Mr Hollow got exposed
Will Trump behave? Will he manage to refrain from hurling invective at women, immigrants and Muslims during the 90 minutes of the debate? Will he come across "presidential" enough? Those were the questions that dominated the media circus before the first of the three debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Yes, too bad the battle between the two candidates for the most important post in the world has come to such lows.
So... How did he behave? Decently, overall. Meaning, he did not swear, and neither was he too aggressive against women and Muslims. But this behaviour did not bring him any dividends. Just on the contrary. This debate showed very clearly that Trump's success in the last few months had largely been because he was able to divert much of the public attention from his own incompetence and uncouthness, and his total political ineptitude. He was hugely aided in this by the media, who jumped at every cue he was giving them, for the sake of getting attention, viewership and sponsorship money. But now, when thing are getting serious and the election campaign is entering its decisive stage, and Trump's advisors have obviously changed the strategy, trying to polish his tarnished image in order to get the votes of those Republican supporters who couldn't imagine voting for someone like Trump - the tactic has failed completely.
In front of millions of viewers and voters, Hillary Clinton annihilated her opponent with ease. With irony and expert knowledge, with humour and charms, she showed that as soon as he is forced to stop concealing his incompetence with rude rhetoric and boorish behaviour, Donald Trump becomes mediocre, faceless, even invisible. On the issues of foreign policy, terrorism and national security, even on the questions of the economy and tax policy, Trump could not utter anything beyond a bunch of egocentric phrases and hollow sentences full of contradictions. For anyone who watched the debate with a sober mind it became evident that Trump failed as hugely and bombastically as loud and big his promises were. And Mrs Clinton showed that she would do everything in her capabilities to be a dignified presidential candidate.
After this debate it became clear that Trump just cannot inherit president Obama. Not in a world where the voters decide whom to support based on facts and political ideas, not scandal and spectacle.
Of course, like I have said before, it is too early to write him off. There will still be a couple of debates, and many more appearances of both candidates. Hillary Clinton could do mistakes there. But right now, it is patently obvious that she is categorically the winner of the first round of this battle.
Trump may or may not look doomed at this stage. His performance proved once more that populists who are unable to offer anything more than the superficial flamboyance of their persona, are having immense difficulties as soon as the spotlights are off. In this televised duel, Mrs Clinton managed to unmask her opponent, and expose him for what he truly is. She did it with such ease that some people might have felt a little betrayed by the lack of a real challenge. She did it just with a smile. The smile of a smart, confident woman. Hopefully the first female US president.
So... How did he behave? Decently, overall. Meaning, he did not swear, and neither was he too aggressive against women and Muslims. But this behaviour did not bring him any dividends. Just on the contrary. This debate showed very clearly that Trump's success in the last few months had largely been because he was able to divert much of the public attention from his own incompetence and uncouthness, and his total political ineptitude. He was hugely aided in this by the media, who jumped at every cue he was giving them, for the sake of getting attention, viewership and sponsorship money. But now, when thing are getting serious and the election campaign is entering its decisive stage, and Trump's advisors have obviously changed the strategy, trying to polish his tarnished image in order to get the votes of those Republican supporters who couldn't imagine voting for someone like Trump - the tactic has failed completely.
In front of millions of viewers and voters, Hillary Clinton annihilated her opponent with ease. With irony and expert knowledge, with humour and charms, she showed that as soon as he is forced to stop concealing his incompetence with rude rhetoric and boorish behaviour, Donald Trump becomes mediocre, faceless, even invisible. On the issues of foreign policy, terrorism and national security, even on the questions of the economy and tax policy, Trump could not utter anything beyond a bunch of egocentric phrases and hollow sentences full of contradictions. For anyone who watched the debate with a sober mind it became evident that Trump failed as hugely and bombastically as loud and big his promises were. And Mrs Clinton showed that she would do everything in her capabilities to be a dignified presidential candidate.
After this debate it became clear that Trump just cannot inherit president Obama. Not in a world where the voters decide whom to support based on facts and political ideas, not scandal and spectacle.
Of course, like I have said before, it is too early to write him off. There will still be a couple of debates, and many more appearances of both candidates. Hillary Clinton could do mistakes there. But right now, it is patently obvious that she is categorically the winner of the first round of this battle.
Trump may or may not look doomed at this stage. His performance proved once more that populists who are unable to offer anything more than the superficial flamboyance of their persona, are having immense difficulties as soon as the spotlights are off. In this televised duel, Mrs Clinton managed to unmask her opponent, and expose him for what he truly is. She did it with such ease that some people might have felt a little betrayed by the lack of a real challenge. She did it just with a smile. The smile of a smart, confident woman. Hopefully the first female US president.