# 2020 POTUS Debate 1 (29 September) follow-along and discussion thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 30, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854 "2020-09-30T00:30:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/441 "2020-09-30T15:56:04Z")
True dat. Not easy to do, but that’s probably the right approach. ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/442 "2020-09-30T16:00:31Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > The one thing I would have liked to see from Biden was turning that disaster against Trump. It would not have been hard: > > “What we are seeing right now is the reason that Donald Trump is a failed president. He is incapable of listening. He did not listen to the scientists when they told him COVID would kill hundreds of thousands of Americans. He did not listen to his economic experts when they told him that ignoring the pandemic would be disastrous to American jobs. He did not listen to his foreign policy advisors when they told him that Putin is not our friend. Donald Trump is incapable of listening, and we are seeing that on full display here tonight. A president has to listen, and Donald Trump can’t do that.” Yes! That was just one of the many opportunities to trump Trump that were missed. But that was a shit storm that was unwinnable. Biden did okay in a very tough environment. (I still think the Biden campaign should emphasis the thoughtfulness and hard work it takes to do this job and dismiss pithy slogans as being simpleminded patter- not policy.) Like Biden I have trouble getting my tongue and mouth to adequately express my ideas quickly so I am sympathetic (also why so much I post is faux formal speech - any quick response will be less than ideal), but being quick with the tongue is not nearly as important as actually thinking before one speaks. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/443 "2020-09-30T16:04:37Z")
I thought Biden was just OK. He’s never been a great public speaker, I think dealing with the stutter slows him down a bit. He seemed a little slow and stumbly at the beginning, but he got better once he settled in. I would’ve handled a few things differently. When Wallace pushed him in why he didn’t call for officials in Portland to call in federal help, he replied “because I’m not currently holding public office” which was the right answer, but I think he should’ve expanded on it - with lines about “one President at a time” and “not wanting to do anything to interfere with the current Administration’s strategy” I would’ve addressed the comments about Hunter by jokingly promising not to install my children in high level positions inside my administration. I’m surprised that not more attention has been drawn to Trumps obvious outright lie about the amount of tax he paid in response to Wallace’s tightly phrased question. He was obviously pulling numbers out of his ass - 36 million, 27 million. But I thought Biden hit the right spot with his demeanor. The eye rolling, the not quite under his breath insults, the cool contempt, the conspiratorial exasperation he shared with Wallace. And I can’t believe how few commentators picked up on Trump’s most kindergartenish moment - “you’re a number two”. Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States. > **[The Debate's Biggest Insults](https://www.newser.com/story/296839/the-debates-biggest-insults.html)** > > 'No, you're a number two' ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/444 "2020-09-30T16:06:32Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > He has turned what used to be at least a somewhat useful means for both candidates to explain their goals and policies into a spectacle to turn the American people against their system of government. Yes, a schoolboy trick for someone who didn’t do their homework and tries to distract the teacher before they ask you to turn it in. Trump has no goals other than re-election and no policy other than pandering to those who voted him in. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/445 "2020-09-30T16:08:20Z")
I hope the New York State prosecutors’ offices are filing the tapes of il Doofus signaling to his goons, in support for a future request that his sentence be served in a maximum security facility on the grounds that the usual white-collar prisons are insufficient for someone who is a likely subject of violent “rescue” attempts. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/446 "2020-09-30T16:15:22Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > You are a politician’s wet dream. Moderating: Don’t be a jerk. No warning (yet). ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/447 "2020-09-30T16:15:56Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > We were disappointed, but it sure isn’t changing our vote. And I don’t know whose vote would change. I can imagine some people might have been turned off by Biden’s apparent age and befuddlement, but some would also be turned off by Trump’s bluster. What purpose are these debates supposed to serve, and who are they supposed to appeal to? Not a single vote was changed in this debate. The only possible impact may be in who stays home and who comes out to vote (or mail a ballot) despite the Trump shit show and the Biden nice guy barely there show. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/448 "2020-09-30T16:16:04Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I suggest they give the moderator a button which does two thing simultaneously, first, it stops the clock on Biden’s time, (and, with luck he falls silent to just watch the Pres melt down!) second part plays, ‘Hail to The Chief‘ deafeningly loud, while the moderator, Biden, audience and home viewers watch in silent amusement. Well, if we want to get some amusement out of il Doofus’ antics, I suggest that instead of playing loud music we just run his microphone feed through a filter than makes him sound like Donald Duck’s speech-impaired cousin. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/449 "2020-09-30T16:21:44Z")
