The Disunited States of Trump (Trump Thread #104)

[TheNorthWestPawsage]

Trump used manipulation and race-baiting four years ago. He’s at it again. We are weary and worried but we shall persist.

Cartoon by Chris Riddell.

Previous thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3983600-Less-than-100-days-and-counting-Trump-thread-103?msgid=99566209#99566209

[AskingQuestionsAllTheTime]

I liked the comment from whoever it was who said that Trump was the person you really wouldn't want to sit next to on a aeroplane -- even short haul.

Also that behaving like a five-year-old having a tantrum was not going to win him any votes from anyone who'd ever had one, and that they would recognise the faces he was making from their own experience.

[OVienna]

Informal aspects:

Biden: A caring, sincere, member of the actual human race. He's reading as trustworthy and has that 'friend of the family' vibe too. Calm and centred overall.

Trump's got the guy that picks fights over Thanksgiving vibe (after turning up late and 'forgetting' to bring his contribution to the day). He'd be the one who would storm out, sending follow up nasty texts to the host who 'allowed' people to be mean to him (even though he will have started it.)

[Roussette]

Do.

Don't forget the new thread should this one run out.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4037771-Presidential-Debate-season-lets-stand-strong-together-Trump-thread-105

[OVienna]

I'm 50 min in and I think Biden's doing just fine . I can see that some people might find him a bit disorganised orally but if Trump is planning to try to have his campaign swing on weakness in this area - he's in real trouble. Especially given how he behaves himself.

Granted, there is still half an hour to go. I'll update.

[TheNorthWestPawsage]

Completely agree with your summary of US/UK journalistic styles OVienna
Jonathan Swan (Aussie) was the only one I've seen get even close to challenging or checking Trump.

[OVienna]

I don't think I can watch the whole thing.

Jon Sopel is at least a real journalist.

[Roussette]

Jon Sopel is far too nice. !

[OVienna]

@CaveMum

Where’s Paxman when you need him?! 😜

Right?

[OVienna]

I'm watching it now. I'm 10 MINUTES IN. It's fucking ridiculous.

[CaveMum]

Where’s Paxman when you need him?! 😜

[OVienna]

@Roussette Anyone from the BBC would be better, even their US correspondents, i.e Jon Sopel. My daughter just said that Tweeting teens are saying he was treated like a substitute teacher.

[Roussette]

OVienna interesting. I felt Chris Wallace lost control somewhat, and it ended up at one point with a spat between him and Trump.

Emily Maitlas gets my vote for the next Debate between these two

[OVienna]

@Roussette

I'd be interested on anyone's take how Chris Wallace did?

He did end up arguing a fair bit with Trump, very unedifying.

We're near to a new thread if anyone's up to it, I'll keep an eye on it and happy to do it if no one else does

My right wing relatives basically are bleating on about how he's biased. I have been outside of the US for so long I didn't actually recognise him - my parents don't watch Fox.

Honestly, if Republicans won't take a Fox News anchor as 'unbiased' I am not sure there is any hope. I guess they would find a Breitbart rep palatable.

In terms of how he did - yes, he did come across as weak from the clips I've seen. I agree with Andrew Neil, his questions were too long winded (he should have anticipated that Trump would never let him finish his sentence.) He had absolutely no control over the proceedings. They sparred. He came across to me more as an actor might than a serious journalist accustomed to moderating debates - however, maybe this part of what gets you this gig in the US (now.)

Here's the interesting thing to me about the questioning style in the US and accusations of bias. In Britain, politicians are accustomed to PM questions and being questioned by journalists with a robust style, no matter which political party they are in. Question Time, Newsnight - all a deep part of the cultural fabric here. Horrifyingly adversarial to a US audience, I venture.

Some of the questions, such as that around Trump's health care non-plan which could be considered negatively biased (I heard it) would be commonplace here. A politician here would have coped with the questioning style and cracked on with an answer or non-answer, but they would have cracked on.

Trump is just professionally offended now, knowing he's got no juice in the tank. He also sees it as a campaign tactic - his supporters are professionally offended and he is doing what he can to make sure this increases exponentially in the run up to the election.

[BruceAndNosh]

Forget about muting the microphones when it's not your turn to speak.
Let's have a trapdoor under each debaters podium

[CaveMum]

@Jaichangecentfoisdenom see I don’t think Kennedy was that great. He has been idolised because of the assassination but if you look at a lot of stuff he did I think had he lived he’d be considered pretty average.

His personal life was a car crash - the affairs, the drugs, etc - but his politics were t great either. He was disinterested in the Civil Rights movement, until it became obvious it wasn’t going to go away, and his handling of Cuba and the Missile Crisis has been misrepresented - Lucy Worsley did a BBC Four programme about “American History’s Greatest Fibs” and she covers the Cuban Missile Crisis in it.

[Roussette]

Here we go. Sorry it isn't witty, but hey ho!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4037771-Presidential-Debate-season-lets-stand-strong-together-Trump-thread-105?watched=1

[CaveMum]

Well. I’m not sure what to say really.

I think Trevor Noah does a good summary, I can’t link to it from my phone but there’s a 5 min video on The Daily Show Facebook page.

[Jaichangecentfoisdenom]

@Roussette

I agree life
He's a good man, no doubt about that.
I do think he's too old though, I just wish they had someone vigorous and younger but in american politics it seems to be the norm.

Completely agree with you, Roussette. President Obama was a blip, it seems. (Oh, and President Kennedy, of course.)

[TheNorthWestPawsage]

Go for it Roussette! There's going to be a fair bit of movement on the threads now I suspect.

Lincoln Project have said they are going after Trump "children" now that Trump attacked Hunter Biden in the debate.

33 days

[Lweji]

lifesabitchandthenyoudie

Biden is kind of neutral, and a safe white older male that is more likely to appeal to those who wouldn't vote for a woman or non-white. He isn't capable of rallying people up, like Obama did. But he won't attract as much hate. I think the US does need someone beige to heal.

[Roussette]

I agree life
He's a good man, no doubt about that.
I do think he's too old though, I just wish they had someone vigorous and younger but in american politics it seems to be the norm.

[Roussette]

Oh YES.

Mike Reese
@SheriffReese
In tonight’s presidential debate the President said the “Portland Sheriff” supports him. As the Multnomah County Sheriff I have never supported Donald Trump and will never support him.

[lifesabitchandthenyoudie]

Watching the replay on CNN. Appalled. Chris seems to be trying but as DP said he really should have a mute button.

Something I don't understand is why people - even Democrats - say Biden isn't a good choice? Yes he's a bit old but I really like him. What have I missed?

[Roussette]

I'd be interested on anyone's take how Chris Wallace did?

He did end up arguing a fair bit with Trump, very unedifying.

We're near to a new thread if anyone's up to it, I'll keep an eye on it and happy to do it if no one else does

[TheNorthWestPawsage]

Saw these on Twitter - summing up the debate (Also memories of TV from times gone by!) Trump and his Proud Boys.