Debate Night America

 

It seems like it happened more than a year ago but the Trump-Biden "debate" was just last week. Now it's time for the V-P debate between Harris and Pence.

My plan is the same as it was last week. I'll plan to watch it and post an essay here right afterward, based on what I see. That way, I can convey my own reaction free from the influence of any other media commentators. 

The most mind-boggling development today is that the venerable New England Journal of Medicine has called for the leaders of the Trump administration to be removed from office for incompetence in handling the pandemic. This is unprecedented, but then again we are living in unprecedented times

SALT LAKE CITY Oct. 7 (6 p.m. PT) The candidates are separated by plexiglass and are 12 feet, 3 inches apart.

There are to be nine questions:

(1) Covid-19: Harris called Trump's handling of the pandemic "the greatest failure in history." Pence defended the administration's actions and claimed they have saved lives.

(2) The release of personal health information: Harris claimed transparency. Pence avoided the question.

(3) The economy: Harris attacked the Trump tax cut; Pence defended it.

(4) Climate Change: Pence attacked the Green New Deal and red-baited Biden. Harris  said "they don't believe in science."

(5) China. Pence said China is to blame for Covid-19. Harris pivoted to Trump's words calling our troops "suckers and losers."

(6) Supreme Court. They both avoided the topic but restated their talking points on abortion. Pence supported the Barrett nomination and defended her from the (non-existing) attacks on her "Christian faith."

(7) Pre-existing conditions. They avoided answering the question. By this point, they had both run off the tracks. But earlier, Harris said "if you have pre-existing conditions, they are coming for you."

(8) Race. Harris defended peaceful protest and supported progressive concerns. Pence launched into his law and order talking point.

(9) Peaceful transfer of power. Pence avoided answering.

(10) An extra question from a schoolchild about politicians always fighting. Both, blessedly, argued for unity.

In summary, this was a battle of talking points. Modern candidates are so schooled in media training that they rarely depart from script. There were no surprises and no gaffes. 

It was a more peaceful exercise than last week's circus, although both candidates droned on beyond the time limits, especially Pence.

In my view, nobody won the debate. In terms of body language, Pence wore an emotional mask when she attacked him; Harris smiled and shook her head when he interrupted and attacked her. And in all likelihood, few minds were changed.

***

And on to the news:

* Dying in a Leadership Vacuum: "Covid-19 has created a crisis throughout the world. This crisis has produced a test of leadership. With no good options to combat a novel pathogen, countries were forced to make hard choices about how to respond. Here in the United States, our leaders have failed that test. They have taken a crisis and turned it into a tragedy...our current political leaders have demonstrated that they are dangerously incompetent. We should not abet them and enable the deaths of thousands more Americans by allowing them to keep their jobs." (New England Journal of Medicine)

* "Trump is not masculine by his own definition. He doesn't protect people." (SE Cupp, conservative commentator)

* Santa Claus may still appear at malls this holiday season but children will not sit on his lap. "It will be a touchless experience." (CNN)

* How Russia Today Skirts High-Tech Blockade to Reach U.S. Readers -- After 2016, social-media companies tried to limit the reach of RT, as it is now known. Instead, the outlet has been boosted by a news aggregator dominated by conservative publishers, including National Review, The Daily Caller and Newsmax. (WSJ)

* Putin Criticizes Biden’s ‘Sharp Anti-Russian Rhetoric’ -- In Vladimir Putin’s first substantive comments on the U.S. election, the Russian president praised President Trump. (WSJ)

* Psychiatrist says Trump's behavior “meets criteria for a locked psychiatric facility" -- It "would not be an exaggeration" to say that Trump "delights in putting people in danger," Dr. Bandy X. Lee says (Salon)

* Trump still seemingly struggling to breathe after hospital return, White House aides say (The Week)

* There has been no more surprising race on the Senate map than South Carolina. Even early this year, it looked like Sen. Lindsey Graham would cruise to re-election. Instead, the Republican incumbent finds himself in a tied race in both public and private surveys with challenger Jaime Harrison, who has proven to be perhaps Democrats’ best recruit and a fundraising behemoth. (Cook Political Report)

* Today FiveThirtyEight released its third and final forecast of the 2020 election: our forecast for the House. And while Democrats are slight favorites to flip the Senate and Joe Biden is a solid-but-not-overwhelming front-runner for the presidency it gives Democrats a 93 in 100 chance of winning the House. On average, it projects Democrats to win 237 seats and Republicans to win 198 seats — a four-seat gain for Democrats. (538)

* Hurricane watch posted for coastal Louisiana as "Delta" pulls away from Mexico (WashPo)

* While humans have been adjusting to an altered state of reality over the last few months, we are certainly not the only living organisms that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. According to the CDC, there have been reports of increased rodent activity during this time as pests adapt to decreased public activity and search for new food sources. With social distancing measures in place and many restaurants, cafes and food suppliers having limited business, there is less availability of food scraps in public spaces. (Cherry Digital Content)

* A 70 percent majority believes our democracy is “in danger” in this election, including about 8 in 10 Biden supporters and 6 in 10 Trump supporters. (Fox News)