He Didn’t Disappoint
>Well, I have to say, that he didn’t disappoint. He lived up to ALL my expectations! Yes sir, Mr. Tim Kaine came through like a trooper!
>Dear readers, in my post yesterday (Can’t Shake It) I confessed a sneaky suspicion that Mr. Kaine was not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. That, despite an impressive resumè, he didn’t strike me as the sharpest tool in the shed. Well, in last night’s vice presidential debate, he did nothing to disabuse me of that notion. His style and demeanor can best be described simply as “silly.” In addition to petulant interruptions and juvenile posturing, he offered very little that would commend him. He had, really, only two points to speak of: 1) “Mr. Trump should release his tax returns.” and, 2) “Mr. Trump should release his tax returns.” Beyond this, he didn’t have much to say. He may have squeaked now and again about this insult or that insult Mr. Trump may have said, often out of context, and that he DARED Mr. Pence to try, just TRY, and defend him. Mr. Pence did not, rightly, take the bait. Had he done so, the debate would have dissolved into a muddled stew or recriminations. Pence cleverly riposted that, while Trump may have thrown out an unfortunate insult now and again (true), that this paled in comparison to Hillary insulting roughly ONE QUARTER of the population of the United States (half of the Trump voters) by throwing them into a “Basket of Deplorables”! Touchè, Mr. Pence!
>Mr. Kaine was, however, unable to articulate a coherent plan to make America safer, make the world safer, reduce crime in America and stimulate our economy. And he KEPT reiterating, on and on, that the JCPOA (Iran Nuclear Treaty) would eliminate that country’s nuclear ambitions, which it most definitely does NOT (Iran gets to do its’ OWN VERIFICATIONS!). It was almost as if, by saying it often enough, that would somehow make it come true. His only worthwhile answer involved the tension between capital punishment and his religious beliefs. That was, literally, his only answer of consequence for the entire debate. As I said, Mr. Kaine did not disappoint!
>Mr. Pence also did not disappoint either, but in a positive way. His answers were reasoned, reasonable, well considered and well explained. And his positions, like Trump’s, were spot on. And, most importantly, his demeanor was, in fact, presidential. I don’t think that anyone but a dyed in the wool democrat would, after seeing this debate, choose Mr. Kaine over Mr. Pence as a presidential replacement, should the need arise. With BOTH candidates being 70 years old on Inaguration day, and Mrs. Clinton being demonstrably infirm, this consideration should weigh heavily on the minds of voters.