Monday, September 26, 2016

Debate

Just a few words about the debate tonight.

  • Most of the paid observers of politics seem to think that tonight's debate will be a game changer. I don't know that it will, actually. Donald Trump is going to do what Donald Trump does at debates and if moderator Lester Holt goes into "fact checking" mode, it won't do a lot to change minds. We don't agree on facts any more.
  • The only way the debate changes the trajectory of the race? If Hillary Clinton has a medical episode on stage. I'm sure she'll come in rested and properly medicated, but on the Left the stakes are high. The fear on my social media feed is palpable.
  • Will I watch? Probably some of it. I won't vote for Hillary Clinton under any circumstances and I am convinced a vote for Trump would be a move to regret. It's too bad Gary Johnson decided to be Burning Man John Anderson. And no, Ted Cruz's tepid endorsement of the Donald doesn't make a lot of difference.
  • This debate will take place at Hofstra University. It was originally scheduled for Wright State University in Dayton, but that school is having financial trouble and wasn't sure it could pull the event off. Too bad, because if there was ever a venue that was appropriate for such a contest, it would have to be the Nutter Center.

4 comments:

jerrye92002 said...

Anybody remember the Kennedy-Nixon debates? Nobody much remembered what was said, but Jack Kennedy was naturally telegenic and likeable, while Nixon refused to wear makeup and just looked awful and uncomfortable. Nixon lost the debate, and probably the election, right there.

Now we have Trump, who is naturally and actually a TV personality, charming when he tries to be, up against a much shorter, recently frail-looking, "Shrillary." If Trump appears without his horns and tail, I think he wins.

Mr. D said...

Now we have Trump, who is naturally and actually a TV personality, charming when he tries to be, up against a much shorter, recently frail-looking, "Shrillary." If Trump appears without his horns and tail, I think he wins.

I'm not old enough to remember Kennedy/Nixon, but I've seen video of the debate and Kennedy was much more telegenic. I'll be curious to see what they do with the lighting tonight, because I'm not sure how you counteract the pallor of Madame Secretary.

jerrye92002 said...

The one other thing Trump has to do is remember the playground rule-- you can't hit the girl. Not even verbally. She will attempt to overwhelm with facts and minutiae; he can and should respond with talking about Obama/her past and his vision of the future. Hers is concrete, while his is "hope and change." She lost that debate before.

Gino said...

i'll be at work during the debate, but i'm sure there will be plenty of writers telling me about it. i'm not sure i even want to watch it, anyway. i kinda dislike our debates.