aim is not to dispense with what makes America great. It's to reexamine old orthodoxies and to remember the lessons of American history. Hong Kong Understands the Uncommon Value of the Common Law Michael Brendan Dougherty The increasing influence of the mainland government has changed the character of Hong Kong's police force and lowered the esteem of Hong Kong's citizens for those who guard and defend this orderly but free society. Ohio GOP Rep Urges Crowd to Avoid 'Send Her Back' Chant at Trump's Cincinnati Rally Jack Crowe Steve Chabot told the Associated Press that he's hopeful the crowd will avoid attacking Representative Ilhan Omar in such personal terms. ADVERTISEMENT WHAT NR IS READING The Smallest Minority: Independent Thinking in the Age of Mob Politics Kevin D. Williamson A dizzying tour through a world you'll be horrified to recognize as your own. With biting appraisals of social media, political hustlers, journalists and identity politics, The Smallest Minority is a defiant, funny, and terrifyingly insightful book about what we human beings have done to ourselves. LEARN MORE Photo Essays Top Shots Defending America ADVERTISEMENT Follow Us & Share 19 West 44th Street, Suite 1701, New York, NY, 10036, USA Your Preferences | Unsubscribe | Privacy View this e-mail in your browser.