Let’s go ahead and have one of these:
- Happy 9/11 — That may sound like an inappropriate tone (this is the more appropriate one, I grant you), but I do hope you are having a good day. A good, peaceful day. Just don’t let that become complacency, because too many people have little or no peace, from those in the wartorn parts of the world to the folks at home who lost their loved ones 23 years ago.
- The ‘debate’ last night — Please share your thoughts. Mine are fairly easy to express: I thought it was as useless an exercise as usual. Supporters of the vice president are crying out “Kamala won!” Well, she did very well. So did the folks at ABC, who I thought managed the mess as well as I’ve seen anyone do in recent years. But what did it accomplish? Her supporters are generally pleased. Good, but what did she “win?” Was a single supporter of her opponent persuaded? As for those “swing voters” — I find it obscene that there is anything such as a “swing voter” in the face of a “choice” as painfully obvious as this one. If you didn’t know before the “debate” began that it is essential that she win, then you shouldn’t be voting. This event went as well as anything can go with one such as her opponent on the stage. I’m glad it did. I thank her and congratulate her for doing a good job. But what was accomplished by this, or any other “debate” thus far in this century?
- I hope Joe Wilson gets better soon — That’s about all I want to say about it.
- More bloodshed in Gaza — Yes, it’s time to wrap this “war” up. I say that as an unshakeable supporter of Israel. The nation’s strategic interests are not being served. Note this, for instance. And in Jordan, of all places.
- What about that invasion of Russia? — Two weeks ago, I heard this piece about Ukraine’s bold and risky move to take the war into Russia itself. Since then, practically nothing. I could rant at this point about how news media these days simply don’t devote themselves to the most important news. But then, I’m not studying reports as closely as I once did. If anyone can send me a link with a decent, in-depth assessment of the situation, I’d appreciate it.
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While Brad has emphasized the importance of focusing on the many pressing policy issues, I believe these discussions can sometimes overshadow a deeper problem: the transfer of wealth from younger generations to the elderly and disabled. The debate, much like these political distractions, pulls attention away from sustainable solutions for the future. Vice President Kamala Harris may have put Trump on the defensive, but this back-and-forth only scratches the surface of the real issues at hand. That’s why, in my humble opinion, it’s crucial that we involve more young people in politics. While we should respect the wisdom of older generations, recent failures make it clear that we need fresh, innovative solutions from those who will shape our future.
“Vice President Kamala Harris may have put Trump on the defensive, but this back-and-forth only scratches the surface of the real issues at hand.”
Exactly. So she “won.” Whoopee. What does that have to do with being a suitable president? Which is why I have lost interest in these silly contests to see who can avoid gaffes and put others on the defensive. Such things should NOT be the basis for voters’ choices. There are many reasons why Kamala Harris should be elected. They don’t have much to do with her “performance” in such exhibitions…
I am a proud swing state voter in Nevada, ya know, the only state that defeated an incumbent Democrat governor with a Republican! (Joe Lombardo)
I served 32 years in the Army with 3 combat tours and will gladly cast my vote for Donald J Trump for President this year. We can try to one up each other or personally insult each other but if I am smart enough to serve this country, I am smart enough to make up my own mind when I vote.
I make well over $500k a year and even I scoff at the high prices when I shop….whenever the average person does the same, it should ensure a win for Mr Trump for needed economic change. Must be frustrating for you to live in strongly Republican SC!
Well, thanks for sharing that, cousin — which you probably are with that last name.
But you don’t sound like a “swing voter.” You sound like you pretty much have your mind made up.
Perhaps you took it the way I have occasionally embraced it myself — as a description of someone who votes by the candidate, not the party. In recent days, headlines have used the term interchangeably with “undecided.” So I was using it that way.
By the way, I have no problem with Republicans. Some of my favorite people I’ve dealt with in my career have been Republicans, not to mention my many friends and loved ones who have borne that label. Unfortunately, all the real Republicans, heirs to the traditions of Lincoln — John McCain, Lamar Alexander, the Bushes and such — are gone from the scene. My hero McCain is dead, and the others have been swept aside by the madness that has infected the party since 2016.
Finally, on an unrelated subject, thank you for your service…
I didn’t watch it. From everything I read, Harris did well. Trump lied a lot and stunk. No surprise.
Every year I read the story of Air Force One’s journey on 9/11 and it’s a great article.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/09/were-the-only-plane-in-the-sky-214230/
Regarding this debate: It may have been a silly exercise, but it mattered.
A week later, and Harris now has a 4 pt. lead in the national polls. That’s good. But more important, she now has narrow leads in the handful of states our ludicrous electoral system empowers to determine the next president, save one, where she trails by less than a percentage point. After the debate, the swing voters interviewed by the network I watched and the papers I read overwhelmingly said they were voting for Harris. She is now leading among independents overall. If you want Harris to win the election, nothing matters more than swing states and swing voters, absurd though that is.
After her commanding performance, Harris earned the support of prominent conservatives who have a moral compass and the capacity to reason. Bob Inglis joined this group today. Good for him. Good for us that a majority is coming together in support of democracy and our country, regardless of political differences.
As far as substance goes, it’s always hard to convey complex ideas in 2 minutes, which makes these debates annoying. For some people, it appears that it’s impossible to produce a coherent, truthful answer in 2 minutes or 90 minutes. Nevertheless, Harris laid out the case for Ukraine pretty darn forcefully , understanding, as she clearly does, that democracy depends on our response, and our leadership in the world matters.
Trump couldn’t even condemn the invasion of a sovereign democratic nation; instead he expressed sympathy for Russian casualties.
This difference really matters.
We also learned Trump has “concepts” but no health care plans after 9 years of threatening to tell us about them and that “they’re eating the dogs.”
This matters, too, because no one fit to be president utters such absurdities.
If I could just convince those undecided voters….
“If I could just convince those undecided voters….”
Well, that’s the thing. We have these “debates” for them. But do they get the job done?
Don’t think that the Donald doesn’t value the Ukrainians, though. Remember when he used hundreds of millions in U.S. aide to try to extort them to dig up dirt on his election opponent? Ask Trump himself. He’ll tell you the conversation was “perfect.”
And Bob Inglis is a great guy. I have tremendous respect for him…
You may be in luck! Trump rejected participating in another debate. He wants to quit while he’s ahead.
The debates aren’t likely to change many minds in our hyper-partisan country, true. But since our skewed election system gives undecided voters such outsized influence, anything that may help them decide is useful. Harris made some gains here. More important, Harris’s performance motivated her supporters, and turn out is the name of the game with a divided electorate.
How about we try electing people by popular vote? Then swingers could swing to their hearts’ content, and we’d be wouldn’t have to obsess over them. And we would get the candidate most people prefer, which would go a long way toward restoring faith in our democratic institutions.
Bob Inglis is a stand up guy.