By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
SEPT. 13, 2024 | What did you think of the presidential debate?
It made me wonder if there might be another debate, since Donald Trump always is confident that he does quite well in debates, though he really knows he stumped his toe in trying to keep up with Kamala Harris Tuesday night. Right now, he needs to catch up after a not-so-stellar performance against a female debater. But now we hear that he feels Harris wants another debate, since he says she did not do so well! Amazing deduction, but that sounded normal for Trump!
How badly did Trump do? The New York Times asked 14 journalists what they thought. Their response was overwhelming, in that 13 of the 14 professionals thought that Ms. Harris easily outdistanced the former president, rattling him along the way. Even one of his staunch supporters, Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, knew that Trump was out-debated!
Should there be another debate, we suspect Mr. Trump won’t do much better, but will continue to flub around, go off in many directions, and continue to throw off utterances that often make little sense. And observer after observer noted again that Trump pumped out false facts (“lies”) time and time again.
At least the ABC moderators often corrected Trump when he lied, something that the earlier CNN moderators did not do in the first presidential debate with President Biden. Hats off to ABC for this in-real-time fact-checking.
Even Trump must have realized how bad his debate performance was, for on Wednesday he complained that the ABC network should be shut down for the way they conducted the debate. That doesn’t sound like a winner talking. And it shatters any idea that Trump believes in the First Amendment.
Did you notice the composure of the two candidates? From the very start, Kamala Harris was confident, even walking across the gap between the two lecterns to shake hands with the former president, something that apparently immediately shook him. Then as the debates began, Trump always maintained this mean, harsh look, close-mouthed and seemingly trying to stare down the cameras. He also never looked at Ms. Harris.
Kamala Harris, on the other hand, was agile behind her microphone, looking at Trump, smiling continually, then shaking her head and laughing when Trump sent out another false statement. She seemed in control even without speaking. Trump posture and harsh staring face showed he was up tight, spewing ill will toward the whole world.
Another element: specifics. Kamala Harris continued to give us detail after detail about various elements in her plans for government, citing facts in an amazing way. How could she remember such specific information is amazing in itself. She obviously has a good mind.
That compared vastly with Mr. Trump’s almost incoherent sputtering of what he might do in a second term. He maintained he had plans in the making, saying he had “concepts of a plan” to replace the Affordable Care Act, but did not offer anything specific. There was a major difference in their presentations.
With the country used to Donald Trump being a continued presence in the media almost daily, the debate was something of an introduction of the nation to Ms. Harris, who was in the spotlight with her opponent for the first time. She scored well.
Can Kamala Harris sustain her victory? Lots can happen in two months. But we feel she bested Donald Trump Tuesday night.
Your thoughts?
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