Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz to debate Obamacare at CNN town hall tonight at 9 PM ET - Polidicks

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNovtcAyv6g[/media] [quote] Washington (CNN)Under President Donald Trump, the Republican Party is gearing up to overhaul Obamacare -- the sweeping health care law enacted in 2010 that covers some 20 million Americans. At a special CNN town hall debate Tuesday night, two senators with diametrically opposed views of the government's role in health care -- Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders -- will face off and field questions from Americans about the future of the country's health care system. Both men unsuccessfully ran for president in 2016. Each senator has a national following -- Cruz as a spokesperson of the conservative right and Sanders as a representative of liberal ideals. The prime-time event, moderated by CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, is certain to highlight the many challenges surrounding efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. And it comes as the GOP grapples with how quickly to repeal the law, with Trump acknowledging recently that it might not happen this year. [/quote] [URL="http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/07/politics/obamacare-cruz-sanders-highlights/"]CNN[/URL] [media]https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/828994391931027456[/media]

Knock 'em dead, Bernie.

Can't wait to see Bernie physically fight Ted Cruz.

I feel like Bernie has a lot more to gain from this than Ted does, and that's going to affect the content of the debate. Possibly the makeup of the audience, too. We'll have to see, but I'm not expecting this to go well for anyone.

[QUOTE=Chonch;51791782]I feel like Bernie has a lot more to gain from this than Ted does, and that's going to affect the content of the debate. Possibly the makeup of the audience, too. We'll have to see, but I'm not expecting this to go well for anyone.[/QUOTE] Cruz has to prove GOP has a better health care plan (they don't)

I hope from 2016 we keep the WWE-level political debates. The debates did little to nothing for policy but it was fun as hell to watch slimy politicians throw shit at each other

[quote]Each senator has a national following[/quote] literally who gives a shit about ted cruz

[QUOTE=Swiket;51791824]literally who gives a shit about ted cruz[/QUOTE] some people like to idolize serial killers

[QUOTE=Llamaguy;51791787]Cruz has to prove GOP has a better health care plan (they don't)[/QUOTE] Cruz doesn't have to prove anything. If we've learned something from the past 3 weeks, it's that Republicans at the moment don't give a shit about the American people or what they think. It doesn't matter if Cruz crashes and burns here, the GOP will still find a way to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Basically, we're fucked, and we just have to wait it out until the 2018 midterms.

[QUOTE=Swiket;51791824]literally who gives a shit about ted cruz[/QUOTE] I wouldn't discount either of these guys, they were both the runner-up in their respective primaries.

Updated OP with Live YouTube stream. [editline]7th February 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=LTJGPliskin;51791845]Cruz doesn't have to prove anything. If we've learned something from the past 3 weeks, it's that Republicans at the moment don't give a shit about the American people or what they think. It doesn't matter if Cruz crashes and burns here, the GOP will still find a way to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Basically, we're fucked, and we just have to wait it out until the 2018 midterms.[/QUOTE] Except to alienate their own base. The GOP promised they would repeal the ACA. First it was immediately, now its a year or two out. If they repeal and replace it with something so much worse, GOP is in for a rough midterm in the house.

[QUOTE=Llamaguy;51791850]Except to alienate their own base. The GOP promised they would repeal the ACA. First it was immediately, now its a year or two out. If they repeal and replace it with something so much worse, GOP is in for a rough midterm in the house.[/QUOTE] It's damn near impossible to alienate the core Republican voter base. A big portion of them are the same people who voted for Trump, so it really doesn't matter if the Republicans themselves literally burn the country to the ground, they'd just blame the liberals. The more moderate Republicans could be pushed slightly to the left in during the midterms, though. If the Democrats control at least one branch of the government after that, thongs may start to look a little up.

