Senate Debate Divides Into Thirds.
Republican Linda McMahon and Democrat Richard Blumenthal survived the first of their three televised debates in an hourlong confrontation sponsored by The Hartford Courant and Fox CT. Mrs. McMahon got off to a strong start, Mr. Blumenthal took longer to find his footing. Then he did, the 5-term attorney general dominated the professional wrestling mogul, causing her to make repeated attempts to explain her support for the minimum wage.
The candidates’ strategies weren’t hard to discern. Wealthy Mr. Blumenthal painted wealthy Mrs. McMahon as a greedy executive. The Greenwich Republican portrayed the Greenwich Democrat as an economic imbecile. Mrs. McMahon was at her strongest when she could showcase her knowledge of how the economy works. Mr. Blumenthal served traditional Democratic dishes from a menu of anti-trade talk, tax increases for the wealthy, and mistrust of business. In response to a question from Mrs. McMahon, he revealed he has no clue how a job is created. She, on the other hand, wants little to do with the details of cutting the federal budget deficit.
I paid attention, but I did not understand Mr. Blumenthal’s answers on the stimulus. He would have been the only Democrat in the United States Senate to vote against it? Not likely. I think heard him say, in response to one of the many mentions of the WWE, that we are back in “good times.” Where?
Each side will be crowing and throwing brickbats at the other side while they adjust performances for the next two debates.
10 comments
haha… the “good times” comment made me stop to think too… and his nonsense about “opposing” TARP was truly ridiculous. On balance, I liked Linda better. I thought she maintained her composure better.
On the topic of composure, I hesitate to bring this up on the off chance it’s caused by some medical condition, but did anyone notice the way Blumenthal’s hands were trembling? Early on he was gesturing with his hands while he spoke, and they were clearly shaking.
Hasn’t he argued before the Supreme Court? Was he really that nervous? Linda didn’t appear rattled.
“Wealthy Mr. Blumenthal painted wealthy Mrs. Blumenthal as a greedy executive. ”
Huh? I’m lost here Kevin…..
Dave, Blumenthal hands have been trembling like that for years, no doubt a medical condition.
Blumy trembles at all his debates. On March 1 his entire body shook. He may be hiding Parkinsons….or maybe it’s fear.
She started off composed, he started off-kilter. But he kept needling her and she got rattled, resorting to one-word or one-sentence answers.
Neither was particularly impressive but if someone could be said to have “won” it would be him because overall she came off as unlikeable, something of a bully. I doubt that’s what her ‘corner men’ wanted.
The “Good Times” comment was meant to be an insult. AG Blumenthal was trying to imply that with McMahon running the company they lost jobs, and when she left, “Good Times” returned to the company and so they could hire more people. I’m not siding with either campaign, just that’s what he was attempting to do.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. Blumenthal dominated McMahon, due in some part to her inexperience (repeating issues that hurt her) and the fact that she seemed for some reason so irritable. Did the CT Report poll put her in a bad mood or was her realization in prepping for the debate that she knows very little about the issues?
I noticed the shaking too, Dave. I thought it might have been some condition but I’ve seen him speak on TV several times before and never noticed. Also, I didn’t notice it later on in the debate either. Just thought it was strange.
If Blumenthal suffers from a medical condition, shouldn’t the voters know about it? If Blumenthal was shaking so obviously at the outset from a medical condition, wouldn’t it continue throught the debate?
Linda, on the other hand, remianed poised the whole time, showing irritation at appropriate times. His cheshire cat grin was very tiring to watch. Linda had a Reaganesque retort, telling Blumenthal, You stop mentioning my money and I won’t tell that your family owns the Empire State building. That brought a smile, not a grin, from Blumenthal.