Good morning. It’s Saturday, Sept. 14. Right here’s what’s occurring in Opinion.
I told you Kamala Harris was a great debater. On Tuesday, the vp put the previous president again on his heels for 90 minutes, needling him in a means that induced probably the most dramatic meltdown in presidential debate historical past. When she dodged a moderator’s query, it was strategic and intentional (if apparent and a little bit cringe-worthy); when he did the identical, it was as a result of he was indignant and misplaced.
Donald Trump’s efficiency was, effectively, humorous — and at a second when this nation wants a great snigger.
Right here, earlier than going additional, I wish to acknowledge that Trump’s weird feedback on immigrants in Ohio consuming canine and cats, although the inspiration of among the most perfect viral content ever on social media, places an simply identifiable group of individuals at severe threat. By repeating racist disinformation a few comparatively small variety of immigrants, he locations a goal on the again of each member of a marginalized neighborhood. To borrow certainly one of Harris’ most memorable assaults from the controversy, Trump’s conduct is disgraceful, and it deserves the identical quantity of scorn because the laughter it acquired.
However like I mentioned, this nation wants a great howl, and what higher means than on the expense of a man like Donald Trump? In that spirit, I’d wish to direct you to the best commentary on the debate I’ve read all week — higher than something you heard from the spin room or from consultants predicting how Trump’s decompensation in entrance of 65 million-plus viewers may have an effect on his polling. It’s a letter we printed from a reader who, in fewer than 200 phrases, completely holds up the ex-president’s conspiratorial considering to ridicule with out saying, “That is silly.” It’s from an immigrant — Topanga resident Andrea Ehrgott — and when you ask me, it belongs in any future anthology on political satire from the 2024 election. Take pleasure in:
“Former President Trump, you’re proper. Vice President Kamala Harris allowed us immigrants to come back to this nation illegally with thousands and thousands of others in order that we might vote for her.
“When my insane asylum was emptied again dwelling and my violent husband was let loose of jail, we have been pleased to begin once more in a brand new nation. Harris supported us having transgender surgical procedure whereas we have been staying on the luxurious asylum heart, generously paid for by U.S. taxpayers.
“In gratitude, we wish to give again to this nation in any means we will. My husband is out now promoting medication to schoolkids and, by the best way, has reduce on rapes and murders. I’m grateful too and after I promote my cookbook, ‘Yummy Canine and Cat Recipes,’ I’ll ship the proceeds to abortion clinics to allow them to proceed to execute new child infants.
“You will note — we’re exhausting employees.”
The pro-Trump view on the ex-president’s poor debate performance? He’s really in a greater place to win at this level than he was in 2016 and 2020, writes Scott Jennings: “Trump is Trump. We all know him. We love him. We hate him. There’s nary an individual on this nation who doesn’t have a right away and infrequently visceral opinion of him. So a debate is unlikely to vary his picture.”
What’s with the silence from former Trump heavyweights? John F. Kelly. Dan Coats. H.R. McMaster. All of them served within the Trump White Home and have written critically of the previous president, been a supply for damning accounts of the administration or complained privately about their former boss’ incompetence. Columnist Jackie Calmes says it’s time for them to come back ahead and inform voters that Trump is unfit to be president once more.
Having fun with this text? Contemplate subscribing to the Los Angeles Occasions
Your help helps us ship the information that issues most. Become a subscriber.
How can L.A. fix its scary sidewalks for the Olympics? Town has a tough time working by way of the backlog for repairing its infamously buckled, harmful sidewalks. And though state regulation makes householders accountable for sustaining the sidewalks adjoining to their property, requiring residents to make expensive repairs to long-neglected infrastructure makes no sensible sense. UCLA professor Donald Shoup provides an answer: a pay-on-exit system the place homeowners can defer paying for repairs till they promote their property.
A terrible decision sparked a wildfire, and the public will pay the price. Occasions’ editorial board member Karin Klein wrote a e-book titled “50 Hikes in Orange County” and he or she estimates not less than seven have been devastated by the Airport hearth burning within the Santa Ana Mountains. “California’s wild areas finally come again after a fireplace, however now that I’m a white-haired wilderness lover, will they return in my climbing lifetime?”
Extra from opinion
From our columnists
From visitor contributors
From the Editorial Board
Letters to the Editor
