The first presidential debate of 2016 has concluded and Im unimpressed with the performance of both candidates. Hillary Clinton was stodgy smug and well all the things that youve come to expect of Hillary Clinton. But Madame President (we might have to get used to that term) knew that she had Donald Trump squirming towards the end so much so that she felt comfortable enough to play the sexist" card.
Donald Trump started off strong and you thought that he might gain some new support from those that want a presidential yet strong commander-in-chief. And then his skin got in the way; his orange-pink thin-as-a-slice-of-prosciutto skin.
Donald Trump has some gut instincts as to what will play before an audience but he doesnt have the presence of mind that one-on-one debating requires; the ability to grasp upon something just said by your opponent that you can turn to your advantage.
That doesnt mean to say that he never takes an opening. When Clinton garbled that she wasnt in favor of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal Trump jumped in with You said it was the Gold Standard!"
In a discussion about jobs Trump parried Clintons standard stump blather with But you havent done that in 30 years!" To be honest Trump would have won the debate if he had just said that after every one of her talking points. Just as Ronald Reagan used There you go again" to unseat Jimmy Carter.
But our boy cant take a joke and certainly not a poke. Like a delicate snowflake or average college student he took insinuations about his taxes and his various business ventures to heart from the team of Clinton and Lester Holt and spent way too much time defending himself sometimes using Business School jargon.
Lester Holt can thank the ghost of Matt Lauer for teaching him that you have to throw softballs at Hillary Clinton or youre a turncoat a traitor or worse a moderator that acts in moderation towards both parties.
Seeing the unfairness of the two against one (which you should always expect as a Republican) the Trump Train derailed and Donalds new focus on defending himself instead of attacking Madame President gave her a rare twinkle in her jaundiced eye.
You see Hillary Clinton has said and done a number of things that should have gotten her in trouble during the debate. Email scandals calling young blacks super-predators" Obamas birth certificate and more. Trump was right to mention these gaffes but notice what she did when confronted with these inconvenient truths.
She either didnt say a thing (super-predator Obamas birth certificate) or made sure she explained it away in 2 or 3 short sentences (her Email scandal!) and then on to the attack. Trump should have of course pounded her again and again or even asked her Do you deny it?" and see her cough up an answer that would have set the tone for if not a knockout at least a unanimous decision.
These and many more missed opportunities and omissions gave the victory to Clinton. Benghazi wasnt even mentioned; Libya and immunities granted to her staff over emails? Glossed over. Domestic terrorism? Barely there. And it all happened because Donald Trump hasnt met an insult that couldnt unhinge him. Weve seen it in the primary debates and now we see it in the presidential debate. Even when Hillary played the sexist" card Trump couldnt say something like I think that sexism is a bad topic to discuss for someone married to Bill Clinton. Would you like to know why Hillary?" I would have loved to hear what she would have said to that.
A lot was made of Trumps forgoing any mock debates or other preparations for his bout with Clinton. Well his performance was what you get when you fail to prepare. Even just having his aides throw insults at him for an hour would have thickened his crepe paper skin a little and helped him focus.
Donald Trump didnt make any new converts this time around and you can expect to see polls turn in Hillarys favor in the next few days. If the other two debates are more of the same get used to the term Madame President" and another four to eight years of circling the drain.
The first presidential debate of 2016 has concluded and Im unimpressed with the performance of both candidates. Hillary Clinton was stodgy smug and well all the things that youve come to expect of Hillary Clinton. But Madame President (we might have to get used to that term) knew that she had Donald Trump squirming towards the end so much so that she felt comfortable enough to play the sexist" card.
Donald Trump started off strong and you thought that he might gain some new support from those that want a presidential yet strong commander-in-chief. And then his skin got in the way; his orange-pink thin-as-a-slice-of-prosciutto skin.
Donald Trump has some gut instincts as to what will play before an audience but he doesnt have the presence of mind that one-on-one debating requires; the ability to grasp upon something just said by your opponent that you can turn to your advantage.
That doesnt mean to say that he never takes an opening. When Clinton garbled that she wasnt in favor of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal Trump jumped in with You said it was the Gold Standard!"
In a discussion about jobs Trump parried Clintons standard stump blather with But you havent done that in 30 years!" To be honest Trump would have won the debate if he had just said that after every one of her talking points. Just as Ronald Reagan used There you go again" to unseat Jimmy Carter.
But our boy cant take a joke and certainly not a poke. Like a delicate snowflake or average college student he took insinuations about his taxes and his various business ventures to heart from the team of Clinton and Lester Holt and spent way too much time defending himself sometimes using Business School jargon.
Lester Holt can thank the ghost of Matt Lauer for teaching him that you have to throw softballs at Hillary Clinton or youre a turncoat a traitor or worse a moderator that acts in moderation towards both parties.
Seeing the unfairness of the two against one (which you should always expect as a Republican) the Trump Train derailed and Donalds new focus on defending himself instead of attacking Madame President gave her a rare twinkle in her jaundiced eye.
You see Hillary Clinton has said and done a number of things that should have gotten her in trouble during the debate. Email scandals calling young blacks super-predators" Obamas birth certificate and more. Trump was right to mention these gaffes but notice what she did when confronted with these inconvenient truths.
She either didnt say a thing (super-predator Obamas birth certificate) or made sure she explained it away in 2 or 3 short sentences (her Email scandal!) and then on to the attack. Trump should have of course pounded her again and again or even asked her Do you deny it?" and see her cough up an answer that would have set the tone for if not a knockout at least a unanimous decision.
These and many more missed opportunities and omissions gave the victory to Clinton. Benghazi wasnt even mentioned; Libya and immunities granted to her staff over emails? Glossed over. Domestic terrorism? Barely there. And it all happened because Donald Trump hasnt met an insult that couldnt unhinge him. Weve seen it in the primary debates and now we see it in the presidential debate. Even when Hillary played the sexist" card Trump couldnt say something like I think that sexism is a bad topic to discuss for someone married to Bill Clinton. Would you like to know why Hillary?" I would have loved to hear what she would have said to that.
A lot was made of Trumps forgoing any mock debates or other preparations for his bout with Clinton. Well his performance was what you get when you fail to prepare. Even just having his aides throw insults at him for an hour would have thickened his crepe paper skin a little and helped him focus.
Donald Trump didnt make any new converts this time around and you can expect to see polls turn in Hillarys favor in the next few days. If the other two debates are more of the same get used to the term Madame President" and another four to eight years of circling the drain.