Lakenheath Old Boys

We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!

Sunday, October 09, 2016

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:

Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

8:00 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

8:02 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Good evening as I join you from Austin. This presidential race is really farcical. I can't wait for it to end.

8:26 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Good evening as I join you from Austin. This presidential race is really farcical. I can't wait for it to end.

8:26 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Off for a quick shower before I join for this shower.

8:28 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Hiya, David - how are you tonight, mate?

8:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The moderators - Anderson Cooper and Martha Raddatz - have been introduced now.

8:58 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The Clinton accusers have taken their seats now in the front row near the Trump camp.

8:59 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Doing great .Hoping for a successful tour of U.T. How about you and Kate.

9:01 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Just about set to go in tonight's debate now.

9:02 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Great to hear - I've always loved my time in Austin. Has Melanie enjoyed it?

9:02 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Here we go then - kickoff time!

9:03 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It does seem desperate. I can't really see his path to the White House now. His campaign is flailing.

9:04 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

We got in this evening and have been at the hotel. I think she likes Austin from her trips to all state orchestra.

9:04 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I usually like this Town Hall format but it depends on the quality of the questions.

9:04 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Here come the candidates then. Some intrigue about whether they would shake hands - and in fact they haven't. Very chilly between them.

9:05 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

I think he is a coward .At least debate on the issues.

9:05 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

First question then - bit of a silly one about whether these Presidential debates are appropriate in terms of content. Teed up for HRC though.

9:06 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Agreed. HRC looking relaxed and presidential. Trump is toast.

9:06 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Agreed. Trump must be pissed. He's thinking this is fixed.

9:07 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump starts out by saying that he "agrees with everyone she said." Seems to have trouble saying Secretary Clinton.

9:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A real lying cunt right out of the gate.

9:08 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump pivots into his stump speech about the "bad deals" that the country has made - Mexico, Iran, etc.

9:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful start by Trump!

9:09 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Trump attacking Obama Care and the Iran deal. No eye rolling, but pouting and too much sniffing.

9:10 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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?

9:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Marvelous presentation by Trump!

9:10 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

9:11 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Good evening, John. We can count on you for entertaining comments.

9:11 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump says that he's going to "knock the hell out of ISIS." How would he do that?

9:11 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Cooper presses Trump on the sexual assault charge - Trump claims that he has never committed sexual assault or groped women.

9:12 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Anderson grilling Trump,who is also a lying cunt by stating he respects women and changes the subject.

9:13 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

9:13 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

If he launches missiles he will say your fired.

9:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

9:14 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

HRC knocking the crap out of Trump. It's like watching a wounded animal struggle.

9:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump wants to respond. He says that "it's just words."

He goes after HRC's record in NYS.

9:16 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Perhaps, John, but we expect better from a President.

9:16 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

9:16 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Martha Radditz is not putting up with Trump's crap.

9:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Martha goes after the issue again. Come on - let's move on to something substantive.

9:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Climate change, anyone? Foreign policy? Health care? Let's hear it.

9:18 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Why is Trump's sniffling so much?

9:18 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump gets a round of applause for going after HRC for enabling Bill Clinton's behavior.

9:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Now HRC gets applause for "when they go low, we go high."

9:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can we please hold the applause! LOL!

9:20 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

HRC with a great comeback to Trump's accusations. Let's talk about the issues.

9:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A truly vicious cunt, front and center, for us all to see.

9:21 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Trump grasping at straws.

9:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Some back and forth now over who started the Birther claims.

9:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nearly half an hour in now and still no substantive questions about policy. Climate change, anyone? Criminal justice policy? Immigration?

9:22 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

9:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yessssss! Fuck you Hillary!!!!! Hahahahahaha!

9:24 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

So if Trump becomes president then he will go after HRC instead of running the country.

9:24 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

9:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SUPERB!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

9:25 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

More questioning about emails now. Still no policy questions.

9:25 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump is mugging for the cameras now as HRC is speaking. Not really an effective approach.

9:25 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Agreed, Bob. It seems that nothing is being accomplished in this debate.

9:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

BECAUSE YOU'D BE IN JAIL!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THIS MAN IS A GENIUS!!!!!!!

9:26 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Nice one,Bob. Great cup tie analogy.

9:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'M OUT! YOU FUCKERS HAVE NO OBJECTIVITY. HAVE A NICE EVENING!

9:27 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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?

9:27 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Cheerio, JDLC - enjoy the rest of the debate.

9:28 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Trump is more of a an activist. Also, Trump is self destructing and childishly attacking the moderators.

9:29 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ouch - burn. HRC says that Trump merely wants to move on from his imploding campaign.

9:30 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Finally a policy question - on the ACA. HRC says that she's going to fix it while Trump will repeal it.

