James FallowsVerified account

3 Chris Wallace on now: my money is on him playing it as straight (ie, non-Fox-ish) as possible. In terms of his long-term rep ...

4 … he has a lot to gain by “serious” approach, a lot to lose (long term) by seeming to rep Hannity wing of Fox.

5 Comparable Q about DJT: Is it conceivable that he will go “high-road,” restrained, statesmanlike? Hard to imagine. I am guessing: spasm.

6 How many seconds before Trump says “Scalia”? I am guessing <10 seconds

7 What we’re seeing from HRC at this second: the way you take whatever is the premise of the Q and say, “What we really need to discuss.."

8 In the first debate, DJT seemed *completely* unaware that he was on camera while HRC was talking. Someone has reminded him. But struggling

9 Was about to say, “how long before HRC gets to Garland,” but she just did

10. “The Supreme Court is what it’s all about.” 2 surprises in DJT answer: first, gets RBG in there quickly. Second, where is Scalia?

11 Strangely subdued first answer from DJT. Entirely out of character with the past ten days. NO SCALIA!!!

12 Good for C Wallace, in getting into specific cases, Heller et all. DJT is thinking, What? They didn’t say this would be on the test!

13 HRC went to Yale law school, answering Qs like this for 40+ years.

14 This is a Trump we have not seen for a very long time. Subject-terrain on this Q doesn’t favor him, but usually would bluster through

15 All of DJT’s answers, when he doesn’t know substance, boil down to: (a) things are terrible (b) I am strong (c) I will make great deals

16 With his and-what-then line of Qs right now, C Wallace replicating C Matthews’s very effective town-hall Q of DJT on abortion ...

17 … making him confront the contradictions and unintended consequences of positions that he has embraced as *stances* rather than policies

18 So far: DJT tired, almost tranquilized; HRC also has had enough of this, but plugging along; CW excellent prep and tough logical pursuit

19 We’ve descended into “Donald” and “Hillary” from the two candidates. I guess it could be a lot uglier but don’t recall this ...

20 … from both sides before. (HRC has long been saying “Donald,” apparently as way to needly him.)

21 It’s been quite a while since we have heard about The Wall from DJT. Accident? “Strategy”? We’ll hear now...

22 Fascinating in shift from abortion topic to immigration: Now DJT is on terrain where he has give a little segment of his standard speech

23 And if you’ve heard any of his speeches, that is what we’re getting right now, re immig and the wall. SNIFF!

24 “We have some bad hombres here” The long-awaited pivot for the Latino vote!

25 Meta-note, 25% of the way in: the country is tired of this, and so are the candidates. So am I! But admiration to Chris Wallace so far

26 Additional meta note: This is the first time when body language seems to suggest that Trump releases he’s going to lose

27 Example #29,187: HRC sticks a little dart into him, like a picador, and HE CANNOT RESIST. He is tired, but will respond EVERY time

28 HRC is thinking, DAMMIT, I have to keep giving these actual answers for another 65 minutes ...

29 If you compare transcript of this debate (first 30 mins) w first 2, and DJT’s speeches, there is zero forward movement on factual info

30 DJT’s struggle *not* to overreact, mug, grimace, etc while he is being criticized (and knowing he’s on camera) is high drama.

31 “Putin said nice things about me.” That *really* is what it comes down to from DJT. He’s reverting to type now. Tranks wearing off