Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Fight them, without becoming them!

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

If you are in line to indict donald trump, stay in line.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

Motown is Joe-Town!

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Let’s show the world that autocracy can be defeated.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

“Cheese and Kraken paired together for the appetizer trial.”

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

I desperately hope that, yet again, I am wrong.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2016 / Afterglow

Reader Interactions

136Comments

  5. 5.

    rikyrah

    They were desperate to give it to Ferret Head.
    DESPERATE
    But, he couldn’t do it.
    He couldn’t even be competent.
    FINALLY, having a grown up Tracy Flick on our team PAID OFF! ?????

  6. 6.

    Mnemosyne

    Somebody here yesterday or this morning complained that she wasn’t funny (it may have been more like ‘witty’) and I was thinking, “Dude, which debate did you watch?” She cracked me up more than once.

  7. 7.

    Botsplainer

    Hey, has anybody ever seen a picture of Kellyanne Conway and Joseph Goebbels in the same place? They could be twins…

  8. 8.

    Trentrunner

    Definitely in afterglow. Donated again just now.

    She won. Annoyed that MSM has agreed to throw Trump the bone of “he won the first third” bullshit.

    Hillary had Trump from the moment she mentioned his $14 million loan from his dad.

    The 80 million (at least; prolly a lot more) who watched know who won.

  11. 11.

    Starfish

    @Mnemosyne: One of my friends was using the Dowager Countess from Downton Abbey to illustrate Clinton’s feelings during the debate. That cracked me up.

  13. 13.

    Shell

    Missed some of it so when the pundits later talked about his Rosie ODonnell moment, I thought they were speaking metaphorically. But no. Cant believe, for whatever reason, he dragged her name into the debate?? How high was he by then?

  15. 15.

    Bruce K

    @Botsplainer: Not quite twins. Conway’s got sharper cheekbones, her nose isn’t as long, and she isn’t at the bottom of one of the Elbe’s tributaries, the last I checked…

  17. 17.

    scav

    @raven: Ah yes, the non-elite punditry, telling them, the little non-elite what they think <Pat, Pat> so that they don’t have to wonder what they think on their own and, besides, it’s not as though the poor dears can tell everyone on their non-elite lonesome what they themselves think, they need a Pat Pat for that as well.

  18. 18.

    Mary G

    This was from David French on the Corner:

    Why didn’t he have a better answer ready for the birther nonsense? Has he still not done any homework on foreign policy? I felt like I was watching the political Titanic hit the iceberg, back up, and hit it again. Just for fun.

    Not even trying to spin.

  19. 19.

    Hal

    Perusing reactions on facebook has been interesting today. Some Trump supporting folks are basically saying the debates were a shit show, Clinton and Trump were both terrible! I guess not being able to defend your candidate means you have to throw both under the bus.

    The other reactions seem to be from folks who don’t vote and post memes literally boasting about being too enlightened to be fooled by politics because the illuminati or some shit.

    All of which really tells me just how well Clinton did in the debate. Let some in the media try to make more of Trump than he is, but people got to see first hand last night what President Trump would be all about. It’s not about appealing to everyone, just enough to win the election and Hillary couldn’t have done much more than she did last night to succeed in moving that much closer to winning in November.

  21. 21.

    Anoniminous

    TV by the Numbers has the numbers.

    The first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump broke viewership records, topping the previous mark set in 1980.

    The commercial channels carrying the debate (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Univision, Telemundo, CNBC and Fox Business) averaged 81.4 million viewers, just edging the October 1980 debate between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan (80.6 million). PBS averaged an additional 3 million, bringing the total to 84.4 million.

  23. 23.

    Trollhattan

    @Hal:
    Monday morning Cokie was on my radio telling me Trump could pull a Reagan 1980 by acting calm (presidential!) for ninety minutes and afterwards all the white men would tell themselves, “Yeah, I could imagine him as president.” Boy howdy, I just can’t wait to hear Cokie envision how Trump can become Reagan now.

