Posted on 09/09/2024 4:07:20 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
This Tuesday’s debate is the most consequential moment of the “second” campaign, just as Trump’s debate with Biden was the most consequential of the “first” campaign. Biden’s self-immolation ultimately forced his withdrawal.
His withdrawal sets the stage for the current debate, and not just because it produced a new Democratic candidate. It produced her so quickly, with so little discussion or opposition, that Kamala Harris was not forced to persuade the party’s progressive voter base.
A “primary” campaign would have damaged Harris, and the powers behind the Democratic throne, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, saved her from…
This Tuesday’s debate is the most consequential moment of the “second” campaign, just as Trump’s debate with Biden was the most consequential of the “first” campaign. Biden’s self-immolation ultimately forced his withdrawal.
His withdrawal sets the stage for the current debate, and not just because it produced a new Democratic candidate. It produced her so quickly, with so little discussion or opposition, that Kamala Harris was not forced to persuade the party’s progressive voter base.
A “primary” campaign would have damaged Harris, and the powers behind the Democratic throne, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, saved her from it. How would it have hurt her? Because Harris would have needed to win over the progressive Democratic base, which would have forced her to restate her leftist positions on fracking, off-shore drilling and immigration — and to do it as the November election approaches. Harris had taken those positions in her failed 2019-2020 campaign and is now trying to wriggle out of them. Her escape is difficult, and it would have been even harder if she had restated those leftist positions in August and tried to change them in September.
Pinning Harris to those unpopular positions will be Trump’s main goal in the Tuesday debate. To do it, though, the former president will have to avoid the personal attacks and rambling fulminations that have characterized all his campaigns and nearly all of his interviews. Harris will, of course, try her best to provoke Trump into making those mistakes.
Beyond tripping Trump, Harris needs to accomplish some positive goals. She needs to lay out her policy positions, explain why so many have changed so dramatically and handle follow-up questions (if the moderators ask them) without lapsing into word salads.
Ultimately, Harris has two overriding goals: she needs to show that she has the judgment, policies, record and gravitas to ascend to the presidency and that Trump, by contrast, does not, that he is an angry narcissist, willing to commit crimes to help himself even if he endangers our democracy in the process. She has to paint him as a dictator in waiting.
Those are the central differences, but they aren’t the only ones. We need a scorecard to follow what the candidates and moderators need to accomplish in this debate and what they need to avoid.
That’s the scorecard. Batter up!
My feeling is Trump is almost a bystander in this debate.
People will be getting a sense of Harris for the first time under pressure. So, its either she can help herself or hurt herself.
Let initial questions and incomplete answers dangle, unchallenged
completely 100% disagree!
it is not up to the moderators to question of judge the answers or to push back. They ask and the candidates answer, that is it.
Unless Kamala totally blows it she will be portrayed as the winner , not that it matters all that much in the grand scheme . The system is so rigged I feel it is virtually impossible for Trump to win .
By win I meant the election not the debate .
If Biden had not do obviously disintegrated on live TV, he would have been declared the debate winner. Anything short of a similar catastrophe, they will raise Kamala’s glove.
The talking heads can say what they want, but people who don’t know much about Harris will get a measure of her.
I think the stakes are high for her. Ready for prime time? What does she believe? How can she solve problems Biden created (which she’s been apart of)
I need help figuring this out. We’ve been hearing her “joy” for a few days now. Totally meaningless....just like all her flip flops.
I will never understand women voting for the right of others to kill babies....since 80% would never think of it themselves. Makes absolutely no sense.
Her record is Biden’s record. And it’s a disaster.
Trump's a slugger. Harris prefers using the bunt.
Trump will pick off the stealer. Harris prefers infield flies.
Trump throws strikes. Harris pitches balls.
Trump is an HBP. Harris wants the ERA.
Trump is a Grand Slam! Harris is a passed ball.
Trump will score RBIs. Harris is a spitball.
Trump is a double play. Harris is an error.
Trump is fair. Harris is foul.
-PJ
“ Trump throws strikes. Harris pitches balls.”
From her days with Willie, Harris has been a catcher.
Rat Party Headquarters wants a sound clip that they can refer to and say “look at that racist,misogynist man abuse this outstanding woman”.
If Biden had not do obviously disintegrated on live TV, he would have been declared the debate winner.
Harris must win, and she must win decisively. Her insistence on only one debate is a double-edged sword. If she does okay, she won't lose voters and can claim a win. If she does badly and Trump looks presidential, she does not have another debate to change people's minds.
Honestly, the debate is a waste of time at this point. Seriously, who is going to change their minds at this stage? With less than 5% of likely voters undecided, it comes down to how much they cheat.
My bet is that KamalamaDingDong will get Covid before the debate.
What Harris must not do:
* Become or remain president.
After the debate, we all say:
Trump easily won and Harris is “in over her head” & isn’t Presidential material.
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