How Aussie journalist describes the debate

[canetoad]

Trump, agent of chaos, drives first debate into a ditch

By Matthew Knott
September 30, 2020 — 2.57pm

Washington: As a means of helping American voters understand the policy differences between the two major party candidates, the first US presidential debate was an epic and demoralising failure.

As a representation of a democracy and global superpower in deep trouble, and possibly long-term decline, it was a vivid portrait. Donald Trump didn't come to Cleveland, Ohio, to debate. He came as a chaos agent on a mission to taunt, interrupt, bluster and bully.

For one-and-a-half hours of barely watchable television, the President was the nation's heckler-in-chief. Trump refused to observe the debate rules, declined to condemn white supremacists and demurred when asked to urge his voters to maintain calm if an election result is not known on November 3.

Trump's strategy was clear: dominate the stage, throw Biden off his game and block his opponent from making his case to the American people.

https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/trump-agent-of-chaos-drives-first-debate-into-a-ditch-20200930-p560o6.html

(Matthew Knott is North America correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.)

[tblue37]

1. K&R. nt

[Cha]

2. Love it.. TY canetoad for the report from

Down Under!

While Trump is primarily responsible for driving the debate into a ditch, moderator Chris Wallace deserves some of the blame. The Fox News host is a fair-minded and tough interviewer, but he proved incapable of enforcing the rules until the second half of the debate.

He let Trump run rampant, and wasn't forceful enough to stop the President from constantly interrupting Biden.

trump Won the Abusive BULLY Lethal Lies award.. he was a hit with Ugly insecure white supremacists & the Idiot proud boys & his stupid Cult45.

[BootinUp]

3. he packed the whole picture in not too many words. nt

[Vivienne235729]

4. That is exactly what happened. Well said.

[Auggie]

5. In other words, Trump came to Cleveland swinging his dick

[panfluteman]

6. I Felt Much the Same Way Right After the Debate

I said to myself, "What's the point in debating, or trying to hold a debate, with such a wild and untruthful man?" I even thought that Biden should come out and issue a statement detailing why another debate with Trump would be pointless, giving examples from tonight's debate, and refusing to debate Trump again. Then Trump would just claim that Biden chickened out, like the bully he is. I felt very, very sad for our country after the debate. There is high probability that this so-called "debate" will not change anyone's minds, but just serve to polarize the two camps even more. How do you debate someone who is nothing but a fire hose of lies?

If any more debates are held, they must be formatted in such a way as to force Trump to comply with the rules. My sister suggested that the moderator be able two switch the mics of each debater on and off - especially the mic of Trump, so they can't interrupt.

[cynical_idealist]

10. Each should be isolated in soundproof box with mod controlling microphone switch

Then we can watch the bully beating on the wall with his tantrum,
but Joe can continue to speak normally and sensibly.

[Raine]

7. TOTALLY and sadly on point. 😣 nt

[Lady Freedom Returns]

8. Oh! I can use this story in a FB Fight I'm in...

about Presidential decorum!

Thank you for posting.

[Lock him up.]

9. In dRumpf world, like in putin's world, no rule can't be broken, just like...

... no LAW can't. Rules, laws, they're all the same: Apply to OTHERS.