Tag: Debates

Battle Of The Big 2

This could be a post about the 2 big oil companies or the 2 big car companies but in this case it is all about the VP candidates time in the spotlight at their battle in the Big Apple.

I watched it because….well…so you did not have to do so.

I thought it would be a slap fight with no focus on the country or its problems….it was feisty at times but worthless….

Vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz started Tuesday as “blank slates to much of America,” reports Time, which cited recent surveys from the Pew Research Center showing as much as 25% of the electorate say they’ve not heard of either man. Their only scheduled debate kicked off at 9pm ET on CBS News with moderators Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell. Standout moments and lines:

  • On whether they would support a preemptive Israeli strike on Iran: Walz had a bit of a “shaky” start, per ABC News, swapping Israel and Iran at one point. But he emphasized running mate Kamala Harris’ “calm, steady leadership” while pointing to former President Trump’s relationships with Russia and North Korea. After providing some quick details about his upbringing, Vance said, “You can’t ignore October the 7th,” which occurred “during the administration of Kamala Harris. … When was the last time that an American president didn’t have a major conflict break out? The only answer is Donald Trump’s 4 years as president.”
  • On climate change and Hurricane Helene: Vance zeroed in on carbon emissions, suggesting that if Democrats believe they drive climate change, they should reshore as much American manufacturing as possible and do as much energy production domestically as possible. He argued that Harris’ policies have led to the opposite happening.
  • Vance’s emphasis on the ‘Harris administration’: NBC News points out that Vance is “trying to frame her as the central character in the White House,” with references to and criticism of the “Kamala Harris administration” and “Kamala Harris’s policies.”
  • Walz brings up faith: When referencing the bipartisan border bill that died in the Senate this year, Walz had this to say: “I don’t talk about my faith a lot, but Matthew 25:40 talks about ‘To the least amongst us, you do unto me.’ I think that’s true of most Americans. They simply want order to it. This bill does it. It’s funded. It’s supported by the people who do it, and it lets us keep our dignity about how we treat other people.”
  • Mics cut: While ABC News frames the debate as “largely civil,” the mics were cut toward the end of a conversation about immigration that referenced the legal status of Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio. “Margaret, the rules were that you guys weren’t going to fact-check,” Vance said before talking about the mechanics of immigration and asylum applications. Walz joined in, spurring Brennan to say, “Gentlemen, the audience can’t hear you because your mics are cut. We have so much we want to get to. Thank you for explaining the legal process.”
  • On whether Walz was actually in China during the Tiananmen Square protests: In response to a report that he actually wasn’t in Hong Kong until afterward, Walz gave a winding answer that didn’t answer the question, and was then pressed to give an answer. Walz said he “misspoke.” He said at one point, “I’ve tried to do the best I can, but I’ve not been perfect, and I’m a knucklehead at times.”
  • Quick takes on how the candidates are faring: “It is very striking how much more fluent and comfortable Walz is discussing domestic policy than he is talking about foreign policy,” observes NBC News.
  • On abortion: Vance said he knew many women who had abortions and referenced one friend who told him a pregnancy would have ruined her life because she was in an abusive relationship. “We need to do a better job of earning the American people’s trust back on this issue,” he said. “We need to be pro-family in the fullest sense of the world,” by supporting things ranging from fertility treatments to affordable home ownership. On abortion policy specifically, he said the proper way to handle is to let voters and individual states make their own policies in our sometimes “messy and divided countr
  • On school shootings: Vance initially spoke about the connection between gun crimes and illegal weapons and the border. On schools, he said “I unfortunately think we have to increase security in our schools,” suggesting stronger doors and windows and more school resource officers. Walz replied, “I’m a hunter, I own firearms. We understand that the Second Amendment is there. But we have a responsibility to our kids. If we really want to solve this, we’ve got folks that won’t allow research on gun violence … there are reasonable things that we can do to make a difference. …. Do you want your schools hardened to look like a fort?”
  • On the housing crisis: Vance pointed a finger at Harris for “letting in millions” of people into the country, saying illegal migrants are a driver of increased housing costs. Vance said one solution would be to “drill, baby, drill”—the lower energy prices would reduce the cost of building materials and, therefore, housing.
  • On Jan. 6 and the 2020 election: After an extensive conversation, Walz asked Vance point-blank if he thought Trump lost the 2020 election. Vance did not give a yes or no answer. “That is a damning non-answer,” said Walz.

All in all this debate will change no minds on their vote.

To me this was just a show for toothless bulldogs to strut .

I can say the Vance is an idiot and Walz is just boring…..and since I do not believe that the ‘undecided vote’ is as large as some say this debate did nothing to change any minds.

A night to forget and watch a hockey game.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

The Debate Of A Lifetime?

Last night the worse possible thing for TV was the debate between Biden and Trump…..billed as an ‘anticipated moment’ left me a bit flat and a bit giggly…..it has been thrown around that it is a pivotal moment in history….can’t see that either.

Plus some said this debate could have been the ‘most consequential’ in history….not once did I consider that option…..and whoever made that statement was smoking crack.

I said early on that it would be a clown show….and I was not disappointed.

The reports are in….shall we dive in?

The short analysis….Trump lied….Biden stumbled.

So you want more?

First let me say that the idea of asking about UFOs did not make the cut  (thank god)

Early on the debate became chaotic….Biden looking out of sorts….

