Trump v Harris Debate

Introduction

(15 min read.) Like tens of millions of Americans, I tuned in.  My expectations were set.  From DJT, I expected nothing but his usual schtick of name-calling and stoking people’s fears about crime, the economy, and immigrants.  From VP Harris, I expected her to use her prosecutorial skills to challenge Trump whenever he “misspoke” making a point that saying it aloud doesn’t magically make it true. From both candidates, I expected an equal amount of question dodging but was hopeful two seasoned anchors might actually hold the candidates accountable for answering the questions. After two hours, they were done with their “highly spirited and thoughtful debate.”  Was there a winner?  Not in my books.  Read on if you’re interested in my take on how both candidates failed to move undecided voters into their respective camps.

Question #1

VP Harris was asked if she believed Americans are better off today than they were 4 years ago.

She begins with ‘“So I was raised as a middle class kid.“  It was obvious no matter what the first question posed to her was, she was going to spew a rehearsed answer to get in all of her talking points. It was a horseshit answer.

I would have preferred to hear something like, it depends. It’s probably a Yes if you have assets like a home and 401k, but a No for those trying to rent, pay for college, looking to finance a home or a car, or pay off credit card debt. Inflation doesn’t affect both groups equally. By the way, DJT was president when the first Cares Act was passed authorizing the infusion of 2.2 trillion dollars into the economy when many supplies were restrained. Inflation would have happened regardless of who occupied the White House and don’t let him tell you no it wouldn’t. You can’t prove a negative. Then proceed with her talking points on how she would address.

And what does Trump do with his rebuttal?

What he didn’t do was criticize Harris’ plan to give a $25,000 gift to first time home buyers. He should have made a point that infusing more money into the market would only add to housing inflation and cost taxpayers about 25 billion dollars. And the program would do nothing to increase the supply of housing units. Trump should have a touted a plan like incentivizing builders to build 3 million units to increase the supply – cost to be about 15 billion dollars. $10B less than Harris’ plan. Building is in his wheelhouse and he failed to capitalize.

Instead, he rambled in his usual platitudes. I pulled out a few of his gems.

“I took in billions and billions from China”

“I had tariffs and yet I had no inflation”

“Now we have Inflation like few people have ever seen before”

“Probably the worst in our nation’s history”

“We’re at 21%, but that’s generous.  Some things are 70 and 80% higher than they were just a few years ago.”

“We have millions of people pouring into our country from prisons and jails, mental institutions and insane asylums”

We have to get them out and get them out fast.

“She copied Biden’s plan.  It’s like four sentences like Run Spot Run.”  (this was my favorite)

WOW! Can we count on David Muir to challenge/fact-check him on any of this? No, we cannot.  Apparently there is just too much.  Where would one begin? So the conversation reverts back to Harris for comment. And how does she?  She focuses her remarks on Trump handing over an economy with high unemployment and trite little ditties about aspirations and hopes of the American people.  So disappointing as there was so much absurdity in his statements for Harris to challenge.  For example:

Most every administration in the last 110 years experienced inflation including Trump’s 4 years in the White House.

Ever heard of Hungary, Venezuela or Argentina?  And the worst inflation in our nation’s history? Didn’t they teach about the Great Depression era when you attended UPenn? How about the 1970s and early 80s? Way worse Donnie.

And what things are 70% and 80% higher?

She should have challenged Trump on where he gets his information from.  For example, can you cite the sources or provide names of these millions and millions of criminals you want to get out of the country?  You must have them so you know who to go after and where they live.

Or can you provide the names, or any name of the top professors who think your plan for the economy is brilliant?  Perhaps you can email the press after this debate.

And how did she fail to challenge Trump on how imposing tariffs means higher prices for China?  Maybe a quick lesson on how tariffs work.  (It’s my understanding) the importer (a US biz) pays the tariff to the US government and the importer either absorbs that cost thus reducing their profitability or is forced to raise the price of the good to the US consumer to cover the cost of the tariff paid. Prices don’t go up on the other end for the China supplier. And tariffs stir trade wars. Maybe they teach it differently as a undergraduate of UPenn.

Abortion

Here are a few comments the former President made on this topic.

The democrats are radical and claims Walz says abortion in the ninth month is absolutely fine and execution after birth is OK. Harris failed to challenge Trump to produce such a clip.

“Every legal scholar, every democrat, every republican, liberal, conservative, they all wanted this issue to be brought back to the states.”

OMFG!!  The claims Trump made here are outrageous and further reiterates this man’s non understanding of the words EVERY and ALL which Harris failed to point out.

While Linsey Davis pointed out to Trump that in no state is legal to kill a baby after it’s born, she failed to challenge him on anything else he said on the subject. Instead, that would be left up to Harris. Harris did score some points with her comments on what impact undoing Roe v Wade has had and said she would proudly sign a bill that re-instates those abortion protections but failed to make a point that besides voting for her, people needed to vote Blue in every congressional race to make that possible.

