It wasn't much of a debate. More like a gentlemen's agreement.
Both VP candidates agree to back Netanyahu's wars vs. the 'bad guys" no matter what.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Vance, the same question, would you support or oppose a preemptive strike by Israel on Iran?
VANCE: We should support our allies wherever they are when they're fighting the bad guys.
It was day 361 of the unfolding Gaza genocide with many Iranian missiles eluding the Iron Dome and hitting several air force bases. Pres. Biden sent thousands more US troops directly into the war which threatens to engulf the entire Middle East. Here at home, Hurricane Helene is devastating the southland and nearly 50,000 union dock workers are on strike, threatening to bring the whole economy to a screeching halt unless they receive a fair contract offer from the profit-bloated shipping companies.
But you would hardly know the candidates’ position on any of these things from watching last night’s vice-presidential debate. I watched intermittently, flipping back and forth between the debate and the equally boring Braves/Padres playoff game. (Can you believe Atlanta’s team is still called the Braves? But I digress.)
Dan Balz at WaPo writes;
Vice-presidential debates rarely matter much in presidential campaigns and Tuesday’s clash between Democrat Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance may matter less than ever — not because of what was said or not said, but because events have suddenly interceded in ways that could affect the election in its closing weeks much more than what happened onstage in New York.
Two friendlier and duller debaters than Vance and Walz would be difficult to find. First, because they hadn’t very much to argue about. Obviously, abortion rights, where J.D. Vance lied and claimed he never supported a national ban on abortions.
Then there was the whole January 6th failed coup attempt and whether or not he and Trump would accept this year’s election results. Both issues were low-hanging fruit for Walz, who handled them fine. Walz asked Vance directly, “Did he [Trump] lose the 2020 election?” Vance lamely responded: “Tim, I’m focused on the future.”
Vance, who lied, ducked and ran through most of the debate, protested when he was fact checked.
“Margaret,” he said to moderator Margaret Brennan of CBS News, “the rules were that you guys weren’t going to fact-check!”
As for the ILA strike or the genocidal ethnic cleansing of Gaza and the West Bank, there was little said because there is basic agreement between the two. In fact, the only time the word strike was mentioned by anyone last night was in reference to a possible US preemptive strike (nuclear?) against Iran.
As for the dockworkers strike, the only question remaining is, will Biden intervene and try and break the strike like he did with the railroad workers back in December? It’s still too early to say.
* * *
Walz stumbled through his answer to the question about a possible preemptive strike on Iran.
But the expansion of Israel and its proxies is an absolute, fundamental necessity for the United States to have the steady leadership there. You saw it experienced today, where, along with our Israeli partners and our coalition, able to stop the incoming attack. But what's fundamental here is that steady leadership is going to matter.
Huh?
And here’s Vance’s reply:
Now, you asked about a preemptive strike, Margaret, and I want to answer the question. Look, it is up to Israel what they think they need to do to keep their country safe. And we should support our allies wherever they are when they're fighting the bad guys.
There was no mention from either candidate about “eating dogs and cats”, or “childless cat ladies.”
Each candidate tried their best to bash China, the manufactured number-one enemy under both Trump and Biden. Walz mainly expressed agreement with Trump’s trade war policies towards China except…
I think the thing that most concerns me on this is, is Donald Trump was the guy who created the largest trade deficit in American history with China. So the rhetoric is good. Much of what the senator said right there, I'm in agreement with him on this.
Walz had to admit that he “misspoke” when he claimed he was in China during the Tiananmen Square protest in 1989.
Funniest unfunny moment…
MB: Thank you, Governor. And just to clarify for our viewers, Springfield, Ohio does have a large number of Haitian migrants who have legal status. Temporary protected status. Norah.
JDV: Well, Margaret, Margaret, I think it's important because…
MB: Thank you, senator. We have so much to get to.
NO: We're going to turn out of the economy. Thank you.
Vance’s best point…
She's been the Vice President for three and a half years. Day one was 1400 days ago.
Final point…What did we learn last night?
Padres 4, Braves 0.