9:30 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Agreed, Bob.

9:30 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Cheers, John.

9:30 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

I agree that Obama Care needs to be fixed. It doesn't work.

9:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

9:33 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Replace Obama Care. With what?

9:33 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Cooper asked about Bill Clinton's ill-considered comments about the ACA.

Just say it, HRC - "single payer."

9:34 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Cooper cuts Trump off while he's attacking HRC. He wants a specific plan but Trump doesn't want to give him one.

9:36 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Anderson Cooper is becoming Trump's archnemisis.

9:37 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Interestingly HRC is sitting down while Trump is just pacing around the stage.

9:37 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump is asked about Islamophobia. He goes straight for his own anti-Islamic comments.

9:38 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

A Muslim voter puts Trump on the spot. Muslims have to report problems, but others don't. He just lost the Muslim vote.

9:39 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

HRC with a much better answer.

9:40 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

HRC now - goes straight after Trump on his anti-Islamic comments. This is strong terrain for HRC.

9:41 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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."

9:42 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

HRC called ISIS terrorists .Is that any different than radical Islam? Perhaps Trump's namtis more racist.

9:42 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump is against the current refugee policy regarding Syria.

He calls it a "Trojan Horse."

9:43 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Martha interiors and demands that he answers the question.

9:43 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Trump is a wounded animal. Should he be put out of his misery? Is watching him struggle entertainment?

9:44 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

More strong stuff from HRC - she presses Trump on his idea of a religious test.

9:45 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump is really struggling with the moderators. Not appealing.

9:47 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Now on to on-line questions. First up are the Wall Street speeches leaked by Wikileaks.

9:48 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

This is problematic terrain for HRC. Sanders did really well against her on just this issue.

9:49 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Donald Trump keeps repeating because he's got nothing.

9:50 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump is having trouble stringing a sentence together now. (Sniff). What the hell is he on?

9:51 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Agreed, Bob. Her one weakness.

9:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

For some reason Trump has drifted into his own tax problem.

9:53 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Wow! A question about the wealthy not paying their fair share of taxes.

9:53 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump is asked about what he would do about tax fairness. He would get rid of "carried interest."

9:54 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Trump will lower taxes. Who's having a laugh? How will he do this?

9:55 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

HRC hits back with Trump's tax evasion again. Nice.

9:55 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

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.

9:57 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Has HRC been reading your FB posts? She's using them as material.

9:58 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

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.

9:58 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Maybe so - thanks for the shout-out!

9:59 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Apparently Trump is now a Berniebro.

9:59 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nice pivot here to her 30 year record. Strong response.

10:01 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump is pacing around like Frankenstein - didn't anyone coach him for this debate?

10:02 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

I'm sure Donald Trump will not be singing Martha's praises anytime soon?

10:03 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

He probably was coached, but doesn't listen to anyone, not even his own children.

10:05 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

He probably was coached, but doesn't listen to anyone, not even his own children.

10:06 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Trump showing his hawkish side.

10:07 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Trump said he disagrees with Pence.Is he fired?

10:09 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The media have been speculating all day that Pence is about to drop out.

10:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

HRC speaks to the issue that I've been reading a lot about - the rise in bullying in classrooms due to the Trump campaign.

10:18 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Yikes! Trump without a running mate?What a disaster.

10:18 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Cooper presses HRC on the "Deplorables" comment. This is shaky terrain for her.

10:19 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

He sure is divisive. Sadly, it doesn't surprise me.

10:19 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

She handled it very well.

10:20 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump tries to desperately respond to a question about his 3am tweets. He's on to Benghazi.

10:22 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Trump does not have the discipline to lead.

10:22 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I wish HRC had mentioned the endorsements of Trump by the American Nazi Party and the Klan.

10:22 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

He acts this way because he is desperate.

10:23 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

That would have been an excellent comeback.

10:23 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nice - a question about SCOTUS.

10:24 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

An audience question about selecting the next supreme court justice.

10:24 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Strong terrain for HRC, an attorney. She nows this material.

10:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Trump wants another Scalia - oy vey!

10:27 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Excellent - energy policy question. Too bad it came at 10:29pm.

10:29 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Trump evades the issue about SCOTTUS.

10:30 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Not surprisingly Trump wants to double down on carbon based unsustainable energy. He wants "Clean Coal" and more fracking.

10:30 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Agreed. Again, Trump shows his lack of knowledge of the issues.

10:31 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Policies that never work. What else would you expect from Trump?

10:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

HRC mentions climate change - finally!

10:33 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Yikes! To name one positive thing each respects about the other. Such a meaningless question.

10:35 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Agreed. We need to address climate change.

10:35 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

I think I'm headed to Bedfordshire since we need to wake up early tomorrow. It was great chatting with you.

10:40 PM  

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