Tom, Good look at the debate from a position of someone who has been there. I think you are correct: the debate most likely isn't the big differentiator -- exciting voters and getting them to the polls is.
I couldn't agree more, Tom. That's what concerns me the most about our elections, especially those distracting us with sideshow performances and outer-space perspectives. They are a total distraction to what's really going on. And we do not have the time or energy to be distracted from the serious to existential issues that we need to address.
Tom, I have never appreciated contextualization of the candidates as much as I do this year. After years of noise, rhetoric, vitriol, misstatements and distortions - even for someone who knows where they stand and stays well-informed, I find I need a buffer and a bit of translation to process it all.
Good point. All the claims, data, proposals and just plain noise not only CAN be confusing, but sometimes are INTENDED by the candidates to be confusing. The “immigrants eating pets” anecdote is a case in point. Even if it were true - and the evidence suggests it is not - it does more to deflect attention from the serious issues posed by immigration, from border security to the status of those already in the country to our country’s need for a transparent, fair and predictable process for allowing people into the U.S.
Very good analysis and helpful insights.
Very insightful as usual
Tom, Good look at the debate from a position of someone who has been there. I think you are correct: the debate most likely isn't the big differentiator -- exciting voters and getting them to the polls is.
I couldn't agree more, Tom. That's what concerns me the most about our elections, especially those distracting us with sideshow performances and outer-space perspectives. They are a total distraction to what's really going on. And we do not have the time or energy to be distracted from the serious to existential issues that we need to address.
Tom, I have never appreciated contextualization of the candidates as much as I do this year. After years of noise, rhetoric, vitriol, misstatements and distortions - even for someone who knows where they stand and stays well-informed, I find I need a buffer and a bit of translation to process it all.
Good point. All the claims, data, proposals and just plain noise not only CAN be confusing, but sometimes are INTENDED by the candidates to be confusing. The “immigrants eating pets” anecdote is a case in point. Even if it were true - and the evidence suggests it is not - it does more to deflect attention from the serious issues posed by immigration, from border security to the status of those already in the country to our country’s need for a transparent, fair and predictable process for allowing people into the U.S.