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If only Trump had some sense of humor, wit. . . . Take the pets case . . . When David Muir retorted that some "city manager" said he hadn't seen evidence of immigrants (or anybody?) eating pets . . .

Could Donald have said . . . "Well, David, it's about 10 o'clock . . . Does he know where his dog is tonight?"

He could have kept to his story, and kept his cool as well

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Harris is manipulative and made a calculated move to take shots at Trumps ego which rattled him. With that said, you vote the best candidate. Harris is a marxist flip flopper and will flop right back to marxism if she wins the presidency. I am independent but will vote Trump because I dont want to queue for rations at the govt breadline when stores refuse to sell their products at a loss so instead they just stop making the products.

Youd have to be dim to think she wont flip flop back to all her old positions if she hoodwinks the swing voters.

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Trump was fact checked more because he made absurd claims that could not be allowed to stand, such as the "eating pets" and "executing babies" and "stolen election" bits. Mischaracterizing your opponent's words or hyperbolizing or cherry picking facts are probably just not going to get the attention that obvious, outrageous and blatant lies are going to get and probably shouldn't get fact checked in favor of letting the candidates duke those things out (Trump could have cleared the record about his Charlottesville comments, for example, maybe instead of taking the "boring rallies" bait - and lawdy how that landed where it should have!), and I for one was damn happy that ABC's moderators, figuring they were going to be labeled as "biased" regardless, chose Big Lies to call Trump out on his BS for once. If Trump didn't want to get fact checked real time he should have controlled his message better and stuck to facts versus his rally bullshit, and the fact that only Trump was real time fact checked is because it was only Trump telling Big Lies.

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She said trump wanted a blood bath, lied about charlottesville, lied about his abortion stance, liked about project 2025. She wasnt fact checked once. Pathetic excuse for a news organization, abc is

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Also, if you're going to be upset with anyone, get pissed at his Professional Troll, I mean VP pick, JD Vance, who I believe was the closest person to Trump to push the pet eating lie - the day before the debate. Knowing his "boss" is absurdly credulous to everything that fits his preferred narrative and that such a "punchy meme" would infest his boss's pudding smooth brain folds that there was no way that wouldn't come out on the debate stage, in the unhinged rant, in front of the what, 20 million live viewers? And who knows how many more millions watching the supercut of ; p

If Trump loses, Vance - and by extension the Trump Dunce sons that promoted his selection - will be a massive factor in that loss, he emphasizes all the the worst aspects and dumbest inclinations of Trump that gains him negatives in the voters he needs to win outside of his base. Oh the heady days of Trump's polling at a margin of error 3 points over Biden that convinced them to double, no triple down on the base strategy NJ here we come!! lol ;p

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She used his own comments and perhaps selectively edited them or portrayed them - but those are much different than outright lies about immigrants eating dogs and cats and doctors murdering delivered and viable babies and the stale ass stolen election BS. Politicians regularly distort, cherry pick and exaggerate. It was more on Trump to respond, or not, to those statements - of course he didn't because the real "zing" was about his rallies, so that tells you where his brain is at. Fact checking should be reserved for Big Lies, not the normal political hyperbole - Trump is unique in the former and it's about damn time he got served with it on a national stage instead of the usual steamroller of unchecked BS.

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Agreed that he said more that needed fact checking. On the other hand, it seemed to me that the moderators allowed him to talk over them repeatedly and to speak past his time. Harris did not transgress in this way at all. I believe he spoke for significantly more minutes. For sure, Harris was vague. I'm not an economist and I don't know exactly how to fix housing or inflation. But let's be real: Trump had his share of policy vagueness as well. He couldn't explain why, after nearly 10 years, he didn't have a specific alternative to the ACA. He couldn't address why he ordered GOP leadership to tank a painstakingly negotiated bipartisan border bill. Etc. Harris' statement that her client has always been the people may be hyperbole; but no one can seriously think that Trump really cares for anyone other than himself.

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Oh I 100% completely agree with everything you said here, just keeping my comment directed at the statement in the article that the moderators were biased because they fact checked Trump real time on these core Big Lies while letting Harris "slide" on what were otherwise completely fair game remarks.

I do wish they spent more time on Trump's absurd tariff "economic policy". He demonstrates over and over and over again that he simply does not understand how tariffs work, at all. They are not "bills due at port" issued to the nation of origin in order to access our ports. They are sales taxes added to products sold domestically, therefor it is definitely the case it is consumers that pay those tariffs. They were never designed to substitute for revenue to the USG - they are designed to disincentivize consumers from purchasing the now (artificially) more expensive foreign good in favor of its now (artificially) less expensive domestic alternative. The whole. point is to price foreign goods out of the market - if tariffs are successful, the USG gets little to no revenue from those tarrifs! So Trump's "policies" that his tariffs will pay for "child care" (for example, if you can glean that from his word salad response) are fails on their face - if his tariffs work, there won't be more revenue to pay for those programs coming from the tariffs.