  25. 25.

    Brachiator

    So far, I have not seen Lester Holt get bashed for not asking good questions. None of the Matt Lauer second-guessing.

    And just imagine, if Brian Williams had not imploded in his own mini scandal a while back, he might have been the moderator.

    Has Trump gone after Holt yet with another stupid tirade? I’m surprised that the Donald hasn’t accused Holt of being in the tank for the Democrats since he is not a regulation white guy.

    And full props to Hillary for slapping the orange off him.

    Sniffles.

  29. 29.

    oldster

    Why do people say she’s unattractive? I think she’s cute as a button!

    Just because she doesn’t give old Short-fingers a very short boner–not that anything does anymore, other than chemicals–doesn’t mean she isn’t a pleasure to look at.

  30. 30.

    germy

    @Brachiator: Here’s a stupid question, but I’ll ask it anyway. Why must we have TV newsreaders as moderators? Why not print journalists? You know, the people the TV newsreaders quote?

  35. 35.

    TriassicSands

    @rikyrah:

    Couldn’t even be competent? Oh, c’mon. He trounced her. Crushed. Destroyed. Obliterated.

    Wait, oh you’re talking about the debate. Sorry.

    The sad thing is how little difference that debate will probably make. We’re down to the dregs of the voters and they are generally so ill-informed, unintelligent, fickle, or some combination of the three (and others) that they could actually watch that debate and think that Trump belongs in the White House.

    That has been the most difficult thing throughout this campaign: How could any sentient human being, regardless of political ideology or single issue preferences watch Trump for five minutes and be willing to let him get anywhere near the presidency? Yes, they hate Hillary. She’s a criminal, liar, murderer, the worst thing that has ever happened to the planet Earth. But how do her failings make Trump any more acceptable as a president?

    I mourn for that (large) segment of our population who can support a cretin like Trump. They are beyond help.

  38. 38.

    Felonius Monk

    @germy: Why have journalists at all? Why not a panel of political science, economics, foreign policy, etc. experts. There are many and I’m convinced most could be objective.

  39. 39.

    RaflW

    Part of what I don’t get is how his Tarnished City in a Ditch view of America works. I well know that plenty of people feel left out in the disrupted and divergent economy. But the level of hellscape he describes is absurd on its face. I also get that the GOP has been mashing the fear button in voter’s reptile brain for ages, but even then, how does calling this country The Suckiest Place on Earth over and over propel anyone forward.

    Clearly I’m not his target demo. But can this rhetoric get him much over 27%? Weird.

  40. 40.

    eclare

    @raven: When the fuck did she sneer? Did they look at dumpster fire next to her? He contorted his face every time she talked, when he wasn’t interrupting her or grunting.

  42. 42.

    germy

    @RaflW:

    Part of what I don’t get is how his Tarnished City in a Ditch view of America works.

    He’s got some beautiful properties in a few of those tarnished cities. And he said he welcomes minorities. Very inclusive.

  43. 43.

    lamh36

    @TaMara (HFG): I absolutely LOVED that. I swear I shoulda been sleeping, but I watched the video like 4x last night…lol.

    First of all I love that is a “vote HRC” video, disguised as a “vote…period” video.

    Second, IDK what youth tree they have all been eating from, but I want it! They ALL look fabulous. And the chemistry…STILL on pointe.

  44. 44.

    Brachiator

    @germy:

    Here’s a stupid question, but I’ll ask it anyway. Why must we have TV newsreaders as moderators? Why not print journalists? You know, the people the TV newsreaders quote?

    I honestly don’t know. I guess the networks want to have their talent involved. If it were me, I might have an actual business reporter ask questions about the economy, someone with some foreign policy chops ask questions related to global affairs, etc.

  46. 46.

    Macbethchick

    The Flint, Michigan pastor – Rev. Faith Green Timmons – would get my vote for debate moderator.

  47. 47.

