One guy came prepared to have a debate. The other guy came prepared for an interview with Scott Pelley. It wasn't pretty at all to watch, and after both parties had dutifully agreed that the corporate income tax should be lowered even though most U.S. corporations pay zero income tax, I threw up my hands in exasperation, turned off the TV and went out for sushi before things got any worse. And apparently, they did.
Someone needs to remind Team Democrat's standard-bearer that a debate in our modern-day political arena is less a reasoned exchange of ideas than a sales pitch to the voters. What you're pitching to the voters is the fidelity of your brand, and how your brand can/does/will add value to individual voters' lives, and to a lesser extent, to society as a whole. The former Chairman of Bain Capital Partners may be a consummate bullshit artist, but on a certain persuasive level, he can be an effective pitchman---so if you can't or won't match the bullshit, and your own brand's identity is hazy at best, then at least show some passion for the product you're selling. If you don't, people might come away thinking that there's no compelling reason to vote for you!
And yes, I know this could all be some 11-Dimensional Rope-a-Dope strategy the President is employing here, letting the challenger punch himself out until the knockout punch gets delivered in the next round---but if that's the case, it's way too late in the game to be taking those kinds of chances. This ain't primary season, guys.
---Vitelius
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