—the first-ever debate between a sitting president and a former president. The first question of the night for President Biden and former President Trump centered on the economy, but another early focus has been on stumbles made during the debate by Biden:

  • “Things were in chaos,” Biden said of the state of the economy he inherited by Trump, per the New York Times. The president blamed his predecessor for contributing to that by mismanaging the pandemic. “All he said was, ‘It’s not that serious, just inject a little bleach in your arm.'”
  • Trump rejected all of the above, declaring that he created “the greatest economy that we’d ever seen,” per CNN. And he hit Biden on a crucial point in the eyes of voters: “Inflation is killing our country.”
  • In an another early question, Biden “appeared to just lose his train of thought, concluding (incongruously) with, ‘We finally beat Medicare,'” writes Reid J. Epstein at the New York Times. Trump quickly took advantage: “He did beat Medicare—he beat it to death.” Biden likely meant to say, “We finally beat pharma,” notes the Washington Post.
  • Quick analysis on that: “Not only was that a tough moment—and the kind of moment Biden’s allies feared—it also teed up Trump to go on offense on Medicare,” writes Phil Mattingly at CNN. “That’s an issue Democrats always view as their advantage. Trump just grabbed it from Biden.”
  • On that front, Cleve R. Wootson Jr. of the Washington Post noted, even before the Medicare moment: “In these early moments, how Biden is talking seems to matter as much as what he is saying. His voice is a little raspy, even strained. Voters routinely, without prompting, bring up concerns about his age. I don’t know if he’s assuaging those concerns.” Colleague Josh Dawsey adds: “It’s hard to follow exactly what Biden is talking about on some of these answers on abortion and immigration.”
  • About 20 minutes in, Trump said of Biden after an immigration answer: “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” per Politico. “I don’t think he knows what he said either.”

Then of course the attacks got all personal…..

  • Biden: “The only person on the stage that is a convicted felon is the man I’m looking at right now,” Biden said. This came after Trump called Hunter Biden, the president’s son, a “convicted felon,” notes the Washington Post.
  • Trump: “Joe could be a convicted felon as soon as he gets out of office.”

Then the age old (no pun intended) question of age was thrown at them….

Biden: Moderator Dana Bash of CNN pointed out to Biden that he would be 86 at the end of his second term and asked him how he would reassure voters worried about his age. Biden began by joking that he was for much of his political career considered young in comparison to his political peers. He then talked about his accomplishments as president as proof he can do the job. “I’m not sure this Biden answer is helpful when it comes to concerns about his age,” writes Abby Phillip at CNN.

Trump: The former president would be 82 at the end of his term, and he was asked the same question about worried voters. “I took two cognitive tests—I aced them,” Trump said, challenging Biden to do the same, per the New York Times. He added, “I just won two club championships, not even senior. To do that, you have to be quite smart, and you have to hit the ball a long way.”

Golf handicaps? Biden suggested Trump has lied about his weight. “Take a look at what he is,” he said, adding, “I’d be happy to have a driving contest with him.” The two then argued a bit about their golf handicaps. “Let’s not act like children,'” Trump said. Biden shot back, “You are a child.”

This was when the silly reared its ugly head.

My favorite part of this whole night was the question about election results…

One of the last questions put to former President Trump during Thursday’s debate was on whether he will accept the results of the 2024 election even if he loses. He declined to make that pledge unequivocally:

  • Dana Bash: “Will you pledge tonight that once all legal challenges have been exhausted, that you will accept the results of this election, regardless of who wins?” asked the co-moderator, per the Guardian. “And you will say right now that political violence in any form is unacceptable?”
  • Trump: “Well, I shouldn’t have to say that, but of course, I believe that it’s totally unacceptable,” said the former president, focusing on the notion of political violence.
  • Trump II: “But the answer is, if the election is fair, free, and I want that more than anybody—and I’ll tell you something, I wish he was a great president, because I wouldn’t be here right now. I’d be at one of my many places, enjoying myself.” He then began a critique of Biden, accusing him of putting the US on a path toward war.
  • Trump III: The third time Bash pressed him for a direct answer on accepting the results, Trump said: “If it’s a fair and legal and good election, absolutely.” As the New York Times notes, however, Trump already has begun accusing the Democrats of fraud.
  • Biden: The president pointed out that Trump’s 2020 fraud claims have been rejected by the courts, per Politico. “I doubt you’ll accept it,” Biden said of the 2024 results, “because you’re such a whiner.”

This was more interesting than I had originally thought….but the viewers learned nothing other than the days of quality candidates has long slipped away.

This was a slap fight of two old geezers trying to look important….and they failed.

You want winners and losers?

Winners….not a goddamn person.

Losers….Two old farts, CNN, and especially anyone interested in our country…..I weep for the nation and its people.

Dems are in a panic after a dismal night for their candidate….

Politico uses the term “freaking out” to describe how Democrats are reacting to President Biden’s debate performance Thursday night, and that seems to be a near-universal take when following analysis of the first presidential debate of the 2024 election:

  • “Toast.” Politico was texting with Democratic operatives and activists during the debate, and one—the co-chair of Martin O’Malley’s 2016 presidential campaign in New Hampshire—said, “Biden is toast—calling it now.” Another said, “Time for an open convention.”
  • Biden’s health: At least two Democrats familiar with Biden’s condition said the president has a cold, which would explain his raspy voice and, perhaps, the seemingly confused nature of some of his answers.
  • Even so: On MSNBC, Joy Reid said that despite the president’s cold, the Democratic campaign operatives she was texting with throughout the debate had a reaction she described as “somewhere approaching panic,” noting that Biden actually performed worse than some had expected. Watch it in our gallery or here.
  • “An embarrassment.” On NewsNation, Chris Cuomo said Biden, Donald Trump, and the entire debate are all an “embarrassment” to America. However, he warned an open Democratic convention would be “chaos,” and suggested no Democrat is going to attempt to force Biden to take himself out of contention unless the president agrees.
  • “Personally painful.” That’s what Van Jones said it was like to watch Biden’s performance, and he said, per the Daily Caller, “we’re still far from our convention and there is time for this party to figure out a different way forward if he will allow us to do that.”
  • “I’ve seen enough.” That was Nicholas Kristof’s take in a piece at the New York Times. “We see the world through narratives, and one of the narratives about Biden is that he is too old. His performance reinforced that narrative when he needed to shatter it. Biden, unable to puncture Trump’s repeated falsehoods, allowed a convicted felon to win the debate,” he writes. But he echoes others in saying that Biden will need to make the choice himself to step aside in order for it to have any shot at working.

