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Trump was no match for Clinton

In the final presidential debate, the Democratic nominee effectively vanquished her opponent.

As the race for US presidential elections comes to an end, there is only one clear victor and that is Hillary Clinton. In a final public meltdown of her Republican opponent Donald Trump, the American public, and a curious global audience at large, were in for a shocking revelation: Trump doesn't believe in the will of the American people. When asked by the debate moderator Chris Wallace whether there would be a peaceful transition of power, the GOP candidate refused to answer, saying that he would keep the nation "in suspense". If ever there was a dangerous moment during the entire length of the campaign (too much has been written about Trump's irascibility already), it was this.
For all its drawbacks, the American political and electoral system - with its thoroughness, checks and balances, and a history of transparency - is considered a gold standard around the world. In the final presidential debate of 2016, Trump proved what a sheer embarrassment he has been to this system. A cavalier Clinton was quick to counter: "He is denigrating, he is talking down our democracy. And I, for one, am appalled." One wondered if Trump was running against American democracy itself?
For me every other take-away from the debate night fade in the horror of what Trump said in his puerile, grouchy style. Sounding every bit like an outgrown schoolboy, he called Clinton "such a nasty woman" - but beyond the schoolyard bullying, a bigger, more dangerous picture of Trump also emerged. He was no more a boorish showman, whinnying over not getting an Emmy for his reality TV show Apprentice. Instead he had changed in that instant into a demagogue, playing to the worst paranoid fears of a minority of the electorate blinded by irrational rage. In the run-up to today's debate Trump's daughter Ivanka and his running mate, Mike Pence, publicly disagreed with him.
As has often been the case with Trump, he came underprepared and operated completely without a strategy in the final debate. He did try to salvage some dignity by claiming that he respected women - to loud guffaws in the crowd. Clinton mansplained Trump: "Donald thinks belittling women makes him bigger. He goes after their dignity, their self-worth, and I don't think there is a woman anywhere who doesn't know what that feels like. So, we now know what Donald thinks and what he says and how he acts toward women. That's who Donald is." The GOP candidate looked on sheepishly.
Although Trump made a determined effort to demonstrate his showmanship and portray Clinton as inauthentic, none of it seemed to stick. His repeated attempts to cut her off were met with a belligerent Clinton giving it back to Trump. The Democratic candidate's performance is likely to have a calming effect on her base as well as non-base.
To his credit, Trump managed to pull a few punches. On issues such as trade he made some valid points but the night clearly belonged to Clinton. Be it the main issues like policy - which is Clinton's strong area - or the talk around nuclear warheads, Trump was more bluster, less substance. In the end it was clear - a man who approaches the sanctity of a 240-year-old democratic tradition - elections - like a drunkard with his blade out of scabbard, is off chance for the Oval Office. On Wednesday night in the final political swordplay for the position, Clinton effectively vanquished Trump.
sadiq@khaleejtimes.com