WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump was trying very hard to be on his best behavior. In the opening minutes of the first presidential debate Monday night, the Republican nominee began an answer by saying, "In all fairness to Secretary Clinton" -- then turned to his opponent with exaggerated cordiality. "Yes? Is that OK? Good. I want you to be very happy. It's very important to … [Read more...] about What worked for Trump in the primaries failed him against Clinton
Testing Democracy
The polls have tightened and the presidential election in the last few weeks has seemed like a toss-up. Trump blusters, lies, and exaggerates at every opportunity and his supporters rally to his side, not seeming to care. No answers to problems offered, just mottos. Insults and mottos from a possible president. Is this what democracy has degenerated into in this age of … [Read more...] about Testing Democracy
National Poll: Voters Say Clinton Won Debate 51/40
' Results of a new national poll: Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton beat Republican Presidential candidate 51/40: PPP's post debate survey, sponsored by VoteVets Action Fund, finds that voters nationally think Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump in the debate, 51/40. And there are signs Clinton helped herself with young voters: Perhaps most … [Read more...] about National Poll: Voters Say Clinton Won Debate 51/40
Marshall on the Debate
Josh Marshall thinks Hillary Clinton had Donald Trump on the defensive in the first debate on Talking Points Memo. Clinton clearly went into this debate not looking for one or two big "Have you no decency" moments but rather looking to hit him with a rat-tat-tat series of taunts and jabs to see if she could get him to lose his cool and throw him off his game. It ended up … [Read more...] about Marshall on the Debate
CNN poll of debate watchers: Clinton won 62% to 27%
A CNN poll of debate watchers found that Democratic Party nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton beat Republican Party nominee Donald Trump 62% to 27%. CNN noted that the poll was skewered a bit more Democratic than Republican, but that would only matter in impacting 3 or 4 points. The poll showed Clinton's vulnerability on the economy. Even though the poll … [Read more...] about CNN poll of debate watchers: Clinton won 62% to 27%
Sullivan Live-blogs Debate #1
Andrew Sullivan sums it up for New York Magazine. What can one say? I was afraid that Trump’s charisma and stage presence and salesmanship might out-shine Hillary Clinton’s usually tepid and wonkish instincts. I feared that the facts wouldn’t matter; that a debate would not take place. And it is to Clinton’s great credit that she prepared; and he didn’t; and that she let him … [Read more...] about Sullivan Live-blogs Debate #1
Clinton, Trump clash and interrupt each other in first Presidential debate
By John Whitesides and Steve Holland HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Reuters) - Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump locked horns over the economy, assailed each other's foreign policy, and interrupted each other repeatedly in heated exchanges at the first U.S. presidential debate on Monday. After greeting each other with a handshake and a smile, the two opponents went … [Read more...] about Clinton, Trump clash and interrupt each other in first Presidential debate
Cartoon: The debate expectations game
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: The debate expectations game
When Serious Debate is Trivialized for Media Ratings
I've heard it and heard it this week; "Gonna be bigger than the superbowl in viewers." A match looking 'for a TKO [technical knock out as in boxing].' An endless loop playing on teevee channels re put downs by former presidential debaters, as though the put down is some high art form. It isnt. It's the lowest form of non-discourse we have. It's like "Sonny Liston" match. … [Read more...] about When Serious Debate is Trivialized for Media Ratings
Truthiness
September 26, 2016 Note to readers: This is the latest entry in Baby DonDon’s campaign diary. The series imagines that “Mr.” Donald Trump has the emotional make-up of a five-year-old and confides his deepest thoughts—such as they are—to Andrew Feinberg, and to readers, every day. In his private moments, he always thinks of himself as Baby DonDon. Yesterday Kellyanne … [Read more...] about Truthiness
If You Think That American Politicians Are Bad
If you think that American politicians are bad, then check out what has been happening to the residents of the London suburb of Surbiton. From Auto Blog: "Residents of a Southwest London neighborhood are up in arms after receiving a series of fines for parking on their own property in early September." The politicians there decided that a driveway is a part of a street, … [Read more...] about If You Think That American Politicians Are Bad
Why We Need to Talk About America’s Lack of Black Teachers
In 2013, the city of Philadelphia closed 24 of its schools. There were many reasons cited for the closures — among them the challenge of meeting test score requirements, an education policy staple since 2002. Whether it was the cause or the effect, in the 11 years between 2001 and 2012, that city’s population of black teachers fell by 18.5 percent. In President Obama’s old … [Read more...] about Why We Need to Talk About America’s Lack of Black Teachers
Bet on Donald Trump getting fact checked during tonight’s Presidential debate (Gambling odds)
If you're a person who bets, put your money down on Lester Holt fact checking Donald Trump more than Hilary Clinton during the debate. According to the odds-makers at SportsBettingDime.com, at 1/4 Trump is the prohibitive favorite to get fact checked the most. If that's not enough of a sure thing, the odds-maker also offer 1/7 odds that Trump refers to Clinton's health or … [Read more...] about Bet on Donald Trump getting fact checked during tonight’s Presidential debate (Gambling odds)
Will Trump have his Col. Jessup moment in tonight’s debate?