No one was converted to the other side by either performance…..the only reason people watched was to see if the other guy screwed up….no minds were changed.

In a society that is ate up with youth and beauty and these are the best people to represent the country….it just baffles me.

Let the spin begin!

I am at a crossroad for my vote (a post is forthcoming).

Are the two most capable candidates….think long and hard on your vote.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

The Next GOP Debate

I know the news is that the field has narrowed to three for the GOP nomination so the ne4xt debate may be a bit better than the preceding ones.

After their showing in Iowa the two also rans are flex what little muscle they have left…..

Haley thump the loudest but DeSantis could not let a mere woman best him so he had to come up with a retort for Haley….

Haley, one of only three Republican candidates remaining in the 2024 race as of Tuesday, says she will participate in future debates only if they feature former President Trump, the GOP frontrunner who easily won Monday’s Iowa caucuses with 51% of the vote, or Democratic incumbent President Biden, per the Hill. Trump, who refused to participate in any of the five GOP primary debates, needs to stop hiding, the former UN ambassador says in a statement. Two more debates had been planned ahead of New Hampshire’s primary next week: ABC News was to host one Thursday, followed by CNN on Sunday. Given Haley’s statement, it’s unclear whether either will take place.

Trump—with a rally scheduled for Sunday, per Politico—isn’t expected to participate in either debate, leaving DeSantis on his own. The Florida governor, who already accepted his debate invitations, claims Haley is “afraid … to answer the tough questions.” “I won’t snub New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and plan to honor my commitments,” he says. “I look forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week.” Haley, meanwhile, accuses Trump of running scared. “He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it,” she says. Haley, who finished just behind DeSantis in Iowa, is polling well in New Hampshire, but still trails Trump by double digits.

Sad news for us political junkies….ABC opts out of a debate….

ABC has canceled its Thursday night debate in New Hampshire because it can’t meet a condition imposed by Nikki Haley. The former UN ambassador said Tuesday that she wouldn’t take part in any more Republican debates unless frontrunner Donald Trump participates. ABC and Manchester, New Hampshire station WMUR confirmed Tuesday evening that the debate had been called off, the Washington Post. ABC said it had given Haley and Trump a 5pm deadline to commit to the debate. The debate had been scheduled to take place at St. Anselm College just days before the Jan. 23 New Hampshire primary.

In the previous GOP debate, Haley debated Ron DeSantis. Before the Thursday cancellation was confirmed, the Florida governor said in a post on X that he’d show up even if Haley didn’t. “I won’t snub New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and plan to honor my commitments,” he said. “I look forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week.” DeSantis, who came in second place in the Iowa caucuses, accused Haley, who came in third, of “running to be Trump’s VP.” CNN was planning to host a Republican debate in New Hampshire Sunday night but it’s not clear whether it will go ahead, the New York Times reports.

How unfortunate….without football or the debate where will the entertainment come from on Thursday?

Well my Thursday night just opened up…..

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

GOP Debate–Down To Two

It’s that time again….time to be bored to death.

Last night was the GOP debate before the Iowa vote next week…..and before the debate was aired Christie threw in the towel…..

Chris Christie has dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination just days before the Iowa caucuses. “I’ve always said that if there came a point in time in this race where I couldn’t see a path to accomplishing that goal that I would get out,” the former New Jersey governor said at a campaign event in New Hampshire Wednesday, per the New York Times. “It’s clear to me tonight that there isn’t a path for me to win the nomination, which is why I’m suspending my campaign tonight for president of the United States.” Christie was speaking hours before rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis were due to take part in the fifth GOP debate, which he didn’t qualify for.

Christie’s campaign had struggled to make headway in the polls but the AP describes the move as a surprise, given that Christie had staked the success of his campaign on New Hampshire’s Jan. 23 primary and had insisted as recently as Tuesday that he wasn’t planning to drop out. “I would be happy to get out of the way for someone who is actually running against Donald Trump,” Christie said Tuesday, per Politico, arguing that rivals including Haley weren’t going after the former president like he was. On Wednesday he said that anybody unwilling to describe Trump as unfit to be president was unfit themselves.

Sources tell NBC News that Christie isn’t expected to endorse another candidate at this time, though his exit will likely boost Haley among the moderate New Hampshire Republican voters both campaigns had targeted. A CNN poll this week found that Trump had the support of 39% of likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire, with Haley at 32% and Christie at 12%. The poll found that Haley was the second choice of around two-thirds of Christie voters, enough to put her in first place with Christie’s exit.

Christie has a closing thought about his female rival…. “She’s gonna get smoked, and you and I both know it,” a hot mic caught Christie saying, though he didn’t use her name. “She’s not up to this.” 

Enough of the banter….let’s talk about the GOP debate that had 2 people taking shots….down to DeSantis and Haley….

Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley got plenty of talking time in Wednesday night’s GOP debate given that they were the only candidates on stage, and they largely used it to attack each rather than frontrunner Donald Trump. (The former president again skipped the debate and instead took part in a town hall on Fox News.) Haley relentlessly promoted a new website called deSantisLies, while he accused her of being a “mealy-mouthed politician.” Some moments:

