The absurd debate
 

Hillary has to seem forthright. Trump has to seem presidential. I think I'll check out Netflix.

My wife mentioned to me this morning that thinking about the debate makes her want to throw up.

I feel your cynicism, Griff. I've been periodically overcome by despair in this political season.

I know what I want in a president and Clinton is vastly closer to best case and Trump has reset the worst case standard.

The highlighted terms in your post are talking/promotion points important to the media, a sea in which we swim, but not characteristics that really matter, or that reliably indicate fitness for the office.

I'll definitely be watching. I will notice the things that you mentioned, but they're not deciding factors for me. They're only important for promoters, and other shallow thinkers.

When my kids are having an argument,
sometimes I'll make them put their foreheads together and count to ten, in unison.

if that stops working:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...88a2b6ac55.jpg

'Merica needs a get along t-shirt.

We watched Hail Caesar! and continued our post weekend clean-up.

You missed a big ol"can of whoopass.

Find a clip of BigV-approved whoopass and I'll probably watch it. But I can't bring myself to slog through hours of crap just to find that nugget.

Challenge accepted.

I watched about 40 minutes of it. Listened, is more honest. I was on my device while the TV was on.

I didn't see any major screw ups by either one and don't think any supporter of either candidate saw anything to change their minds.

Trump all but admitted that he doesn't pay taxes. He said something like "they would be wasted by poor government spending choices too" where "would" implies a hypothetical situation that doesn't actually exist. When confronted with all the examples of how he's a ruthless businessman who doesn't pay for work done for him, he replied that he takes advantage of the laws available in the countries where he does business. So he wasn't denying the stiffing contractors thing, or the not paying taxes thing.

Hillary kept pummeling him with accusations without sounding like a bitch, but he just deflected every one with his Trump lies. A Trump supporter would think he had an answer for everything and did a good job.

So in a nutshell, I felt dirty and gross having listened to those 40 minutes, and I wish I had watched Hail Caesar! like Grifftopia did.

The debate changes nothing in this election.

hoping the electoral college will do the right thing and vote in Radio Raheem. Or anyone but Trump.

The most unsettling thing is so many 'Merican's (intentional gratuitous apostrophe) agree with him and see nothing wrong with his belligerence and where it could take us; t worst to some huge cluster fuck or a war that would make Vietnam and Iraq pale in comparison, or at best create an immense US Global PR problem on account of his big stupid tactless lying mouth.

He reminds me of a high-functioning Duterte.

When it gets dirty, most of us blame all participants. That is the emotional response. Fewer then blame the one who turned it all dirty. That one person makes all others appear dirty because cheapshots by one always turn discussion into a childish spitting match.

We know The Donald is an expert. His best support exists from mocking one as Little Marco or attacking the beauty of Fiorina. Even Ted Cruz, another unscrupulous bully, could not outdo The Donald's abuse. Ridicule is why he is popular. Because children and adults who are still children respect and want to be hostile just like that bully.

Anytime a bully becomes venomous, it dirties all others in the room - if listener is only hearing emotionally.

am so burned out on all of it I only watched bits and pieces
 

Substance: didn't hear anything from either that I haven't heard already (from them, their proxies, their critics).

Style: he was poorly focused and frenetic; she was smarmy and smirky.

Neither did well.