Re: Presidential debates 2016 between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump
Pashalis said:
I watched it and the more I see of it, the stranger it gets. Somehow I get the feeling, that that whole charade is scripted from start to finish, as some kind of very sick joke show, to see "how far we can go ". Like a huge energy sucking machine, presented as a "debate" or "election". You really have to be mindful, to not get sucked into it. No matter how you look at it, in this (s)election, openly pathological behaviour is forced on the public, as something that is very normal now. Maybe that is the real reason for this show to begin with? To suck as much energy, or life, out of the population?
I'm not sure I agree that it was scripted but I do know what you mean, Pashalis (!)
When the debate began, which is when it was really at its most pathetic tabloid-like "Jerry Springer" (as one commentator called it) type of mud slinging spectacle, I felt somehow humiliated and utterly depressed by it all -- and embarrassed that this cheap charade is in a very significant way representing the United States at this point. It's not that there isn't always a divide between what gets said in speeches, etc., and what is actually being manifested out in the world. But when you see even the facade of any kind of decorum disintegrating before your very eyes it's a painful thing to have to witness. It certainly offers the public nothing in the way of dignity or respect -- not even the slightest veneer of dignity and respect!
David Letterman made some appropriate comments about Trump this past week. Talked about how Trump was a great guest since he could really hit him with some pretty hard punches, comedy wise, and Trump could take it. But then Letterman reiterated my own sentiments when he said that no one in New York ever took Trump very seriously. I would add that even his buildings are all facade and poorly constructed. The man has a sleazy casino sheen to him, and the only reason he's not entirely broke at this point is that the bankers who invested in him at some point realized that keeping his name as a going concern was worth more to them than letting his whole operation go down the tubes -- which it was, financially speaking -- and so now Trump is solely invested in leasing his name, and in that is not in the construction/development business at all. It's entirely branding.
I think it's important to realize -- and yes, I engaged in my little Trump-Putin fantasy in an earlier post -- that
Trump simply does not have the strength of character to be of any use.
Is he "better" than Hillary?
I can't answer that since they are both beneath contempt. I know that a part of me is rooting for anything that can defeat Hillary and all that she represents neo-liberal wise. On the other hand, do you honestly think that Trump's Neocon backers are going to let him do anything redeeming foreign policy wise? That contingent have had it in for Iran for ages now, and that will no doubt be the first thing on their list of things to attend to. I haven't read it yet, but Dick Cheney wrote a whole book on the subject that came out not long ago. I'm sure it's very enlightening.
.. as to Trump's comments concerning Putin, and joining forces with Iran, Russia, Syria in fighting Isis.. not sure how that will play out given what I just said. Or do the Neocons feel the gig is up, and a new strategy is in order? Towards what end though?
So, the U.S. gets a sleazy, illiterate, sexist, racist, narcissist (with all the hallmarks of being a serious neo-fascist) who "might" nevertheless do something different concerning Putin and Syria, etc.?
Anyway, everything about where we have arrived at as a nation -- as represented by this presidential race in particular -- is making me feel nauseous, if that means anything.
What an utterly sad business this is.
