Presidential Debate 09-26-16

[Swift]

Yeah. I'm pretty sure I don't give a fuck about the veep debate either.

I'm 100% sure I don't give a fuck.

Probably watch Orioles vs. Blue Jays too.

[SciFiFisher]

It doesn't matter IIDGAF. If Brite GAF then the VP debates will be on in the family room. I will probably be watching Power Rangers with da boy.

[Cyborg Girl]

I watched part of the VP debate, but gave up because it's unbearable.

Kaine comes across okay. Not nearly as sharp as Clinton, and interrupts a lot, but at least he has facts.

Pence OTOH is terrifying. He spews bald-faced lies with utmost sincerity, interrupts frequently, glowers continuously, and weasels and dissembles like a pro. He is a far more effective liar than Trump, clearly much more intelligent, and utterly convinced of his own rightness. And have I mentioned the glower? He looks like he wants to hit someone, pretty much the entire time. I think I'd be scared to be in the same room with the guy.

The moderator is the sharpest-seeming person in the discussion, and I feel bad for her, because "the boys" keep interrupting and talking over her and each other. Pence especially, but Kaine as well.

Also, Pence lies far too much. Have I mentioned he lies a lot? And lies? Every other sentence? And also lies? And sounds utterly sincere and convinced of the truth of his words.

Trump is nuts, but I think Pence is entirely sane. Somehow that seems much worse to me.

[Rommie]

My favorite Twitter observation was "Mike Pence is like Anakin in Episode III and it's time to kill the younglings." (That and "look, if I wanted to hear a couple of men completely ignoring a woman, I'd go to work.")

Frankly, Pence is more smooth than Kaine... until he actually has to defend Trumpian policies. Kaine is kinda obnoxious in his delivery by doing so many interruptions too. But overall it's not like anyone is going to vote based on this debate or change their mind based on it.

[SciFi Chick]

I love that you young people are so invested. Seriously.

We watched "Central Intelligence". It was hilarious! Dwayne Johnson has really come a long way in his acting. Also, Kevin Hart is amazing! I highly recommend this movie.

[Swift]

<snip>
He is a far more effective liar than Trump, clearly much more intelligent, and utterly convinced of his own rightness.

My wife said something the other day about someone being more intelligent than Trump. I said we have houseplants more intelligent than Trump.

And OK, that's not literally true. But I actually think he is pretty stupid. He has lots of chutzpah, and all the charm of a circus carney, but I don't think he is particularly bright.

[SciFi Chick]

And OK, that's not literally true. But I actually think he is pretty stupid. He has lots of chutzpah, and all the charm of a circus carney, but I don't think he is particularly bright.

I agree 100%. We throw around terms like moron, imbecile, stupid, dumbass, so it sounds like a random insult to call Trump dumb, but I sincerely believe he has an average or possibly lower than average I.Q. Which just goes to show that money will get your further than brains or talent.

[geonuc]

Agreed. He's not got much in the way of intelligence.

[Cyborg Girl]

Yeah. It was pretty clear to me that, should Trump win, Pence will be his Cheney; the scheming advisor to a mad boy king.

(But it seems like Kaine hurt Clinton less than Pence hurt Trump. Clinton's poll numbers are holding steady, while Trump's are dipping a bit...)

[code monkey]

Yeah. It was pretty clear to me that, should Trump win, Pence will be his Cheney; the scheming advisor to a mad boy king....

I don't think so. trump strikes me as so convinced of his own brilliance and has such a need to be in control that I can't see him handing control over to pence.

[SciFi Chick]

Yeah. It was pretty clear to me that, should Trump win, Pence will be his Cheney; the scheming advisor to a mad boy king....

I don't think so. trump strikes me as so convinced of his own brilliance and has such a need to be in control that I can't see him handing control over to pence.

That, and Trump literally makes Bush look like a genius.

[Cyborg Girl]

IMO the puppet need not be aware of the strings...

[Rommie]

I remember a few months back the Kasich campaign said they were contacted to see if Kasich was interested in being the most powerful VP of all time, in charge of foreign and domestic policy. When they asked what Trump would then do because that's like all the president does, they said Trump would focus on "making America great again."

Second, my understanding about Pence is he's on the ticket because he's fucked up his place in Indiana politics to the point where he likely wouldn't be reelected. And he also had good delivery compared to Kaine as he used to have a talk show on the radio, which makes sense in hindsight.

Honestly though, I still think it matters jack shit. VPs rarely matter even in normal cycles, which this isn't.

Sooo finally, watching Sunday night's debate with my parents. This'll be interesting.