Later on, Ms. Davis asked Trump if he would veto a national abortion ban? 

He answered that he wouldn’t have to because that bill would never pass. And her boss spends all the time at the beach. Harris failed to point out Trump’s reluctance to answer this hypothetical question which we’ll then just assume is a no.

“They’re eating the pets”

This segment of the debate was supposed to be about immigration. Muir asked Harris why the Biden administration waited until six months before the election to impose asylum restrictions. She started strong, emphasizing the bi-partisan border security bill that Trump killed but then she strayed into some bizarre rant about his boring rallies that includes talk about Hannibal Lechter and windmills. I think that was a big mistake as this allowed Trump get off of the subject of immigration and instead challenge her on who has bigger rally crowds and state that he loves windmills.

Muir tried to get Trump to answer why he killed the immigration bill but first we had to listen to a monologue about him having the biggest, most incredible rallies in the history of politics. And then something about how immigration is going to cause WWIII. But it gets better.

Trump then tells us about a news story he saw on TV about immigrants eating pets in Springfield, OH.  What I immediately wanted to know is whether this news story indicated whether grills were being stolen too or were the immigrants just pulling the flesh right off the bones but I guess I’ll have to my own independent research to see if grill thefts are up too.

Did Harris push Trump to answer the question of killing the immigration bill.  Sadly, she did not.  Big missed opportunity for Harris although the points she made about former officials not supporting Trump were good.  But in the end, Trump never had to explain himself because neither Harris or Muir pushed him to.

Deportation

Muir asked Trump how deportation would work? All we got out of Trump is that besides using the National Guard and the military, he would also use local police. Then it turns into another Trump deflection.  Instead of specifically answering the question, Trump pivots to talk about crime stats, shaming immigrants, and just how many of them exist. 

Harris again missed an opportunity to show strength as she too took Trump’s bait and further moved off course by bringing up Trump’s indictments, the rule of law, bringing down the price of groceries, the Supreme Court presidential immunity decision, “let’s move forward” and “turn the page.”  Did she forget the fucking question, an important one at that?

Then I have to listen to Trump allege that Harris wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison and take everyone’s guns away. All Harris did was roll her eyes.  She tried to refute Trump but this is where Muir takes control and wants to move on.  Another big miss here for Harris.  She should have demanded time to respond to those allegations.  Not a good look for someone who wants to be a commander in chief and gets steamrolled by a pathetic moderator who is doing little to educate the voters on the candidates stances.

Jan 6th

Muir asked Trump if there anything you regret about what you did on Jan 6th?

Trump starts with a reminder that in his Ellipse rally speech he used the words “peacefully and patriotically” and again a deflection to crime and immigration and how others aren’t being prosecuted. 

Harris’ response was weak.  Instead she brings up Charlottesville and trite remarks about not going back and turning the page.  Why didn’t you think to ask Trump as Commander in Chief why he didn’t just call up 10,000 national guard soldiers yourself if you thought our security may be in jeopardy?  Why were you absent for two hours doing nothing as our capitol was attacked? Again, Trump just slips away unaccountable for both his actions and inactions.  I thought you were a prosecutor and a good one at that?  I’m having my doubts.

The 2020 Election

Trump claims his recent comments about losing the 2020 election by a whisker were made sarcastically. “There’s so much proof I won the 2020 election. All you have to do is look at it.”

“I’ll show you GA, I’ll show you Wisconsin, and I’ll show you Pennsylvania.  We have so many facts and statistics, but you know what, that doesn’t matter.”  HOLY FUCKING WOW!  Couldn’t have said it any better Donald – if anyone would know about facts and statistics not mattering, it would be you. I wish Harris had said that.

While Harris’ response was very good, I think she could have done a better job challenging Trump’s assertion about why he lost the 60 cases regarding voter fraud. I believe all but one (maybe two) were all dismissed because the charges lacked both specific allegations and proof rather than the standing issue Trump espoused. She should have asked him to provide the evidence he claims he has but I did like the potshot she took at him emphasizing his difficulty in processing that 81 million voters fired him in November 2020.

Israeli/Hamas War

Harris’ response to Davis’ question about how she would break through the stalemate is to continue to pursue a cease fire for hostages deal. What steps her administration would do to achieve that remains unclear. But Harris believes in Israel’s right to defend itself but humanitarian law must also be respected and believes in a two state solution. 

Here’s what Trump said:

“It never would have been started.  It started because Biden removed the Iran sanctions which allowed them to fund their 28 spheres of Terra.” Terra? I wish this was the only thing coming out of his mouth that I found hard to listen to. 

Harris rebuttal was well articulated.  She points out why NATO is necessary, and how other dictators can manipulate Trump through flattery and favors. 