What are practical ways to penalize interrupting in debates? This is rude regardless of whether done by a D or R. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/450 "2020-09-30T16:25:05Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I know they both prepped heavily Cheetolini [says](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-has-laid-a-trap-for-the-debate-but-hell-be-the-one-to-step-into-it/2020/09/28/eecaadd2-ff39-11ea-8d05-9beaaa91c71f_story.html) that he didn’t need to do any prep work because… > Trump has said he doesn’t need to buckle down on briefing books or load down his schedule with practice sessions and mock debates. “I sort of prepare every day by just doing what I’m doing,” he has claimed. Apparently golf, watching TV, and tweeting are preparation enough. ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/451 "2020-09-30T16:37:18Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I only watched part of the response to the first question, but my wife’s and my initial reaction was, boy, did Biden look old. In his response, he seemed to misspeak several times. And tho he said Trump lied, it could have been hard to notice in the BS format. Biden did get off to a slow start, he got going better later in the process but he was never anywhere near the word per minute that trump hit. Again, pondering and being thoughtful should not be a negative attribute, but it obviously is. I convinced a young woman who was an ardent Trump supporter when I met her and gets all of her info from social media that are “Christian” sources (basically FOX and Limbaugh talking points). She wouldn’t watch it with me but she watched it with her elderly parents who are very devoted FOX News viewers and Trump supporters. Five minutes in she messaged me that Trump was a bull in a china shop. Then that she wished Trump would shut up more and let Biden talk. A few more comments then twenty minutes in: “I am out, this is pointless.” I couldn’t get her to say anything else until after the white hot mess had ended and we were both less intense. After much prodding she finally admitted her true feelings: Biden is so old and slow! He is the better of the two, but my friends tell me after he is elected and inaugurated he will quit and make (with sneer) KAMALA president. She will make Bernie Sanders vice president and recruit “The Squad” as cabinet members (that was surely someone else- she has little idea what the cabinet is), we will all be under Sharia Law by the end of her term!!! Explaining to her that Biden is as close to a Republican as the Democratic Party has made no impact on her propaganda influenced mind. The misinformation campaign is obviously effective with this crowd (I have many extended family members in her religious sphere of influence and I know many of them also receive this garbage and eat it up with a spoon). The trope is well established and almost impossible to overcome – IF YOU VOTE FOR ANY DEMOCRAT, IT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO COMMUNISM AND SHARIA LAW. Even when in a moment of clarity any of them will admit it isn’t true temporarily – it comes back up after the next tweet or e-mail. Fortunately most Republicans I know around this area are more rational and reasonable people and not so motivated by fear. Biden is the guy to win them over. I believe we should all help others to realize a quick tongue and bluster are not as important as character and thought. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/452 "2020-09-30T17:01:07Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Apparently golf, watching TV, and tweeting are preparation enough. In a sense they are, because he doesn’t even try to debate. His strategy was to just knock the chessboard over and hope people would blame Joe Biden for not thinking to glue the pieces down. It’s working, too. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/453 "2020-09-30T17:03:39Z")
> [@Temporary\_Name](#): > > I believe we should all help others to realize a quick tongue and bluster are not as important as character and thought. I wear [my shirt](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/B1EryObaEWS._AC_CLa%7C2140%2C2000%7C61D0IyMgRTL.png%7C0%2C0%2C2140%2C2000%2B0.0%2C0.0%2C2140.0%2C2000.0_SX679._SX._UX._SY._UY_.png) nearly every time I go out and will continue to until at least 3 November. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/454 "2020-09-30T17:07:11Z")
I don’t want the moderator to have a mute button. I want her to be able to shut the whole thing down and send everyone home. If Donald won’t play by the rules then he shouldn’t get to play. ---
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/455 "2020-09-30T17:12:30Z")
Are there really any genuinely undecided voters at this point? There are no finer points of policy to hear more about, no similar approaches to America’s problems to be further defined, no common ground at all. So what more do they need to make their decision? I suspect anyone calling themselves ‘undecided’ is simply a Trump voter trying to look rational. But how rational can you be and still be undecided. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/456 "2020-09-30T17:12:58Z")
Cite that it’s “working,” please. Cuz from what I’ve seen and read today, that isn’t true. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/457 "2020-09-30T17:13:26Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > I don’t want the moderator to have a mute button. I want her to be able to shut the whole thing down and send everyone home. If Donald won’t play by the rules then he shouldn’t get to play. Any moderated muting of Trump will be seen by MAGATS as evidence of the ‘deep state’ working to undermine dear orange leader. It’s a short enough walk for these morons under the best of circumstances, but why give them more opportunities for whining. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/458 "2020-09-30T17:16:40Z")
I agree. I started a thread about that a while ago. There are some people so clueless they don’t know anything and I doubt would make any rational decision based on a debate. The rest are clearly lying. ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/459 "2020-09-30T17:24:44Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I wear [my shirt](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/B1EryObaEWS._AC_CLa%7C2140%2C2000%7C61D0IyMgRTL.png%7C0%2C0%2C2140%2C2000%2B0.0%2C0.0%2C2140.0%2C2000.0_SX679._SX._UX._SY._UY_.png) nearly every time I go out and will continue to until at least 3 November. I love this shirt and certainly hope it becomes outdated in just over a month from now! But I mean in a bigger context. Many jobs are demanding but being President of the United States is a big complex job that requires more than a quick comeback. To do the job well, something that has not happened recently, takes thought and work and some compromise and (as someone else said upthread) listening!! We all know better, but perhaps for the sake of marginal Trump supporters it might be worthwhile to repeatedly bang home the simple message: It is MUCH harder to be a good President of the USA than it is to a TV personality! I would love to hear someone of gravitas say to Trump: “I just heard you were a reality TV star, were on one of the housewives shows?” ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854/460 "2020-09-30T17:25:32Z")
Here’s a [slightly deeper dive](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/30/undecided-voters-trump-biden-debate-423545) into that Frank Luntz-conducted focus group. It seems that Biden was able to convert a few fence-sitters but others remain undecided, partly because “[m]any put a greater onus on Biden to deliver strong answers than Trump — excusing the president’s behavior as ‘typical’ or just Trump being Trump.” Sigh … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-potus-debate-1-29-september-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/921854.md?page=24)