But also - looking at the current globalized market compared to, say the early 1900s when tariffs were first introduced as domestic economic policy - there simply aren't "domestically produced alternatives" that are apples to apples to the foreign produced products. Hate and criticize all you want the policies of free trade for the past 40 years, promoted and extended by both parties and core economic industries, but that's the truth. So Trump's tariff policy won't just raise the price of say, a Chinese imported clothing or shoes or consumer electronic device so that the consumer can instead produce the American produced version of - there *is* no American produced counterpart to select from! Or tariffs on imported produce and food - same, there is not necessarily an American avocado bumper crop to substitute for "Avocados from Mexico!". Trump's tarrifs will instead raise the cost of pretty much every base good sold at Wal Mart and local grocery stores and pushed on down through pretty much every consumer good and product's supply chain where these costs will be increased. There won't be a ready alternative for a very long time, which means Trump is talking about raising the cost of just about every product and transaction nationally anywhere from 10-40%. So in a way, Trump's tariffs *will* produce revenue for the USG, functioning basically as a VAT, a highly regressive sales tax that will hit harder on exactly the population currently suffering the hardest under the current inflation - but definitely not in the fashion he stupidly insists on believing, that it will be "Gy-nuh" paying those tariffs and not every single American consumer on a sliding scale of those least able to afford it bearing the burden of.

But yes, "angry about inflation" Trump voters will be voting for this self own if he's able to implement this policy if he wins in 2024 - and the bad news is that he is able to impose those tariffs through Executive actions and orders like he did in his first term. It may be one of the few promises he can deliver and that will be unhindered by any checks or balances - or common sense given he is going to form his Administration with the likes of Kash Patel and other nuts and bolts and those from the narrow sets of industries that would actually benefit from this terrible policy (Elon Musk and Tesla ahem).

She hit him on that and I cheered but now the media needs to do its damn job, including TFP which still remains vaguely Trump and not vaguely-right wing favoring. Trump will be an economic disaster, bet.

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Two weeks ago, Christopher Ray, head of the FBI said, "I am hard pressed to think of a time in my career where so many different kinds of threats are all elevated at once.”

Not one question about this from ABC.

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It never ceases to amaze me how a supposedly successful, intelligent (according to him) and charismatic (again according to him) candidate can be so weak kneed in the presence of a schoolyard dig. The election was/is his to lose and he’s doing a fantastic job.

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...And another question: Why must we look for a president to be smooth, good-looking, always say and do the most well-liked moves of speech and media presence? Are we thinking there can be an President Angel Gabriel descended from Heaven to enlighten the world? Or the one that comes with the sword and knows the deserving and makes it clear to all for once and forever? I think that one is Michael. We seem to have a weakness in us for someone to know everything and save us from worry. Well, Harris has those cow eyes.

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My initial reaction after the debate was Trump did his Trump-thing and Kamala came off looking "normal-ish" and not all word-salady. Trump took her bait & missed opportunities to challenge her on just about everything. That being said, Kamala "won" but it won't change the minds of the Trump fans or Kamala fans either way. The only people that matter are the swing/undecided voters. It stuck out greatly that the moderators fact checked Trump in real time more than once & that wasn't their job- It was up to Kamala to debate him/respond & not the moderators. Also, all this talk of another debate- lets not forget Trump debated Biden once & Kamala once- why should he have to do 3 presidential debates bc the Dem's switched out their losing candidate?

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What do we really know about Kamala Harris after this debate? She claims to have a plan, but what exactly is it? She only shared three vague points that hardly constitute a serious strategy. What I heard was more storytelling than substance. She's upbeat and fun, assuring us that everything will be alright, but how? It's difficult to discern her true intentions when she simultaneously praises the Biden presidency's outcomes while proposing to diverge on many issues, all while insisting her values remain unchanged... While Trump has his own set of issues, I'm growing weary of this double standard. The scrutiny always seems to fall on one side, while Democrats escape criticism most of the time.

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The definition of fascism is the State - like the ones in charge now including faceless career workers and the confused Department of Education & HHS that boasts the great seaman "Admiral" Levine - wedded to Media (ABC, etc.) and Industry - like Pharma peddling Synthetic Cross sex Hormones (https://www.thestandardsc.org/jennifer-bilek/billionaires-funding-transgender-movement-for-profit/), SSRIs, etc. - wouldn't accountability be nice? Ok, Levine did produce children with seaman but he is 100% woman! More than me!! I will clap for the party. UK Cass Report anyone?

Shouldn't we advocate for Trump/Vance whose boasts Tulsi Gabbard (speech when she left the Democrat party: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Z1x8Ou8VU), RFK (healthy children!) and Elon Musk (free speech advocate who has been successful at a few things)?

May we at least discuss the Many "fibs" Harris told at the debate? Like the "Fine People" Hoax, Trumps' IVF position, abortion lines drawn after 7 or 8 months, positions on Fracking, lies about the military, etc.) And, the way she did not answer any questions but "pivoted" to prepared speeches on other topics?

