Flotsam and Jetsam - Night of the Master Debaters

Did you watch the Vice Presidential debate last night? I did. But first some pre-debate ruminations. At Althouse, Let's talk about the Vice Presidential Debate. Kira Davis, Here's Why Tim Walz Will Win the Debate Tonight. Because the media will declare it to be so. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, Kira's correct in how the media will cast the debate, but in truth, this will be tough for Walz -- Grampa Fudd probably won't look great against a younger and more charismatic opponent. Although that didn't stop Lloyd Bentsen, to be fair ... OTP predicts Debate Host Bias: CBS 85% Pro-Harris-Walz, 81% Anti-Trump-Vance. NewsBusters, STUDY: VP Debate Host CBS Is Wildly Slanted In Favor of Harris-Walz. That was baked in the cake with CBS. Richard Grenell@RichardGrenell "lol. Regime media can’t understand why Republicans don’t trust them. There are consequences for posing as reporters while pushing propaganda for the Regime." 'Becca Downs at TownHall, Here's What the Former Democratic Congressman Who Lost to Vance Had to Say Ahead of VP Debate "“I think Tim Walz is a good contrast to JD Vance. There's an authenticity there. There's a real ness there. There's a likeability there,” Ryan said. When the host noted that Walz seemed “happier” than Vance, Ryan agreed and quipped that it was a “low bar” for Walz to clear." Capt. Ed, Is Walz 'Spazzing' -- or Dekeing -- Ahead of Debate? Jazz Shaw at Hat Hair, Why Tonight's Veep Debate Might Actually Matter.

And then came the debate. As always, Sundance at CTH hosts the livestream, so if you want to watch it, or watch it again, Vice Presidential Debate – JD Vance -vs- Tim Walz – Livestream Broadcast 9:00pm ET. PJM, TownHall and Twitchy had live blogs, if you want to see spontaneous commentary.

Stacy McCain, Debate: J.D. Vance Defeats Tim Walz, Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan "America wanted the answers to two crucial questions: 1. Is there any politician in America less qualified for high public office than Kamala Harris? and 2. Is it possible for debate moderators to be worse than ABC’s David Muir and Linsey Davis? The answer to both questions is a surprising “yes.”" Insty, WELL, IT’S OVER: Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok, "BREAKING: CNN admits Tim Walz lost the debate." Jeff Blehar is *BOX OFFICE POISON*@EsotericCD, "J.D. Vance has an unexpectedly great "skeptical face" game going on. Who knew? 'Bonchie' at RedState would like you to WATCH: JD Vance Absolutely Cooks Tim Walz, Then Kamala's Running Mate Completely Implodes. Robert Shibley at Insty, VANCE/WALZ DEBATE. "Are these questions for real? The “moderators” just made a declarative statement about climate change to end their question, because they did not like that Vance had a good answer. We had a deal. I pretend to believe the ruling class is legitimate, and they give provide me with a credible enough show that I can pretend their version of “democracy” isn’t a sham. Stop breaking the deal, aristos." Natalia Mittelstadt at JTN, CBS News moderator spars with Sen. JD Vance after he chides her on fact-checking ""Margaret, the rules were that you guys weren't going to fact-check, and since you're fact-checking, me, I think it's important to say what's actually going on," Sen. JD Vance said." Matt Vespa at TownHall, Here's What Happened When JD Vance Was About to Shred a CBS News Moderator's Shoddy Fact-Check: Joe Concha@JoeConchaTV, "CBS breaks its promise not to fact-check. Twice. Vance finally is having none of it and fact-checks Margaret Brennan on her fact-check. CBS cuts the mic. This is as bad as the ABC debate. What a joke. All of that said, Vance is owning the stage. This isn't even close." Nick Arama at RedState, Vance Destroys the 'Weird' Lie, Now Dems Have a Bigger Problem - He's 'Hot'. NYPo, Walz says he’s become ‘friends with school shooters’ in VP debate gaffe: ‘Worst line in any 2024 debate’. Twitchy, Tim Walz: 'I've Become Friends With School Shooters'. At Fox, Walz forced to correct record on whether he was in China for the Tiananmen Square protests, "Walz previously claimed to be in China for the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989." China, Nebraska, same diff. 