I was convinced many months ago that, at some point, Donald Trump would have his “Damn right I ordered the Code Red” moment. Maybe that moment will come Monday night. We all know the scene, from the 1992 courtroom drama “A Few Good Men,” when Col. Jessup, the egomaniacal military commander played by Jack Nicholson, his blood boiling, begins to realize that his series of lies … [Read more...] about Will Trump have his Col. Jessup moment in tonight’s debate?
How Much Does Trump Care for Hispanics? Nada, Cero, Ni Papa
Addressing potential voters in Spanish during a presidential campaign used to be a rarity “in the old days.” But as early as 1960, presidential candidate John F. Kennedy realized the growing importance of the U.S. Hispanic vote and convinced his wife, who spoke Spanish, to do an ad in Spanish, below. In the ad, Mrs. Kennedy assures Hispanic voters that her husband, as … [Read more...] about How Much Does Trump Care for Hispanics? Nada, Cero, Ni Papa
Trump 1600: Plan to Dismantle the White House
The Plan It's either brilliant or the height of arrogance. Six weeks ahead of the election, the Trump Organization has submitted a building plan to the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development to repurpose the White House. Eric Trump has taken the lead on project code-named Trump 1600, which is part of the overall Trump Office Administration Development (TOAD). The … [Read more...] about Trump 1600: Plan to Dismantle the White House
MAD AS HELL THAT MOCKERY IN DEBATES PASSES FOR SUBSTANCE: What About Issues of Native Americans
What? are Native Americans, not talkable aboutable? Where do Trump and Clinton stand on Native issues? We dont know. News media as usual keeps running film loops of mockery in presidential debates, pushing that the rehearsed put downs of Reagan, Kennedy, Ford, and others are somehow the height of true debate, and elections. They are not. Not even close. They are diversions … [Read more...] about MAD AS HELL THAT MOCKERY IN DEBATES PASSES FOR SUBSTANCE: What About Issues of Native Americans
Cartoon: U. S. Elections (Cartoon from Costa Rica)
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: U. S. Elections (Cartoon from Costa Rica)
Some thoughts on tonight’s Clinton-Trump Presidential debate
Some thoughts on the coming Presidential debate Monday night. First, debates matter a lot, but not necessarily for reasons people think. They rarely move poll numbers permanently themselves. But they do help to establish closing narratives to the campaigns and clarify existing narratives. Typically when the leading candidate has a bad first debate (Reagan 1984, Bush 2004, Obama … [Read more...] about Some thoughts on tonight’s Clinton-Trump Presidential debate
A veggie burger that ‘bleeds’ might convince some carnivores to eat green
Humans have been eating meat since, well, before we were human. But there are so many of us now eating so much meat that raising all those animals is having a big impact on the global environment, including the climate. That has people around the world scrambling for meat substitutes, but something better than those dry… … [Read more...] about A veggie burger that ‘bleeds’ might convince some carnivores to eat green