Trump/Biden Debate Oct. 22, 2020

 More of the same, though less bluster from Trump.  Some important points.

Trump doesn't realize that Americans are no longer afraid of "socialist medicine," as they have become aware of how effective it is in every other civilized country.  Trump also claims that 180 million Americans are happy with their health insurance.  This number has probably gone down, as many people have lost their jobs and therefore their insurance, but in any case I don't believe most people are "happy" with their insurance, with constant refusals to pay doctors -- in the hope that most people won't contest it and even if they do it might be sent to collection and harm one's credit -- along with high deductibles and co-pays.  In any case Biden wants to expand on Obamacare with a public option, not to switch to single-payer healthcare, though I hope personally that will eventually lead to single-payer.

No matter how many times Trump is debunked he still claims that Biden, via his son Hunter, is corrupt.  Trump has "forgotten" his own attempt to extort Ukraine by withholding aid until they prove wrongdoing on the part of the Bidens.  Meanwhile Trump continues to make money with the help of his presidency.

Trump continues to claim that "we are turning the corner on Covid-19," even though spikes continue everywhere, and not just in cities and states with Democratic mayors and governors.  And Trump continues to insist that schools open, even though many of those that have opened have had to close again because of the virus. 

Trump claims he has done more for Blacks than any other president, with the possible exception of Lincoln, as he continues his dog whistles to suburban women and others.  

Trump claims that a successful economy will "bring people together" while Biden says he will be president for everyone from every state, not just red or blue.

Harris/Pence "debate" Oct. 7, 2020

Pence showed skill at avoiding questions and making bland comments that everything is okay because of the current administration "unleashing" (his favorite word of the night) of everyone and everything, especially regulations.  He was essentially saying that leadership in the current pandemic was not required because of the administration's faith in the American people. Pence said, among other things, that Trump "reveres" our military, though he did not deny that Trump had called members of the military "suckers and losers."  He said that the president believes in insurance for those with pre-existing conditions, even thought the administration is trying to get the Affordable Care Act declared unconstitutional, and said that the administration had a better and cheaper version of healthcare, even though the president has been saying this for five years and no plan has ever been actually prepared.  And Pence said there was no way Trump could support white supremacy and anti-Semitism because he has Jewish grandchildren!  And, of course, Pence dodged the question of climate change, saying that there was bad forest management in California and that there are no more hurricanes than there were one hundred years ago.

Harris effectively emphasized foreign policy, saying that the current administration has "betrayed our friends and embraced our enemies" and healthcare, pointing out that the current administration wants to gut the Affordable Care act in the midst of a pandemic.  Harris also said that the Biden administration would not increase taxes on anyone earning under $400,000, though she could have explained more carefully how they were going to repeal the president's "tax cut" without affecting anyone other than the wealthy and corporations.  And as far as jobs go the current administration will end up with fewer jobs than they started with.  Harris also said that changes need to be made in our justice system while Pence said he "had trust" in it.

Harris kept her cool, getting somewhat amused by Pence's lies and evasions, though I might have preferred her to call him out more.

Biden/Trump Debate Sept. 29, 2020

 This so-called debate was a depressing performance: Trump could not stop interrupting with irrelevancies and moderator Chris Wallace couldn't do much to moderate things.  A couple of points:

1. Trump asserted he paid "millions of dollars" in federal taxes in 2016 and 2017 but still will not release his tax forms, even though his own IRS commissioner says that he can do so.

2. Trump suggested Biden is not "smart" because of his relationship with Delaware State, an historical Black college where Biden has received support.  It is unclear what Trump actually meant here -- Biden went to the University of Delaware -- but Trump has threatened to sue the University of Pennsylvania if they release transcripts of his own time there to anyone.

3. Trump went back again and again to asking about money given to Biden's son Hunter by the wife of the mayor of Moscow, as though that had anything to do with Joe Biden.  When Biden mentioned his late son Beau, who served in Iraq, Trump said he didn't know Beau but did know Hunter and asked about him once again, falsely claiming Hunter had received a dishonorable discharge from the army.

4.  Trump claimed Biden has received no endorsement from any law enforcement organizations  This is not surprising, since these organizations have a history of covering up for and supporting the worst behavior of police officers.

5. Biden accurately said the nation is "weaker, sicker, poorer, more violent and more divided" than it was before Trump became President.