My own take was that overall Vance did a pretty good job arguing against 3 liberals. He looked, and sounded good, he argued his points effectively to the extent that they let him. Now, of course, I'm predisposed to his arguments. Walz, on the other hand, looked like an aging goblin, and nodded along to Vance's themes, but argued against most of them. He was forced to admit to an egregious lie by saying that sometimes he's a knuckle head, certainly not a strong point if you seek a position a heartbeat away from the presidency.  

WokeSpy, Scott Jennings Rips “Buffoon” Tim Walz: ” The Only School Teacher Bragging None of His Students Couldn’t Go to Ivy League Schools”. Paul Bond at JTN, Minnesota GOP congressman slams Walz's record in the state: 'very unpopular' "Stauber's remarks were part of a wide-ranging discussion on Monday's "Just the News, No Noise," where he disparaged numerous policies that the congressman said has made Walz “very unpopular” in Minnesota." At the Free Bacon, Walz Exaggerated Number of Trips to China Because He Was 'So Proud of His Extensive Experience'. Jonathan Miltimore at Am Spec, In Minnesota, Tim Walz Had a Covid Snitch Line. "Walz’s snitch line combined the madness of crowds with the bureaucratic power of the state."

Althouse, "Donald Trump is gaining on Kamala Harris in the polls. I have some theories why." "It's Robert Reich in The Guardian. Theories rejected by Reich: 1. The polls are skewed against Harris, 2. Media make it look close for ratings, 3. Voters think Trump is better on economic matters. Theories Reich entertains: 1. Voters know all about Trump and don't know much about Harris (Trump is "the devil they know"), 2... oh! #1 is the only theory he likes. The rest is just inferring that Trump, who can't change and is know, is working to prevent Harris from becoming more known." Hat Hair cites Emerson polls, New: Dead Heat in PA. Capt. Ed adds "The Senate numbers alone should send up red flags among Democrats. Casey is a longtime incumbent with a storied family name, running against an allegedly carpetbagging challenger, and he can't get out of a virtual dead heat. If Casey is facing these kinds of headwinds in a re-election battle, then Harris is probably in worse shape." At Insty, JOSEPH CAMPBELL: What can we learn from election prediction failures of the past? Harold Hutchinson at Da Caller, MSNBC Guest Claims That Hispanics Back Trump Because They ‘Want To Be White. 

Mike LaChance at LI, CNN Data Analyst Sounds Alarm for Harris Campaign About Low Support From Union Households, “And we know that Donald Trump has been going after that vote, and he is in a very, very strong position—more so perhaps than with any other bloc.” Capt. Ed, CNN: A Kamalatastrophe for Dems Ahead With Union Workers. Matt Vespa, Kamala's Camp Must Be Having Heartburn Over This CNN Segment. HuffPo, Major Longshoremen Strike Hits East Coast Ports. "A prolonged shutdown could deal a significant blow to the economy since the workers control major commercial choke points." Benny Johnson@bennyjohnson, "TRUTH BOMB 💣Dockworkers who have officially gone on strike say that the biggest reason is because their wages have not kept up with Kamala's inflation crisis." Dave Strom at Hat Hair, Port Strike Could Be a Disaster for America, and for Kamala. RNC Research @RNCResearch. "CNBC: What are you hearing will happen if dockworkers strike and it goes longer than a week? Harris-Biden Commerce Sec. Gina Raimondo: "I have not been very focused on that." 

