Staff Reports
The recent debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris provided plenty of fireworks, but it was more akin to a toddler’s birthday party than a serious policy discussion. With Trump stepping into the ring like a heavyweight champion and Harris attempting to keep her balance on shaky ground, viewers were treated to a spectacle that was as entertaining as it was revealing.
The debate meandered through many pressing issues, revealing stark contrasts in policy and philosophy. Trump, ever the brawler, came prepared to dissect the failures of Harris and her team. From the first question, it was clear that Harris was on the defensive, trying to dodge hits about her party’s handling of the economy and border security. Meanwhile, Trump launched into his critiques with the ferocity of an angry bull, eager to remind viewers of the chaos unleashed under Biden’s watch.
Kamala Harris won the debate. People being bombed in Gaza did not. https://t.co/kcnx5HLTrc
— CounterPunch (@NatCounterPunch) September 11, 2024
Surprisingly, Harris managed to hold herself together without tumbling into a word salad, which has often been her trademark during past unscripted exchanges. She touted ambitious tax cuts for families and small businesses, clinging to the hope that voters could overlook her party’s financial mismanagement. However, it was hard to ignore the irony of her economic promises coming from a vice president who has presided over skyrocketing inflation and dwindling household reserves. Her insistence that she could help the middle class was more akin to a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat than a feasible economic strategy.
When the topic shifted to crime and immigration, Trump took the gloves off, pointing out that the Biden administration had transformed the southern border into a revolving door for criminals and illegal immigrants. Harris’ attempts to deflect blame fell flat as Trump made it clear that Americans are suffering the consequences of her policies. The reality is that crime rates have spiraled under the current administration, creating an environment where everyday citizens feel unsafe. Any attempts from Harris to argue otherwise appeared more desperate than educational, failing to convince anyone that she and her party were capable of restoring order.
However, Trump also had his moments of weakness, particularly when it came to the politically charged issues surrounding January 6th and the last election. Instead of dismissing the irrelevant queries about the past, he engaged in a back-and-forth with his opponents, which only served to divert attention from the pressing issues currently facing American families. It was almost as if he slipped into a quicksand of politics, inadvertently sinking deeper into discussions that most Americans are ready to move past. While Trump has a grip on many key issues, dwelling on old grievances instead of focusing on future solutions felt like a miscalculation.
The debate moderators, playing the roles of judges in a boxing match, exhibited glaring bias that made it hard to take their neutrality seriously. Harris was allowed to dance around difficult topics without facing the tough questions she so desperately needed to answer. Trump, on the other hand, found himself in a verbal sparring match that felt less like a debate and more like a structured hit job. If one were to overlook their questionable impartiality, it might be fair to say that they transformed the debate stage into a concert where Harris was the star and Trump was merely a backup singer.
In the end, calling the debate a draw may be a stretch. Trump landed solid punches while Harris played a surprisingly good defense, avoiding the catastrophic blunders many anticipated. However, clarity is needed on who benefitted the most from the night. Trump’s solidified base might still cheer for him, but Harris managing to hold her own, albeit with flawed logic, was an unexpected win for her team. Thus, while neither candidate shattered expectations or left viewers buzzing, this debate certainly solidified the partisan divide and proved that the battle for America is far from over.
