The Debate, Part 3: Stranded In The Desert

Trump Tower Las Vegas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It seems only appropriate that the final presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump took place in Las Vegas.  Not just for all the gambling references one associates with Sin City (and where Trump just happens to own a hotel with his name on it), but for its proximity to the Nevada desert.

The debate at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas Wednesday night began as a sober discussion on the issues of the Supreme Court's future, the Second Amendment and immigration reform, for which there were stark differences between the candidates.  It was an oasis compared to the scorching hot rhetoric from the first two debates, with Trump and Clinton sounding and acting like mature adults.  You could even let Grandma and the kids watch it.

It was all a mirage (and we don't mean the hotel).  We were yanked back into the desert by moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News when he started asking questions about the candidates' fitness to lead.  (Bedtime, kids!)  Trump repeated his claim that the election was rigged in Clinton's favor by her campaign and the news media, and refused to say whether he would abide by the results.  He also dismissed the statements of women (in numbers rivaling Bill Cosby's) who say that they were groped by Trump in the past, even though he said he has the "utmost respect" for women.

Clinton had to answer more questions about her handling of e-mails when she was Secretary of State:  What happened to them and her reaction to the hacked messages (courtesy of Wikileaks) of campaign staffer John Podesta.  She also asserted that the Clinton Foundation was more about charitable works than politics, which Trump didn't believe.  Clinton made her arguments in a more mature manner than Trump, who resorted to interruptions, talking over her and muttering what a "nasty woman" she was.

The debates are over, another new low for American politics.  But the election is not.  With more than two weeks to go, there is much fear and loathing on the campaign trail (to paraphrase Hunter S. Thompson) yet to come.  And maybe after the election, if Trump follows through with his threat to challenge the results.

For now, the American voter is left on the outskirts of Las Vegas with nothing on but a barrel, looking for someone to lead them out of the desert.  Or maybe just a ride out of town will do.