At PJM, Matt Margolis, Ouch! Dem Strategist Blasts the Biden-Harris Administration's Hurricane Response and Kevin Downey, Non-Shocker: Hurricane Victims Getting the Maui/East Palestine Treatment from Biden and Harris. George@BehizyTweets "BREAKING: Trump just revealed that he is personally coordinating with Elon Musk to get Starlink set up for Hurricane Helene victims who have lost communication "We want to get Starlink hooked up because they have no communication whatsoever. And Elon will always come through. We know that." It's not even a joke anymore. Elon Musk and Trump are doing more to save America than the traitors in power right now." At Ace's Quick Hits "Dr. Ben Braddock @GraduatedBen, Within 48 hours of the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2011, the 82nd Airborne had arrived from Fort Bragg, NC to Port-au-Prince to render aid. It's been 135 hours and the DOD still haven't given dual status command for NC (they have for FL), still haven't sent the aerial assets and high-water vehicles from Fort Bragg that FEMA requested, the 81st is off on a training exercise, and the men from various units trying to get home to help their families in the disaster zone are being denied leave. It is a complete shame and disgrace. Heads should roll." Breitbart, Kamala Harris Partied with Hollywood Celebrities in Wake of Hurricane Helene Devastation: ‘Oh, It’s Good to Be Home!’ At LI, Leslie Eastman thinks Biden-Harris Bureaucrats Hindering Effective Helene Response. "Poor, agenda-driven choices made by FEMA, the Commerce Department and the FCC may be contributing to the death toll from Helene, and needlessly delaying recovery operations." Bonchie @bonchieredstate "Why is Kamala Harris leading FEMA meetings? I've been assured as vice president that she has no power and is not responsible for anything." Insty, WHILE JOE VACATIONED AND KAMALA FUNDRAISED WITH CELEBRITIES: Heartbreaking final photo shows NC grandparents trapped on roof before they were swept away by floodwaters along with grandson.

At Da Mail, Disgruntled Joe Biden disappointed as Kamala Harris tries to distance from his record. Capt. Ed adds "I'll put this in the Too Good to Check department, but it's certainly fun to contemplate. Biden made it necessary for Harris to attempt to distance herself from him, since he's one of the least popular presidents in modern history at the moment. Unfortunately, his record is her only resumé entry to qualify for the presidency, too." VodkaPundit at PJM, Biden Can Check Out Any Time He Likes (and He's Basically Left). From RVN, Bongino Drops The Dime On White House, Secret Service Cocaine-Gate Coverup [WATCH], claims SS paid off people with promotions to avoid looking too closely. Steve Hayward at Power Line, The Countdown to President Harris "The speculation behind this headline is that if Harris loses the election, Biden may well resign shortly after—or be forced out through the 25th Amendment, paving the way for Harris to become “the first woman president,” even if for only two months. If he resigns, Biden will enjoy another round of how he’s the greatest president since Lincoln, on par with George Washington. And he will have delivered our first woman president. Everybody wins. And Harris becomes the Dem front runner for 2028. Oh goody."

Resist the Mainstream@ResisttheMS "WATCH Kamala Harris STRUGGLE to answer: "Should folks stand for the National Anthem?" Twitchy, Who Ordered Word Salad for Dinner? Watch Kamala Harris Botch Easy Question on National Anthem. The answer, of course, is they should, not that they must. Capt. Ed likes the New Trump Ad: Kamala's Weakness Is Too Dangerous for America. Collin Rugg @CollinRugg "NEW: Rep. Byron Donalds shuts up journalist Angela Rye after baiting her into a trap on Kamala Harris' record on inflation. Brutal" Donalds: Inflation was brought to us by Kamala Harris. Rye: *Laughs* Donalds: Kamala Harris was the tiebreaking vote in the United States Senate. She broke the tie that started this inflation. Rye: That's not true. Donalds: *Whips out the receipts in his pocket.*" At NYPo, the Divine Ms. Devine, Dems can only escape Kamala Harris’ woeful record by censoring bad news of admin’s failures. WaEx, Fox News show drew higher ratings than Kamala Harris interview Tom Knighton at TAW, Kamala's misinformation strategy is, "Yes, please!" WUWT cites Da Caller, Radical Enviros Finally Endorse Harris Because They ‘Can Pressure and Move’ Her on Energy Policy. NewsMax, Is Capitalism Even in Harris' Vocabulary? From American Military News, Biden-Harris admin supports China buying US land. Twitchy, MSNBC: Kamala Harris Has to Address Communist Memes. 