Ukraine War

Trump was asked if he wanted Ukraine to win this war. He could not answer this one way or another but claims he could end this war in 24 hours even before he is sworn in by getting a deal done.

Harris response – Boom!!!. (this section needs work)

Summary of DJT’s points

Let’s sum up DJT platform as it was so thoughtfully articulated by DJT.

Ukraine war – before I’m even sworn in, I’ll get a deal done and the war would be over but it wouldn’t have started in the first place if the election wasn’t so horribly and viciously stolen from us in 2020. 

Abortion – I support a few exceptions but it’s back to the states like everyone wanted. They all said it couldn’t be done and I did it. For 52 years abortion has been an issue (implying it isn’t anymore). Would I sign a national abortion ban? I wouldn’t have to because that bill would never make it to my desk and something about student loans terminations. 

Israel – She hates Israel. Oh and the Arab population too.  Israel will cease to exist if she’s elected.

Immigration – I will close the border and deport all 11, 15 or 21 million of these felons and rapists using the National Guard, military, and local police. How exactly would this work? It’s called weaponization. The DOJ has been weaponized against me, and when I’m elected, I will do the same so we don’t know how deportations would work.

Economic policy – I created the best US economy ever and I’ll do it again and all the top professors at Wharton agree

Obamacare – a replacement is in the works. Options and concepts will be presented in the not too distant future

Jan 6 – I was only there for a speech but I did watch the peacefully and patriotic event on the tv

Tariffs – they are going to cost China billions and billions

Cabinet members – they didn’t resign, I fired them for incompetence because I’m a strong leader like Viktor Orban

Climate Change – is killing US manufacturing jobs and some of it caused by Biden getting 3.5MM from Moscow’s mayor’s wife

Project 2025 – I didn’t read it but I guess there is some good and some bad in it

The US is a failing nation, everything the Democrats say is a lie, the world is laughing at us, and only I can solve inflation, the immigration crisis, Ukraine war and the Israeli conflict. Shouldn’t take but 24 hours.

Summary of Harris’ points

Economy – 50k tax credit for small business, $6k tax credit to families for one year to help support raising their first child, $25k down payment assistance for first time home buyers

Guns – we’re not taking anybody’s guns away

Fracking – despite my previous environmental concerns, I won’t ban it (I need these fracking votes (get it?) and something about protecting seniors from scams.

Obamacare – maintain and grow the program so prescription drugs won’t cost any taxpayer more than $2000/year. Still supports private insurance options.

Climate Change – it’s real and I will continue to invest in clean energy initiatives

Abortion – let’s go back to the reinstating the protections from the Roe v Wade decision

Israel – Defends Israel’s right to defend itself but how it does so matters.  Seeks a two state solution and an immediate cease fire for hostages deal.

And just in case you missed it the first few times she said it, she wants to create an opportunity economy where the government invests in the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of its citizens.

The Commentators

I am uber disappointed with how both Muir and Davis failed to hold the candidates accountable for addressing the questions at hand. Instead they came off as a 10 year olds being asked to officiate a NBA game – afraid to blow their whistle because the athletes may not like them after the game if they did. 

Why wasn’t Trump asked to clarify these statements during the debate?

Vote for me this time and you’ll never have to vote again. It will all be fixed. 

Will you accept the results of this election after all court challenges are exhausted? 

What does I’ll only be a dictator on day one mean?

What did you mean by terminating the Constitution?

Make America Great Again. What specific era/decade are you trying to emulate?

Conclusion

Trump did what he needed to do. As Trump does with most topics, he babbled, dodged, lied, exaggerated, deflected, confused, backtracked, and talked gibberish, to talk about what he wanted to talk about to appease his MAGA base of supporters. I think he could have scored more jabs against Harris, but all in all he held his own without having to defend himself much. But I don’t think any undecided voters moved solidly into his camp.

Harris failed to meet my expectations as time and time again she focused more on her talking points than challenging Trump on any number of statements he made. I do not agree with the coaching she received and it’s doubtful to me she picked up any undecided voters either. If she wants to win this November, shit has got to get real. I think she needs to:

Challenge EVERY misrepresentation made by DJT in her political ads and upcoming rallies

Dispel the myth that at the heart of your agenda is an idea that the government should be telling the rest of us what we ought to do, what we can do and what we cannot. That is MAGA.

Denounce the cowardice of the republican elected senators, governors, congressman and state and local officials who continue to support the Big Lie, and encourage people to vote BLUE.

Show how DJT intends to subvert democracy, and weaponize the DOJ, and perhaps the military against his adversaries.

Your agenda scares many people as they think that any government solution to a problem is often times worse than the problem. Probably best to just focus on leveling the playing field, closing tax loopholes, reducing government waste, and less focus on passing out free money.