The idea that Las Vegas should arise at all, a city in the middle of nowhere with nothing to draw people there but laws that wink at their vices, is one of the most bizarre events in American history. The second most bizarre was the collection of oddities who assembled there last night in the eighth Democratic presidential debate.
If you like yelling, this was the debate for you. Missed it? Don’t worry, we’ve got the best tweets of the night from everyone whose ears suffered for you.
Everyone Hates Mike
Gone are the days of Cory Booker’s “can’t we all be friends” campaign. Booker is out. So are a dozen others. Those who remain are out for blood, and their first victim tonight was former New York mayor and multi-billionaire Michael Bloomberg.
question one at this debate: pic.twitter.com/sCnHsvaM4R
— David Byler (@databyler) February 20, 2020
Sanders immediately pops Bloomberg on stop & frisk, says that’s no way to win over black and Latino voters the party needs to beat Trump.
— Blake News (@blakehounshell) February 20, 2020
Bernie Sanders argues that he can beat Donald Trump by being Bernie Sanders.
— Peter Suderman (@petersuderman) February 20, 2020
Warren chomping at the bit to get at Bloomberg
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) February 20, 2020
lester holt: thanks for being here
liz warren: mike bloomberg is an absolute piece of shit
— Very Calm Sporting Enthusiast (@CalmSporting) February 20, 2020
Yup. Out of the gate everyone is going after Bloomberg even though he’s not the frontrunner.
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) February 20, 2020
Jesus, Elizabeth Warren is scalping Mike Bloomberg on live television.
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) February 20, 2020
The hilarious part of Warren is too stupid to realize her only hope is to attack Sanders.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) February 20, 2020
Not sure everyone talking about Bloomberg hurts Bloomberg.
— Tony Fratto (@TonyFratto) February 20, 2020
Every viewer is getting the impression Bloomberg is the favorite and maybe inevitable
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) February 20, 2020
Elizabeth Warren’s interrogation of Bloomberg over his alleged sexual misconduct in the workplace set the tone early, and went on quite a while. She hammered him hard on the non-disclosure agreements that women have signed after settling lawsuits with him.
“A man or a woman, or it could be something more.”
Did Bloomberg just admit to sexually harassing a horse?
— Ari Cohn (@AriCohn) February 20, 2020
Bloomberg better make everyone watching this debate sign NDAs
— Daley Haggar (@d_haggar) February 20, 2020
I wonder if anyone has spoken to Michael Bloomberg like this to his face in the past, say, 40 years
— Jonathan Tamari (@JonathanTamari) February 20, 2020
Bloomberg brought a wallet to a knife fight.
— Bruce Mehlman (@bpmehlman) February 20, 2020
everyone in this debate pic.twitter.com/w6vTnlcViP
— Sarah McLaughlin (@sarahemclaugh) February 20, 2020
Bloomberg’s answers were less than convincing, but he was so boring they moved on to other fights. Pete Buttigieg contrasted the unlikeability of Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders with his own inability to inspire any sort of strong emotion.
Buttigieg:
“Let’s put forward someone who’s actually a Democrat.”
Shot at Independent Bernie Sanders and former Republican Michael Bloomberg
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 20, 2020
Buttigieg calls Sanders v Bloomberg “Burn this party down vs. buy this party out.” Why couldn’t we have this level of nastiness in the previous 32 debates?
— Kyle Smith (@rkylesmith) February 20, 2020
mfw the debate starts and everyone immediately starts fighting pic.twitter.com/07L4IpJv95
— Jordan Lancaster (@jordylancaster) February 20, 2020
Sanders took criticism for the harassment dished out by his “Berniebro” ultras. He disclaimed responsibility and even mildly criticized them, but Buttigieg asked what it is about his campaign that draws such hateful individuals to it? (In other words, he noted that the flies are attracted to manure.)
Amy Klobuchar had an idea about the way to prevent sexism on the internet.
As we know, there was definitely no sexism on the internet in 2016 https://t.co/cfIJHQbvme
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) February 20, 2020
After extending the hand of peace to Warren, she was surprised to see it slapped away as Warren compared Klobuchar’s healthcare plans to a Post-It note.