  • Trump: Both candidates declined to say that Trump doesn’t respect the Constitution, per the New York Times. DeSantis again said he feared Trump would be too distracted by his legal fights to be an effective president. Haley said that while Trump has called Jan. 6, 2021, a “beautiful day,” she considers it a “terrible day,” per the Washington Post. She also said it was “ridiculous” to state (as a Trump attorney did in court) that a president who assassinated a political rival would have immunity, and she said she was wary of the “chaos” Trump might bring to a second term.
  • Odd joke: DeSantis joked that Haley has a “problem with ballistic podiatry,” which he explained means “shooting yourself in the foot every other day,” per the AP. Haley responded with an eye roll.
  • A slam: Haley criticized how DeSantis has run his campaign, asserting that he has “blown $150 million” with little to show for it. “If he can’t handle the financial parts of a campaign, how is he going to handle the economy when it comes to the White House?” she asked. DeSantis responded that she was focused on campaign minutia instead of issues voters actually care about. When moderators cut him off, Haley added, “I think I hit a nerve.”
  • Admiration: After two hours of hurling sometimes nasty insults at each other, the candidates were asked what they admired about each other. DeSantis said Haley spoke out strongly on important issues as UN ambassador, and he also said he liked her state of South Carolina, adding that becoming its governor was a “great achievement.” Haley was more succinct: “I think he’s been a good governor.”
  • Ukraine: The pair split notably on Ukraine, with DeSantis accusing Haley of supporting a war she doesn’t know how to end, reports Politico. “You can take the ambassador out of the United Nations,” he said, “but you can’t take the United Nations out of the ambassador.” (This quip came well before he praised her UN performance.) Haley countered that allowing Russia to win would be a big victory for China, too.

If you would like more then….The Hill has a comprehensive roundup of key points.

Believe me folks….it was a yawn as usual…..nothing but shots and BS for the full time….be glad you are not a politics junkie.

I hope you got something out of this review…

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

GOP Debate #4

As promised here is what I saw in the latest debate of dumb vs dumber, the GOP candidates duke it our.

Let me say from the onset….the GOP never takes a day off from crazy.

I watched and that will be time I shall never get back….there were back and forth….DeSantis and Rama(whatever) attacking Haley…..Rama(whatever) attacking Christie for being overweight….Haley trying to be cute….all in all it was a just night at the Chuckle Hut.

Well was there anything interesting at all?

Very little with the exception of the question about Trump…

An hour into the Republican debate Thursday night, the topic turned to Donald Trump.

Ron DeSantis: “Father time is undefeated,” he said when asked whether the 77-year-old Trump was fit enough for another term. “I think we need to have somebody younger.” At another point, he said Trump “had failed to clean up the swamp.” However, Chris Christie broke in to accuse DeSantis of dodging. “The question was very direct, is he fit to be president, or isn’t he?” said Christie, per the Wall Street Journal. “The rest of the speech is interesting but completely unresponsive.” DeSantis denied dodging the question but did not answer with a yes or nor about whether he thought Trump was fit enough to be president again. He repeated his line that “father time is undefeated,” adding, “I do think that over a four-year period it is not a job for somebody that’s pushing 80.”

Chris Christie: He delivered by far the most blistering critique of Trump in this portion of the debate. “This is an angry bitter man who now wants to be back as president because he wants to exact retribution on anyone who has disagreed with him,” he said. “His conduct is unacceptable. He’s unfit. Be careful of what you’ll get if you ever get a second Donald Trump term.” The comments drew boos from the crowd. Christie also said his rivals were afraid to criticize Trump. “Failing to speak out against him, making excuses for him, pretending he is a victim, empowers him,” he said, suggesting that this was the reason Trump was so far ahead in the polls, per the New York Times.

  • Nikki Haley: Asked about Trump’s pledge to reinstate a ban on people from predominately Muslim nations, Haley said she would take a different tack. “I don’t think that you can have a straight up Muslim ban as much as look at the countries that have terrorist activity that want to hurt Americans,” she said, per CNN. “It’s not about a religion.”
  • Vivek Ramaswamy: He did not get a Trump question but said all three of his rivals have been “licking Donald Trump’s boots” for years.

All in all the only adult on the stage last night was Christie….Haley tried but she just falls flat in my opinion.

There you have a rundown on the night’s festivities….as sad as it was.

Now aren’t you glad you did not watch this stupidity?

You are welcome.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Who’s In, Who’s Out For #4

Keeping with the theme of the day of politics…..tomorrow night will be the 4th in the string of GOP debates and the field is narrowing almost weekly.

The field of candidates onstage for the fourth Republican presidential debate will be the smallest yet, the AP reports. Four hopefuls will participate in Wednesday night’s debate at the Moody Music Hall at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, according to the Republican National Committee. To qualify for the fourth debate, candidates needed at least 6% support in two national polls or 6% in one national poll as well as two polls from four of the early-voting states—Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. All the polls used for qualification must have been approved by the RNC. The White House hopefuls also needed at least 80,000 unique donors, with at least 200 of those coming from 20 states or territories, and they had to sign an RNC pledge promising to support the party’s eventual nominee.

Who’s in:

  • Ron DeSantis: Initially seen as the top rival for Donald Trump, DeSantis has been locked in a battle for a distant second place to the front-runner, as well as wading through challenges within his operation. Over the weekend, several staffers parted ways with the super PAC that has been sustaining much of DeSantis’ early-state efforts.
  • Nikki Haley: Benefiting from increased attention—as well as the campaign’s shift toward foreign policy after Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7 attack on Israel—Haley is angling to keep that trend going with the fourth debate.
  • Vivek Ramaswamy: The political newcomer and youngest GOP hopeful has been a debate-stage target of attacks on his lack of experience. While the jabs have helped boost Ramaswamy’s campaign coffers and his name ID in the broad Republican field, he’s struggled to get much traction even as he’s filled his campaign calendar with scores of events, particularly across Iowa.
  • Chris Christie: The 2024 race’s most vocal critic of Trump, Christie has cast himself as the only Republican willing to take him on directly. Without Trump at the debates, Christie has been left without his intended target but has brought him up nonetheless.

Who’s out:

  • Donald Trump: The current GOP front-runner is skipping his fourth straight debate. Instead of going to Alabama—or holding his own counterprogramming event, as he has done for past debates—Trump is holding a closed-door campaign fundraiser in Florida.
  • Asa Hutchinson: The former two-term Arkansas governor participated in the first debate but has failed to qualify for subsequent ones.

Former candidates who’ve dropped out of the race since the last debate are Tim Scott and Doug Burgum.

Since I do enjoy American politics I will be watching and a detailed analysis will be posted on IST the following day.

