An tSiria!

Syria!

by | 2024/12/11 | Current Affairs, International News, Opinion

Syria!

“There are decades when nothing happens; and there are weeks when decades happen.” - Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Communist Party of Russia.

There was an abrupt end to the civil war that had been going on in Syria since 2011 - the Arab Spring, a time of demonstrations and protests in the Arab world, including Syria. Dictator Bashar al-Assad stood firm at the time. He had a strong army and with the help of Lebanon (and especially Hezbollah forces), Russia and Iran, he brutally suppressed the uprising. It is reported that more than half a million Syrians were killed and millions were driven from their homes during the war, and that six million have become refugees in other countries as a result.

He did not win against the rebels this time. Why?

Ebbing Alliances!

This time, everything was different. The rebel forces cut through the country like a knife through butter, and the official army barely put up any resistance. The largest group among the rebels is “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” (HTS), an Islamist militant group led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. Although these groups have existed since the beginning of the war, they recognized weaknesses in President Bashar al-Assad, and especially in a couple of important countries that were allied with him – Russia and Iran. HTS seized that historic opportunity, and they succeeded brilliantly. But why did Russia and Iran not do anything this time?

Russia

The world saw where the ugly dictator Bashar al-Assad went when the traitor returned. He did what any terrorist would do and fled as soon as he could. And where did he go but to Moscow, where he is safe, under the protection of the president – Vladimir Putin. They will be able to sympathize with each other about what happened in Syria. The huge losses were not only for al-Assad, but for Putin as well. As former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said: “Putin threw Bashar al-Assad under the bus, so that he could prolong his war in Ukraine. He is short of resources, and he is not as strong as he makes himself out to be!” Even Donald Trump had a few words to say, saying: “Because Russia is so tied up in Ukraine, and because they have lost more than 600,000 soldiers there, they have not had the ability to stop the march through Syria, a country that they have defended for years.”

There is no doubt that the victory of the rebel forces over the al-Assad regime revealed that what Putin has going on outside Russia is only posturing.

Iran

In recent months, Iran has been unable to thwart Israeli operations. Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran. Israel has attacked about 20 military targets in Iran. After a military campaign against them, Hamas and Hezbollah have been badly beaten by Israel, and their military power has been reduced. Iran has been supporting Hamas and Hezbollah because they fight on their behalf. Iran and Hezbollah have been using Syria to transport weapons and supplies to Lebanon. They no longer have that option, and so the Axis of Resistance (Iran, Syria up until now, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis from Yemen and a few other groups in Iraq) is so badly beaten that you would think it is dead. We'll see.

Syria

What is the future of Syria itself? HTS is seeking to install a transitional government, with Mohammed al-Bashir as its leader. He was previously the leader of HTS's territories in the north-west of the country. The leader and HTS will face many difficulties in achieving stability for the country.

The country is home to various ethnic groups, including: Arabs, Kurds, Turks, Assyrians, Armenians, Circassians, Druze, Alawites, Yazidis and Palestinian refugees. There are also people of various faiths, including: Muslims (both Sunni and Shia), Alawites, Christians, Yazidis, Druze and Jews.

The country's economy is in poor condition as a result of the civil war. The economy has been shrinking for more than 13 years - currently one-sixth of its pre-war size.

More than half of the country’s population has been displaced, and an estimated 16.7 million people are in need of assistance. Some 6.3 million are refugees or asylum seekers, and many are now seeking to return home.

Syria is a strategic country in the Middle East, bordered by Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel and Lebanon to the southwest. The country will be able to exert a major influence on the balance of power in the Middle East, and many other countries will undoubtedly have a vested interest in Syria as a result.

A Steadying Hand?

So far, I have only seen a couple of countries involved in Syria – the United States and Israel. But instead of providing aid to the country, they have been heavily bombing military targets there. What kind of aid is that? Such behavior does not send the right message to Syria, or even to the wider world.  

But Syria can be supported through their difficulties. The countries that have imposed sanctions on Syria should ease them soon, and pledge funding to rebuild its infrastructure. The country is also in a humanitarian crisis, and humanitarian aid is urgently needed. It would also be appropriate for the United Nations to introduce a peacekeeping force as an interim measure, until a lasting recovery and political stability can be seen in the country.

While it is encouraging that the Assad regime has been overthrown, this is not over yet, and Syria is currently a fragile state. Let us hope that this is not the calm before the storm, but it is too early to tell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Olltoghchán 2024 – Scamaill dhorcha ag bun na spéire!

2024 General Election – Dark clouds looming!

by | 2024/12/04 | Current Affairs, National News, Opinion

2024 General Election – Dark clouds looming!

 

Now that the general election is over, and the bargaining is in full swing, I think it’s time for a post-mortem examination.