    SenyorDave

    I rarely post anything on my Facebook page, especially politically stuff, but the birther stuff really pisses me off, maybe more than anything about Trump, so I posted this:

    Birther in Chief. Think about, last night during the debate Donald Trump not only defended his role in the birther movement, he’s proud of it. To those who say it wasn’t racist, I keep wondering what is different about President Obama than all the presidents before him that caused people to question his citizenship. For five years after he produced his birth certificate Trump was still tweeting out birther nonsense. And people want this racist piece of garbage as their president? In saner times that would have disqualified him right off the bat. But when almost half of the GOP STILL believe PBO was born outside of the US what can you expect?

    I hope Hillary had a relaxing day, and savored the moment. Back to reality tomorrow, though.

  48. 48.

    Anoniminous

    @RaflW:

    According to the polls last night, it got him exactly 27%.

    @Mnemosyne:

    That’s UUUUUUGE!

    Bigly even.

    I’m thinking Clinton went up another 3 points with women last night getting to +18.

  49. 49.

    Ripley

    Podhoretz: “Trump’s debate incompetence a slap in the face to his supporters.”

    Trump Supporters: “We had it coming – did you see what we were wearing?”

  50. 50.

    RaflW

    @Brachiator: OMG business reporters are (not entirely, but) mostly the worst. They strike me as Jschool C students who can’t hack it in the actual newsroom. Totally credulous, often innumerate, gushy morons who just digest press releases.

    Now, if you ask nice, I’ll even tell you how I really feel about them.

  51. 51.

    Mnemosyne

    I’m still debating which knitting project to bring on my campaign trip this weekend. I’m about three-quarters done with Veronik Avery’s Travel Shawl, which is interesting enough to keep you going but not so complicated that you screw it up when you’re tired.

    I’m also thinking of starting some of my holiday knitting, but that would require bringing a lot more supplies with me.

  52. 52.

    lurker dean

    @Brachiator: perhaps the msm isn’t trashing holt. but on twitter there are lots of wingers weeping sweet sweet tears about lester not asking about benghazi and the clinton foundation.

  53. 53.

    The Moar You Know

    The great Pat Lang

    @raven: Sad!

    Trayvon Martin got murdered and he decided instead of being remembered as one of the all-time great Middle East experts, he’d rather be remembered as a black-hating piece of Confederate shit.

    Fuck Pat Lang. And fuck his “analysis” of Hillary Clinton. I hope when she wins he strokes out from rage and bitterness.

  54. 54.

    scav

    @Felonius Monk: Facts. Facts!? Facts aren’t politically neutral and certainly have nothing whatsoever to do with debating! And then, to suggest panels of elites with knowledge of same, necessarily biased and made up anyhow facts, how subversive of real ‘merka can you possibly be?

  58. 58.

    scav

    @Mnemosyne: Why not bring along some scrap yarn (every knitter has closets) and make some quick little projects (washcloths, little mufflers / cowls) and hand them out as gifts to fellow campaigners?

  60. 60.

    germy

    @RaflW: I was thinking of having real investigative reporters as moderators. People who could ask real followup questions and not take bullshit for an answer.

    Come to think of it, I guess that’s why the networks don’t use them as moderators…

  62. 62.

    Jeffro

    @Hal:

    Clinton and Trump were both terrible! I guess not being able to defend your candidate means you have to throw both under the bus.

    Yes – this was how most of the air quote “Libertarians” seem to have taken it. And most of them will never, ever figure out that they’d all do worse economically under Trump.

    How anyone could have watched last night and decided on ‘a pox on both their houses’ I’ll never know.

  64. 64.

    Seanly

    @Trollhattan:

    Cokie was positively pre-gloating that she could call the election for her BFF Trump if he could bring out the Reagan (probably just not drop trou on stage). She & the fellow turd Mara Liasson can DIAFF. She was also smarmy about how she and some other turd were calling the election for Reagan back in the day. Why do these media asshats want Trump to win? Don’t they know he has more in common with Putin and Pol Pot than he does with Reagan? He’s more likely to line up all the hypenated-name centrists at NPR and shoot them than anything else.