Because of my diligence you may thank me for not having to watch the silliness.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

GOP Debate–24Aug23

I apologize this was going to be my lead post of the day but events in Russia made it less important.

The first debate of the announced GOP candidates, all but one, his royal highness Lord Donald, who decided to skip the first debate.

Although I am not now or have I ever supported a GOP candidate I had to watch the Show of Shows, theater of the absurd if for nothing else to see where the tone of the campaigns will be in the upcoming dash to the nomination.

I watched so my readers did not have to bother themselves. (You are welcome)

Sit back and enjoy the silliness…..

Eight Republican candidates not named Trump were trying to break out in the first Republican debate Wednesday night in Milwaukee. In the early going, 38-year-old entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy took flak a number of times. Details:

  • “Let me just address a question that is on everybody’s mind at home tonight,” Ramaswamy said in his introduction, per the AP. “Who the heck is this skinny guy with a funny last name?” He defended being inexperienced politically and said an “outsider” was needed, as opposed to “professional politicians,” per the Washington Post.
  • Mike Pence: “Now is not the time for on-the-job training,” he said during an exchange with Ramaswamy, per the New York Times. “We don’t need to bring in a rookie. We don’t need to bring in people without experience.”

The first hour of the Wednesday night Republican debate was largely devoid of the topic of Donald Trump. That changed in hour two, however, as the Fox News moderators asked about the absent frontrunner. At one point, the specific question was posed: Did Mike Pence do the right thing when he refused to go along with Trump’s request to refuse to certify the election results? Some highlights:

  • Ron DeSantis: He would not initially answer the question and said the focus should be on 2024, not 2020. When pressed by Pence himself, DeSantis said, “Mike did his duty, I’ve got no beef with him,” per the New York Times.
  • Chris Christie: “Mike Pence stood for the Constitution,” he said, offering the strongest praise. “And he deserves, not grudging credit, he deserves our thanks as Americans for putting his oath of office and the Constitution of the United States before personal, political, and unfair pressure.”
  • Tim Scott: “Absolutely, he did the right thing,” said Scott, per CNN.
  • Nikki Haley: “I do think he did the right thing. We need to give him credit for that. But she added, “We have to face the fact that Trump is the most disliked politician in America. We can’t win a general election that way.”
  • Doug Burgum: “Mike Pence did the right thing on Jan. 6.”
  • Pence: Trump “asked me to put him over the Constitution,” the former vice president said. “I chose the Constitution and I always will.”

When the topic of Donald Trump emerged in the second hour of the first GOP debate, the Fox News moderators asked the eight candidates on stage to raise their hands if they would support Trump as the nominee even if he is convicted of a crime. Only Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson opted not to do so, reports Politico. (Christie did actually seem to raise his hand, but he explained he was wagging his fist.) That prompted some fireworks between Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy:

  • Ramaswamy: “Let’s just speak the truth. President Trump, I believe, was the best president of the 21st century. It’s a fact.” He said the campaign of Christie is based solely on “vengeance and grievance” against the former president.
  • Christie: He said Trump’s “conduct is beneath the office of the president of the United States.” When he was met by loud boos (including when he said Ramaswamy made him laugh), he told the crowd: “This is the great thing about this country; booing is allowed, but it doesn’t change the truth.” He also said of Trump: “Someone’s got to stop normalizing this conduct,” per CNN.
  • Hutchinson: Though he said he couldn’t pledge to support Trump, Hutchinson cited a somewhat technical reason: that Republican National Committee rules would prohibit backing Trump should he be convicted, per the New York Times. He also noted that some conservative scholars have suggested that Trump already is disqualified from running again. The crowd booed his answer.
  • Pardon? Ramaswamy challenged Mike Pence to pledge to pardon Trump on day one of his presidency, as he would. Pence said only that as president, he would give fair consideration to any pardon requests, per the Washington Post.

As usual this was not a debate but rather a verbal slugfest and as usual no signs of anyone with guts or a spine was on the stage.

With that said we Americans need winners and losers…..so who did…..

Without former President Trump on stage, the eight “underdogs” taking part in the first Republican presidential primary debate Wednesday in Milwaukee had the opportunity to “differentiate themselves in the field,” reports the New York Times. Many seized on the chance and “at certain points, you could see a flash of an old kind of pre-Trump Republican Party debate, deliberating over government spending, illegal immigration, and foreign policy,” per Vox. Still, “the debate had the feel of an undercard,” per CNN. Indeed, many pundits see the former president and frontrunner as the clear winner of the night. Views on four key candidates:

  • Ron DeSantis: A strong early candidate who has lately floundered, the Florida governor had “the most to prove and the most to lose” and in the end “seemed like the apparent leader,” having touted his successes while largely evading attacks from his rivals, per the Times. However, “his monotonous responses didn’t inspire much of a response from the audience either,” per Vox. According to the Washington Post, DeSantis needed to make a splash, but didn’t and “ceded center stage to [Vivek] Ramaswamy for most of the night.”
  • Vivek Ramaswamy: Much criticism was directed at the political newbie who’s risen to third place in recent polls, but he was “unfazed,” per the Post. He actually seemed “to enjoy being attacked as much as he appeared to relish going after experienced candidates over their records,” per the Times. He was highly visible and spoke often, which made him a “big winner” in the eyes of Republican lobbyist David Urban. But his “Trump-lite grenade-slinging schtick grew tedious” and “he started to get booed with more frequency after he declared that climate change was a ‘hoax,'” per Vox.
  • Nikki Haley: The former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the UN “stood out … as a voice of reason,” particularly when she challenged Ramaswamy’s lack of foreign policy experience, per the Times. She spoke up on abortion, stressing the effect political decisions have on women, which made her deserving of “a second look,” according to former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. She was also “first to criticize Trump by name” and “one of the few candidates to acknowledge that climate change is real,” per CNN. She “presented the most compelling vision of an alternative Republican politics, at least for a general election,” per the Economist.
  • Trump: “It could scarcely have turned out better for [Trump],” per the Post. The big risk in not participating was being unable to defend himself against attacks. But the candidates largely ignored him and Ramaswamy frequently defended him. The biggest shots came when former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie claimed Trump’s conduct was “beneath the office of the president” and Haley criticized nearly $8 trillion of federal spending during his presidency. Still, “no candidate emerged as a clear alternative,” making Trump “the clear winner,” per Vox.
  • Others: In attacking Trump and sparring with Trump’s defender Ramaswamy, Christie ran afoul of the crowd of 4,000, who drowned him out with boos, per CNN. Neither former Vice President Mike Pence nor South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott “really showed much,” per the Post. Scott “was largely a spectator,” while “Pence tried to make the case that he is the tried-and-true conservative in the race, but he seemed to be making a case to a Republican Party that doesn’t really exist anymore.”

