#1 in the background
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
So there was a debate last night between the two VP candidates.
It was said that debating was not Tim Waltz’s strong suit, and that JD Vance was really good at it.
That came across.
However, there was that last question the one Tim asked JD about who won the 2020 election. Vance did not answer it. The expression on Tim’s face said it all.
In the follow up analysis several points were made I thought worth noting:
– Vance did not answer any of the questions he was asked. Wait, maybe he answered one, but it was a minor point. He was given credit for being smooth, a smooth liar. His statement about not being for a national abortion ban was contradicted by an earlier statement that said he was for a national abortion ban.
– Waltz was nervous early on. He was considered by some as being too nice, too congenial. But that’s who he is. I had the feeling that if he was in charge of something and had to work with Vance that he would be able to do it. I mean by the end of the debate he had Vance working with him, and this was a debate. The toughest thing Waltz said was that Vance’s answer to who won 2020 was the biggest non answer he had ever heard.
In one of the follow ups I watched a reporter was with some high school students and asked their reaction. It had to be one of the students who pointed out that vice presidents don’t set the agenda or the policy. Yet, the talk by Vance was all about “the failed policies of Kamala Harris.” Seems Vance needs to take civics again.
It was also said this morning that Vance was much better than Trump on the debate stage. I think that should be repeated over and over again along with a “Maybe Vance should be on the top of the ticket?” stuff. I can’t think of anything that would get under Donnie’s skin more.
Other remarkable lies were that Trump was the one who saved Obama care. (Really? What about all those votes to try and get rid of it?) That the economy was terrific under Trump and Biden/Harris ruined it with their failed policies. (Again. Really? That’s why the stock market is at an all time high now?)
There was much dismissive hand waving (and lying) by Mr. Vance: Women (puff), the Trump debt (puff puff), Covid (pff), manufacturing jobs (pfff…).
Meanwhile, Tim gave real answers to solving problems. Well, he’s a governor. As such you have to solve problems. Vance? He described his experience as a politician and what he had done. Well, some charts were put up showing in his looooong two year career how many things he had vetoed. Maybe, he forgot all about that stuff when he walked on stage?
Waltz’s favorability ratings went up to 59% after the debate. Vance was in the mid 40s, up from one of the worst VP’s ratings ever. But he beat out Dan Quayle (2nd term) and Ross Perot’s independent running mate. Other than that he was at the bottom of the barrel. Tim was near the top.
Overall the debate did little to change people’s opinions, which is a shame, because the choice is between democracy and dictatorship.
Again I could not watch much longer than 15 mins. I just get too anxious.
Today I was shocked to see a huge Semi with a flatbed drive through Ballard, a totally Progressive area with a huge Trump sign on it. It ruined my day. My anxiety spiked. Had to go home and take more Gabapentin. I am so scared I cannot sleep at night.
I lasted until the comment about ‘the rules were there was to be no fact checking’. Vance is a slimy snake oil salesman; he scares me more than the orange baboon. He’s slicker and smarter and not above doing anything to advance the agenda.
I wish I’d been watching when Walz directly asked Vance if Trump won the 2020 election. But, I was already sleep deprived from watching the Lions win over Seattle the night before so sleep won out.
The area around Saline, MI where I live is very conservative and I’m seeing far fewer Trump signs in the rural farm areas. In 2020 they were everywhere, now it’s probably every 15th house and there are an equal amount of Harris/Walz signs.