The one and only vice presidential debate of the 2016 election season confirmed everyone’s suspicions of the role of the vice presidency of the United States: to act as a standby to the president.
‘Twas the eve of October 4, 2016. With pumpkin spice everything on the market, the calm, cool aura of Autumn resonated throughout America’s households...until 9 PM EST. What went down after that should have been submitted on America’s Funniest Home Videos for the $10,000 prize. The “debate” between Tim Kaine (D) and Mike Pence (R) was a reenactment of a boy telling his mother that his older brother’s “friend” is planning to destroy the political integrity and values of America, all while the older brother stood there saying, “He did not say that”.
The evening was littered with interruptions from both candidates and an overall dry argument. While Senator Tim Kaine did his presumed job by defending Hillary Clinton and her campaign, Governor Mike Pence’s argument was full of blunders and faux pas. At one point the latter even praised Obama for, “bringing Osama Bin Laden to justice”, even though he had mentioned in a previous interview that, “Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader...than Barack Obama.” However, the general subject which was brought up the most was, and you guessed it, Donald Trump.
This debate was yet another addition to Donald Trump’s celebratory status. Senator Kaine launched an assault on the Trump campaign, pointing out many of the contradictory statements the billionaire has said during his campaign. Mike Pence, on the other hand, had no physical evidence to defend himself and sat there for the 90 minutes denying all the accusations. Trying to move past the train wreck that was the 2016 vice presidential debate, I would like to shift your focus to the 2016 London Mayoral Debate.
On February 4, 2016 itv News London aired the mayoral debate between Labour Majority Sadiq Khan and Conservative Majority Zac Goldsmith. I’m not here to tell you what the debate was like, but how the debate was. Both candidates debated about the typical topics of affordable housing and job growth in London, but the way this was done was, if to put it in one word, respectfully. Both candidates obviously retorted against each other’s policies, but in a practical and civil manner. There were no outbursts of the word, “Wrong!” or the occasional scowling of the face like those of recent 2016 election debates. Might I remind you that this in fact was a mayoral debate, not a vying for the seat of the Executive Office of the most powerful country in the world.
The sad truth is that American politics has become an after-school playground. Whoever makes the most noise and acts tough claims the swings first.