This whole process was about as thrilling as watching flies mate.

Now aren’t you glad that there is a politics nerd to help you in this time of comic reactions?

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2020 VP Debate

Last night was a much awaited (not sure by whom) debate between Harris and Pence….the VP candidate debate.

First this debate was a bit calmer than the first presidential debate….at least it was easier to watch this time.

As the coronavirus sweeps through the upper reaches of government, Republican Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Kamala Harris faced off Wednesday night in a debate highlighting the parties’ sharply conflicting visions for a nation in crisis, per the AP. The candidates appeared on the stage in the University of Utah’s Kingsbury Hall exactly 12.25 feet apart and separated by plexiglass barriers, with warnings to all guests that anyone who refuses to wear a face mask will be removed—an extraordinary backdrop for the only vice presidential debate of 2020. Some critics say Pence shouldn’t have even been there in person, as he attended an event last week at the White House with Trump and others who’ve since tested positive. Pence’s staff and doctors, however, insist he doesn’t need to quarantine, under CDC guidelines. Moderator Susan Page, the Washington bureau chief for USA Today, kicked off the 90-minute debate on the topic of COVID-19:

  • Harris first criticized what she called “the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country” in dealing with the pandemic, accusing Trump’s team of minimizing the severity of the disease and still not having a real plan in place to adequately address it. Pence pushed back, hailing the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed and saying the Biden-Harris plan simply resembled Trump’s. “It looks a little bit like plagiarism,” he noted. More here on their virus conversation.
  • Page also asked about transparency, specifically on whether information about the president’s health should be public information. “The American people have a right to know about the health and well-being of their president,” Pence answered first. Harris’ short answer: “Absolutely.” She then addressed the concept of transparency overall, citing the recent bombshell of the revelation of Trump’s tax returns. Pence hit back by saying Trump had paid “tens of millions of dollars in taxes.”
  • Next up: the economy. “There couldn’t be a more fundamental difference between Donald Trump and Joe Biden” on this topic, Harris noted, criticizing Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and his hyperfocusing on the stock market; a Biden administration, she noted, would repeal those tax cuts and invest in the environment and immigration, among other areas. Pence defended the tax cuts, noted the Trump administration had worked hard to keep the economy going during the pandemic, and said, “You just heard Sen. Harris say, on day one, Joe Biden is going to raise your taxes,” per WCTI. Harris corrected him, saying taxes wouldn’t go up for those making less than $400,000 per year.
  • On the subject of climate change, Pence wouldn’t say whether he thought it was an “existential threat.” “The issue is, what’s the cause?” he noted, per Reuters. “And what do we do about it?” Harris, however, acknowledged climate change is an “existential threat” and called out the Trump administration for not following the science. “Joe understands the West Coast of our country is burning; Joe believes, again, in science,” she said.
  • The talk then turned to the trade war with China, which Harris said was a failure set off by Trump, per the Los Angeles Times. Pence’s response: Biden has been “a cheerleader for communist China” for decades. The vice president also pointed fingers at China for COVID-19. “China is to blame for the coronavirus, and President Trump is not happy about it,” he said.
  • A larger discussion on foreign policy brought forth a lecture on loyalty from Harris. “Donald Trump has betrayed our friends and has embraced dictators around the world,” she noted, per the Detroit News, adding that Trump has seemed to side with Vladimir Putin over the word of our own intel communities. Pence took issue with that, noting “we’ve strengthened our alliances … and stood strong against those who would do us harm,” bringing up the death of Iraqi terrorist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as an example.
  • On the subject of abortion, Harris stood firm. “I will always fight for a woman’s right to make a decision about her own body,” Harris said, while Pence said just as firmly,” I’m pro-life. I don’t apologize for it.” Neither candidate went into depth on what they think should happen if the Supreme Court strikes down Roe v. Wade, the New York Times notes.
  • Regarding health care, Pence called ObamaCare a “disaster” and said that “President Trump and I have a plan to improve health care and to protect preexisting conditions for every American.” Harris went on the attack against that statement, claiming the Trump administration wants to gut the Affordable Care Act and get rid of coverage for Americans with preexisting conditions. “If you love someone who has a preexisting condition, they’re coming for you,” she warned.
  • When the topic of race was broached, Harris noted she didn’t think the family of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old EMT fatally shot by police in Louisville, Ky., received justice. Pence offered his sympathies to her family, but added that he trusted our justice system, and said he and Trump “reject the notion from Joe Biden and others that there’s an ‘implicit bias’ towards minorities in law enforcement,” calling it a “great insult” to suggest that.
  • The final question of the night was read by Page from eighth grader Brecklynn Brown, who asked the candidates: “When I watch the news, all I see is arguing between Democrats and Republicans. When I watch the news, all I see is citizen fighting against citizen. When I watch the news, all I see are two candidates from opposing parties trying to tear each other down. If our leaders can’t get along, how are the citizens supposed to get along?” Pence responded to Brecklynn by saying that “in America, we believe in a free and open exchange of debate, and we celebrate that. … But when the debate is over, we come together as Americans.” He cited the close friendship between late Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia, whom he called “polar opposites,” as an example of that.
  • Harris, for her part, said to Brecklynn: “When I hear your words … I know our future is bright, because it is that perspective on who we are and who we should be that is a sign of leadership. … You have the ability through your work and through eventually your vote to determine the future of our country and what its leadership looks like.”

