September 23, 2020

"[Mike Pence is] a good debater. So, I’m so concerned, like I can only disappoint."

Said Kamala Harris, speaking at a fundraiser, quoted in "Kamala Harris Downplays Debate Skills as Buttigieg Stands In for Pence" (Bloomberg). I hope I'm detecting sarcasm in that "I’m so concerned, like I can only disappoint."

The article also quotes Senator Claire McCaskill: "I think Kamala is suffering from too high of expectations in terms of her debate performance with Pence.... I think we all like need to take a deep breath and quit saying, ‘I can’t wait for Kamala to debate Pence.’ It won’t be like that. It won’t be that Pence will be laying bleeding on the floor when Kamala is done. So, we’ve got to lower expectations for Kamala and keep the expectations for Biden low."

94 comments:

Tank said...

America needs a President and Vice President who must be protected by low expectations.

After all, that's how we became a great country.

gspencer said...

"So, we’ve got to lower expectations for Kamala and keep the expectations for Biden low"

Okay. Done and done.

clint said...

Lowering expectations before a debate is sensible, even routine.

It's striking though that a sitting Senator and her media allies both thought it was a good idea to directly say that last bit out loud -- that they're trying to lower expectations.

BUMBLE BEE said...

Biden/Harris defines a peculiar state of mind. The republic is circling the drain. It is good to be old.

PB said...

Keep ecpectstions low so even an idiot can be viewed as exceeding expectations. Right. What was it about the soft bigotry of low expectations?

Ralph L said...

Poor woman thinks we'll like her if she says like like every sentence.

Unknown said...

Vote for The Wurst

tim in vermont said...

She is so clumsy and transparent, which is why she got thrown out on her ear in the primaries.

pacwest said...

Democrats going low again.

rehajm said...

Former Senator Senator Claire McCaskill shows up in the news a lot- but what's with this we stuff?

rehajm said...

I hope I'm detecting sarcasm...

Flag on the play! Offsides. Lining up in the cruelly neutral zone. Loss of down. Time out.

Breezy said...

If she has to defend Biden’s 47 yr record, of course she’ll disappoint. There’s nothing of note except the Crime Bill which they want to downplay and the awful Thomas hearing. Biden’s record is 47 yrs of grift, graft and groping while smiling like the Cheshire Cat.

rhhardin said...

I have no idea what a good debater is in politics. They're all boring.

Milton Friedman was good, if you want debating skills. Correct on theory and good at expressing it.

rehajm said...

She misssed an opportunity to court the giggly immature voter base with master debater.

Big Mike said...

Is Kamala trying to lay claim to the soft bigotry of low expectations?

Leland said...

So expectations for Harris were high, but for Biden, expectations have always been low. That's not good, considering the two debated each other and Biden won out.

tim maguire said...

I hope I'm detecting sarcasm in that "I’m so concerned, like I can only disappoint."
...

we’ve got to lower expectations for Kamala and keep the expectations for Biden low."


Asked and answered.

Readering said...

Expectations? Who cares about Pence v Harris?

LilyBart said...

Adjusting expectations is normal. Kamala is a bit ham-fisted at it.

Jersey Fled said...

Is there anyone here who honestly believes Kamala is up to the task of serving as President if/when it comes to that?

JAORE said...

Senator Claire McCaskill: "...we’ve got to lower expectations for Kamala and keep the expectations for Biden low."

The same would apply to how they would serve if Biden wins.

The Vault Dweller said...

Mike Pence has never struck me as a good speaker. He benefits largely from his good looks. Kamala Harris also doesn't strike me as a good speaker. She benefits from her looks as well. In a comparison of looks I think Mike Pence wins. Mainly because men age better than women... as far as looks go.

Mary Beth said...

Harris shouldn't be concerned. I'm quite confident of her ability to disappoint.

DarkHelmet said...

Well, mission accomplished. My expectations are very low for Harris because she's a typical useless, phony political hack who will say whatever she thinks will bring her power. And laugh with that weird little almost Hillaryesque cackle.

My expectations for Biden are low because he's a dim, obnoxious and now demented fool.


But I already know the media will declare both of them to be the return of Clarence Darrow, if not Demosthenes.

Biotrekker said...

Dems/Media always playing psychological games. Lower the public's expectations so that she can "beat" expectations.

MartyH said...

How low are the expectations for Biden? Staying awake? Coherence? Anger management? When is the last time he was under any pressure for ninety minutes?

