Good(?) news everyone: CNN just isn't quite ready to let the 2016 election go. On Tuesday, the channel will be airing a debate between former GOP candidate Gov. John Kasich and former Democratic candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). The two will be debating Obamacare and the American Health Care Act (AHCA), and Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will be moderating.
Reaction to the debate was tepid, at best:
CNN just said it's going to host a debate between Bernie Sanders and John Kasich next Tuesday. 2016 never ends and 2020 started in November.
— Gabriel Debenedetti (@gdebenedetti) May 10, 2017
@gdebenedetti Did Bernie just debate Cruz on CNN? Does this mean that Bernie only has 14 more 2016 R candidates to go?
— James Pindell (@JamesPindell) May 10, 2017
This could be good. Also, is there a soul who doesn't believe Kasich is looking at 2020? https://t.co/oFJeoe10Bs
— SteveKoff (@SteveKoff) May 10, 2017
People: @CNN, why a debate between @JohnKasich & @bernieSanders?
— Fresh Brew (@TheFreshBrew) May 10, 2017
CNN: Umm...
P: They're not running against each other
CNN: uhh..
P: ...
The 2017 election debate that COULD'VE been: @CNN hosts spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views @JohnKasich v @SenSanders! https://t.co/UDuPtmRQq2
— Lance A Schart (@LanceASchart) May 10, 2017
Seriously, why is this necessary? There is no need for an election cycle to stretch out over the president's first term. Kasich and Sanders aren't currently running for anything, and they're on different levels of government anyhow. Kasich is the governor of Ohio, and Sanders is a senator from Vermont. Nothing actually productive can come from this "debate," and I don't think either man is going to be quick to change his position on healthcare. This is pointless.