Wholehearted agreement. Reasoned evaluation is not, however, the way we choose our president.
The smartest assessment I’ve so far read.
Reality TV.
They need a new show: “Naked and Campaigning”
I stopped watching debates decades ago. Ever since the “You are no John Kennedy” line.
I believe you are so correct that I admit to NOT watching what is comically called a “DEBATE” since Nixon/Kennedy.
In the age is television. these “debates” have degenerated into a media circus. The hype is not about deep policy, but who looked stern, or confident, or hesitant, or nervous, but nothing to do with sheer ability or common sense.
I think of the presidents who could NOT be elected in this age of TV.
Abe Lincoln was too homely and had a poor speaking voice.
Teddy Roosevelt had a bushy mustache and way too many teeth for TV.
One who I cannot remember was so FAT (OBESE) he got stuck in a White House bathtub.
FDR couldn’t even walk to the podium.
Richard Nixon lost because of heavy beard shadow, drooping jowls, and the lights reflecting of sweat, making him look badly lacking in confidence.
Our present “leader” had the media falling in love with the “crease in his trousers.” Did us a hell of a lot of good, didn’t it?
When the “debate” started, I pushed “PLAY” on an old tape of the “Bugs Bunny/Road Runner show.” Made just as much sense.
I didn’t watch last night. I did notice that CNN’s advertising ahead of the debate, on the radio, billed it as a boxing match - a new low from the same outfit that occasionally condemns a pundit for his/her ‘tone’.
Although I didn’t watch it, I am glad they are getting high ratings. In this era, GOP candidates are vilified on social media with a ‘background noise’. Most people don’t know much about a candidate, other than they should be scared of them - Ted Cruz is an example...just some boogeyman who comes in the middle of the night and shuts the government down. So an event like last night lets people see and hear a candidate like Cruz, unfiltered - and I think that’s generally a good thing...even with all the beauty pageant nonsense.
But where would we see the SUBSTANTIVE conversation if we don’t watch?.
That word btw has replaced gravitas this season.
“The best predictor of future performance is past performance.”
We got Obama as President because he’s a good talker.
“Talk is cheap. I can get all the talk I want over at the Monarch Boarding House.”
Obama can’t even manage to clean a cat box. He keeps the cat turds and throws away the litter.