TomCat is busy with personal business today and tomorrow so I thought I would, in his absence, bring you the final presidential debate of 2020 and some commentary.
I must have been demented at the time, but I managed to sit through the 90 plus minutes of the second (some say the third, but the originally scheduled second debate was cancelled because of Trump’s dance with COVID-19) presidential debate. If you have not already seen it, here it is in its entirety.
I have to admit that for the first 30 minutes or so, either the mute button worked wonders or Trump restrained himself. I think it was the former. Trump has no understanding of restraining himself. After that point, the gloves came off, albeit he was not the raving lunatic pugilist that I saw in the first debate. NBC’s Kristen Welker did a great job moderating but I think at times it was a challenge.
Following is a fact check of the debate by Canadian journalist Daniel Dale who now works for CNN. I just had to get that “Canadian plug” in! As Dale said, from a fact checker’s point of view there was a lot more fact checking required than in the first debate, and mostly of Trump but Biden did make some errors.
Basically, what we got in a calmer debate was a collision of visions. Trump sees a business-dominant America, even in a pandemic, with fewer federal programs and individual responsibility to take care of oneself—except for areas where he has an interest like abortion. Biden embraces bigger government services, healthcare, environment and caring for the vulnerable. …
Trump likely did not persuade new voters. Biden may have done so, but certainly did not lose any.
The hard part was sitting still while they went at it, trying to remember that Hunter Biden isn’t running against Xi Jinping for U.S. president. At some points, you wondered whether they could agree on what color the stage was.
The “funniest” line came from Trump and it just shows how addled he is: from TPM(read the whole article if you can)
“I take full responsibility,” Trump said, before quickly adding: “It’s not my fault it came here. It’s China’s fault.”
An inukshuk (what some refer to as a pile of rocks) has more brains than Trump! An inukshuk has great meaning and use. Trump does not!
The late John Turner, the 17th Prime Minister of Canada and a Liberal, who died two weeks ago at age 91 said “Democracy does not happen by accident. Become involved! Get out there! Give something back!” That is the only way Trump and Republicans will be defeated.
Vote like your life depends on it, because it does!
I know I was not up to watching last night’s debate, and I doubt TC was either (unless that was why he overslept – probably not, it airs earlier the farther west one lives.) So I’m grateful The Conversation came to my rescue (to the rescue of us all) with this article.
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden met on Oct. 22 for the final debate in the 2020 election and, like the first debate, it was unusual.
COVID-19 forced social distancing and largely took the studio audience, with their laughter, cheering and booing out of the equation.
What’s more, with norm-breaking interruptions and stealing of speaking time an inherent part of Donald Trump’s debate strategy, the contentious crosstalk between the two candidates and the moderator made long sections of the candidates’ first debate nearly impossible to hear or follow. The threat of having the microphone cut off effectively muted this aggression.
But is what they say as important as we think?
Although news coverage generally focuses on what the candidates say, as a political psychologist who studies nonverbal behavior, I focus less on the rehearsed answers and more on the space between talking points. These moments, when candidates nonverbally – and largely involuntarily – respond to their opposition can be enormously revealing.
In other words, how people listen and react may speak louder than what they say.
During this debate Joe Biden reacted as the emotionally expressive politician he has been throughout his career.
Even when directly dealing with attacks from Trump, whether aimed at his family or his record, Biden often smiled, laughed and shook his head while closing his eyes. That made him appear bemused, if not jovial.
Laughter when under attack likely signals that Biden feels positive enough to be playful and that he is subtly taking control of the conversation.
Trump
A signature Trump expression known as the ‘lip funneler.’ C-SPAN
Trump presented a much less aggressive and more thoughtful face to the American public during this second debate, especially when compared to the first one.
Instead of directly attacking Biden when his assertions were questioned, Trump responded with what may best be termed a controlled-posed smile, in which his lower lip is pressed up while his lip corners were pulled up in a smile. This type of smile is often used to mask negative emotions or to signal positive emotions when they are not felt.
Perhaps Trump’s signature facial display is his protruding funneled lips. This lip funneler – as it is referred to by facial display researchers – can often be seen while Trump is listening and preparing to interrupt or respond to Biden. The research that exists about this behavior in humans suggests it is a primal display often occurring during intense emotional situations and is associated with anger and threats while engaging in dominance-seeking behavior.
Much can be learned about each candidate with the noise turned down and the attention placed squarely on their distinct nonverbal behavior styles.
This is especially the case when focusing on how the candidates respond to their opposition’s assertions and attacks. Public figures can often control how they act. However, they often do not have as much control over how they react in the heat of the moment.
Sound and Fury – “He Reminds me of my Ex-Husband” sounds funny … but it’s not.
The Lincoln Project – Two today on YouTube, probably more on Twitter
A guitar for Jimmy
Beau on the 500 children Keith spoke about yesterday
Keith
SCOTUS update – Amy Wild Hare Barrett has been sent to the full Senate for a vote. There may be more petitions, especially to Senators not on the Committee. But I don’t have any right now.
(what some refer to as a pile of rocks) has more brains than Trump! An inukshuk has great meaning and use. Trump does not!
