Let’s assume Trump wins the election, would you still think his debate performance was horrible? An election win might mean his debate performance was better than you thought, from the perspective of the people persuaded by the debate. An election win after that debate would mean what?
Yes. I judge a debate performance independent of whether he wins the election. Let's say that he says 2 + 2 = 5. And he keeps saying that all through the debate. Then he wins the election. That doesn't mean that he debated well.
Yes, but Trump would certainly “lose the debate” and the election if he spoke to the Dave Henderson’s of the country. You might think: “This guy is great! He speaks like an economist,” while his target swing voters have shut off the TV, thinking, “I’d rather watch TikTok videos.”
A winning debate performance persuades the target swing voters. This is completely different than winning over Dave Henderson. He doesn’t care about your opinion. In fact he might even be better off doing the opposite of what you think should win the debate. In order to actually win the debate in the eyes of the target swing voter, he needs to appeal to the average TikTok user, monster truck mania viewer, WWF wrestler fan, QVC shopping network shopper, and a bunch of other people that David Henderson never or very rarely comes in contact with.
If you go back to Donald Trump’s 2015 and 2016 rallies, you’ll see him saying the wackiest stuff. He’s saying the same wacky stuff today. Same playbook for his winning 2016 election. It might work again. Right?
I misunderstood your original comment. I thought you were saying that his winning the election is enough evidence that he won the debate. Now I see that you're making a less extreme claim, namely, that his persuading people with his debate performance is evidence that he won the debate. That's an easier claim to back because, after all, winning is in the eyes of the judge.
Charley, I just had the same thought. My hypothesis; Trump is even more angry than before the attempt on his life. He may be so consumed with all the attacks on him that culminated with the shooting, he's behaving more desperately.
I think you're right about his anger. One thing I learned in years of therapy is the connection between hurt and anger. I think Trump is genuinely hurt that so many people don't care that he was almost killed. I was telling a friend that I would pay $10,000 to be in a room with him for 2 hours and all I would do is ask questions occasionally to draw him out and let him talk.
I pointed out two. First, his almost Castro-length speech at the RNC. Second, his letting himself be triggered even more than usual by Kamala Harris's taunts.
If the assassination attempt matters at all to Trump's behavior, it is to make him even more self-absorbed than he was, so it means a Trump 2nd term would be more chaotic than the first. That does not bode well for the republic.
That's one of my concerns. But it could go a number of ways. Could make him more peace-loving, for example, something he was not bad at in his one term.
Let’s assume Trump wins the election, would you still think his debate performance was horrible? An election win might mean his debate performance was better than you thought, from the perspective of the people persuaded by the debate. An election win after that debate would mean what?
Yes. I judge a debate performance independent of whether he wins the election. Let's say that he says 2 + 2 = 5. And he keeps saying that all through the debate. Then he wins the election. That doesn't mean that he debated well.
Yes, but Trump would certainly “lose the debate” and the election if he spoke to the Dave Henderson’s of the country. You might think: “This guy is great! He speaks like an economist,” while his target swing voters have shut off the TV, thinking, “I’d rather watch TikTok videos.”
A winning debate performance persuades the target swing voters. This is completely different than winning over Dave Henderson. He doesn’t care about your opinion. In fact he might even be better off doing the opposite of what you think should win the debate. In order to actually win the debate in the eyes of the target swing voter, he needs to appeal to the average TikTok user, monster truck mania viewer, WWF wrestler fan, QVC shopping network shopper, and a bunch of other people that David Henderson never or very rarely comes in contact with.
If you go back to Donald Trump’s 2015 and 2016 rallies, you’ll see him saying the wackiest stuff. He’s saying the same wacky stuff today. Same playbook for his winning 2016 election. It might work again. Right?
I misunderstood your original comment. I thought you were saying that his winning the election is enough evidence that he won the debate. Now I see that you're making a less extreme claim, namely, that his persuading people with his debate performance is evidence that he won the debate. That's an easier claim to back because, after all, winning is in the eyes of the judge.
Can you point to some specific changes in his behavior? I don't follow him closely enough to have an idea how he's changed.
Charley, I just had the same thought. My hypothesis; Trump is even more angry than before the attempt on his life. He may be so consumed with all the attacks on him that culminated with the shooting, he's behaving more desperately.
I think you're right about his anger. One thing I learned in years of therapy is the connection between hurt and anger. I think Trump is genuinely hurt that so many people don't care that he was almost killed. I was telling a friend that I would pay $10,000 to be in a room with him for 2 hours and all I would do is ask questions occasionally to draw him out and let him talk.
I pointed out two. First, his almost Castro-length speech at the RNC. Second, his letting himself be triggered even more than usual by Kamala Harris's taunts.
I shouldn't post comments when I'm tired.
If the assassination attempt matters at all to Trump's behavior, it is to make him even more self-absorbed than he was, so it means a Trump 2nd term would be more chaotic than the first. That does not bode well for the republic.
That's one of my concerns. But it could go a number of ways. Could make him more peace-loving, for example, something he was not bad at in his one term.