Klobuchar looks like she wants to chuck so many binders at Warren rn
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 20, 2020
But she was smooth enough to promote her home state corporation, the inventor of the Post-It. That’s a professional, ladies and gentlemen.
Klobuchar with the random pull about post-it notes being invented in her state was nice.
— neontaster (@neontaster) February 20, 2020
Meanwhile, Biden faded into the background and Bloomberg was just glad they were talking about someone else.
Michael Bloomberg sitting back on the stage while all the other candidates destroy each other#DemDebate pic.twitter.com/kMKWeUEhVf
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 20, 2020
Speaking From The Heart (Attack)
The moderators next turned to vigor, and whether the 78-year-old Sanders should release health records concerning his recent heart attack.
Bernie says he has the “vigah” to be president of the United States. I think he just challenged Chuck Todd to some sort of test of physical stamina.
— Blake News (@blakehounshell) February 20, 2020
— Jarvis Good (@jarvis_best) February 20, 2020
Sanders pointed out that Bloomberg, also 78, has two stents in his heart, too.
Geriatric Democratic field in a nutshell: “you have two stents, too”
— Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) February 20, 2020
Mayor Pete was ready to challenge them all to an obstacle course.
No one:
Absolutely no one:
Pete Buttigieg: pic.twitter.com/19hIREo6Fa
— Kylee Zempel (@kyleezempel) February 20, 2020
It’s the Alter Kacker Primary. https://t.co/sArM2Q41X3
— Melissa Braunstein (@slowhoneybee) February 20, 2020
This debate so far… pic.twitter.com/SzMmpdwLYr
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) February 20, 2020
The Taxman
From health records to tax records, the candidates dogged Bloomberg on his tardy disclosure. His response was … kind of familiar.
“Fortunately I make a lot of money” – Mike Bloomberg being relatable
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) February 20, 2020
“I can’t just go to TurboTax…”
— @MikeBloomberg, Man Of The People
— Chris Jacobs (@chrisjacobsHC) February 20, 2020
Bloomberg is such a smug little jerk. “I can’t go to Turbo Tax.” #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/hLVcK1Q917
— Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) February 20, 2020
“It just takes a long time.”–Mike Bloomberg explains why he hasn’t released all his tax records. Where have we heard that excuse before? Who could it be? Is it …THE DONALD!?
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) February 20, 2020
Warren was still mad about something.
I got an advance copy of @SenWarren‘s #DemDebate strategy.
Not sure this is a winner: pic.twitter.com/fhqtGBfbU1— ¡El Sooopèrr! ن c137 (@SooperMexican) February 20, 2020
Bloomberg looked like he was starting to regret the whole thing.
╭ ◜◝ ͡ ◝ ͡◜ ͡ ͡ ͡ ◝╮
( i’m gonna have to buy)
(off everyone on stage, )
( aren’t i? )
╰ ͜ ͜ ͜ ͜ ͜ ͜ ╯
O
o
° pic.twitter.com/ciOvJpSNhZ— Siraj Hashmi 🐶 (@SirajAHashmi) February 20, 2020
South of the Border
One of the moderators brought up Mexico, but not to discuss any facet of the immigration debate. No, she wanted to know why Klobuchar forgot the name of the President of Mexico the other day. Really.
In the middle of the discussion of Klobuchar not recalling AMLO’s name, Biden interjects: “I’m the only one who knows this man! I met with him!”
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) February 20, 2020
(His name is Andrés Manuel López Obrador and she definitely remembered it this time, with her best high school Spanish accent.)
Biden: “Look, I’m relevant!”
— Damon Linker (@DamonLinker) February 20, 2020
Buttigieg tried to breathe some life into this “controversy”, and got a taste of the famous Klobuchar temper.
Klobuchar going off on Pete like he’s a staffer who just breathed the wrong way
— Cassie (@cassierednose) February 20, 2020
Nevada: It’s A Desert
Next came a global warming question, with a local twist.
Now asking how they propose to prevent Nevada from turning into a desert.
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) February 20, 2020
It’s less a question and more a profession of faith: they’re all on the same side here.
Bernie yelled that it was an existential threat. Existential!
