As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours navigating through virtual worlds and political debates alike, I must say that the VP debate between J.D. Vance and Tim Walz was a breath of fresh air – if you’re into playing strategy games like “Civilization” or “Risk.
It was evident beyond doubt during the discussion between Vice Presidential nominees J.D. Vance and Tim Walz, that Donald Trump’s influence on political debates has left an indelible mark, altering how we perceive such events in the future.
At the recent event, there were no wild allegations regarding migrants eating dogs, no offensive name-calling or public harassment, nor any hidden jabs about male anatomy. Instead, what was present were serious debates on genuine matters and for the most part, a sense of decorum among the participants. It felt as though America’s interest in the event began to wane around the halfway mark.
Man, it’s too bad that many folks likely didn’t get to see Walz at his finest during the final moments. I’ve got to admit, he had a rocky beginning. His anxiety was evident in his hurried speech, slip-ups, and awkward body language. On the other hand, Vance showed off his years of media expertise with his polished presentation and cool demeanor. To top it off, he kicked things off by essentially reciting a passage from Hillbilly Elegy when asked about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Indeed, Vance presented a more compassionate and understanding demeanor during this interaction, contrasting with the fiery persona often seen on the campaign trail. He was cordial and sympathetic, even expressing empathy towards Tim Walz, stating, “Frankly, Tim, I believe you’re facing a challenging situation here. You seem to be dealing with a game of Whac-A-Mole.” In relation to the immigration issue, he delicately suggested, “I think you aim to address the problem, but I’m not convinced that Kamala Harris shares this goal.
Walz displayed a similar behavior, apparently distancing himself from criticisms aimed at Trump and Vance, which seemed odd and virtually guaranteed him the position of Vice President.
In one conversation, Walz expressed his belief that there’s a significant overlap of thoughts between himself and Senator Vance. During another interaction, he stated that their views aren’t too dissimilar. (However, what our divided nation yearns for isn’t this kind of agreement!)
Indeed, both gentlemen found themselves in an uncomfortable predicament. They weren’t primarily there to engage in personal confrontations, but rather to challenge the leading candidates on their tickets. Successfully, they managed to do so. Vance skillfully countered every move made by Walz with the unarguable truth that Harris has served as vice president for nearly four years. Similar to Trump, he redirected each question towards the issue of illegal immigration, discussing topics ranging from housing expenses to the gun violence crisis.
Indeed, Vance found himself tasked with justifying Trump’s legacy, an accomplishment that seems to have required quite a bit of creative writing. He could have labeled Trump as “America’s Hitler” and conceded that his administration was ineffective, but he instead blamed Congress. Trump didn’t aim to dismantle the Affordable Care Act; rather, he claimed to have saved it (a statement that might have caused John McCain to spin in his grave). Furthermore, Vance argued that Trump wasn’t as much of a threat to democracy as the “censorship” that Democrats supposedly imposed on social media.
The moderators, Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan, who performed admirably throughout the event, didn’t engage much in fact-checking. However, they did attempt to rectify Vance when he incorrectly stated facts about the legal status of Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio. This caused him to respond with such strong objection that the microphones had to be momentarily silenced. (It seems that Republicans are not fond of fact-checking, given the number of their statements requiring verification.)
It would have been wise for Democrats not to eat during the debate, given that Vance praised Trump for qualities like “wisdom,” “courage,” and “common sense,” which might have caused them to choke on their food.
In my perspective as an admirer, his stance on policy matters wasn’t exactly impressive. For instance, he suggested that various states could establish their own laws regarding reproductive rights, a remark that, if made in the 1860s, might have advised enslaved individuals to just relocate.
When inquired about potentially contesting the election outcomes, Vance nonchalantly stated, “We’re concentrating on what lies ahead.” Moreover, he boasted about Donald Trump’s endorsements from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, which is somewhat similar to a prisoner seeking leniency by invoking El Chapo as his ally in the parole board.
It’s likely that people will argue Vance emerged victorious in the debate, given Walz’s apparent discomfort. Perhaps a more relaxed attire, such as a flannel shirt instead of the usual dark suit with blue tie, might have helped him. His frequent references to his home state made it appear as if he was campaigning for reelection as governor instead of vying for the position of vice president.
The most challenging instance for Walz occurred when he was questioned about allegations that contradicted his previous statement regarding his presence in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests. This was the moment he resorted to emphasizing his background, seemingly suggesting that his rural upbringing might have influenced his evasiveness. He admitted, “I can be a bit of a simpleton sometimes,” which is a remark likely to be used against him in future criticisms.
In the closing rounds of the debate, the topic of election results denial was brought up. With Vance evading the question, I seized my opportunity, “What’s your take on Trump?” I asserted, making it clear he wasn’t going to side with Trump. “Time to move on,” I exclaimed. “This is damaging our game world.”)
On that last point, he was sadly wrong. The country has already been torn apart.
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2024-10-02 07:55