Full disclosure. I fell asleep during the post-debate spinfest last night; it was that boring and predictable. So the following thoughts, as usual, are mostly my own, but if they sound like you've heard them before maybe I was channeling CNN whilst my eyes were shut.
I'd venture to bet that this may have been the most-viewed VP debate in history. Total viewership may even hit 4 digits. Maybe.
Mike Pence won the debate last night. The bar was low. Really low. Only three hurdles, he cleared them all, like an Olympic equestrian show jumper. Number one. Say at least one full sentence that doesn't include the faux-word "bigly". Two, don't get yourself dirty in the sandbox called "facts". Three, when in doubt, shut up. Like I said, he cleared those hurdles easily.
Surprisingly (to me), Tim Kaine underperformed, which as a net result puts another log in my "Clinton is running an awful campaign" fire, which was already burning brightly. His bar was similarly low, like Pence's, but it's my suspicion he was directed by the campaign to "zig", when he should have "zagged". After Hillary's solid performance at the first debate, Kaine could have calmly (didn't happen) and personably (smiling like Howdy Doody isn't enough) articulated what is (again, to me) a clearly more broadly appealing platform. But instead, they (the campaign) feel that doubling down on the "Trump is dangerous" attack line is the way to a Democratic victory next month. For their sake I hope so, 'cause history may not look fondly on a Presidential candidate that loses to Donald Trump. Ultimately, like Wells Fargo or Donald Trump's taxes, the ball rolls from the top, and nobody rich goes to jail. I think that the root of all I don't like about how the Clinton campaign has been run comes from the very top itself, Hillary. I think she has the impression is that people won't like her enough to vote for her, hence the strategy of just savaging her opponent. That's a strategic choice, so I'll respect that even if I disagree.
My fave part of the debate was the last, the discussion about abortion rights. Not because abortion is my "fave", but because it gave both candidates a comfortable topic (really) on which they could articulate, eloquently even, their positions, however nuanced. For a topic that's such a "line in the sand" for many, discussing it comprehensively is an under appreciated skill that both Kaine and Pence handled very well. Without reading too much into it (hah, too late!), on that topic alone I have a solid amount of respect for both of them, even with their disparate positions, because I actually trust that they believe what they're saying. Heck, I'd venture if the election were held today either of them would beat the tops of the respective tickets. Easily. But wake up and smell the fetid reality.
On that sour milk note I'll sign off. Only a month to go, vote early and often, and thanks for reading.
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