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS CHUCK?!
— Kai Ryssdal (@kairyssdal) February 20, 2020
Bernie, this is a Wendy’s.
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) February 20, 2020
His solution (and Warren’s) was extreme.
Yeah, ban fracking and kiss Pennsylvania.. and Wisconsin goodbye….
— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) February 20, 2020
Bernie to oil and gas workers whose jobs he would ban: thank me for saving you from global warming
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) February 20, 2020
I like how Bernie Sanders believes fracking is a moral issue but abortion is not. 🤔 #DemDebate
— Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) February 20, 2020
Did they all get to the debate by donkey?
— Mickey White (@BiasedGirl) February 20, 2020
Since they all agreed, it got a little repetitive.
I’m bored can we go back to everyone eating each other #DemDebate
— Rachel Bovard (@rachelbovard) February 20, 2020
Warren congratualted herself on “believing in science,” as if that were how scientific inquiry worked.
#DemDebate pic.twitter.com/2bqsV8u5Zw
— Ben McDonald (@Bmac0507) February 20, 2020
“Environmental justice” is a good term to use if you want everyone around to know you’re an ideological nutbag. #DemDebate
— Kayla Elizabeth (@VixenRogue) February 20, 2020
Biden said a bunch of things al in a row.
Joe is your rambling uncle
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) February 20, 2020
Bloomberg spoke strongly against global warming—but said it wasn’t all China’s fault.
The way Bloomberg spoke about China in that answer on climate change is how everybody on Wall Street thinks about them
Remember that
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) February 20, 2020
Eat The Rich?
They next discussed Mayor Bloomberg’s wealth, and whether he had the right to exist.
MAYOR BLOOMBERG SHOULD YOU EXIST
— Emily Guendelsberger (@emilygee) February 20, 2020
Bloomberg says he worked very hard for his money and deserves it
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) February 20, 2020
Bloomberg just knocked communism, prompting Bernie to have a fit. #DemDebate
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 20, 2020
He should have just asked Bernie, how many jobs did you create? https://t.co/kGL2gW41U2
— Mr Maitra (@MrMaitra) February 20, 2020
Bloomberg is about 5 minutes away from saying he can buy and sell all of them on this stage and he’s not about to put up with any more of this shit
— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) February 20, 2020
“We’re not going to throw out capitalism! That has never worked!”
Bernie: pic.twitter.com/qV87Ay1Uic— Sara Miller (@Millerita) February 20, 2020
Bloomberg: “What a wonderful country we have! The most well-known socialist in the country is a millionaire with three houses.”
Bernie: “Well I live in Washington.”
Bloomberg: “That’s the problem.”#DemDebate
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) February 20, 2020
Inexplicably, few of the non-communist candidates came to Bloomberg’s aid.
Live shot of the Stop Sanders movement tonight. pic.twitter.com/KtbtIVO9Ek
— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) February 20, 2020
Though Klobuchar gave it the old college try.
Klobuchar: “I believe in capitalism.”
Democratic Audience: Tepid applause.
There really is something deeply wrong inside the Democratic Party.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) February 20, 2020
And somehow the converstaion shifted to a fight between Klobuchar and Buttigieg.
Wait, Buttigieg forgot he’s supposed to just be attacking Sanders and Bloomberg and has turned on Klobuchar again. I’m afraid she’ll hurt him.
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) February 20, 2020
“I wish everyone was a perfect as you, Pete.” #Klobuchar will hurt #MayorPete physically before this is over. #DemDebate
— Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) February 20, 2020
wish I loved anything as much as Amy Klobuchar loves reminding Pete Buttigieg that he has not won statewide
— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) February 20, 2020
I think you could drill through Nevada deep shale with the heat of their antipathy. https://t.co/YQu4QSzEf1
— John Dickerson (@jdickerson) February 20, 2020
There were some unmemorable closing statements. All of them plugged their websites.
There was something to be learned here.
After tonight, I’m wondering if we’ve really given fair consideration to sheep’s entrails. https://t.co/5NtCqiIESF
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) February 20, 2020
But there was also a larger point.
This is all so terrible
— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) February 20, 2020