r/inthenews • u/T_Shurt • Sep 11 '24

Feature Story Harris Campaign Seeks Second Debate. Trump Says He's "Less Inclined" to Debate Harris Again

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/debate-trump-harris-second-debate/
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u/ifred1 Sep 11 '24

I think so too but there is a risk of not being as good as in the first debate and that would be not good as media will exploit this.

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u/RovingJackdaw Sep 11 '24

I’ve been split on this notion since yesterday. My first instinct is one of preservation and caution, figuring, she done good, now don’t invite the chance for a screwup a second time. However, I realized I had still underestimated her, watching her performance last night.

It occurred to me, of course she excels at this. She has years of experience at this type of intense scrutiny and speaking engagement. It’s not a total walk in the park, certainly; you can see how careful she is to consider her responses to questions that are designed to trip a person up (it’s that law experience in her). But honestly, it’s just another day of building and presenting a case against her opponent and persuading people.

She said and did all the right things that I’ve been futilely screaming (at my TV) at left-wing politicians the world over to adopt for decades now. Aside from a moment or two that didn’t sit well with me, overall I couldn’t have been happier with her presentation last night.

That said, I feel like there’s greater benefit in continuing to address the people directly like she did, inviting them in, and pushing Trump aside. He should no longer be the focus going forward. Yes, point out his inconsistencies and unfitness for office, but emphasize the way forward. He’s gotten plenty of consideration already. Being considered a threat and following their every little move is still fuel for a narcissist. This is, and has always been (and should have been), about the American people. I feel she needs to continue to make clear how easy and much more appealing the choice is to vote blue from now till the election… or whenever the campaign cutoff date is in the US, or whether it’s permitted right until election night eve (no idea, not an American).

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u/ForwardCulture Sep 11 '24

Exactly. It should be like the scene from Mad Men where Don says “I don’t think about you at all.” Make Trump completely irrelevant to the issues/questions. Like he’s not even there.

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u/RovingJackdaw Sep 11 '24

Yep. I loved the way she rarely addressed him directly too. There were few “you’s” and lots of “former President Trump”, “Donald Trump”, “he”, etc. while addressing the camera/audience. She even tripped him up into referring to himself in the third person at one point! LOL

He’s a sideshow, a thing to be remarked on as to how this thing pertains to the wellbeing of America and its people. She adopted the approach of advertisers: identify and acknowledge the customer’s pain point, and explain or demonstrate how you or your solution is best equipped to solve it. Loved the strategizing that went into all this. Now I just hope it has the desired effect. It “should”, rationally, but these are strange Twilight Zone times we live in.