Tommy Duncan said...

"So, we’ve got to lower expectations for Kamala and keep the expectations for Biden low."

Put a mirror below their nostrils.

MadisonMan said...

I'm sure the moderators there will be able to drag her to the finish line so she can be proclaimed the victor by them.
If she doesn't laugh, then she'll have made progress.

Skeptical Voter said...

Well the "little girl on the bus" could and did beat up on Joe Biden in one of the first debates in the primaries. But Mike Pence may be a tougher target. OTOH if Kamala winds up on her feet rather than her knees at the end of the debate, the Dims will declare victory.

D.D. Driver said...

Is anything more stupid than a Vice Presidential debate? I would love much, much rather watch a Hunter versus Don Junior debate. Much more entertaining but still equally pointless.

MikeR said...

Expectations for Biden low. They are terrified, praying that they somehow get lucky and he makes it through the debates without spacing out.
Unless they're planning to cancel them at the last minute with some excuse. Whoa, there's a pandemic, how can anyone talk about debates right now?! That's what I would do if I were them.

Temujin said...

Pence has been very quiet as VP. He's a quiet man by nature. But that does not mean his mind is not crisp and clear. He was a Congressman and a Governor. This is a man who knows his stuff. Kamala is in for a ride. Her only hope is that the network that hosts it, runs it for her, as the Democrat. As we know, this has happened before.

Mikey NTH said...

Keeping the expectations low so you can always meet them. Sounds like something Homer Simpson would say.

Jess said...

"..."Harris has to do three things in the debate: defend her record, defend Biden’s record and prosecute the case against Trump,” Paul said..."

That's a tough task. Maybe they should ask her to show her math skills and determine the correct thickness of concrete for the containment of a nuclear reactor.

unknown said...

Kamala is a lightweight. The only people who “yasss kween” her are fucking idiots. I’m thinking in particular of the Kavanaugh hearing. Go back and watch her. It’s cringe.

mockturtle said...

It won’t be that Pence will be laying bleeding on the floor

Oy, did she really say, 'laying'?

Matt Sablan said...

Given how great Kamala did during the D's debates... yeah. I can see why we're in "manage expectations" mode for her.

LilyBart said...

The Vault Dweller said.. In a comparison of looks I think Mike Pence wins. Mainly because men age better than women... as far as looks go.

She's recently had work done on her face with filler and botox. Joe has too BTW.

Rory said...

Debate types I'd like to see: (1) Lincoln-Douglas, alternating long-form set speeches; (2) conversational, asking questions of each other; (3) tag team, with President, VP, House leader, Senate leader and a governor on each side. No need for media.

Kevin said...

Harris just needs to say there was a little black girl in Berkeley who had to get a back alley abortion, and that little girl was ME!

Then drop the mic and walk off the stage in a shower of tears.

The media will take it from there.

M Jordan said...

Claire McCaskill makes me realize anybody can be a senator. I’m not saying she’s dumb, I’m saying she’s an idiot.

tim maguire said...

rhhardin said...I have no idea what a good debater is in politics. They're all boring.

The House of Commons has cornered the market on good debaters. In English, anyway. By the time they were done with their picks, there were no good ones left for the US.

pacwest said...

Expectations? Who cares about Pence v Harris?

Since it's the HARRIS/biden ticket, and you guys are trying to impeach Trump I'd say it's a debate between two possible presidents. I care.

pacwest said...

Expectations? Who cares about Pence v Harris?

Since it's the HARRIS/biden ticket, and you guys are trying to impeach Trump I'd say it's a debate between two possible presidents. I care.

M Jordan said...

I’ll never forget Biden’s obnoxious smirking/laughing/grinning debate with Paul Ryan ... and he won. That’s when I realized two things: 1) Paul Ryan is an ideological autist and 2) debates are not scored on logic points. However, I wish to add Biden’s leers won’t work if he tries them against Trump. Trump’ll just steamroll over him.

I'm Not Sure said...

"So, I’m so concerned, like I can only disappoint."

Sadly, that ship has sailed.

walter said...

Well..residing at the top of a Harris/Biden administration, expectations should be commensurate..

Amexpat said...

Pence is very solid and steady when being asked pointed questions. He's not the type that will try to devastate an opponent, but he's very hard to wrong foot. Harris' best strategy would be to go for a respectable draw and not try for a "that little girl was me" moment.