Harris handled herself well…..she was led astray by Pence on one occasion to debate the Supreme Court….not a good look for me….I think she could have made more attacks about the pandemic and the lies of the present administration.

Major take-a-ways from the debate….not mine but others that get paid a helluva lot more than I…..

Not a game-changer. The debate did nothing to change the trajectory of the race, Shane Goldmacher writes at the New York Times. Despite high expectations from Democrats, Harris “did not eviscerate Mr. Pence,” he writes. “As for Mr. Pence, he turned in an effective, dutiful, conservative case for Mr. Trump, the likes of which the president rarely articulates himself. He predicts that “the debate could have a bigger impact on the 2024 race than on 2020.”

  • “More than a draw” for Harris. With her ticket ahead in the polls, Harris only needed a draw, but Niall Stanage at the Hill argues that she did better than that. Her performance wasn’t perfect, but she ” was excoriating the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic,” and also landed punches on ” health care, Trump’s alleged disparagement of members of the military, and the president’s finances,” he writes.
  • “Boringness a strength” for Pence. The vice president is not an especially exciting politician, but “boringness was a strength” for him Wednesday night, according to Vox, which notes: “The pressure to seem halfway normal was high. And by cogently stating Republican talking points in ways that might have seemed colorless in another time, Pence ended up looking like a polished statesman compared to Trump.”
  • The biggest loser: The questions.The candidates repeatedly “responded to direct questions by pivoting to what they wanted to talk about, rather than the question that was asked, and they were seldom called out,” writes Aaron Blake at the Washington Post. He notes that even when Pence called out Harris for not answering a question on packing the Supreme Court, “it came as he was declining to answer a question about protecting preexisting conditions.” Moderator Susan Page “asked great questions,” Blake writes. “It would be great if there was something in the rules that made it so the candidates actually had to answer them.”
  • A glimpse of the future. Ryan Lizza at Politico says the night was a “boring, unfocused debate between two well-prepared and polished candidate”—reminding us what politics was like in the pre-Trump era, and giving a glimpse of how the parties might look in the post-Trump and post-Biden era: “A more conventionally conservative and much less theatrical Republican, and a younger, more diverse, and more progressive Democrat.”

We are Americans and we need to know who won the night…..it was that tiny fly on Pence’s head…..

Social media needed this to divert the attention from a bad night for the GOP.

This debate like most debates are as worthless as they can be…first few direct answers are given…they always talk about what they want to talk about…that is not a debate…..this is a waste of time….people already know who they will vote for this is just an exercise in stupid.

Now you know…..

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2020 VP Pre-Debate

Just a reminder in case you were unaware…..tonight is the only debate, the only chance to see Pence and Harris go head to head…..

Most voters are turned off….but since I am such a geek then you have me to let you know what’s what…..that is for those voters that think VPs are significant in some small way.

The candidates will be all but hermetically sealed in their debate positions…..

As Quartz notes, vice presidential debates are not typically a huge draw for audiences—but that could very well change this year, thanks to the participation of Kamala Harris. While VP debates typically bring in significantly lower ratings than presidential debates, the debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden got higher ratings than any of the debates that year between the presidential nominees (not to mention the highest ratings for any VP debate, ever). The second-highest ratings for a VP debate? The 1984 debate between George HW Bush and Geraldine Ferraro, the only other one to feature a female candidate. Add to that the fact that Harris is known as an accomplished debater and has already been at the center of several viral debate moments from this year’s Democratic primary, and the Wednesday night ratings could be pretty darn good. More on the debate:

  • Who is the moderator? USA Today’s longtime bureau chief Susan Page. The Los Angeles Times has an extensive piece on the “veteran White House reporter, who has covered six administrations and 11 national campaigns.” She’s also the author of a Barbara Bush biography and has a book on Nancy Pelosi coming out next year, and is a frequent panelist on political roundtable shows. The article notes she’s the first print reporter to moderate a televised debate since 1976.
  • Safety precautions: Harris and Mike Pence will be 12 feet, 3 inches apart on the stage, separated by a plexiglass shield, and will not come any closer than that for a physical greeting. The New York Times notes that while Pence’s team objected to the barrier, by late Tuesday it had acquiesced. Both candidates will also be tested for the virus prior to the debate; while Pence has had multiple negative tests in recent days, he had frequent interactions with multiple White House advisers who have since been diagnosed with COVID, and experts warn the incubation period can be as long as 14 days. Event organizers will escort out any audience members not wearing a mask.
  • What to expect: Per Fox News, don’t anticipate a repeat of the “chaotic” first Trump-Biden debate; pundits expect this one to be “more sane.” Tim Kaine, of course, debated Pence during the 2016 campaign; he tells the New York Times, “Pence is a professional communicator. He was a radio talk show host before he was in politics, so he can deliver a line. And, I think it’s frustrating when you’re onstage with somebody who’s delivering a line that’s false. But he does it—he can do it very, very well.” Read his full interview here.
  • What to expect, part 2: Harris’ former chief of staff tells the AP he hopes she won’t be forced into too conservative a stance: “Overly scripting Kamala Harris is tantamount to removing five bullets out of her gun before you walk into a gun fight.”
  • When, where, and how to watch: The debate starts at 9pm Eastern time in Salt Lake City, Utah, and will run for 90 minutes with no commercial breaks. CNET has a rundown on how to watch it.
  • As for the final two presidential debates: They’re scheduled for Oct. 15 and 22, but it’s still not clear whether President Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis and the larger White House coronavirus outbreak will impact them. Joe Biden told reporters Tuesday that if Trump is still positive for the virus, next week’s debate should be canceled, Fox News reports. Biden added that he is looking forward to the debate, should it happen: “I’ll do whatever the experts say is appropriate for me to do. Listen to the science. If scientists say that it’s safe … then I think that’s fine.” Sources tell the NYT a virtual debate is being considered, and some close to Trump say the POTUS has suggested an outdoor debate.
  • Speaking of that outbreak: The very helpful WH Covid Tracker is tracking those whose infections have been publicly confirmed; check it out on Twitter.