  66. 66.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    DVR alert!

    Mel Brooks’s Young Frankenstein (1974) is on TCM at 9:30 p.m. EDT tonight. Pristine print and no commercials—what more could you want?

    Also, Woody Allen’s Bananas (1971) is on at 8:00, for those who are not Allen-averse.

    Finally, Richard Lester’s beautiful, snarky version of The Three Musketeers (1973) is on at 1:30 a.m.

  67. 67.

    Schlemazel

    @Brachiator:
    The Trump hasn’t himself but the Drumpfenstein monster has gone after Holt big time. It seems he was dishonorable for the weak fact-check he did do, he had the nerve to interrupt Trump when he was blovating well past his time and my very favoritest one I saw of FB, Holt gave Hitlery the questions ahead of time so she could be prepared = HAHAHAHAHAHA – there was not a question asked that could not easily been guessed by anyone who has been paying attention.

  68. 68.

    Hilfy

    OT. Does anyone know what happened to Gennifer Flowers? In the front row, or locked out? Trump was talked out of having her there? Kellyanne Conway does seem to have put some good ideas into Trump’s head. Like not wanting to offend Chelsea’s feelings. Too bad he has such a short attention span.

  69. 69.

    Mnemosyne

    @scav:

    I’m nervous about carrying too much with me because I don’t know what the storage situation is going to be, so I’m assuming I’ll have to carry everything on my person all day for both days. Plus I’m not a very fast knitter.

    However, I did just discover that Anna Hrachovec of MochiMochiLand has a Tiny Hillary and Tiny Trump pattern up for free …

  70. 70.

    germy

    @Steeplejack (phone):

    Finally, Richard Lester’s beautiful, snarky version of The Three Musketeers (1973) is on at 1:30 a.m.

    I saw Lester yesterday in the new Beatles documentary. It was wonderful seeing it on a big screen.

  72. 72.

    Elizabelle

    @TriassicSands:

    The sad thing is how little difference that debate will probably make.

    I disagree. It’s hard to be fulsome in your support of someone your friends, coworkers and relatives are snickering about.

    There’s a ceiling to Trump’s support.

    He did not help himself last night, and bringing up stamina, when it was he who struggled with the 90-minute format?

  73. 73.

    germy

    @Hilfy: She was never invited according to his campaign, and she didn’t appear. It was what the professionals call a head fake.

  74. 74.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Hal: Erik Loomis managed to find the dark cloud, arguing that Trump scored points against Clinton on NAFTA:

    Overall, Hillary Clinton embarrassed Donald Trump last night. But let’s not kid ourselves, Trump absolutely crushed her on trade in the early part of the debate. I found it highly disturbing to realize that if I didn’t know that Trump didn’t actually care about this issue and certainly doesn’t care about the workers of the world, I would find myself agreeing with him. NAFTA is indeed the worst trade deal in history. It was a complete disaster for the working class of the United States and it was a complete disaster for the working class of Mexico.

    Trump also did a great job of connecting recent issues of capital mobility to his statements.[…]

    Loomis knows that Trump is bullshitting, but thinks the things he’s said on trade will nevertheless appeal to working-class people because Clinton hasn’t offered better.

  76. 76.

    Mnemosyne

    @Steeplejack (phone):

    I highly recommend “Three Musketeers” for those who haven’t seen it. It’s perfectly cast, especially Oliver Reed as Athos. And Christopher Reed, Faye Dunaway, and Charlton Heston are all satisfyingly villainous.

  77. 77.

    West of the Cascades

    @BR: BR — thanks to a link you posted earlier in the day, I am going to my first volunteer event this evening, a call-in to Nevada voters from Clinton HQ here in Portland (OR). Thank you, thank you, for posting those links in every thread. The debate finally woke me up to needing to get involved even though Oregon is “safe” Clinton country.