[QUOTE=LTJGPliskin;51791898]It's damn near impossible to alienate the core Republican voter base. A big portion of them are the same people who voted for Trump, so it really doesn't matter if the Republicans themselves literally burn the country to the ground, they'd just blame the liberals.[/QUOTE] Are you talking about Trump's base in the primary? I believe it's been shown that plenty of those folks were actually new voters and/or dissuaded Obama supporters--hardly the kind of people I'd lump in to the Republican core. I think the people you're thinking of are a lot closer in line to candidates like Ted Cruz, a fairly moderate group. The Republican Party is really so much more diverse than its given credit for. I hope that shows in this debate.

[QUOTE=LTJGPliskin;51791845]Cruz doesn't have to prove anything. If we've learned something from the past 3 weeks, it's that Republicans at the moment don't give a shit about the American people or what they think. It doesn't matter if Cruz crashes and burns here, the GOP will still find a way to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Basically, we're fucked, and we just have to wait it out until the 2018 midterms.[/QUOTE] 2018 Midterms are Republican favored because the Democrats are the ones up for re-election 13 to 2.

Link in OP is now live.

this is what politics should be. two ideologically opposed people debating each other respectfully and not just going "WRONG WRONG WRONG" or "HE'S LYING AAAAA". I can already tell more valuable discussion will happen here than at trump/clinton debates.

[QUOTE=Pascall;51791743]Can't wait to see Bernie physically fight Ted Cruz.[/QUOTE] Wrestle with Sanders. Prepare for death.

take a drink every time someone says big pharma [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG8RksCfxcw[/media]

Ugh the stream is so messed up. [QUOTE=Waffle cones.;51792057]lmao Ted turned to thank Bernie and the camera switched to Bernie only to show he was dicking around with his mic[/QUOTE] Made me laugh when I saw that, perfect comedic timing.

Cruz is speaking legalese.

Cruz isn't a half-bad debater when he's not being constantly insulted. I like this debate.

[QUOTE=Chonch;51792150]Cruz isn't a half-bad debater when he's not being constantly insulted. I like this debate.[/QUOTE] reminder that in a alternate universe where everyone is sane this would of been a presidential candidate debate

[quote]Washington (CNN)Under President Donald Trump, the Republican Party is gearing up to overhaul Obamacare -- the sweeping health care law enacted in 2010 that covers some 20 million Americans.[/quote] "Overhaul". I didn't know CNN had a pro-Republican bias, we all know overhauling is not what they'll be doing to it.

Cruz comparing Canada to East Berlin

First commercial break, I think Sanders is doing great deflecting Cruz's attempts at likening socialised medicine waiting periods to what we have in America of not being able to go period due to income and wealth k equality and how expensive insurance is.

This is a good debate. Cruz is a pretty good speaker, though I definitely follow Bernie's argument much more. [editline]7th February 2017[/editline] I'll add, this debate makes the presidential debates look like fucking kindergarten recess.

Pretty happy Bernie defended that to be honest. That being small businesses that employ nearly 50 people should provide health care

As someone that lives in the UK hearing Cruz point out how far into a dysfunctional mess our NHS has fallen lately makes so angry, once you consider that our government is trying their utmost to wreck the NHS so that they have an excuse to go private. To quote Frankie Boyle "The Health Secretary co-wrote a book on how to dismantle the NHS"

[QUOTE=Dr.Critic;51792210]As someone that lives in the UK hearing Cruz point out how far into a dysfunctional mess our NHS has fallen lately makes so angry, once you consider that our government is trying their utmost to wreck the NHS so that they have an excuse to go private. To quote Frankie Boyle "The Health Secretary co-wrote a book on how to dismantle the NHS"[/QUOTE] That's one of the risks of having a public system. It's quality depends upon the temporary will of the government.

[QUOTE=Llamaguy;51792201]Pretty happy Bernie defended that to be honest. That being small businesses that employ nearly 50 people should provide health care[/QUOTE] I definitely like that he stuck to his guns. I don't think it will help him "win" the debate but I appreciate it with respect to his character.