It's been kind of fun this morning roaming around the innerwebs and watching all the euphoria, disappointment, and meltdowns we missed either because we were busy doing our thing here. 

Or because the damn thing ran way over, and I HAD TO GO TO BED.

Like, twenty minutes on childcare? WHUT?!

As I said last night, I know that was a complete and total sop to the Cat Ladies for Harris lobby and a diversionary tactic to keep JD from maybe discussing a port strike that's fixin' to cripple imports of, oh, CHILDCARE PRODUCTS, etc. But it only served to highlight, yet again, how obnoxiously biased the moderators have been in the two debates we're going to have. 

And I have to say something about Margaret Brennan's disrespectful, sneering condescension damn near every time she countered something Vance would say or even when addressing a question to him. How the man maintained his affable composure in the face of that smug, bitter harpy, I can't begin to imagine, but that's the guy I want to step in, God forbid something happens to President Trump. 

I know we say this all the time, from the lowest three-follower Republican on X to paid Fox contributors and everyone in between, but it NEVER, EVER HAPPENS, AND WHY NOT?!

WHY DOES THE RNC ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN CYCLE AFTER CYCLE?!?

I mean, DAMN.

[Rant: off]

Tim Walz was first to the podium, and it was readily apparent that the nerve issues were real. That rubber mug and bug eyes did him no favors as he struggled from the get-go. And, again, as I said last night, you could sense a barely constrained frenetic energy that just wanted to release itself in one of his weird kicks or shrieks or whatever those twitches are he constantly does when in the public eye informally.

The man was miserable, not to mention out of his depth, and clearly knew it. 

I do believe that Dana Bash called it correctly (I can't believe I'm saying this) when she told another CNN analyst that Walz wasn't so much "un" prepared as "over" prepared. You could see his tiny little goober brain frantically sifting through all the volumes of catchphrases and boomity lines he'd memorized in prep. But he just isn't a sharp enough player to deploy information effectively and swiftly enough in a format like that, particularly when none of it is in his bailiwick, to begin with. 

The China "I used to ride bikes with my friends growing up" obfuscation circle-jerk was unforgivable. Unforgivable. The Harris campaign knew that was coming. Do not tell me they didn't beat a straightforward lie of explanation into his head, and that's the best the (eventually) self-described "knucklehead" could finally cop to? 

CBS: You lied about being in China during Tiananmen Square. What do you say?

Tim Walz: “I used to ride my bike with friends growing up.”

This is completely painful to watch.pic.twitter.com/pDUXkwmJgO

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 2, 2024

I never want to see a "President" Harris, but God FORBID she got hit by a rickshaw two months into her term?

When I come with receipts to the meeting with the HR director: pic.twitter.com/ILZeknPpF4

— Deebs (@DeebsFLA) October 2, 2024

Oh, HAY-YULL, no.

At least Walz had the good sense to agree with Vance on a number of things.

The best part of the debate. Walz nodding vigorously was a thing of beauty! pic.twitter.com/E3h4gOYxNN

— 🇺🇦 Support is Pro-🇺🇸 (@liveforpolitics) October 2, 2024

As for JD, he was smooth as silk and has subsequently spawned a million inner web memes. Some have called his debate performance a 'masterclass,' and I wouldn't say that's too far off the mark.

For actual "get some" types, this was a bit of a disappointment. Granted, there were things he could have ripped Walz's head off on, and he surely could have been more aggressive with the two harridans running the debate. 

On reflection, I really think that would have been counter-productive. The females of MSNBC and The View persuasion tuned in to witness and confirm that Vance is a white supremacist patriarchal monster in the flesh for themselves. Instead, what they got was a really good-looking guy who was soft-spoken, composed but confident, and brought the fire with facts vice joy pablum. He also had a consistently pleasant tone and expression the entire time. Non-threatening. Excruciatingly polite but firm. 

Sadly, this left the perpetually simmering with resentment AWFLS so little to seethe over in the after-debate breakdowns - okay, MELTDOWNS - you almost feel sorry for them.

J.D. Vance talking over two women for a good minute, what a man

— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) October 2, 2024

ALMOST

MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace says the CBS debate moderators should have used profanity against JD Vance.

“The audacity is someone should have said. Stop it. Stop. Are you effing kidding me. They should have dropped that F bomb.”

pic.twitter.com/prZVQwe5t2

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) October 2, 2024

If only they weren't so insanely pathetic and purposefully delusional.

Hell has frozen over.

Chris Cuomo bodies the CBS moderators for trying to fact-check JD Vance, and then cut mics off.

"Vance was RIGHT."

pic.twitter.com/R3vS9KIpoZ

— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) October 2, 2024

In the meantime, the same AWFLs have some sage advice for the Harris campaign re Bike Boy -

LET HIM CRY

.@jrpsaki’s post VP debate advice: “Free Tim Walz” and let him “cry” pic.twitter.com/sOS4UcmLAK

— Chad Gilmartin (@ChadGilmartinCA) October 2, 2024

Sincerely. That's it.

Lemme tell you, Jenn - Timmy came awful close to sniffles last night because JD is just that good.

I did enjoy the nice moments between Walz and Vance, as I said last night. They were so civilized -- gentlemen, both of them - and what a freakin' breath of fresh air. That difference in itself was also a net positive all around.

Before the debate, CBS's Major Garrett said this was crucial for Vance because Republicans didn't like him as much as Dems liked Walz. He needed to "reset" and convince the faithful he was a worthy running mate for Trump.

I think that little bit of gaslighting might have singed the messenger, as most Republicans I know thought Vance was a great pick from the first. We have only grown more convinced of Trump's vision and wisdom in his choice of running mate as the race continued - seeing Vance time and again on the hot seat, handling it beautifully. 

What happened last night was an affirmation for us. 

What Garrett and Democrats need to worry about is that last night was a revelation for those undecideds and independents who were skeptical but open-minded. There's no way most folks who hadn't seen Vance in action couldn't help but come away impressed.

Does that translate to more GOP votes?

Schmaybe - I hope so.

What it did absolutely is cement this Trump-Vance team as a rock-solid, competent, complimentary duo.

And both guys are entertaining as hell.

I love it. We are so blessed.

Let's get this done.