We’ve all had a day or two to reflect upon The Debate and to form opinions about it. The ones I’ve read or heard on TV tend to be fairly, though not absolutely, predictable. For the most part people on each side think(or say that they do)that their candidate won. Though I am admittedly not without my own prejudices and opinions in this matter, I offer my conclusions as follows–

—Going by any more or less normal and rational standards Harris “won”–Trump started out badly and got a good deal worse as he went along, eventually falling into pushing the idiocy of alleged Springfield OH animal consumption. This is beyond belief and, I think, just about beyond sanity. But he said it anyway on national/world TV. It is difficult to imagine his recovering from such a gross and recklessly silly(to say nothing of disgusting) statement. But he’s Trump-you never know. Still…

He had nothing, really, to say that was new or interesting(hardly expected that)or that was really relevant to the campaign and the nation’s issues. He touched on both domestic and foreign issues, but without depth or understanding on either one and with nonsense, often, on both. He appears to be still riding that horse about Democrats causing wars and offering comparisons to his administration.(Somewhat like the Republican isolationists FDR had to deal with in the 1930’s) Someone (media or Dems)needs to challenge him on this and point out that Vladimir Putin started the war in Europe, and didn’t ask permission first. Likewise Hamas in Gaza. And US Intelligence was all over this and predicted almost exactly what would happen and when.(Ukraine–Gaza was a shock to us all)

He turned up in the spin room areas himself after the debate, apparently not wanting(perhaps not without good reason)his “spinners” to get stuck on TV trying to explains the twists and turns of his mind and discourse. Trump did not look at all fully in command. In fact, he looked disorganized in his thinking and composure at first and declined as time went on.

Harris on the other hand was clearly in command from the start and this is how she won the debate by any reasonable measures. She smiled and looked confident and she presented herself with strength and optimism. She seemed to know exactly what she wanted to say and she said it–very well. This is pretty much exactly what the President failed to do enough of in his June debate failure. Trump hardly ever does it unless you count loud-mouthed blustering as a show of strength. Harris also obviously knew how to irritate Trump without being too obvious, and how to do in such a way that he would be unable to keep his temper.

Harris and Trump both, technically speaking, addressed real issues. But Trump did it only with his usual combination of shallowness and lying. Harris at least showed she grasped what the issues were and was seriously trying to consider ways to handle them. The main complaint heard about her is that she has not talked enough to journalists(print or TV) and has not offered enough specifics. As a matter of simple fact, this is true, but it is a fact that needs to be explained and analyzed.

Going far back in the American memory, presidential campaigns started well before the summer of the election. In the memory of the majority of voters now, they start even earlier–sometime the year before the election year. This gives the candidates time to get ready and to work on their presentations.

While Harris obviously would have considered this, particularly when you take into account Biden’s age and the increasing concerns about it, it did not appear this was going to keep him out. Opinions of observers were divided and this one did an article–during July, as I recall-in which I said I thought Joe should go but wouldn’t, in all likelihood, do so.

So, while the idea had no doubt been germinating in Kamala’s mind for some time, it was not until late July that she suddenly found herself as the Presidential candidate of the Democratic Party. This means she has had only about a month and a half of a full candidacy. Others have had much more and, in many cases, used it much less.

Having said all that, it is nonetheless true that she does need to communicate more on specifics. She has done a little bit of this(note the ideas she has on tax policies and her differences with both Biden and Trump) but more is needed, particularly on economic policy. She and other Dems need to point out, with out exaggerating or distorting anything, that the RATE of inflation is dropping. They need to note that they realize inflation is still there and that this means pain at the pump and the supermarket check out line.

They also need to say that they will keep and eye on this and take whatever steps they deem necessary if the decline is not enough that people will be able to feel it quickly. It would be nice if the decline in inflation would be enough that it could be felt before the election. I have noticed that in Northeast OH gasoline prices have been falling lately. Here is an example of one kind of inflation in at least one areas of the US, which is actually disappearing. It would be nice if there were more.

There is much speculation now about the possibility of another debate, possibly even two of them. I would not suggest more that two because you don’t want to bore the public with too much of anything. But one or better two, would be a good idea. Trump’s people are likely having serious debates of their own weighing the need for him to explain himself better against the possibility. of more bizarre statements if they let him loose on the debate stage again. I wish them luck in deciding. To Harris and her people, I reiterate the above advice to deal a bit more in specifics. Other than that, perhaps the best choice is just to follow that hokey old adage about being yourself. Your self is so much better than Trump’s that you should win that part easily.

I also would add(and with thanks to a friend whose comments earlier today reminded me of this)one more suggestion. Trump and other Republicans are saying over and over “Why didn’t you …” or “Why didn’t she—“do this or that in 3 1/2 years of power. Well, as a matter of fact(constitutional fact)the President has the power, or about 90% of it. The VP’s only real power, per the Constitution is presiding over the Senate(which as Mike Pence knows sometimes is real power at that!) But that’s it.

Maybe she was the “last person out of the room.” Maybe this meant she was Biden’s primary advisor. But she wasn’t President, he was, and he made the decision. Calling Biden’s Administration the “Biden-Harris” Administration is silly and transparently(in the not good sense) phony. Referring to its decisions, as if they were her decisions, or even implying this is hypocritical. I hope KH calls them on it or has Walz do it. He seems to me suitably humorously sarcastic and ought to be able to handle the situation. I’ll bet he could handle it well. But I wouldn’t bet that it would work!