Flagpole wrote:
Summary: Donald Trump was unhinged. He interrupted constantly. Chris Wallace had to scold him several times, and when Trump pushed back that Biden was also interrupting, Wallace told him that he (Trump) was doing it far more often. Biden wins overall. BOTH had moments of pettiness. Trump was worse there.
Now, most of the below shows that my opinion is that Biden won, but here are my criticisms of Biden - He should have stayed away from any pettiness. Trump pulled him into the gutter, and while Trump was still worse, Biden went there. Biden made a BIG mistake when he basically said Trump was using existing tax codes and that he (Biden) would close them. On that one point, Trump won, because Biden didn't mention that what was going on was likely fraud. Perhaps he felt like he could say that, but he could have mentioned that Trump was being investigated for fraud. Biden was eventually shaken by Trump's interrupting.
My rough notes on the rest - some are thoughts I had while watching it live:
“I have a lot of time after the election (to fill the SCOTUS seat).” – Trump. Kind of tells me he knows he is going to lose.
To Biden - “Thank you Jim” – Trump
Trump more focused on first question, but then he disintegrated .
Obamacare question (Biden wins this):
Trump too argumentative. Trump appears unhinged.
Trump said he had a plan. He has never had a plan. He didn't mention what his plan was.
Insulin – I’m getting it so cheap. “It’s like water.”
Trump – “I want to help people.”
Biden [sarcastically]– “That’s what he’s known for.”
COVID: Biden destroyed him.
“You should get out of your bunker and your sand trap at your golf courses.”
Trump said governors said, “President Trump did a phenomenal job.” Didn’t list the governors.
Trump brought up H1N1 and said Biden did a horrible job there. H1N1 killed 14,000 not over 200,000 and the US didn’t have to shut down the economy. This was a big failed play by Trump.
Trump says the vaccine could come faster.
Biden goes with what the scientists say. Trump disagrees with them and says it will be here faster.
Trump – “If you would have…you could never have done what I’ve done.” Never said what that meant.
Trump – Contradicted himself about how younger people are not vulnerable to COVID even though he admitted to Bob Woodward that they are.
Trump arguing that many people don’t think masks work, ignoring what most scientists say.
Trump unwilling to follow the rules of the debate.
Trump Taxes - Of course Biden won this.
“I was a private business people.”
Trump said the military was broken when he took over. He never said how.
Chris Wallace pointed out that Obama administration created 1.5 million more jobs in last 3 years than have been created in three years under Trump.
Trump to Biden – “No, you’re number 2”. So, he called Biden "poop".
Wallace – “Frankly, you’ve been doing more interrupting”
Dividing the country - Biden wins
Trump said Biden calls peaceful protest people running down the street burning things down.
Trump said that during the Obama-Biden administration there was great division.
“We’ve broken every record in the book.” – Trump. Never said to what he was referring.
Final comments - Biden wins
Trump - “Never been an administration that’s done what I have done”. Again, no mention of what that means.
Biden – Talked about his son Beau in the military and criticized Trump for calling fallen US soldiers “losers” and “suckers”. Trump responds by attacking Hunter Biden.
Climate Change - Biden wins
Wallace grilled Trump on rolling back Obama administration rules that protect the environment. Forced Trump to be defensive. Didn’t do a good job.
Biden – Talked about renewable energy and how that is the future.
Trump – Kept bringing up the Green New Deal as if that was Biden’s plan. Biden said several times that it wasn’t his plan.
Election Integrity - Biden wins
Trump – “We caught them all.” “It’s a rigged election”. “Mailmen are selling ballots” Just looney tunes. Would not tell his supporters to be non-violent.
Biden – Told his supporters not to be violent. Encourages people to vote. Mentions Trump admin officials that there is no issue with voting by mail.
After, one of the commentators said it was the worst debate at this level ever. I have to agree. Both are to blame. Trump to blame more.
