How many people were brave enough to watch the first debate? What were your impressions? Will Trump show up for the rest of the debates?
Initial surveys show that 62% of viewers felt that Clinton won compared to 27% for Trump. However, there were more Democrats watching the debate, so we will have to wait a few days before making any more substantial judgement.
For now, the best indicator may be that the betting markets increased Clinton’s odds of winning from 69% (just before the debate) to 73% (an hour after it ended).
UPDATE: The New Yorker has a good summary of the debate titled “Hillary Clinton Brings Out the Real Donald Trump“. With his bragging or petulant responses and constant interruptions, Trump essentially admitted his guilt. When Clinton accused him of not paying any taxes at all, and of cheating his subcontractors and reneging on his business debts, Trump (again) interrupted and said “That makes me smart” — actually bragging that his greed and mendacity are somehow to be admired.
UPDATE 2: The late night shows aired live after the debates. Seth Meyers joked “After tonight’s debates several FOX News analysts said that Hillary Clinton is the clear winner. Maybe global warming is a hoax, because hell has frozen over.”
Stephen Colbert riffed on both debaters. On Clinton: “Hillary was so prepared my new nickname for her is Preparation H. In the primaries, she already proved she could soothe the Bern.” On Trump, who bragged that his temperament was his best asset: “Of course, we’ll never know if his temperament is really his strongest asset because he won’t release his tax returns.”
UPDATE 3: An hour after he said (during the debate) that not paying taxes makes him smart, he denied saying it.
8 Comments
Not having a television, this is the first time I’ve heard her. You said you were impressed when you saw her live. I am now a total supporter.
For Trump it is all “I,I,I,I, Me, Me, Me.” His children and grandchildren don’t even exist in his mind. It is all about him. As he said, his object is to “win”. His motto in life is “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Destroy everything and anything in your path so you win. Heck with Global warming, what does he care if his “procreational immortality” offspring boil to death.
I was extremely happy with her last night. If it had been me, I might pointed out his constant sniffing and showed some concern about the possibility of nasal cancer. But then I’m petty.
I thought she did well with his constant interruptions. People talking over me drives me crazy. I have a good idea. Turn off the mike of the one who is not supposed to be talking. Better yet, have someone standing by to plaster duct tape on their mouth.
Unfortunately, the deplorables voting, (evidently many of whom did not watch), for him will not be swayed by anything short of his having a total, foaming at the mouth, breakdown.
Even though it probably didn’t change many minds, I thought she did great and I’m proud to cast my vote for sanity.
Ok, so during the debate last night, I was group texting with my two strongly conservative brothers, who early on freely admitted disappointment with Trump’s performance. His obvious lack of preparation was predictable, as he practically bragged about it beforehand. But it showed even more than they probably expected and Trump seemed to know it early on too, which may explain the excessive drinking and sniffing (a nervous post nasal drip?). Did anyone notice his hand shaking as he brought the glass to his lips? I half expected Little Marco to come running on stage to his defense with a bottle of Trump water (you know, because he supports him now that he’s running for the office he assured us he wasn’t running for before, despite Trump’s mockery of his past thirstiness). I expect SNL will put their own stamp on it this Saturday.
His fractured vocabulary and meandering responses, not to mention his petulant and impolite (if not impolitic) repeated interruptions, revealed not only his true bullying character to a nationwide audience but also his shallow command of the issues or any specifics on policy that he would pursue if elected. When the question of his temperament came up near the end, which he tried to argue as being his best asset (yeah, really), and then rambled around trying to twist and conflate it into an issue of who has more experience (wtf?), it was clear this guy is not ready for prime time, let alone the Oval Office. One of Hillary’s best zingers (besides the one where she freely admitted that, yes, she had prepared for the debate, and for the Presidency too for that matter), was that someone who could be baited with a tweet should not be given command of our nuclear forces.
Now in all fairness, Obama didn’t do so hot against Romney in their first debate either (though for the opposite reason, Obama being criticized for being too passive), so we’ll see how or if he recovers for Round 2. But I think Trump was surprised at Hillary’s composure throughout, she was unflappable and he doesn’t seem to know how to handle that, so once he ran through his short list of strongman “my way or the highway” platitudes he quickly ran out of ammo and ended up on the ropes after the first half hour or so. Game, set, match.
So did it change any minds still on the fence or win over any Trumpians? My brothers texted after the event that – surprise! – despite their disappointment they’re still voting Republican. One simply doesn’t want her picking judges and the other…just can’t abide Hillary. On my way to the supermarket to pick up some groceries for my mother this morning, I tuned over to the conservative talk radio station for a gauge (Philly area, btw). Guess what? A listener poll gave the night to Trump 59% over Hillary, with 18% undecided. Anyway, so said the host.
If this election cycle teaches us anything, it’s how very very deep are the political trenches we find ourselves in. All this fuss and money seem to be about convincing the ~15% still on the fence or with the 3rd and 4th parties. If last night didn’t move them, it’s hard to imagine how the next two debates will either.
Trump was not sniffing. He said he doesn’t have a cold and was not sniffing. He blamed it on the mic.
Kaine tweeted that the sniffling could be to some coke issues. If that truly were the case then maybe Hillary should be debating Pence because Don want last long doing that with the shape he is in, his physician’s opinion not with standing.
I bothered to watch first hour. Honestly, did not see any tough questions to Hillary by Lester. I hope someone asks her if she is going to prosecute and jail Wells Fargo CEO. It was very easy night for her from moderator.
Trump had tough questions, and he was managing well till his birther came. It went downhill after that.
As far as his statement of not paying taxes (as long as legal) as being smart, I like it, only IRS or ideological left may not like it. Of course seasoned politicians try to make sure they pay enough taxes to keep in government.
Hassan, the issue isn’t whether Trump paid any taxes. The issue is that his economic policy is to cut taxes on the rich (including himself) even more. That will destroy our economy, like it did with Dubya.
If its about being legal then there may not be a need for to prosecute and jail the WF CEO. All he and upper management did was to set an incentive system and resulted in multiple employees faking account to meet their target. Perhaps some junior level manager may have known. Since what the WF CEO did was legal he shouldn’t be prosecuted. Sounds like Stumpf should be applauded!