The sixth Democratic presidential primary debate was held Thursday, December 19, in Los Angeles- last night.

We are down to seven candidates. The demographics are as follows: two women, one non-white male, and four white male candidates.

There are several other candidates, who did not qualify for last night’s debate, still running. The requirements were strict: hopefuls needed to have received donations from 200,000 or more individuals, and they had to have polled at or above four percent in four polls or six percent in two early-state polls.

Who made the cut?

*My post continues after the information below that I pilfered from the Washington Post.

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Former vice president Joe Biden Read more


https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/joe-biden/

•

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Read more


https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/pete-buttigieg/

•Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) Read more


https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/amy-klobuchar/

•Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Read more


https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/bernie-sanders/

•Tom Steyer Read more


https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/tom-steyer/

•Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Read more


https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/elizabeth-warren/

•Andrew Yang Read more

https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/andrew-yang/

The following candidates did not qualify for the debate: Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-{sure Jan}-Hawaii), former HUD secretary Julián Castro, Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), former Congressman John Delaney of Maryland, author Marianne Williamson, former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Senator Kamala Harris qualified but dropped out of the race earlier this month.

I watched the debate.

“So,” “What I would say is this,” “Look,”

In many ways, the debate was the same old same old, but with fewer participants, we heard more from each candidate. I admit I’m disappointed. I would have to dissect qualities from each candidate and build my own to be happy.

What I like about each:

• Yang’s freedom dividend, his unconventional ideas, and his sense of humor are appealing to me.

• I gravitate toward Bernie’s socialistic ideas, like Medicare for all.

• Warren has plans to back up her ideas, and her willingness to listen to criticism and revise her positions accordingly is a strength.

• Amy Klobuchar’s midwestern appeal could win voters in the “flyover states.”

• Tom Steyer’s passion for Climate activism and his promise to tax his peers is commendable.

• I love Mayor Pete’s intellect. I can easily picture him holding his own in conversations with Macron and Trudeau, and regaining respectability for the United States.

• Vice President Joe Biden’s electability is his best quality.

I hate to criticize any member of the Democratic Party at this point in time, but in my defense, any of them will have my vote if they take the nomination, and I hope they’ll have yours.

These are their flaws as I see them:

• Andrew Yang‘s freedom dividend plan doesn’t make provisions for special circumstances, like disability benefits or any other social services that are based on income. Also, in a post-debate interview, Yang told NBC correspondent Mike Memoli, that he would consider pardoning Trump:

“We do not want to be a country that gets in the pattern of jailing past leaders, there’s a reason why Ford pardoned Nixon.” ~Yang

Would you consider a pardon then?” ~NBC News

I would,” ~Yang

What?

To this, I say please refer to Article II of the Constitution:

“The President…shall have the Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.”

You can not pardon impeachment convictions; 45 is unpardonable. Nixon resigned before he was impeached, which allowed him to be pardoned. This makes me wonder if Yang would have voted “present” as Gabbard did. I think Yang should run for Congress.

• Bernie, Bernie, Bernie… sigh. I voted for him in the 2016 primary, but when Hillary took the nomination, he waited too long to support her, and then did so grudgingly. Subsequently, his fan base stayed home on Election Day. Their “Bernie or bust” attitude cemented tRump’s win and cost Bernie a good portion of his following.
• Elizabeth Warren, potentially the youngest woman ever to be elected president, Liz, I wish you would stop talking after your time has expired, but you go gurl.
• Amy Klobuchar is too centrist for me. We need to make “radical” changes in healthcare, education, etc., changes that she considers too extreme. But, I see her appeal, and I do like her.
• Tom Steyer, a rich white guy without any political experience— mmm, scary. But if I were to overlook that, he seem like a good guy.
• Mayor Pete, why’d he have to do the wine cave fundraiser? Now I see him as someone willing to pander to the rich. If we’re going to give the government back to the people, we need to take big money out of politics. The wealthiest 1% own the GOP, and they’re trying to recruit Mayor Pete.
• Vice President Biden comes from a different era in politics, and I think he’s stuck there. He’s too old school, and like Klobuchar, he is too centrist for me.

*NBC News Graph

What are your thoughts?