“Why Trump Won the Debate” – A Counternarrative

 

Kaylee McGhee White argues that Trump won the debate in a Washington Examiner article. She says that Kacklin’ Kamala’s main task was to explain what she would do if she won the election. Half of Americans think she’s too liberal, 55% think she’s no different than Joe Biden, and 30% say they need to know more about her. White argues that Kamala did none of those things last night. She failed to define what she intended to do, and she intentionally remained vague about her policies. On the other hand, Trump’s behavior, while perhaps less than ideal, was nothing new; so it changed nothing about the perception of him. Since debates rarely make a difference in the polls, she argues that this debate will not make much difference and that, of the minor change that could be affected, it was Kamala who needed to make it.

I’m not sure I completely agree with White, but she does make an important point. Kamala missed an opportunity to define herself at the debate. Trump missed that chance too. But Trump still has an opening to define Kamala over the next two months — if he’ll just take it. The window is closing, so he has to move quickly.

Published in Election 2024
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  1. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    thanks. Will be worth a read

    • #1
  2. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Even if Trump during the “debate” only beeped “yes” or “no” from a motorized wheelchair like Captain Pike, electing Harris would still be a mistake.

    • #2
  3. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    NYP Take

    https://nypost.com/2024/09/11/opinion/harris-survived-the-debate-with-a-huge-assist-from-the-moderators-but-trump-scored-crucial-points/

     

    • #3
  4. 9thDistrictNeighbor Member
    9thDistrictNeighbor
    @9thDistrictNeighbor

    Steve Fast: Kamala missed an opportunity to define herself at the debate. Trump missed that chance too.

    If Kamala’s self-definition aligned with reality and people knew what she really stands for she wouldn’t have a snowballs chance with the vaunted independent undecided voter.  Trump got a few factual zingers in between being tag-teamed.  

    • #4
  5. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Kamala might have had a chance to do all that, if the “moderators” had left off scrapping with Trump.

    • #5
  6. Steve Fast Member
    Steve Fast
    @SteveFast

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even if Trump during the “debate” only beeped “yes” or “no” from a motorized wheelchair like Captain Pike, electing Harris would still be a mistake.

    That’s a fantastic line!

    • #6
  7. Steve Fast Member
    Steve Fast
    @SteveFast

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    NYP Take

    https://nypost.com/2024/09/11/opinion/harris-survived-the-debate-with-a-huge-assist-from-the-moderators-but-trump-scored-crucial-points/

     

    Great article. Thanks for sharing.

    • #7
  8. Steve Fast Member
    Steve Fast
    @SteveFast

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even if Trump during the “debate” only beeped “yes” or “no” from a motorized wheelchair like Captain Pike, electing Harris would still be a mistake.

    But where is the video clip of Capt. Pike? You’re falling down on your job! Just kidding.

    • #8
  9. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Steve Fast (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even if Trump during the “debate” only beeped “yes” or “no” from a motorized wheelchair like Captain Pike, electing Harris would still be a mistake.

    But where is the video clip of Capt. Pike? You’re falling down on your job! Just kidding.

    I thought about it, but figured that for people who didn’t already understand the reference, and in context too, it probably wouldn’t help.

    • #9
  10. Gossamer Cat Coolidge
    Gossamer Cat
    @GossamerCat

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    NYP Take

    https://nypost.com/2024/09/11/opinion/harris-survived-the-debate-with-a-huge-assist-from-the-moderators-but-trump-scored-crucial-points/

     

    And: https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2024/09/11/reuters-post-debate-poll-n2644621

    • #10
  11. Saint Augustine Member
    Saint Augustine
    @SaintAugustine

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    And: https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2024/09/11/reuters-post-debate-poll-n2644621

    Those goofballs don’t know how to proofread.

    According to a post-debate CNN survey, the percentage of voters who trust Trump with the economy increased from 16 to 20 percent. 

    Before the debate, Trump had a 16-point advantage over Harris on the economy, 53-37 percent. However, after the debate, Trump’s lead increased to 20 percent, 55-35 percent.

    Keep the second effort at stating the point. Delete the first. Goofballs.