Menahem Globus said...

I hope he'll be as gentle with her as Tulsi Gabbard was.

gilbar said...

why don't we just cut to the chase; and have Kamela debate President Trump

William said...

My expectations: Pence will be boring. Harris will be annoying. The media will proclaim Harris as the overwhelming winner.....Some of Colbert's writers will provide her with a few snappy lines which the media will exult over and endlessly replay.....I have seen movies where one hundred pound women beat up several football linebackers. With proper editing, anything is possible.

Jersey Fled said...

Is there anyone here who honestly believes Kamala is up to the task of serving as President if/when it comes to that?

Still waiting.

iowan2 said...

Impressions are, Pence would be the absolute worst person to draw in a debate. He knows exactly who he is and why. He has lived his life that way. There is no way to get a rise out of him. IF you think you see some inconsistency in any of his positions and attempt to magnify that, and get him to stumble in debate, you will get in return, a clearly reasoned explanation of how he is where he is. You can disagree with him, but you can't say he is wrong, or inconsistent.

DavidUW said...

Kamala is not intelligent, nor has she ever participated in an actual debate. The idea that she can hold her own in any argument with anyone who has even rudimentary rhetorical skills is laughable.

PatHMV said...

If she does land any good jabs on Pence, then the first question to ask her is "did you really mean that? Were you serious about that? Because IT WAS JUST A DEBATE!"

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

"So, we’ve got to lower expectations for Kamala and keep the expectations for Biden low."

Lowering expectations. Yeah, that's what the electorate is clamoring for.

These people are expecting to win purely on Orange Man Bad. That simply isn't going to work.

wendybar said...

M Jordan said...
Claire McCaskill makes me realize anybody can be a senator. I’m not saying she’s dumb, I’m saying she’s an idiot.

9/23/20, 8:12 AM

Take a gander at Hank Johnson, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Maxine Waters. The bar isn't that high I guess....

LilyBart said...

Whatever Kamala says, remember, its "just a debate" - so she'll lie and lie.

Francisco D said...

It is not a debate. It is a personality contest.

Pence is inoffensive and boring, but Harris is a nasty POS. Dems are afraid that her true persona will be on display.

Craig said...

It doesn't matter how she does, really. No matter what, the media will fawn all over her, and the majority of the public will judge the debate through the biased media (and social media) spin.

Our democracy is over. The leftists and leftist corporations are in charge now.

Craig said...

How many of Kamala's words are "so" and "like"? 33% of her last quoted sentence, anyway.

Nicholas said...

"The House of Commons has cornered the market on good debaters. In English, anyway."

They are not as impressive as they were in the good old days, when people had an attention span unattenuated by the internet. Look on YouTube for Peter Shore at the Oxford Union (a traditional training ground for our debaters)speaking on the question of UK membership of the European Union (as it has become). It is a magnificent peroration, whatever you think of the content.

Bilwick said...

If you lower your expectations on Harris, where are your expectations on Sleepy Joe? The sub-sub-basement?

Michael K said...

Readering said...
Expectations? Who cares about Pence v Harris?


Well, she is the real Presidential candidate.

NCMoss said...

A SNL skit to put things into perspective

DNC Town Hall

Unknown said...

Pity candidates

Works well with Putin and Xi

madAsHell said...

like I can only disappoint.

You're not holding your mouth the right way.

Amadeus 48 said...

That is FORMER Sen. Claire McCaskill.

So, we are supposed to forget everything we have seen from Kamala on the campaign trail (remember, she dropped out two months before the Iowa caucuses) and see her as a master debater. Remember her performance in the Kavanaugh hearings? And Mike Pence was a radio talk-show host?

I always thought that Obama rose effortlessly on the goodwill of others. Kamala is another case of the same thing. If she comes out with some airy banalities, her fans will swoon. This won't be about performance. She can screw it up by actually engaging.

I really don't think you can drive expectations for Kamala low enough.

PM said...

Some debate that'll be.
Pence never laughs and she can't stop.

Joe Smith said...

So she's saying she's not a master debater? Good to know.

Btw, will she be standing on a box behind the podium?

Pence is no giant at 5'10" but Kamala is 5'2".

If she gets a box I call fraud...

Jupiter said...

The commenters thus far appear to have missed the obligatory reference to Willie Brown. Maybe Harris can be the first President to give a blowjob in the Oval Office!

Howard said...

