The third US Presidential debate, although maybe not as extremely low brow as the second, displayed more of the characteristics that make most US voters dislike Republican candidate Donald Trump. His bullying, constant complaints and interruptions continue to increase his reputation as the least rational of the two candidates.
His most intelligent response seems to be, "Wrong!"
He has cast the 2016 election as nothing but a bad reality TV show starring, of course, himself!
As I take note of the many international news reports on his campaign, I am often embarrassed and disheartened. Is this really the face we want to show to the rest of the world? www.youtube.com/…
One also trembles at the thought of his proposed new "Trump TV" network, especially when you consider just how willing he is to launch into potentially libelous charges without any verifiable sources to back him up. You thought Fox News was unfair and biased?
Example pf Trump's willingness to make slanderous accusations:
(Referring to the Clinton Foundation) "It's a criminal enterprise."
Yet, as Clinton points out, The GOP candidate is completely unapologetic about any accusations of corruption directed towards him.
"He never apologizes for anything."
In fact, "The Donald" is launching his accusations of corruption and criminality from a very weak position on many fronts. I will remind the reader that the Attorney General of New York State sent a "cease and desist" letter to The Trump Foundation because the organization had been operating without proper certification.
What really worries a lot of the public is just how nasty and uncivilized Trump has become during the campaign season, causing many lifelong Republicans to flee the party in disgust. There is apparently no step too low for Trump to take. He dragged the audience and moderators of the second debate through a dark miasma of sexual and personal innuendo and crass posturing. There is nothing in recent memory that can compare with that low brow and distasteful exercise in political self-destruction.
Hillary Clinton has labeled Trump as a "misogynist” and “racist".
At a speech in Seattle on October 15 Bernie Sanders echoed that view and it was reiterated again during that rally by Washington State congressional candidate Pramila Jayapal.
Hillary Clinton described Trump's dangerous and frightening legacy when she confronted him on the violent tendencies of some of his election rally participants.
"...a dark, and in many ways a dangerous vision of our country where he incites violence..."
But in his usual arrogant and immature style, Trump simply nodded and then accused Clinton of causing the violence herself.
Currently our national news media and our political candidates suffer from an unfortunate lack of literacy coupled with a serious dearth of expertise in logic and rhetoric. The results are very clear for all to see - El Duce is now running for the White House!
Ignorance is not a good excuse for the popularity of a man like Donald Trump. Inadequate education in law and civics has resulted in an uninformed electorate, for sure. There are millions of voters who are now all too glad to swallow false accusations "hook, line and sinker", as they say.
P.T. Barnum quote: "A sucker is born every day".
Apparently, Donald Trump's nomination for the presidency is one fine example of that tried and true adage…
Granted, I wish this election were about the issues that affect people's lives on a daily basis: healthcare, environment, economic inequality, etc.
But Trump's personal cult of fascism and intolerance must be challenged if we are to have any hope of protecting our constitutional civil liberties. The work of many generations is now at stake. The United States can't afford to go back to the bad old days of Jim Crow and religious persecution of immigrants.
Trump is a privileged right-wing demagogue who has arisen out of the financial aristocracy like George W. Bush. Any of his claims about supporting the working class and the average voter are patent lies. We all know by now that his only real goal is to increase his own personal enrichment and to make a power grab for the benefit of his family.
There is a long historical precedent for this phenomenon. During the ancient oligarchical eras of Greece and Rome many demagogues rose to power by feeding on the sorrows of the poor and underprivileged.
There is already an economic and political elite in this country, we certainly don’t want a dictator!
All residents of the US have an obligation to counter his egotistical demagoguery with facts and figures. The public can't allow his media manipulations to stand unchallenged. Abject gullibility is the worst sin in politics. Most often it leads to the election of tyrants who capitalize on extremism.
Two of the necessary elements for this type of undemocratic coup are:
1) an uneducated public
2) a prejudiced electorate
The only bulwarks protecting us from right-wing/left-wing extremism are authentic democratic movements led by altruistic truth seekers. In order to correct the political and economic corruption we encounter, the people must demand transparency and accountability.
There is a much more diverse and friendly future awaiting those who embrace humane, rational and compassionate values, but only if we are dedicated enough to get out there and vote!