The 2nd Presidential Debate Live!
Tonight's debate is likely to be dominated by arguments about character traits - and perhaps rightly so. Call me old fashioned, call me a policy nerd, but I hope that there is some time for Martha Raddatz to ask Clinton and Trump some substantive questions about policy. Here are the ten questions that I'd like to hear asked tonight:
1. Has U.S. foreign policy since 9/11 generally been a success? If not, what would you do specifically to change it?
2. If you had to cut $500 billion a year from the federal budget, how would you do that specifically? What would you cut?
3. What specific plans do you have to curb climate change and its effects?
4. Has the Affordable Care Act been a success? If not, what is your alternative?
5. Are public schools in crisis? If so, what is the cause of that crisis? What would you do specifically in order to reform education?
6. Has the War on Drugs policy been a success? If not, what would you change about federal policy regarding drugs?
7. Has Dodd-Frank been a success? If not, how would you reform the way that banks are regulated?
8. Do you support raising the minimum wage? If so, to what dollar amount/hour? If not, why not? How would you address growing income inequality.
9. Should public businesses be required to serve customers regardless of gender, race, national origin or sexuality?
10. Has immigration been a net positive or a net negative for the United States?
So, what questions would you like to hear tonight?
133 Comments:
Evening, folks - Kate and I are pre-gaming the debate with a cocktail and some nibbles. I hope everyone else is settling in for what promises to be high political entertainment tonight.
As if this debate didn't have enough of a circus atmosphere already, Donald Trump has summoned the press corps into a conference room where he has sat on a panel of women who previously accused Bill Clinton of sexual assault.
I wasn't aware that Bill Clinton was on the ballot this year. Silly me.
Good evening as I join you from Austin. This presidential race is really farcical. I can't wait for it to end.
Good evening as I join you from Austin. This presidential race is really farcical. I can't wait for it to end.
Off for a quick shower before I join for this shower.
Hiya, David - how are you tonight, mate?
The moderators - Anderson Cooper and Martha Raddatz - have been introduced now.
The Clinton accusers have taken their seats now in the front row near the Trump camp.
Doing great .Hoping for a successful tour of U.T. How about you and Kate.
Just about set to go in tonight's debate now.
Great to hear - I've always loved my time in Austin. Has Melanie enjoyed it?
Here we go then - kickoff time!
It does seem desperate. I can't really see his path to the White House now. His campaign is flailing.
We got in this evening and have been at the hotel. I think she likes Austin from her trips to all state orchestra.
I usually like this Town Hall format but it depends on the quality of the questions.
Here come the candidates then. Some intrigue about whether they would shake hands - and in fact they haven't. Very chilly between them.
I think he is a coward .At least debate on the issues.
First question then - bit of a silly one about whether these Presidential debates are appropriate in terms of content. Teed up for HRC though.
Agreed. HRC looking relaxed and presidential. Trump is toast.
Agreed. Trump must be pissed. He's thinking this is fixed.
Trump starts out by saying that he "agrees with everyone she said." Seems to have trouble saying Secretary Clinton.
A real lying cunt right out of the gate.
Trump pivots into his stump speech about the "bad deals" that the country has made - Mexico, Iran, etc.
Beautiful start by Trump!
Trump attacking Obama Care and the Iran deal. No eye rolling, but pouting and too much sniffing.
Evening, JDLC - welcome! You do like to make an entrance, don't you? Let's keep the language reasonable tonight - might be some kiddies blogging, eh?
Marvelous presentation by Trump!
Cooper presses Trump on the videotape that was released on Friday. He sticks to the "locker room talk" claim.
He seems to have the sniffles again tonight. I don't get it.
Good evening, John. We can count on you for entertaining comments.
Trump says that he's going to "knock the hell out of ISIS." How would he do that?
Cooper presses Trump on the sexual assault charge - Trump claims that he has never committed sexual assault or groped women.
Anderson grilling Trump,who is also a lying cunt by stating he respects women and changes the subject.
HRC is asked to comment - she repeats much of what she has said over the weekend. She repeats her claim that Trump is "unfit to serve." Strong stuff.
If he launches missiles he will say your fired.
Fuck off! Don't be a hypocrite, Bob. Any "kiddies" logged in to this discussion are old enough to hear a little ugly language. This is about the Presidency, not Miss Manners. Log me out if you like. Don't be a hypocrite, Bob.
HRC knocking the crap out of Trump. It's like watching a wounded animal struggle.
Trump wants to respond. He says that "it's just words."
He goes after HRC's record in NYS.
Perhaps, John, but we expect better from a President.
I would never, JDLC. I was being tongue in cheek. Swing away as you like. This is a no holds barred zone tonight. I'm happy to have you with us.
Martha Radditz is not putting up with Trump's crap.
Martha goes after the issue again. Come on - let's move on to something substantive.
Climate change, anyone? Foreign policy? Health care? Let's hear it.
Why is Trump's sniffling so much?
Trump gets a round of applause for going after HRC for enabling Bill Clinton's behavior.
Now HRC gets applause for "when they go low, we go high."
Can we please hold the applause! LOL!
HRC with a great comeback to Trump's accusations. Let's talk about the issues.
A truly vicious cunt, front and center, for us all to see.
Trump grasping at straws.
Some back and forth now over who started the Birther claims.
Nearly half an hour in now and still no substantive questions about policy. Climate change, anyone? Criminal justice policy? Immigration?
HRC is now chuckling at the claims that Trump is making about her lies - he's going to get a federal prosecutor to look into her crimes.
Yessssss! Fuck you Hillary!!!!! Hahahahahaha!
