My last word on the debate...

I will offer no more words of wisdom or idiocy (depending on your viewpoints) on this debate. This includes within the comment threads, since apparently the minions on the left are pretty much only interested in rehashing the "good people on both sides" hoax and dishonestly demanding that the President won't condemn white nationalists.

I first want to point out that Donald Trump has been in four Presidential debates so far, and has seemingly had to deal with some last second "bombshell" in each of them. From the hot mike issue with Access Hollywood, to the so called non-release description of his tax returns just prior to last nights debate, there has usually been at least one question set aside designed specifically for Trump having to explain himself out of something. Neither of his opponents have ever had to deal with this.

Next I want to point out that we are in the middle of a world-wide pandemic, the likes of which has not been witnessed in our life times. At the same time, we are going through an extremely violent social unrest that has bitterly divided the nation. On top of all that, we have an economy that has has had to bear the brunt of both of these things. Donald Trump has been President for nearly four years, while Joe Biden has been out of politics for that same period of time. 

So this was a debate that clearly provided the challenger with the upper hand. Approximately half the questions were forgone to put the President on his heels, and provide an opportunity for Joe Biden to attack (in areas where he has very little to lose). By all accounts, if this was a race, Trump was hypothetically saddled with having to wear ankle bracelets, while having his right shoe lace tied to his left... at least if he allowed it to play out by conventional rules. 

So if people are shocked or surprised that Trump turned this into a knock down drag out brawl instead of engaging in a straight forward debate on the subjects being presented, then they probably don't understand Trump. As much as Trump is being criticized by people over his bullying tactics and obvious attempts to play alpha dog over the events, the question is whether or not this was the lesser of two unappealing strategies. 

Given how much it was apparent (even to people on the left) that Trump ended up debating both Wallace and Biden, imagine the scenario where Wallace would be provided with complete control and where the President would simply be asked to stand back and take attack after attack from two fronts on how many people have died from Covid, how it has to be his fault that people are rioting, or that the draconian lockdowns from our blue states creating economic hardship is all his fault. That would not have likely gone all that well for the President considering the circumstances.

But now certain things have changed. Expectations are different and if Biden shows up for the next debate, it might just be the President (not Biden) who might be provided with the benefit of lowered expectations. There should be no more talk of tax returns, and eventually we will get into subjects more favorable to Trump, such as explaining specific economic policies moving forward, trade deals, and foreign policy where Trump has just been nominated for his third Nobel Peace prize.  

If I was Donald Trump I would open debate two with a firm statement openly denouncing all hate groups and listing them by name (including antifa). Then he should challenge Joe Biden to do the same and denounce all groups (including antifa). That would put that issue to rest and place Biden on the defensive (because he will not denounce antifa in spite of the damage they have caused to the country). 

I will end with how I began all of this. Nobody won this "debate" because it really was never a "debate". It was clash of styles, a clash of personalities, and clash of ideologies. Both men had good moments and bad moments. But at the end of the day it was little more than a street fight and you can all determine for yourself who came out with the bloodier of noses.