I will return tomorrow with my thoughts on this debate.  You have been warned!

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2020 Dem Candidates Debate–#11

Will this one be popular since there will be no March Madness bracket crap…….and we are down to 2 candidates….well 3 but only 2 participating…….

But first I think that the whole process of debates should be repaired for as it is now….it is badly broken.

We must break ourselves from the (relatively) new phenomenon of these mass-debates. After all, we’re now almost in the third decade of the new century. There is absolutely no need to remain in the framework of setting a mass debate (or, God-forbid, a two-tiered set of mass debates).

It starts with this straightforward concept: over the months leading up to the first primary, each candidate will debate every other candidate in the field once, for one hour, in a traditional political debate. This means that if there are twenty candidates in the Democratic Primary field, once a week in the six months between June 2019 and January 2020, each candidate will match up against another.

With a one-minute introduction from the moderator, this debate clocks-in at sixty-one minutes, giving each candidate a full twenty-nine minutes per debate to make their case!

This should help those on the fence (if there are truly anyone left with that much integrity) decide who will be the man….will it be Biden….or maybe Bernie?

The night was eventful……no audience to cheer or boo or moan or……..

Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are taking part in a very unusual Democratic debate: Because of the coronavirus crisis, there is no live studio audience at the debate, which was shifted from Phoenix to Washington DC. Before their first head-to-head matchup, the two candidates greeted each other by bumping elbows. In accordance with CDC guidelines, the podiums a the CNN-hosted debate are 6 feet apart. Moderators confirmed that the debate’s main focus would be the COVID-19 pandemic. Some highlights:

  • “This is bigger than any one of us.” Biden, asked by CNN’s Jake Tapper what he would tell Americans affected by the closure of schools and businesses, said “This is bigger than any one of us” and called for a “national rallying” to fight the virus, reports the Guardian, which notes that he coughed several times during his response.
  • Medicare for All. Biden and Sanders clashed over whether Sanders’ “Medicare for All” plan would have improved the situation, the AP reports. “One of the reasons that we are unprepared, and have been unprepared, is we don’t have a system. We’ve got thousands of private insurance plans,” Sanders said. “With all due respect to ‘Medicare for All,’ you have a single-payer system in Italy,” Biden said. “It doesn’t work there.”
  • Protecting themselves. The candidates were asked how they were protecting themselves from infection, with moderator Dana Bash noting that Sanders, 78, had a heart attack last fall. Both candidates said they had stopped holding rallies and were washing their hands frequently. “Fortunately I don’t have any of the underlying conditions you talked about that I have to worry about,” said Biden, 77.
  • Bank bailouts. The candidates clashed over the value of bank bailouts during the 2008 financial crisis, with Sanders arguing they should have been paid for by a tax on the wealthy. “We can’t repeat what we did in 2008. Joe voted for that. I voted against it,” he said.
  • Biden would mobilize military. Biden said he would call out the military to deal with the crisis, the Hill reports. “They have the ability to provide this surge that hospitals need,” he said. “They have the capacity to build 500 hospital beds and tents that are completely safe and secure.” Sanders said calling out the National Guard is something that “has to be done.”
  • Sanders targets Trump on China. Sanders, asked about China’s downplaying of the outbreak when it was in its early stages, slammed the way Trump had spoken about the country, the Washington Post reports. “What bothers me very much is you have a president of the United States today, Mr. Trump, who was praising China for the good work that they are doing when in fact, as you indicated, they were lying to their own people and allowing that virus to move much more aggressively than should have been the case,” he said.
  • Bailout for families. Biden said the country needs a “major, major, major bailout package” to help families that have taken a financial hit from the crisis. “We do not “reward corporations, we reward individuals who in fact are really put to the test here,” he said.
  • A pledge to support each other. Asked how he would attract Sanders supporters, Biden said “he’s making it hard for me right now” with attacks on his voting record in the Senate, CBS reports. But he vowed to campaign for Sanders if he becomes the nominee, and Sanders said he would do “everything humanly possible” to defeat Trump.
  • Agreement on immigration. Both candidates agreed on the need for immigration reform, with Sanders pointing out that he is the son of an immigrant, ABC reports. “Kids are scared to death when they come from school, their mom or dad may not be there,” Sanders said. “I will end this on day one, the ICE raids, that have been so harmful to so many people.”
  • Promise on female running mates. Biden promised to pick a woman to be his vice president, saying “There are a number of women who are qualified to be president tomorrow.” Sanders decline to make the same promise, but that said “in all likelihood” he will choose a female running mate.
  • Biden’s Iraq vote. Asked by Tapper what he learned from his 2003 vote for the Iraq war, Biden said he “learned I can’t take the word of a president when in fact they assured me that they would not use force,” the New York Times reports.
  • Cuba comments resurface. Sanders was once again asked about remarks he made praising some of Fidel Castro’s programs. the Guardian reports. “I have opposed authoritarianism—whether it’s in it’s in Cuba, whether it’s in Saudi Arabia, whether it’s in China or whether it is in Russia,” Sanders said. “That is my life record.”
  • Final coronavirus question. In the final question of the night, the candidates were asked how they would reassure Americans about the outbreak. the Post reports. Sanders said it was an opportunity to “rethink America and create a country where we care for each other.” Biden said it was an “all-hands-on-deck” situation. “This is about America. This is about the world. This is about how we bring people together and make the kind of sacrifices we need to make to get this done,” he said.

Not as interesting as I had hoped…..be thankful you have someone to break it down and you can read a good book.

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