The atmosphere of the second presidential debate shifted dramatically from the first event. There weren’t promos that made the night appear like a wrestling match. There were no beginning handshakes, or fun reversals of party colors. Immediately the tone was dreadfully serious, and often painful to watch. Trump walked in with the weight of the new audio-leak about sexual assault dragging down his gait. He immediately looked down, the worry plastered on his face. Hillary walked in cheerfully, but with a more reserved presence. She knew there was going to be a different style to address the new audience and it wasn’t going to be a night of zingers.
Many factors kept up the tense vibe established in the beginning. There was Trump shifting back and forth, and even pacing. There was the chilling moment he said, “It’s just words, folks. It’s just words,” bringing to mind the ludicrous argument online that he isn’t that bad because the anti-Trump fear can apparently be trivialized down to, “he says mean things” as if we were all children being told “sticks and stones.”
There were more tense moments when Hillary would say “Everything Trump just said is wrong,” or “That was very interesting,” after some of his answers. In another instant Trump told Hillary “Because you’d be in jail,” in response to her saying it was fortunate he wasn't in charge of law enforcement.
One thing became clear; Trump doesn’t think rules apply to him. Most of the time they don’t. He had way more speaking time overall than Hillary, and gave several answers after the moderators talked of moving on. The Republican nominee was constantly interrupting Hillary, and even interrupted the moderators before a question could be fully asked. He almost never actually addressed the question given, and went on tangents that made no sense in response to any question. This debate was headache-inducing, with many moments, “What? What is Trump even talking about?” Plus a lot of his “research” looked like he just read a bunch of internet conspiracy theories, although this is nothing new.
There was such a tense and wildly inappropriate atmosphere that it was difficult to pin down what issues were addressed to the casual viewer not taking notes. Then we arrive at the final now-famous question.
“Regardless of the current rhetoric, would either of you name one positive thing that you respect in one another,” received some laughter and applause. Although appearing a bit juvenile, this was actually a pretty clever question.
It’s like those job interview questions, “What super power would you have?” or “Name a dessert you would be and why?” It has nothing to do with the job you're applying for, and yet it has everything to do with the job you're applying for. How well do you think on your feet? Can you always find the good in others? How are you at working with people you don’t like? These answers are now for viewers to decide.
Hillary mentioned that she respects his children, because “able and devoted” children says something about him. Then Hillary shifted to explain how “consequential” this debate is, reaching farther than four or eight years, and ended with the fact that she has at least 30 years of experience. Trump said that Hillary “doesn’t quit and she doesn’t give up.”
Hillary’s answer was a clever way of saying but not saying that there wasn’t anything she respected in Donald Trump. She respected something around him for not having turned out terribly. Trump did give Hillary a compliment on her determination, and with both answers the night actually somehow ended on a positive note. Yet, I hope any undecided voters will not slip past any positive ending and truly look into some deciding moments from the second debate on who should be president regardless of how they give can compliments.