  78. 78.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    @germy:

    I think A Hard Day’s Night is one of the great screen musicals. Lester also did quite a few other worthy films.

    I’m eager to see the Beatles doc.

  79. 79.

    dww44

    @Trentrunner: CBS Evening News just opened with the debate being the most watched in Presidential Debate History, which scott Pelley editorialized further by stating that the two candidates not only had the highest unfavorability ratings in U.S. history, but also spent the whole debate knocking at each other. CBS called it a draw. I switched channels. Did they even quote the results of Frank Luntz’s viewer poll?

    Don’t know much about the David French guy they hired from Fox to be the head of their news division but he must;ve brought some definite conservative vibes to the once most liberal and proud broadcast network. Between the change at CBS evening news and Norah O’Donnell in the mornings I’m totally disgusted with them..

  84. 84.

    Trollhattan

    @Elizabelle:
    Hillary and congressional race #s have been drifting down from the unreal highs following the DNC–inevitable given how hard it is to maintain enthusiasm for a length of time. Suspect Hillary’s debate performance is going to result in a significant boost in both.

  89. 89.

    redshirt

    @Roger Moore: He IS projection. If you call him tired, he’ll call you tired. Accuse him of being corrupt, you’re crooked.

    You could actually bait him into an attack of your choosing by accusing him of the same thing.

    But that’s the Right Wing mind writ large, really.

  91. 91.

    evodevo

    @Mary G: Good. I was acquainted with David French long ago, and he has always been an annoying ahole…. I’m just amazed he’s not serving up the usual winger koolaid he always does. TRump must have REALLY screwed up for French to go there…

  92. 92.

    germy

    @redshirt:

    He IS projection. If you call him tired, he’ll call you tired. Accuse him of being corrupt, you’re crooked.

    You could actually bait him into an attack of your choosing by accusing him of the same thing.

    Opposite side of the same coin, he seems easily flattered. If he perceives that you’ve said something nice about him, he’ll put you on his “good guy” list, no matter what sort of atrocities you’ve committed.

  94. 94.

    El Caganer

    @The Moar You Know: Sad, indeed. His site is still one of the few that I go to for insight into foreign affairs, but I won’t read any of the posts (his or guests) on domestic stuff. Those things tend tor read like something put out by the Council of Conservative Citizens (although some of the commenters are straight-up Stormfront). Reminds me of what happened with Larry Johnson in 2008; used to read him regularly until he decided to follow The Whitey Tape down the rabbit hole – not sure if he ever came back.

  96. 96.

    gogol's wife

    @germy:

    I guess they used to. It was Max Frankel who followed up with Gerald Ford about Poland not being under Soviet domination.

  97. 97.

    Matt McIrvin

    @El Caganer: I think Larry Johnson was always a fool; it just wasn’t always obvious. What convinced me was before the whitey tape incident: that time that a B52 accidentally flew across the US with live nuclear warheads in it, he heard a rumor that it was not an accident at all, but secret preparations for an attack on Iran. He just kept doubling down when people pointed out all the reasons this didn’t make sense. It was exactly what he did with the whitey tape later on.

  98. 98.

    germy

    @phoebes from highland park: I assume Mark Cuban was there. Also an architect who didn’t get paid by trump.

    EDIT: I checked Cuban’s twitter. He was there talking to the press after the debate. Row A, Seat 18

    Here’s one of his tweets:

    “Has Trump offered a single proposal to reduce the friction of starting a business? @HillaryClinton has”

  103. 103.

