Chaotic first debate for Biden and Trump unlikely to swing undecideds

Never in the US history of presidential debates has chaos, interruptions and insults been bandied between the candidates as they were at Tuesday’s head to head between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

The US President opted for an aggressive approach but ended up interrupting Mr Biden more than 50 times, smearing his family and failing to condemn white supremacists.

Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, called Mr Trump “a clown”, “a liar”, “racist” and “Putin’s puppy” – and repeatedly asked him to “shut up”.

The 90-minute exchange came low on policy proposals and civil discussion between the candidates. The moderator, prominent news anchor Chris Wallace, lost control of the debate, couldn’t stop Mr Trump’s interruptions and failed to enforce time limits.

Politically, Mr Trump who is behind in the national and key state polls, didn’t deliver a performance likely to change the state of the race. Election analyst Nate Silver tweeted that the chaotic debate is not an effective strategy for the US President.

“I’m not sure why trying to fight the debate to a messy, unwatchable draw is supposed to be a strategy for Trump when he’s seven points behind in the polls,” he wrote.

But Mr Trump’s more damaging, non-stylistic mistake came through his failure to condemn white supremacists.

Mr Wallace asked Mr Trump: “Are you willing to condemn white supremacists and militias and tell them they need to stand down?”

The president said he was willing to do anything, asking Wallace for the name he wanted to be condemned. Both Mr Biden and Mr Wallace chimed in: “Then do it”.

“Proud Boys, stand back and stand by, but I tell you what – someone needs to do something about Antifa,” he said.

The Proud Boys is a prominent far-right neo-fascist organisation and reportedly welcomed the name check with posts online suggesting they were happy to “stand by” to take action.

Jonathan Greenblatt, the executive director of the Anti-Defamation League, said Mr Trump owes the American public an apology for failing to condemn white supremacy.

Mr Biden’s performance was shy at times in the first debate overtaken by Mr Trump’s interruptions.

But the former vice president stood his ground in defending his son, Hunter, when Mr Trump smeared him. “Hunter got thrown out of the military. He was thrown out, dishonourably discharged for cocaine use. And he didn’t have a job until you became vice president,” Mr Trump said, in an unusual attack on a contender’s family.

“That’s not true,” Mr Biden said. “None of that is true.”

“He made a fortune in Ukraine and China,” Mr Trump interjected.

“My son, like a lot of people, like a lot of people we know at home, had a drug problem. He’s overtaken it, he’s fixed it. He’s worked on it. And I’m proud of him,” an emotional Mr Biden said.

The debate repeated the candidates’ disagreements on the handling of coronavirus and a vaccine, climate change, taxes, race relations, Supreme Court nominations and healthcare. At one point when Mr Trump promised to release taxes, Mr Biden used the Arabic word “Inshallah” in its colloquial meaning “never going to happen”.

But for Mr Trump, who has thrown many attack lines at Mr Biden and none has stuck, this was no different. The president’s overly aggressive behaviour, inability to address the undecided voters and the chaotic state of the debate is likely to make the encounter inconsequential in swaying the election.

CBS News’ battleground tracker poll said that 69 per cent of debate watchers felt “annoyed” and only 17 per cent found it “informative”. The poll also said 83 per cent of viewers said the tone of the debate was “negative”.

Vice President Mike Pence will debate the first black woman vice presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, on October 7.

Killing of Qassem Suleimani

Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead

Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble

Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks

Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence

Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground

Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile

While you're here

Kareem Shaheen: Lebanon is being forced to relive its traumas

Michael Young: How did Saad Hariri end up back in the running?

Raghida Dergham: France simply needs to get tough on Iran

Mina Al-Oraibi: Iraq is in a fight to show its people who is really in charge

Khaled Yacoub Oweis: Iraq PM goes from shy writer to the political peak

The National Editorial: Iran's 'failed model' should be discontinued

Roll of honour

Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?

Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain

Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons

West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles

West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles

West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles

Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens

Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

'The%20Alchemist's%20Euphoria'

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EArtist%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kasabian%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELabel%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EColumbia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Dubai World Cup Carnival Card:

6.30pm: Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.40pm: Zabeel Turf Listed $175,000 (T) 2,000m
8.15pm: Cape Verdi Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,600m

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 285bhp

Torque: 353Nm

Price: TBA

On sale: Q2, 2020

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor

Info

What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship

When: December 27-29, 2018

Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823

The Lebanese state is going after social media activists

Teaching your child to save

Pre-school (three - five years)

You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.

Early childhood (six - eight years)

Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.

Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)

Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.

Young teens (12 - 14 years)

Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.

Teenage (15 - 18 years)

Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.

Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)

Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.

* JP Morgan Private Bank

STAGE 4 RESULTS

1 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 4:51:51

2 David Dekker (NED) Team Jumbo-Visma

3 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal

4 Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis

5 Matteo Moschetti (ITA) Trek-Segafredo

General Classification

1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 12:50:21

2 Adam Yates (GBR) Teamn Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:43

3 Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:03

4 Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:43

5 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45

FIGHT CARD

Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight