TRUMP IS TOPS

Tired Old Playbook Syndrome.

Trump’s performance in the September 10th debate was nothing more than a replay of his dark, foul mood, dissing the “failing” nation, dissing all of us, and smirking his way throughout. Trump redux was a replay of his 2016 campaign, much like his 2017 inaugural speech. He reprised the “failing nation” phrase multiple times and as usual attacked the “millions” of “nasty” people who rush across the border. On January 20th 2017 he said “… we must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength. America will start winning again, winning like never before. We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.” All puff.

The one IED he dodged was calling Kamala “dumb” — as he has usually done consistently. He did not misspeak her name. That was the evening’s only surprise. He dodged questions, rambled incoherently, made up statistics mostly in the millions and pretty much strayed off topic any time his lips were moving. Still, where credit is due he occasionally spoke complete if wrong-headed sentences and was more on his game, i.e., cognitively aware -- though he conflated more or less scant subject knowledge with phantasmagoric asides: execution of babies; gender surgery in the schools; paid IVF; tariffs on all imports, meaning higher prices for consumers to name a few; flipping and flopping like a beached fish. He asserted that his wonderful Supreme Court appointments sent abortion back to the states but forgot to acknowledge women fleeing from one state to another in search of care — and on and on.

For her part, Harris was collected; her prosecutorial experience advantaged her. One might not agree with everything she said. But what she said was always crystal clear. She stayed on message and avoided windy, winding sentences; Trump’s faint stabs at baiting her went nowhere. He seemed to give it up. She clearly earned a post-debate glass of bubbly. The middle of the road and center-left media -- uh -- trumpeted her performance.

Make America Gag Again!