So if Trump becomes president then he will go after HRC instead of running the country.
Raddatz is trying to calm down the audience. This one is certainly kicking off now. It's like a FA Cup fixture between West and Millwall.
SUPERB!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
More questioning about emails now. Still no policy questions.
Trump is mugging for the cameras now as HRC is speaking. Not really an effective approach.
Agreed, Bob. It seems that nothing is being accomplished in this debate.
BECAUSE YOU'D BE IN JAIL!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THIS MAN IS A GENIUS!!!!!!!
Nice one,Bob. Great cup tie analogy.
I'M OUT! YOU FUCKERS HAVE NO OBJECTIVITY. HAVE A NICE EVENING!
Trump claims that HRC is lying. This line of debate doesn't really help either candidate - or the country.
Where the hell are Gary Johnson and Jill Stein when we need them?
Cheerio, JDLC - enjoy the rest of the debate.
Trump is more of a an activist. Also, Trump is self destructing and childishly attacking the moderators.
Ouch - burn. HRC says that Trump merely wants to move on from his imploding campaign.
Finally a policy question - on the ACA. HRC says that she's going to fix it while Trump will repeal it.
Agreed, Bob.
Cheers, John.
I agree that Obama Care needs to be fixed. It doesn't work.
Now Trump on the ACA. "Obamacare is a disaster." (Sniff) ACA will never work. He says that it must be repealed and replaced. What with? Very vague there.
Replace Obama Care. With what?
Cooper asked about Bill Clinton's ill-considered comments about the ACA.
Just say it, HRC - "single payer."
Cooper cuts Trump off while he's attacking HRC. He wants a specific plan but Trump doesn't want to give him one.
Anderson Cooper is becoming Trump's archnemisis.
Interestingly HRC is sitting down while Trump is just pacing around the stage.
Trump is asked about Islamophobia. He goes straight for his own anti-Islamic comments.
A Muslim voter puts Trump on the spot. Muslims have to report problems, but others don't. He just lost the Muslim vote.
HRC with a much better answer.
HRC now - goes straight after Trump on his anti-Islamic comments. This is strong terrain for HRC.
Trump is asked about his Muslim travel ban policy. He starts by going back to HRC's comments about Khan.
He claims that he now wants "extreme vetting."
HRC called ISIS terrorists .Is that any different than radical Islam? Perhaps Trump's namtis more racist.
Trump is against the current refugee policy regarding Syria.
He calls it a "Trojan Horse."
Martha interiors and demands that he answers the question.
Trump is a wounded animal. Should he be put out of his misery? Is watching him struggle entertainment?
More strong stuff from HRC - she presses Trump on his idea of a religious test.
Trump is really struggling with the moderators. Not appealing.
Now on to on-line questions. First up are the Wall Street speeches leaked by Wikileaks.
This is problematic terrain for HRC. Sanders did really well against her on just this issue.
Donald Trump keeps repeating because he's got nothing.
Trump is having trouble stringing a sentence together now. (Sniff). What the hell is he on?
Agreed, Bob. Her one weakness.
For some reason Trump has drifted into his own tax problem.
Wow! A question about the wealthy not paying their fair share of taxes.
Trump is asked about what he would do about tax fairness. He would get rid of "carried interest."
Trump will lower taxes. Who's having a laugh? How will he do this?
HRC hits back with Trump's tax evasion again. Nice.
HRC mentions that he hasn't payed taxes in twenty years. She does not want to raise taxes for people who earn less than a quarter of a million a year.
Has HRC been reading your FB posts? She's using them as material.
Trump is pressed on whether he paid any income tax. He essentially says that he didn't. He goes back to George Soros et al.
Maybe so - thanks for the shout-out!
Apparently Trump is now a Berniebro.
Nice pivot here to her 30 year record. Strong response.
Trump is pacing around like Frankenstein - didn't anyone coach him for this debate?
I'm sure Donald Trump will not be singing Martha's praises anytime soon?
He probably was coached, but doesn't listen to anyone, not even his own children.
He probably was coached, but doesn't listen to anyone, not even his own children.
Trump showing his hawkish side.
Trump said he disagrees with Pence.Is he fired?
The media have been speculating all day that Pence is about to drop out.
HRC speaks to the issue that I've been reading a lot about - the rise in bullying in classrooms due to the Trump campaign.
Yikes! Trump without a running mate?What a disaster.
Cooper presses HRC on the "Deplorables" comment. This is shaky terrain for her.
He sure is divisive. Sadly, it doesn't surprise me.
She handled it very well.
Trump tries to desperately respond to a question about his 3am tweets. He's on to Benghazi.
Trump does not have the discipline to lead.
I wish HRC had mentioned the endorsements of Trump by the American Nazi Party and the Klan.
He acts this way because he is desperate.
That would have been an excellent comeback.
Nice - a question about SCOTUS.
An audience question about selecting the next supreme court justice.
Strong terrain for HRC, an attorney. She nows this material.
Trump wants another Scalia - oy vey!
Excellent - energy policy question. Too bad it came at 10:29pm.
Trump evades the issue about SCOTTUS.
Not surprisingly Trump wants to double down on carbon based unsustainable energy. He wants "Clean Coal" and more fracking.
Agreed. Again, Trump shows his lack of knowledge of the issues.
Policies that never work. What else would you expect from Trump?
HRC mentions climate change - finally!
Yikes! To name one positive thing each respects about the other. Such a meaningless question.
Agreed. We need to address climate change.
I think I'm headed to Bedfordshire since we need to wake up early tomorrow. It was great chatting with you.
Post a Comment
<< Home