In a political culture where rational arguments hardly get you anywhere, what\u2019s the value of a rhetorical square-off?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The outcome of American presidential elections rarely turns on the performance of candidates in televised debates \u2013 Kennedy\u2019s victory over Nixon in 1960, and Bush\u2019s win over Dukakis in 1988 were very much the exceptions that prove the general rule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Equally exceptional was Joe Biden\u2019s disastrous campaign \u2013 ending with the performance in his debate with Donald Trump a few months ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Debates are far less important now than they were in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, contemporary American politics has become so irrational and celebrity-focused that the very notion of a \u2018debate\u2019 seems like a quaint relic from a bygone era \u2013 in which rational argument was still an integral part of the political process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those days are long gone, and Donald Trump \u2013 the celebrity politician par excellence \u2013 has done more than anyone to expunge rationality from American politics and transform it into a tawdry and debauched branch of celebrity culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
American voters are currently divided into two opposing camps \u2013 both of which eschew rationality and espouse views that are emotionally based and lack a firm grounding in reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each camp believes that the other is the personification of \u2018evil\u2019 and poses a grave existential threat to America\u2019s future. Within such a deeply divided and irrational polity \u2013 where \u2018magical thinking\u2019 prevails \u2013 there is little room for rational debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
American political culture is unique in this regard \u2013 and commentators in other Western democracies often have difficulty in appreciating its distinctiveness and, as a consequence, understanding Trump\u2019s continuing popularity and effectiveness as a politician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump is sui generis \u2013 and he could never have attained high office in any other Western democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notwithstanding some superficial similarities, Trump differs qualitatively from other populist politicians in the West \u2013 like Nigel Farage and Marine Le Pen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No convicted felon and fomenter of insurrection who refused to accept an election defeat, even after unsuccessfully challenging it in the courts, could seriously aspire to become prime minister or president in Britain or France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump is both cause and symptom of the decline of the American Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in September 1787 \u2013 at which the American constitution was drafted \u2013 Benjamin Franklin was asked how long he thought the new American Republic would last. Franklin replied that it would last as long as the American people deserved it, and prophesised that it may \u201cend in despotism \u2026\u2026. if the people become so corrupted as to need despotic government.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kamala Harris was the clear winner in last night’s debate at the National Convention Centre in Philadelphia \u2013 viewed by 100 million Americans \u2013 but the election race remains close, with Harris marginally ahead in most credible polls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How did the candidates perform?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harris used the debate to raise her profile with voters \u2013 something she needed to do \u2013 and let them know precisely what she stands for in terms of policy issues. She appeared tough, intelligent, and handled Trump as well as any mainstream politician has done in the past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Somewhat surprisingly, Harris directly attacked Trump in respect of his contempt for liberal democracy and the rule of law. On a number of occasions she asserted that Trump was \u201cunfit to be president.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harris also managed to convey to voters a positive vision of America\u2019s future \u2013 \u201cI represent a new generation of leadership in our country that offers optimism\u201d \u2013 that contrasted dramatically with Trump\u2019s divisiveness, crassness and pessimism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump constantly asserted that \u201cwe are a failing nation\u201d did not explain how he would \u201cmake America great again\u201d \u2013 his famous slogan, which he never even used during the entire debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harris and the Democrats will no doubt be pleased with her performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In typical fashion, Trump sought to undermine the legitimacy of the debate process in advance, by attacking the ABC host network earlier this week: \u201cThe ABC is, I think, the worst of everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump also spent little time preparing for the debate \u2013 telling Fox News this week that \u201cEverybody has a plan until they get punched in the face,\u201d apparently a saying of ageing former heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump performed much as expected \u2013 rather than debate policy issues on the merits he resorted to endless lies and insults, replete with stream of consciousness tirades and non sequiturs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump also sought to deflect debate on policy issues by referring constantly to illegal immigration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was also predictable \u2013 for weeks he has ignored advice from his advisors to focus directly on policy issues, like the economy and cost of living, where Harris and the Democrats are vulnerable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, Trump appeared quite assured and coherent \u2013 more so than in recent rally appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What were the highlights for each candidate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Harris, they include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In conclusion, Harris asserted that the candidates represented \u201ctwo very different versions of our country \u2013 one based on the future, one based on the past\u201d. She was committed to \u201cbringing America together\u201d and \u201cturning the page.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump made the following points about Harris:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump also staunchly defended his \u201cstolen election\u201d claim and maintained that he \u201chad nothing to do with \u201cthe January 6 insurrection” \u2013 even though he has been indicted for encouraging it. He also alleged that the American judiciary \u2013 excluding the Supreme Court on those few occasions when it had ruled in his favour \u2013 and the FBI were corrupt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More controversially he alleged that illegal immigrants were \u201ceating pets in Springfield.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In short, it was a typical bravura Trump performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notwithstanding Harris\u2019 victory in the debate, this year\u2019s presidential election will be decided by a few hundred thousand voters in half a dozen battleground states \u2013 Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Biden won all of these states in 2020, and polls suggest that Harris and Trump are neck and neck in most of them at the moment. Harris has one clear advantage over Trump \u2013 her campaign is spending twice as much as the Trump campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yesterday’s debate may have marginally improved Harris\u2019 prospects of becoming president in November \u2013 but the outcome, at the end of the day, will turn on how effectively the two candidates campaign in the battleground states over the next two months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n