Morning Jolt: Why Last Night’s Debate Was Both Comically Bad and Painfully Annoying

Making the click-through worthwhile: Why last night's Democratic presidential primary debate was so bad; a suddenly hot issue that surprisingly never came up last night; an important and under-discussed detail about that Trump resort in Scotland; and a very important appointment for this weekend.

The Democratic Debates Have Curdled from Somewhat Illuminating to Bad

Last night is when the Democratic presidential primary debates shifted from mildly entertaining showcases of comically overambitious narcissists with little to no self-awareness — "I'm ready to be commander-in-chief on day one because in the House, I've introduced a bill that would —" to a genuinely annoying group exercise in ritualized belief that bumper-sticker slogans can fix the world, that most of the country's problems go away once Donald Trump is no longer president, and that anecdotes prove it.

Readers, you know I have plenty of beefs with President Trump. Some of you write in to let me know you disagree, and some of you let me know that you're tired of me pointing out where Trump gets it wrong. But I have no illusions — if somebody else steps into the Oval Office ...

September 13 2019

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Why Last Night's Debate Was Both Comically Bad and Painfully Annoying Jim Geraghty Making the click-through worthwhile: Why last night's Democratic presidential primary debate was so bad; a suddenly hot issue that surprisingly never came up last night; an important and under-discussed detail about that Trump resort in Scotland; and a very important appointment for this weekend. The Democratic Debates Have Curdled from Somewhat Illuminating to Bad Last night is when the Democratic presidential primary debates shifted from mildly entertaining showcases of comically overambitious narcissists with little to no self-awareness — "I'm ready to be commander-in-chief on day one because in the House, I've introduced a bill that would —" to a genuinely annoying group exercise in ritualized belief that bumper-sticker slogans can fix the world, that most of the country's problems go away once Donald Trump is no longer president, and that anecdotes prove it. Readers, you know I have plenty of beefs with President Trump. Some of you write in to let me know you disagree, and some of you let me know that you're tired of me pointing out where Trump gets it wrong. But I have no illusions — if somebody else steps into the Oval Office ... Read More ADVERTISEMENT Top Stories Anti-Semitism: The Fight That Never Flags Brian Stewart Anyone familiar with the sordid record of fear and loathing toward Jews knows that severing these roots will be a task fraught with difficulty. Jennifer Lopez's Female Gangsta-Training Film Is Appalling Armond White The opposite of slut-shaming: 'female empowerment' through stripping and hustling. New Zealand Moves to Create Gun Registry in Response to Mosque Shootings Jack Crowe The bill would also require that doctors inform the authorities if they believe a patient is mentally unfit to possess a gun. ADVERTISEMENT Horror-Comedy Ready or Not Plays on Primal Human Fears Ross Douthat A review of Ready or Not, starring Samara Weaving. Theodore Roosevelt on the Range Declan Leary Theodore Roosevelt captured the classic picture of the American frontier. C. S. Lewis and the Religion of Science Christopher O. Blum A review of The Restoration of Man: C. S. Lewis and the Continuing Case against Scientism, 3rd ed., by Michael D. Aeschliman. The Mad Negotiator Rich Lowry Trump sees the best in even the world's most dismal actors because he sees them, no matter how hostile or bloodstained, as potential negotiating partners. Texas Republican Tells Beto 'My AR Is Ready for You' in Response to Gun Confiscation Vow Jack Crowe Briscoe Cain, who represents the Houston area in the Texas state legislature, wrote "my AR is ready for you Robert Francis" in a since deleted tweet. ADVERTISEMENT WHAT NR IS READING Primal Screams: How the Sexual Revolution Created Identity Politics Mary Eberstadt' “Primal Screams is a deeply thought-provoking reflection on human nature and the fate of our republic.” — Mary Ann Glendon Learned Hand Professor of Law, Harvard University LEARN MORE Photo Essays Dems Debate in Texas Toronto Film Festival ADVERTISEMENT Follow Us & Share 19 West 44th Street, Suite 1701, New York, NY, 10036, USA Your Preferences | Unsubscribe | Privacy View this e-mail in your browser.