    • #11
  12. Gossamer Cat Coolidge
    Gossamer Cat
    @GossamerCat

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    And: https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2024/09/11/reuters-post-debate-poll-n2644621

    Those goofballs don’t know how to proofread.

    According to a post-debate CNN survey, the percentage of voters who trust Trump with the economy increased from 16 to 20 percent.

    Before the debate, Trump had a 16-point advantage over Harris on the economy, 53-37 percent. However, after the debate, Trump’s lead increased to 20 percent, 55-35 percent.

    Keep the second effort at stating the point. Delete the first. Goofballs.

    Good catch!  

    • #12
  13. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    And: https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2024/09/11/reuters-post-debate-poll-n2644621

    Those goofballs don’t know how to proofread.

    According to a post-debate CNN survey, the percentage of voters who trust Trump with the economy increased from 16 to 20 percent.

    Before the debate, Trump had a 16-point advantage over Harris on the economy, 53-37 percent. However, after the debate, Trump’s lead increased to 20 percent, 55-35 percent.

    Keep the second effort at stating the point. Delete the first. Goofballs.

    Good catch!

    Or make it “margin of voters who trust Trump with the economy more than Harris”

    But that would probably still confuse some people, so best to just delete it.

    • #13
  14. OkieSailor Member
    OkieSailor
    @OkieSailor

    9thDistrictNeighbor (View Comment):

    Steve Fast: Kamala missed an opportunity to define herself at the debate. Trump missed that chance too.

    If Kamala’s self-definition aligned with reality and people knew what she really stands for she wouldn’t have a snowballs chance with the vaunted independent undecided voter. Trump got a few factual zingers in between being tag-teamed.

    Which is why she will never define herself, it would be political suicide.  It was Trump’s job to define her and he failed to do that.

    • #14
  15. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302

    I didn’t watch. I value my time.

    The debates are for the media, the political junkies and the people who hate the other candidate. The last group watches because they want to see a car crash, or their paladin standing over the bloody corpse of their foe.

    The overlapping group in the Venn Diagram is quite large.

    Notice who’s missing? Undecided voters. I don’t think they watch debates because they have other concerns. I’m curious to know how many undecided voters vote.

     

     

     

     

    • #15
  16. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Steve C. (View Comment):

    I didn’t watch. I value my time.

    The debates are for the media, the political junkies and the people who hate the other candidate. The last group watches because they want to see a car crash, or their paladin standing over the bloody corpse of their foe.

    The overlapping group in the Venn Diagram is quite large.

    Notice who’s missing? Undecided voters. I don’t think they watch debates because they have other concerns. I’m curious to know how many undecided voters vote.

    Actually vote, or just have their ballot voted for them?

    • #16
  17. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Fresh from The Liberal Hivemind on YouTube:

     

    • #17
  18. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Steve C. (View Comment):

    I didn’t watch. I value my time.

    The debates are for the media, the political junkies and the people who hate the other candidate. The last group watches because they want to see a car crash, or their paladin standing over the bloody corpse of their foe.

    The overlapping group in the Venn Diagram is quite large.

    Notice who’s missing? Undecided voters. I don’t think they watch debates because they have other concerns. I’m curious to know how many undecided voters vote.

     

    This just came up this morning, seems like good news:

     

    • #18
  19. Steve Fast Member
    Steve Fast
    @SteveFast

    Steve C. (View Comment):

    I didn’t watch. I value my time.

    I worked on my pickup and installed a pair of new engine mounts for the front. Much more pleasant, and less swearing, than if I had watched the debate.

    • #19
  20. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    Steve Fast (View Comment):

    Steve C. (View Comment):

    I didn’t watch. I value my time.

    I worked on my picked and installed a pair of new engine mounts for the front. Much more pleasant, and less swearing, than if I had watched the debate.

    Chevies used to be engine-swappable in an afternoon. When I was a kid, I watched it done in a neighbor’s yard, putting a small block V8 where an inline six had been. Or as the neighbor’s wife said, “He took out the blue one and put in an orange one.”

    • #20
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