At PJM, Vicky Taft thinks Harris/Biden's 'Illegal Alien Airlines' Program Is an Unmitigated Fraud. Breitbart reports Minneapolis Swears In First Non-U.S. Citizen as Police Officer. 

Sundance, sees a Full Spiral – Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles into Israel – Netanyahu Vows Response, Likely to Target Iran Energy Production. Insty, THERE’S NO MORE DENYING THAT THIS IS WAR: Caroline Glick @CarolineGlick "Ch 14 reported that the U.S. and Iran are negotiating the scope of the strike so that the U.S. will be able to compel Israel not to retaliate. Get it? The Biden-Harris administration is reportedly telling a U.S. enemy what level of assault against a U.S. ally is acceptable." James Woods@RealJamesWoods, "The ports are about to be closed War is erupting in the Middle East Americans in a disaster area are being ignored Our borders are wide open Crime is a tsunami in every blue city VOTE DEMOCRAT FOR MORE OF THIS." PJM's Stephen Kruiser, Gosh, I Seem to Remember a Lot Less World War III When Donald Trump Was President. 

The Midwesterner, Jocelyn Benson ignores request from Congress to clarify rights of election challengers. 'Challengers can only perform their function if they are allowed to observe signature verification'. 

Matt Margolis notes hopefully, Tim Sheehy Dominates in Debate. Is the Montana Senate Race Over Now? 

Lana Del Rey

Athena Thorne at PJM think Lana Del Rey May Just Be the Anti-Taylor Swift, hasn't actually endorsed Trump, but her boyfriend does, and she's not fighting it. We'll take it. At CNN, Olivia Nuzzi accuses ex-fiance of orchestrating blackmail campaign amid RFK relationship. Sorry all out of good Nuzzi pics. She needs to do a Playboy spread to keep her name in the news. 

From Fox, Trump assassination attempt: Secret Service to face new lawsuit over DEI quota, "The proposed lawsuit against the Secret Service takes aim at a reported agency goal to reach a 30% female workforce."

Brendan Carr@BrendanCarrFCC, "NEW The FCC just released the text of its 3-2 decision to approve a Soros backed group’s purchase of 200+ radio stations. The Commission’s decision today is unprecedented. Never before has the Commission voted to approve the transfer of a broadcast license—let alone the transfer of broadcast licenses for over 200 radio stations across more than 40 markets—without following the requirements and procedures codified in federal law. Not once." Sundance hosts Matt Taibbi Full Speech at “Rescue the Republic” Event in Washington, DC

Campus Reform reports actual reform, UNCW dismantles DEI positions, redirects almost $1.5 million to help students.

Jazz Shaw, New York Democrats Push for Radical Change to 'Equal Rights'. 

Proposal 1, otherwise known as the New York Equal Rights Amendment, will be on the statewide ballot this cycle, giving voters the chance to decide on a sweeping expansion of the state constitution’s equal-protection clause that would add a variety of demographic groups and allow progressives to pursue their aims through exhaustive future litigation.

The ballot proposition would add “ethnicity, national origin, age, disability” and “sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy” to the language of section 11 of article I of the New York state constitution.

By doing so, New York would codify the most extreme elements of left-wing gender ideology into its constitution, weakening the rights of parents to protect their children from harmful transgender medical interventions, among other consequences.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: But First, Coffee and FMJRA 2.0: The Pleasure Is To Play up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.