My take on the VP debate. Substance is more important than style.

[lovemydog]

To me it is. I can't speak for any other people. I think Tim Kaine made some very clear points regarding democratic party policy over republican party policy.

First, increasing taxes on the rich to require that they pay their fair share of taxes will help stimulate the economy when that money is put to good use. This is much better than failed supply-side economics, which led to the financial collapse under George W. Bush.

Second, women's reproductive health decisions are personal. The government should stay out of those decisions. No matter how much Pence tried to project that he's not into criminalizing these decisions, the end result of his and Trump's stance on abortion is to criminalize it.

Third, we have real challenges involving criminal justice and immigration reform. These challenges must be addressed. Mere rhetoric about 'law and order' or 'deporting people' doesn't help at all. Clinton and Kaine clearly grasp the issues and how to work through them in ways that are constitutional. Pence and Trump do not.

Fourth, there's a lot more to this country than merely spending more on military. That's pretty much all Pence had to say, as though that will solve our complex problems or even reduce them. It won't.

I did not like some of the early interrupting. But I don't care one iota for the policies of Pence and Trump and republican party because they are outdated. In the case of trickle down economics, they're proven failures.

I believe the fact-checking will come out strongly in favor of Kaine and Clinton.

In the next debate and throughout the rest of the campaign, I'd like to see more emphasis on two things: 1) strong support for the record of President Obama and his administration and 2) how democratic policies will help working people. Most of the rhetorical slings & arrows don't mean too much to me (though it's entertaining as long as we still have the best policies).

[pnwmom]

1. And now there are already at least two little videos, showing Trump/Pence saying the things

that Pence denied in the debate, with smug little smiles and head shakes.

I guess Pence figured that Trump had gotten away with so many lies, Pence could, too. But Trump's lies are catching up to him and so will Pence's.

[SusanCalvin]

5. Good - the fact-checking needs to get out there.

CBS had a focus group after. Virtually everybody said Pence "won," but virtually nobody said he changed their minds.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Thank you

I went to bed about 10 pm - it was a frustrating experience.

I've never heard Pence speak - and I came away with a cold, impersonal, denier.

The nonsense about the Clinton campaign name calling? Really?

I'm decided so there's no point in watching these anymore. I think what I think and have such a negative opinion of Trump that there's nothing Pence could say or do to convince me.

And - the moderator was weak.

[BlueMTexpat]

4. Totally agree with

weak moderation.

I was a bit disappointed that Kaine didn't point out that ICE CANNOT endorse a candidate. But then, he may have preferred not to get into a parsing spat. Did ICE endorse Trump? No, but a union of 5,000 immigration agents did. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2016/0927/Did-ICE-endorse-Trump-No-but-a-union-of-5-000-immigration-agents-did

IMO though, Kaine really got in a LOT of Trump's own words. That's really all that he had to do.

[Stronger together]

3. I agree with everything except

I agree with all of your points but where I was disappointed is that Kaine never brought up Pence's stance of LGBT rights. This man is so homophobic. The policies he's tried to enforce or enact is scary. God forbid if he ever occupied the White House he'd repeal same sex marriage. He was touting adoption so heavily that would have the perfect segue into cornering him of same sex couples adopting children. Then he could bring up his homophobic views!

[bucolic_frolic]

6. At a point in the campaign where Trump's popularity is falling

keeping the focus on Trump was exactly what Tim Kaine had to do
and he aced it

Pence was trying to showcase his fundamentalist conservatism and
reinvent Trump or two-step past him, a very impossible task and
combination from the get-go

I thought Pence a bitter, inwardly angry man, sort of an ideological
partisan hit man

No problems for Democrats from this debate

Rev your engines!

[Gothmog]

7. Agree-Kaine killed Pence by forcing Pence to throw Trump under the bus

[retrowire]

8. too right.

Substance is more important than style to intelligent people though.

Fingers crossed!