I thought it was pretty telling when Harris said, “world leaders think you’re a joke.” The only world leader Trump could recall for his defense was Viktor Orban. Trump knows the world thinks he’s a clown, but he doesn’t care - the power of the American presidency forces the world to take him seriously.
I very much appreciate your on-the-site reporting. The details of your experiences combined with your reporting form a picture of how our government works, stumbles and lumbers on - all of which is something I have only observed from afar. It’s quite interesting.
I hoped for more substantive details on her policies but I realized the debate was never going to be where those were presented. She had one goal really, one very important goal, and that was to not let trump control the narrative, to prove she could hold her own when confronted with an extreme narcissist and gleeful bully. She more than proved her ability to do so. This will serve her well when working with and being confronted by other heads of state and our own Congress.
Hopefully she will now release more detailed policy statements. It is time.
After a campaign speech Adlai Stevenson was approached by a man in the audience, "You will have the vote of every thinking American". Stevenson's reply, "Yes, but I need a majority".
Harris already has the votes of thinking Americans. Though so many reporters and pundits are celebrating Harris' performance last night, will it gain support from those who were so ill informed to still be undecided?
I think Kamala’s successes last night were mostly around brushing Trump off, as you say making him look “small”. That speaks to the effectiveness of leaning AWAY from the 1/6 focus and claims that he’s a “threat to democracy” as the main attack—any voters who were going to be picked up by that rhetoric have already been picked up.
What the Dems should focus on is a two pronged attack of clowning on Trump the Small Man plus a clear-eyed focus on what a Kamala administration would do for the economy. I still think they’re missing a lot of the latter, and they’re going to find the few thousands of Pennsylvanians they need in the pocketbook talk.
Gabe, I was surprised I didn’t see any comments about the difference between watching the debate and listening. I heard an early part in my car (not the crazy part about dogs) and was surprised that for those 20 minutes Trump sounded better than I expected. As soon as I got home and watched the last part it was a different debate. Made me think about the Nixon/Kennedy debate. Kamala clearly knew that body language and facial expressions matter.
I am left, still waiting, for some clear policies, with some depth to their presentation, to know what Kamala Harris stands for. Trump, for better or worse, knows what he stands for, and is willing to spell it out, whether one agrees with him or not. Harris definitely had the better night, but as to to her manner of governance, that remains largely blank.
Harris did a good job. Nevertheless, she did not convince me she is Presidential material. She may wave off the Black Woman trope but she is only where she is because of that non qualification. When are the parties going to get their act together and give the American people, in whom they both purport to trust, an experienced, serious minded candidate? What is the solution? Open primaries? Ranked choice voting? I will support whoever wins because this is my country but I cannot see my way to voting for either of these people.
A track record of gravitas about the issues of the day. The issue of immigration, legal and illegal, is of importance to me. Harris behaved like a fool when she was given that portfolio. She never went to the border, has demonstrated no grasp of the history (including the fraud perpetrated on the American people by the 1965 reform) and I cannnot overlook the rank stupidity of the comment, “Don’t come.” She had a chance during the debate to call for Congressional reform of the whole system.
I thought it was pretty telling when Harris said, “world leaders think you’re a joke.” The only world leader Trump could recall for his defense was Viktor Orban. Trump knows the world thinks he’s a clown, but he doesn’t care - the power of the American presidency forces the world to take him seriously.
I very much appreciate your on-the-site reporting. The details of your experiences combined with your reporting form a picture of how our government works, stumbles and lumbers on - all of which is something I have only observed from afar. It’s quite interesting.
I hoped for more substantive details on her policies but I realized the debate was never going to be where those were presented. She had one goal really, one very important goal, and that was to not let trump control the narrative, to prove she could hold her own when confronted with an extreme narcissist and gleeful bully. She more than proved her ability to do so. This will serve her well when working with and being confronted by other heads of state and our own Congress.
Hopefully she will now release more detailed policy statements. It is time.
After a campaign speech Adlai Stevenson was approached by a man in the audience, "You will have the vote of every thinking American". Stevenson's reply, "Yes, but I need a majority".
Harris already has the votes of thinking Americans. Though so many reporters and pundits are celebrating Harris' performance last night, will it gain support from those who were so ill informed to still be undecided?
I think Kamala’s successes last night were mostly around brushing Trump off, as you say making him look “small”. That speaks to the effectiveness of leaning AWAY from the 1/6 focus and claims that he’s a “threat to democracy” as the main attack—any voters who were going to be picked up by that rhetoric have already been picked up.
What the Dems should focus on is a two pronged attack of clowning on Trump the Small Man plus a clear-eyed focus on what a Kamala administration would do for the economy. I still think they’re missing a lot of the latter, and they’re going to find the few thousands of Pennsylvanians they need in the pocketbook talk.
Gabe, I was surprised I didn’t see any comments about the difference between watching the debate and listening. I heard an early part in my car (not the crazy part about dogs) and was surprised that for those 20 minutes Trump sounded better than I expected. As soon as I got home and watched the last part it was a different debate. Made me think about the Nixon/Kennedy debate. Kamala clearly knew that body language and facial expressions matter.
Gave - Great reporting on an eventful night. Harris shines - Trump lies.
I am left, still waiting, for some clear policies, with some depth to their presentation, to know what Kamala Harris stands for. Trump, for better or worse, knows what he stands for, and is willing to spell it out, whether one agrees with him or not. Harris definitely had the better night, but as to to her manner of governance, that remains largely blank.
Harris did a good job. Nevertheless, she did not convince me she is Presidential material. She may wave off the Black Woman trope but she is only where she is because of that non qualification. When are the parties going to get their act together and give the American people, in whom they both purport to trust, an experienced, serious minded candidate? What is the solution? Open primaries? Ranked choice voting? I will support whoever wins because this is my country but I cannot see my way to voting for either of these people.
How do you define “Presidential material”?
A track record of gravitas about the issues of the day. The issue of immigration, legal and illegal, is of importance to me. Harris behaved like a fool when she was given that portfolio. She never went to the border, has demonstrated no grasp of the history (including the fraud perpetrated on the American people by the 1965 reform) and I cannnot overlook the rank stupidity of the comment, “Don’t come.” She had a chance during the debate to call for Congressional reform of the whole system.