    Enhanced Voting Techinques

    Sounds like they are really going at it with Bill Clinton’s horsing around on Hilary. Just insane

    a) Hilary is the victim, not the aggressor here. WTF does dainty hands think women voters think about a guy gloating about a woman being cheated on?

    b) It’s a low blow and since when does Man Law allow men to cheap shot a women? I do not see Burt Renyolds approving of this. Spank her, yes, kick her between the legs, no. Trump can’t even do sexist pig right.

    c) Trump seriously thinks they won’t bring up all his failed marriages. And let’s keep in mind Bill was just haveing some fun, he never rejected Hilary. Think about it; Bill had a choice between a pack of worshipful twenty something collage girls and his bossy, over the hill wife and went with his bossy, over the hill wife. Oh, that’s right, it’s Trump talking here and he just doesn’t deal with equals, only minons.

    This sounds like Trump and his people think last night cost him the election and they are just trying to punish Hilary for it. Seriously entitled rich idiot stuff here on Trump that he when loses he a fight that he just cannot pick himself up and get to focusing on the next match.

  105. 105.

    redshirt

    @Enhanced Voting Techinques:

    Sounds like they are really going at it with Bill Clinton’s horsing around on Hilary. Just insane

    I hope he does. Think of how awesome it would be if Clinton not only brings up Trump’s many marriages, but then puts a religious spin on it and says thanks to her faith she was able to get over the hard times and stay with the man she promised to stay with till death do they part.

    I’d love to see the Fundies process that. They will, as a majority, but she’ll peel off some for sure. They may not vote for her, but they won’t vote for this hypocritical piece of shit.

  106. 106.

    Mnemosyne

    @MomSense:

    I don’t really listen to podcasts much — my old iPhone only had 16GB of memory so I couldn’t keep much audio on there. Maybe I’ll get back to it now that I have a phone with more memory.

  108. 108.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Enhanced Voting Techinques:

    a) Hilary is the victim, not the aggressor here. WTF does dainty hands think women voters think about a guy gloating about a woman being cheated on?

    Trump’s accusation is going to be that Hillary helped Bill commit rape. Of course, there are credible worse accusations against Trump himself, but he may be betting that Hillary won’t go there without solid evidence, so he can punch as much as he wants and she’ll be knocked back on the defensive.

  109. 109.

    El Caganer

    @Matt McIrvin: I didn’t know about that incident – that sounds more like something I’d expect from Wayne Madsen, not an intelligence professional. I haven’t seen anything like that at SST, which makes the disconnect between analysis of foreign affairs and unsupported opinions on domestic ones even more jarring. Screw it, I’d be better off not reading any of this shit and spending my retirement out on the beach.

  110. 110.

    MisterForkbeard

    @redshirt: Nah, the fundies will just say that she’s lying, not a real Christian and stayed with Bill for power’s sake.

    Then they’ll point at Trump and say he’s committed to advancing Christian values.

  115. 115.

    germy

    Major Garrett ✔@MajorCBS

    On @foxandfriends @realDonaldTrump said he won a @CBSNews post-debate poll. We did not conduct a post-debate poll.

  117. 117.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    @eclare:

    I assume so, since 2 hours 18 minutes is a long running time. I could see the Shea part being about 45 minutes or so.

    Germy would know.

  119. 119.

    Enhanced Voting Techinques

    @Matt McIrvin:

    Trump’s accusation is going to be that Hillary helped Bill commit rape. Of course, there are credible worse accusations against Trump himself, but he may be betting that Hillary won’t go there without solid evidence, so he can punch as much as he wants and she’ll be knocked back on the defensive.

    Hilary clinton, lesbain rapist, that would truely be a new one.

  121. 121.

    Keith G

    @RaflW:

    Part of what I don’t get is how his Tarnished City in a Ditch view of America works

    That’s not the issue. Almost all of Trumps support (from the fully commited to those who will hold their nose while voting) all share this amazingly hyper-developed dislike of Hillary. That is the glue. And for those who are not motivated by racism, Hillary is the focus that dwarfs other considerations.

  122. 122.

