U.S. Presidential debate

In CNN it reports that after the debate he blamed the hosts for a "biased presentation" (of course). He didn't like that a host fed back that the major in the "dog-eating" city had investigated and denied claims.

It's a shame but inevitable I suppose that it trended on X when other issues like the economy failed to. Its supposed to be a democrat weakness but Harris's comments on Trump's policies just making the rich richer were very powerful.

Not major - mayor in the "dog-eating" city.

I'm amazed that some people are actually supporting Trump at all!!!!

Taylor Swift should not have got involve, however when Trump mentioned her name, her PR had to respond. Supporting Trump would have been a disaster for her, TS fans are predominantly young and female and are likely to support Harris

RosiesMaw2

I find it incredible - if a sign of the sad times we live on - that the opinion of a pop singer (Taylor Swift) should matter so much to the US electorate.
Did Elvis (than whom none is greater) ever express an opinion?
Bing Crosby? Frank Sinatra?
Or closer to home , Gracie Fields or Vera Lynn?
I think entertainers should stick to entertaining, sportspeople to sport and politicians work a bit harder at being any good at what they claim to be able to do.

Perhaps there's part of the US electorate that aren't interested in the political opinions of pop singers and celebrities?

However, if Trump decides to use one of them to promote himself using fake AI- without that person's express permission - then I think they are quite entitled to voice an opinion, especially if, as in this case, the person concerned is opposed to him.

Not sure how I feel about the whole issue though in general. George Clooney voices an opinion - however, he is actively involved in politics himself.

Then there was Ronald Reagan. He had an opinion, too - and look where that got him .

David49

Taylor Swift should not have got involve, however when Trump mentioned her name, her PR had to respond. Supporting Trump would have been a disaster for her, TS fans are predominantly young and female and are likely to support Harris

Trump apparently used fake AI to feign her approval of him - of course she had to respond - even if she had supported him!

Didn't David Cameron once endorse The Jam's Eton Rifles during a radio interview, too? He apparently listened to early Jam albums when he was in the Eton cadet corps. Although considering The Jam's political viewpoint expressed through their protest songs - it did seem a bit odd. As Paul Weller himself explained, “Which part of it didn't he get? It wasn't intended as a (expletive) jolly drinking song for the cadet corps.”

... perhaps politicians should stick to politics if entertainers are to stick to entertaining .

Wyllow3

If posters would like to read a 2 minute summary, this one from CNN gives an outline of the issues and the responses on a number of issues, well worth a read.

edition.cnn.com/2024/09/10/politics/debate-takeaways-trump-harris/index.html

Harris was strong, clear, to the point, had clear control of the points she wanted to get across, and threw Trump off message several times. Some of Trumps "Facts" btw will need fact checking, for example he says that crime has gone up, when it has gone down. (CNN fact check)

and yes, he did

"“Trump went from there to an extended riff on a debunked report that Haitian immigrants in the town of Springfield, Ohio, were abducting and eating their neighbour’s pets.”

Many worrying issues around Trump, for example on Ukraine as Macadia mentioned.

They both made untrue claims it seems according to factcheck but him more than her, as anyone would expect.

Being a nightowl I stayed up to watch the debate.

Trump came across as a nutter (as usual) with his assertions about migrants eating pets and babies being executed. His stance on abortion alone would turn me off, childfree as I am. No man tells a woman what to do with her body.

Trump lost it for me when he made Obama produce his birth certificate and then went on to suggest it was fake. All the remarks about race will win him no favours with the US Black community.

I would like to have heard more about Kamala's actual policies. I feel she missed a trick there. However she won the debate for me.

Didn’t Frank Sinatra openly support JFK.Celebrity support has been around for a long time

I heard a bizarre section of the debate where trump talks about migrants eating pets. It sounds like Monty Python. How could someone so totally off the wall have been President and be running for President again?
Yet so many voters idolise him.
Strange that in a country so huge he is the only remaining candidate for the Republican Party.
Are all the others worse than him?
I find that pretty hard to believe.

Trumpism is a cult.
People will follow him unless they are thinking people and given a "get out" - unfortunately there has been too much name calling and not enough quiet conversations/understanding.
It's hard to escape a cult -as it feels like family.

I watched it too biglouis - I think she was right to sit back bit and just offer him rope.

I dont know where the sensible Republicans have gone, overwhelmed by the Trump machine and its social media manipulations.

I can only assume the American psyche is quite different to the European mentality.

How can a country with so many people seriously consider making a man who frequently can't even string a coherent sentence together; who calls a ruthless dictator "a great guy"; who encouraged an insurrection because of his dented ego; not to even mention the uncouth and misogynistic pussy-grabbing - how can they even contemplate making him one of the most powerful people in the whole world?!

It beggars belief.

They’re different, very different. Just thank the heavens Joe stepped aside because there would have been no contest, there would have definitely been a second Trump presidency. Now we will have to wait and see but he didn’t do himself any favours in that debate.

Well the voting in Europe has been interesting lately so maybe not so different after all. I can completely understand how Trump has happened.

Exactly Galaxy
We shouldn't be smug (or complacent) over here.

Harris clearly won the debate but I'm not sure it will impact much on US voters' intentions. Despite all the noise about various issues it's the personal experience of the economy that will drive the vote.

Galaxy

Well the voting in Europe has been interesting lately so maybe not so different after all. I can completely understand how Trump has happened.

Yes - you make a point... one which I realised after I'd posted.

One of those, "oh, hang on a minute" moments.



It's not so much the politics though in America - it's the near-hysteria. I understand the principles of a political rally / convention, but Trump jubilantly 'dad-dancing', hundreds of balloons, manic waving of flags and placards, raised fists pumping, etc...

I don't know if you remember how decades ago, during the run-up to an election, BBC TV used to air a party political broadcast after the late evening news? One year, the Labour party chose Elgar's "Nimrod" for its background music, and I remember thinking then that it was a bit OTT, a bit dramatic. So, it could just be me not getting-with-the-programme.

Oh yes I agree with that, the 'showbusiness' nature of politics in America is not healthy in my view.

What’s the betting that if Kamala wins, Trump will be off on another rabble-rousing rant that it was rigged?

Wyllow, I do wonder what sensible Republican politicians and voters think about being represented by such a man.
However, Mr Trump does know he is the winner already, because, of course, if he isn't in the White House it will not be that he has lost, it will be because of vote rigging/ wrong counting/ falsification of results etc etc.

Witzend

What’s the betting that if Kamala wins, Trump will be off on another rabble-rousing rant that it was rigged?

... hmm

Does he have the intelligence to recognise his own weaknesses and failings - the ability for self-reflection that most normal people have to some extent or other?

I doubt it. His ego crowds out any rational or logical thought.

Yes, if he loses - he will insist it was another "Steal". God help America, and the rest of us in fact.

Yes, if he loses - he will insist it was another "Steal". God help America, and the rest of us in fact.

I would suspect that the Democrats are well aware of the mayhem he will try to cause and I would hope that they would have contingence plans to deal with it. In the last resort, if Harris wins, they will be in command of the security forces and the police. it gives them an advantage...

'contingency'

Well I think we all seem to be in agreement about the candidates for once. Hallelujah. Rare occasion. 🥂