Sell low, buy lower?

Gk1 said...

I fall back on the fact debates don't really change the dynamics of a campaign one way or the other and this will be no different. I would expect there might be more scrutiny with Harris's performance as she will be taking over a Biden presidency, should they prevail.

I kind of half expect Ka-MA-la to take a play out of the 2012 Biden debate style guide and laugh and scoff at everything Pence tries to say with a willing assist from the debate "moderator". This wont work this time as Pence is not taking a dive like Paul Ryan did and Pence is too experienced a debater.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

"So, we’ve got to lower expectations for Kamala and keep the expectations for Biden low"

It's nice to know they understand how pathetic their candidates actually are

it's kind of too bad that they couldn't be bothered to come up with better ones

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Readering said...
Expectations? Who cares about Pence v Harris?

Anyone who wants to know what the head of the Harris-Biden Administration will be like.

Bob Smith said...

Maybe Homala will come out on stage and go legs up. That’d be cool.

Craig said...

"So, we’ve got to lower expectations for Kamala and keep the expectations for Biden low."

Claire is saying this about the people she wants in charge! How messed up is that?

gerry said...

McCaskill expresses her bigotry of low expectations for a mostly black person.

Joe Smith said...

"Maybe Homala will come out on stage and go legs up. That’d be cool."

Maybe they'll put a brass pole next to her podium to make her feel more at home.

And for the duration of the debate she will ask to be called 'Brandi.'

: )

Nichevo said...

Harris ought to offer to take Pence backstage and give him a blowie if he'll throw the match.

Pence ought to take her up on it and then tell her that Karen gave him a hall pass, she's better anyway, the deal's off, and if Kamalalalala wants to tell anybody about it, go ahead.

Scott M said...

One of the VP candidates has what I consider to be a presidential demeanor. The other is Kamala Harris.

...or...

Why is Harris debating Pence? I thought she was running for president.

Yancey Ward said...

Harris was awful in the debates she took part in during her aborted primary run. Gabbard gutted and skinned her during the second debate. Indeed, the only blood Harris drew against anyone on the stage was Biden's, and even that was mostly a media creation to try to build her up. The expectations for Harris should be low- she is terrible.

n.n said...

The Democrat platform: lowered expectations.

Joe Smith said...

"Gabbard gutted and skinned her during the second debate."

If the Dems had any sense (they don't) Tulsi should have been the VP pick.

Young, smart, a veteran, reasonably good-looking (I'm not one of the 'she's so hot' crowd), and not a Marxist.

It was the 'not a Marxist' part that did her in...

JaimeRoberto said...

Harris's campaign was destroyed in a debate by Tulsi. My expectations for her are not high.

stlcdr said...

I'm sure we will see the media saying that Pence 'bullied' her [for being black and a woman].

walter said...

Amadeus 48 said..I always thought that Obama rose effortlessly on the goodwill of others. Kamala is another case of the same thing.
--
The latter more transactional..

Jim at said...

Biden picking Harris still amuses me.

Here's a person who didn't even make it to the first primary - and won't deliver a single state they wouldn't have with any other nominee - and she's possibly our next President.

What a stupid time to be alive.

Jim at said...

Claire McCaskill makes me realize anybody can be a senator. I’m not saying she’s dumb, I’m saying she’s an idiot.

Yeah. We learned that about Patty Murray in 1992. And that drooling moron is still there.

Michael K said...

Here's a person who didn't even make it to the first primary - and won't deliver a single state they wouldn't have with any other nominee - and she's possibly our next President.

Lots of money behind her. The nerds that thought she would win are doubling down.

Look at Bloomberg buying votes in Florida. Does he think they will really vote ?

veni vidi vici said...

Q: "If you lower your expectations on Harris, where are your expectations on Sleepy Joe? The sub-sub-basement?"

A: "CHY-na!"

Jupiter said...

"Is there anyone here who honestly believes Kamala is up to the task of serving as President if/when it comes to that?"

Well, yeah. As I already mentioned, I think she could give someone a blow job. I am sure there are plenty of people who will be happy to handle anything else that comes up. In fact, I believe that is the plan. She didn't have any noticeable problem handling the task of serving as a US Senator. She'll have Eric Holder and The Squad to advise her on any decisions she needs to make.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

"better than Harris/Biden is a high standard"?

GingerBeer said...

What's the over/under on "the laugh?" "Be sure about your answer..."