Well, that was awkward. And awful.
And, in a word, as the two leading candidates to guide this great nation took to the stage for the second presidential debate, embarrassing.
Simply and utterly embarrassing.
Embarrassing that neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton could bring themselves to shake hands at the beginning, a routine gesture that we make grade-school children do after every athletic event.
Jay GreesonEmbarrassing that each side has submerged itself in the faith muck of a campaign overwhelmed by it.
Quickly, what do you know about either candidates’ serious foreign policy? What do you know about their financial plans?
What, if anything, do you know about either Trump’s or Clinton’s plan to tackle the hard questions about a national debt that is spinning like my calorie counter at a tailgate party, the crime troubles crippling too many cities or the social issues that are dividing our citizens in ways we have not seen since the 1960s civil rights years?
Not much, right?
Well, here’s betting that you are well-versed in the hashtag-worthy phrases like #LockerRoomTalk and #CrookedHillary. Yes, we watched the second debate, an overall embarrassment that serves as a plain and disgusting discourse for where we are in the political realm in this country.
It was verbal roller derby, and the early TV returns show we couldn’t get enough of the back-and-forth barbs that revealed very little and left few surprised when Jesse Lehrich, the Clinton spokesman on foreign policy, took to Twitter and wrote, “Hey, @realDonaldTrump Go — yourself.
That’s not to say that the personal success and shortcomings of those seeking public office are not part of the examination of resumes to find the best options.
They are, and they forever should be.
But we have spiraled into the rabbit hole of the Kardashians meeting the Kennedys, “American Idol” toppling the American system of politics.
And no one can turn away from this circus act that features our next president as the leading clown, whoever may win this time next month.
The first debate drew 84 million viewers across all networks, ranking as one of the most-watched non-Super Bowl TV events ever. Sunday night drew roughly 64 million. These antics are likely the leading reasons NFL ratings have dipped for the first time in a generation.
As viewers we simply can’t get enough.
As Americans, we should be demanding enough is enough.
Sure, the 40-or-so percent who are voting for Trump because he has an R next to his name on the ticket are quick to blame the biased media and point out Hillary’s hypocrisy.
The 40-or-so percent who are voting for Clinton because she has a D next to her name on the ticket try to convince themselves that she really is not as bad as she seems.
The 20 percent in the middle are left wondering two main questions: First, does either candidate have anything more of a platform than at least they are not the other one? And how did Ken Bone and his red sweater become the Joe the Plumber of this election cycle?
It’s more of the same, a verbal assault on the senses from each side – goodness forbid if you wanted your kids to watch this to get a better understanding of the issues – that is playing again and again to the lowest common denominator.
And as embarrassing as this discourse was about everything other than the real problems that face our nation in a really scary time, now know that one of these jackwagons is going to be the leader of the free world.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and 423-757-6343.