GOP lawmakers and analysts virtually unanimous that Trump was second best to Harris in first presidential debate
  • PoorlyWrittenPapyrus@lemmy.world
    1021·
    2 months ago

    You know this is elder abuse, it’s sad to see.

    He’s clearly going through some form of age related mental decline. He should really drop out, for the good of the country, just like Biden did when the republicans were so sincerely worried about his mental decline and called for him to drop out.

    • Wrench@lemmy.world
      8·
      2 months ago

      I think they were surprised at how unhinged he got, and looked impotent with rage.

      He’s usually surrounded by sycophants that he can bully around and they get linched by his mob if they don’t fall in line. Or he just gets up and leaves any interview that challenges his bullshit, and can leave with the last word. His childish tantrums can get reduced to soundbites that make him look like the winner to his followers who are also petty adult children.

      But here, Harris was in frame laughing at his meltdowns and clearly easily pushing his buttons where it hurt, and he could do nothing but stomp over the so called moderation to steal airtime, just to look like a petulant child who needed a nap.

    • MorrisonMotel6@lemm.ee
      7·
      2 months ago

      Seriously. He has a significant body of “work” on which to draw from. Like almost a decade of televised rambling, hip shot word salads…

  • Optional@lemmy.world
    42·
    2 months ago

    “Viktor Orbán is known for destroying Hungarian democracy using techniques Trump has tried to copy,” said David Driesen, a constitutional law professor at Syracuse University, who has written on the capture of democratic institutions by autocratic leaders. “It was surreal to hear Trump cite Orbán’s praise as validation of his own leadership.”

    It wasn’t surreal. That’s . . It was not surreal.

    • sarcasticsunrise@lemmy.world
      6·
      2 months ago

      I don’t know why at this point, but my jaw dropped when he was verbally sucking off Orbán. I couldn’t believe how much he was glazing that piece of shit, but then I remembered who’s mouth it was coming out of. Donald sure loves that “iron fist” approach to “leadership”

    • Xenny@lemmy.world
      51·
      2 months ago

      He already said no to any future debate including on Fox News. He’s got his tail between his legs, probably too afraid it will get eaten.

    • Zombiepirate@lemmy.worldEnglish
      17·
      2 months ago

      Either that or they’ll just pretend he won. The jagoffs who watch only care about him appearing to be dominant, and Fox will cut it up to make him look that way

        • Zombiepirate@lemmy.worldEnglish
          13·
          2 months ago

          I mean, they still pretend like Jan 6 was only a few people walking around like tourists. I take your point, but reality has little bearing on what they profess to believe.

          Although, yes, this does make him look like a dumb joke which is absolutely what needs to be done to fascists. Even a little doubt can start the cracks in his base while they all point fingers about whose fault it is.

          • Sparking@lemm.eeEnglish
            2·
            2 months ago

            Oh, I hear ya dude. The emperor isn’t naked until he is in jail. But more important than anything - it feels bad to loose like this. The whole point of pretending is that you get to feel “strong” and like you are “owning the libs” or whatever. Now, it’s like, what’s the point? They just want to lose again, and get made fun of.

    • reddig33@lemmy.world
      3·
      2 months ago

      “Dismayed” is such a strange choice of wording. Like “slightly annoyed” or “disappointed” or “it’s regretful”.

    • modifier@lemmy.ca
      2·
      2 months ago

      Mystifying to contemplate this late in the public awareness of Donald Trump but it did have a hint of that feeling last night.

  • circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org
    7·
    2 months ago

    Even with Trump insisting to have won the debate “by a lot”, Republicans were virtually unanimous that Trump had come off second best in a series of exchanges that saw the vice-president deliberately bait him on his weak points while he responded with visible anger.

    Trump has become so accustomed to the Goebbels’ ploy of “if you repeat a lie enough times, it becomes true”. While the terrifying part of that ploy is that it usually works, it does have limits when supporters are asked to deny something they personally witnessed. He can say he did great, but it’s very much like the wizard asking people not to look behind the curtain – after they’ve already looked back there.

    What should be a GOP call of “let’s make sure Trump does better next time” can only become “Trump already nailed it and if you don’t agree then you’re wrong”. I can’t imagine it will do anything but alienate swing voters who may have been on the fence but could be off it if the party messaging is completely disconnected from what they saw.

    • Zoboomafoo@slrpnk.net
      5·
      2 months ago

      Perhaps, I think in a week Fox will have brainwashed the GOP into thinking it was a victory

      The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. (1984)