    Kathleen

    @germy: I really enjoyed that documentary. With all of the “Beatlemania” hype and the ground breaking albums they produced, it’s easy to overlook what a straight ahead kick bu** rock and roll band they were and their instrumental and vocal chops. The digital remastering enabled me to hear the harmonies and instruments clearly; it was like hearing Beatles music for the first time.

  125. 125.

    Kathleen

    @germy: I really enjoyed that documentary. With all of the “Beatlemania” hype and the ground breaking albums they produced, it’s easy to overlook what a straight ahead kick bu** rock and roll band they were and their instrumental and vocal chops. The digital remastering enabled me to hear the harmonies and instruments clearly; it was like hearing Beatles music for the first time.@germy: Yikes! Oh, wait. Can anyone really be older than a vampire?

  128. 128.

    Joel

    @Hal:

    The other reactions seem to be from folks who don’t vote and post memes literally boasting about being too enlightened to be fooled by politics because the illuminati or some shit.

    I’ve seen plenty of that. It’s living proof of the idiom, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”.

  129. 129.

    Miss Bianca

    @Anoniminous: Wow, so 84.4 million people witnessed Trump getting his ass torn off and handed to him by Hillary Clinton.

    Now, whether or not they actually all *understood* what they witnessed is open to its own debate.

  130. 130.

    JR in WV

    Mrs J and I watched the whole debate, disappointed that they didn’t give the moderator control over the microphones. Mr Trump talked for over 60 minutes, which actually was good for Secretary Clinton, as the more Trump said the stupider he sounded and looked.

    On the other hand, Ms Clinton started a little slow, but picked up speed rapidly, while Trump hit the same drum for the whole hour of the 90 minute period he spoke. He didn’t really talk, which connotes communication. Trump didn’t communicate, really. Clinton did. I noticed the big smile and shimmy in the later half of the debate.

    She was delighted, because she knew she was in control and doing well with that control. Very well. If she does half so well in the other two debates she will fly to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. We were both really buoyed up by the evening. It was great.

  131. 131.

    Chris Whitehead

    @RaflW,
    Just have to stand up for some business reporters I know, because they’ve gotten people indicted, fired, and/or put in jail for shit they tried to get away with. Today, the paper I used to work for no longer even has a business section. Hard times for papers, but also for the rest of us, because somebody has to watch these birds.

    Relatedly, even a great reporter isn’t necessarily a good moderator. Different skills. I thought Lester Holt did a good job of phrasing his questions to put both of them a bit on the defensive, of occasionally cutting one of them off, redirecting the conversation, or giving one or the other a chance to respond to something. Pretty thankless job, but I thought he did well. And happily, nothing he could have done would have made Trump suck less!

  132. 132.

    JR in WV

    @dww44:

    I quit watching NBC because of Andrea Mitchell, lying to my face about a speech I had just watched with my own eyes, and heard with my own ears, during the DNC party. She is despicable, beneath contempt, and I will not watch any news group associated with her in any way.

    So we switched to CBS, remembering the historic place of Walter Cronkite, et al. I’m so sorry to hear that Faux news underground has invaded that former bastion of reality.

    ABC is all we have left. I guess I can try it, although here locally they’re associated with the local Fox network station, and owned by Disney, whom I hate with a white hot passion. Thank FSM we still have Balloon-Juice, and LG&M~!!

  136. 136.

    dww44

    @JR in WV: Guess I too need to check out ABC. CBS is the dominant evening news program here because the local CBS affiliated station was for a long time the only local TV Station. It’s now being challenged locally by a Fox affiliate. They have a better weather person who knows his stuff, but he seems to be a climate change denier and they use political clips from Fox News in their local news segments as fillers.

    The NBC affiliate is weak and the local Fox station owner bought the ABC outlet a couple of years ago when it’s owner cut loose because of their “lurid’ programming and kept his spot on the local cable outlet. His former ABC channel now run lots of old reruns of the Wagon Train and Bonanza vintage. He and the cable owner have been in litigation ever since about his prime spot in the cable lineup. Channel 6.

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