[Swift]

Yeah. It was pretty clear to me that, should Trump win, Pence will be his Cheney; the scheming advisor to a mad boy king....

I don't think so. trump strikes me as so convinced of his own brilliance and has such a need to be in control that I can't see him handing control over to pence.

That, and Trump literally makes Bush look like a genius.

That's an interesting question (interesting like "Would you like to be drawn and quartered or stoned to death?" is interesting). Who is stupider: Trump or Bush Junior..... I honestly don't know.

[SciFi Chick]

Yeah. It was pretty clear to me that, should Trump win, Pence will be his Cheney; the scheming advisor to a mad boy king....

I don't think so. trump strikes me as so convinced of his own brilliance and has such a need to be in control that I can't see him handing control over to pence.

That, and Trump literally makes Bush look like a genius.

That's an interesting question (interesting like "Would you like to be drawn and quartered or stoned to death?" is interesting). Who is stupider: Trump or Bush Junior..... I honestly don't know.

I'm going to go with stoning and Bush Jr. Drawn and quartered looked really awful in "Braveheart." Plus, Bush Jr. actually didn't start off stupid. I don't know if it was the alcohol or if he has a genuine mental issue, or if he couldn't take the stress but if you look at speeches of his from back when he was the governor of Texas, he was actually well spoken. I can't find any time wherein Trump was well spoken.

[Rommie]

I also think a big part of it is George W Bush had a fantastic social intelligence. To quote a friend of mine when we saw him do an interview in college, "I think he's an awful president, and have never voted for him, but he would make an awesome Uncle George!"

Trump doesn't even have that.

[Swift]

I also think a big part of it is George W Bush had a fantastic social intelligence. To quote a friend of mine when we saw him do an interview in college, "I think he's an awful president, and have never voted for him, but he would make an awesome Uncle George!"

Trump doesn't even have that.

Yes

[SciFi Chick]

I also think a big part of it is George W Bush had a fantastic social intelligence. To quote a friend of mine when we saw him do an interview in college, "I think he's an awful president, and have never voted for him, but he would make an awesome Uncle George!"

Trump doesn't even have that.

Yes

Amen. Trump is the uncle you're embarrassed to admit you're related to.

[SciFiFisher]

Brite says he is the Uncle your mom warns you about at the family reunions. And tells you to never be alone with him.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Brite says he is the Uncle your mom warns you about at the family reunions. And tells you to never be alone with him.

That makes the "Creepy Cousin from Arkansas" look like Timothy Dalton or something

[SciFiFisher]

And the second debate happened yesterday: 10/9/2016

The most priceless line of all time: “I have great respect for women. Nobody has more respect for women than I do.”

Is that before or after you just grab their private parts Mr. Trump?

[SciFi Chick]

And the second debate happened yesterday: 10/9/2016

The most priceless line of all time: “I have great respect for women. Nobody has more respect for women than I do.”

Is that before or after you just grab their private parts Mr. Trump?

Exactly!!! I laughed my ass off when he said that. Then, I cried.

[gethen]

I am wondering why Trump kept calling the foul stuff he said about women "locker room talk." He wasn't in a locker room. He was in a work situation. As if it mattered. And then his excuse is that Bill Clinton said worse. As the parent of three kids, I can tell you that the excuse "so and so did it first" doesn't make it. You are still going to be in trouble. And also...oh, wait. We aren't talking about a six year old. Which makes it mischief worse.

[SciFi Chick]

I am wondering why Trump kept calling the foul stuff he said about women "locker room talk." He wasn't in a locker room. He was in a work situation. As if it mattered. And then his excuse is that Bill Clinton said worse. As the parent of three kids, I can tell you that the excuse "so and so did it first" doesn't make it. You are still going to be in trouble. And also...oh, wait. We aren't talking about a six year old. Which makes it mischief worse.

I know. I can't help thinking, in addition to the fact that he is quite dumb, he must have either surrounded himself with an equally stupid staff or he refuses to listen to them.

[Sigma_Orionis]

I am wondering why Trump kept calling the foul stuff he said about women "locker room talk." He wasn't in a locker room. He was in a work situation. As if it mattered. And then his excuse is that Bill Clinton said worse. As the parent of three kids, I can tell you that the excuse "so and so did it first" doesn't make it. You are still going to be in trouble. And also...oh, wait. We aren't talking about a six year old. Which makes it mischief worse.

I know. I can't help thinking, in addition to the fact that he is quite dumb, he must have either surrounded himself with an equally stupid staff or he refuses to listen to them.

In my personal experience those people surround themselves with people who either out of need or simple calculus allow themselves to be bullied. I wouldn't be surprised if his staff behaved like a medieval court.