But, I guess Hitler was orange? So, it's all great! Trump even has Jewish family and moved the capital of Israel to Jerusalem, while the Democrat party is pro-Hamas and backs the haters on college campuses. Go figure.

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Examine the debate through the prism of class. To those from the elite, educated class KH killed Trump. She answered more Qs, offered far more facts and won far more debate points.

But to the working class beset by inflation and immigration, Trump won in a landslide. He spoke repeatedly to their problems.

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Yes. I agree with you, Eric. The elite, educated class are more insulated from that madness. But, not all of the madness.

Trump is not a perfect vessel or perfect debater. But, if Harris/Walz win I am not sure I want to hear from anyone about anti-Semitism or how their children were transed - if the voted for them. The elite, educated class are not so insulated from that stuff. I will feel that I tried.... Of course, I am soft heated so this feeling will pass. However, there are some serious sociopaths behind the Democrat party positions- plus Dark Triad personality subtype people in medicine (amputating the breasts of teenage girls for $$, etc.). The elite are most at risk of that stuff - like Elon Musk's pal who talked CPS out of taking his young daughter on the spot and left his state (California) same day. The dude just didn't want to "affirm" his kid medically on the spot.

The moderators were arguing with Trump at the debate which is nuts.

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The debate was three against one. Two moderators and Harris against Trump. Give an unbiased editorial Free Press,”.

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The people on *both* the left and the right who do nothing but un-selfconciously fellate those on thier side, and spew acid towards the other with absolutely no self-doubt or humility are basically cultists. Us normal, well adjusted centrists and independents are getting pretty sick and tired of the idiotic antics, and BS of both the far left and far right.

We want our country back.

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LOL!

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Complaining about the referee has never changed the outcome of the game. Yes, they could have asked more aggressive follow up questions for Harris. BUT they let both candidates run on pretty much as long as they liked--when she ran on she was helping herself and making her case and when he ran on he was hurting himself, reverting to old, boring grievances and sounded like an unhinged lunatic

It would be great if the next one was moderated by Joy Reid and Shaun Hannity :)

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I’d like to see an actual piece of reporting from TFP which dissects the ridiculous bias brought forward by ABC and its moderators last night. Not likely to happen unfortunately. I thought TFP was all about truth telling. Get on it.

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Check out the clip of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Glenn Greenwald on Jimmydore.com. It’s pretty good!

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Dog bites man is not news.

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The choice is what it is ... a difficult but momentous one.

More of the last 4 years is guaranteed if Harris is elected. Unnamed, unelected people and gov. agencies are running the show, making the decisions for Biden and will continue to do so for Harris. She has no experience or knowledge of the economy, business or wider world - as can be gleaned from her California resumé. She can "prosecute", go after, snark very well .... but has she ever carried out any successful negotiations?

Worse, Democrats will do all they can, as promised, to eliminate the filibuster to force through their immediate, short term, partisan interests (NOT the people's or nation's long term interests).

The geopolitical threats will grow ... as they began and have increased since Biden was elected, Iran is stronger than ever; neither Putin nor China fear the current administration's threats. And ... the deep rooted antisemitism/anti-Israel among the "elites" is giving Iran and proxies more opportunities to act ... (Biden removed sanctions on Iran and retuned Billions as Obama did.)

Government will continue to grow its power & control over citizens, businesses and the economy with mountains of "regulations" ... not to support but to control and impose to keep and grow their powers.

Lawlessness will not be addressed but authorities' (police, ICE, etc.) hands will continue to be tied.

The people will decide and we WILL GET WHAT WE DESERVE one way or the other. A nation is never more or better than its citizens. (Note that the great Roman Empire simply became everyday Italians one day.)

The "greatest generation" who built this nation with values that are slowly being eliminated was a very long time ago. America is not what it was simply because of the Constitutional free choices of current citizens and governments ... Harris "will NOT go back" in her own words.

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Wish I could like this a million times 💯

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Forgot to add this :

Keith Ellison is being looked at by Harris' folks for the next AG .....

Walz, who with the Democrat Mayor emboldened the lawless and criminal by allowing them to burn their city (just as other Democrats mayors and governors SUPPORTED the Saint Floyd riots allowing them to spread across the country causing over $2 Billion in private and public damage ... Democrats all love the Keith Ellison types. (See YouTube "The Fall of Minneapolis").

In case of future riots and growing crime near you, do not count on Democrats to protect you if you are one of the vast majority of law abiding citizens. You will be ignored and/or called a racist for asking to be protected from the lawless.

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It’s a very accurate assessment from Eli. There’s so many bad Biden/Harris policies that can be picked apart with just a simple line or two and Trump didn’t capitalize on any of them. JD Vance has been much better in that area as of late. A concise version of his Twitter thread dismantling Harris’s entire platform should be the talking points at the next debate but I fear Trump will just continue with the same hyperbolic statements.

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