If you were to take a quick look at what happened in the general election, you would think that the people of the country are quite happy. The main parties in government – Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – were not thrown out, but they won more seats in the 2024 general election – 86, than in the 2020 general election – 73. It will be easier for them to reach 88 seats this time and form a coalition. 

Vote of Confidence?

Is it a vote of confidence in the current government? That is the big question, in my opinion. To discuss it, it is necessary to look behind the results.

Firstly, only 59.7% of the electorate in the country voted, one of the lowest percentages ever. This is not a good sign, as it reflects the dissatisfaction of those who are not involved in the process. When that percentage is falling, as it has been in this case, it would appear that democracy is deteriorating, and people have less confidence in that system.

Secondly, the electorate had no choice but to return Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to power. Incidentally, the Green Party was a scapegoat and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael blamed them for any harsh criticism the current government received – especially regarding the government’s green policies, even though they were obliged by the European Union to implement them. The Greens lost 11 seats in the general election, and as part of that defeat, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, lost her seat and her Ministry. Any minor party will be afraid to enter a coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael from now on!

Although you would have thought that Sinn Féin would be in the running this time, they lost support for the first time in 35 years. They certainly made a few mistakes. And they were slow to recognise that a large proportion of their supporters was not happy with Sinn Féin’s stance on immigration. They lost support from people who had a negative view of immigration, and who wanted strong immigration policies in place, to limit the number of immigrants coming into the country. Some of these seem to have moved towards right-wing parties – Aontú or Independent Ireland, for example. In any case, Sinn Féin is not in a position to form a coalition, mainly because it is unlikely that Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael would join them in coalition. So, it is clear that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have not received any kind of mandate from the Irish people, and that they will remain in power despite the important problems that they have not yet resolved, after one or both of them have been in power for a long time. There are major crises and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are still talking about them and saying what they will do – but there is not much progress to be seen, in reality. I am talking basically about housing, homelessness and health issues, not to mention immigration issues. The government cannot be excused for its inaction on these ongoing crises that have not been resolved for more than a decade. We are a wealthy country, with a trade surplus for years, not to mention the windfall tax (€13 billion) from Apple that is due to hit the exchequer soon. It is hard to imagine that people would be happy with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, given their terrible political record.

Against the grain

It is clear that the majority of people around the world are not happy with their democratic governments. In 2024, most parties in power were weakened or ousted. This happened in America, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Greece, Argentina, Ecuador, Japan and South Africa. But this did not happen in Ireland, and it is an exception. As I said earlier, people did not have a viable alternative, in contrast to the countries mentioned above. In those countries, people were able to express their discontent politically, because there were other strong parties available to them as options. This is not yet the case in Ireland, but it is not difficult to imagine the emergence of a charismatic leader who would be able to speak directly to those who feel they have no input into the political process. That person would likely be on the right wing, with a vision very different from the parties in power. If that happens, and if such a person and his party win a mandate in the country’s general election, it is likely that a restructuring of government would follow. Without a doubt, democracy as we know it would be in trouble in that case. Look, for example, at what is happening in the United States, which was the world’s beacon of democracy until 2016. With Trump as President of America, it will be difficult for the country to save democracy. And we all know how the dictator’s story ends!

Recommendations

It is not over until the fat lady sings, and we still have a chance in Ireland to avoid an oppressive government. Members of government need to go out into their constituencies among their constituents, and they need to listen to them about the problems they have that the government could solve. Then, they need to formulate policies to address those problems and deliver on what they say. It is high time for the government to be proactive, and they already know about the important ongoing problems that still exist and are getting worse. It is vital that we as voters put pressure on our TDs to deliver on their promises, as our representatives must be held accountable to us.

If the government does not change its approach and implement its policies without delay, as well as addressing any other issues facing its constituents, it is likely that they will be out of a job after the next election. Unfortunately, such incompetence would be a major opportunity for the right wing to attract voters in their direction, and this must be avoided at all costs.

 

 

 

 

 

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Olltoghchán 2024 – Scamaill dhorcha ag bun na spéire!

2024 General Election – Key Issues and Party Proposals (FF,FG,SF)!

by | 2024/11/26 | Current Affairs, National News, Opinion

2024 General Election – Key Issues and Party Proposals (FF,FG,SF)!

The general election is almost upon us! Politicians are making their promises liberally on traditional and social media, and the parties have published lengthy manifestos online. How can we separate the wheat from the chaff?

Manifestos

I have read the manifestos published by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin, and they are incredibly detailed. It was not easy to compare the policies of the parties, as all the manifestos have different structures. Worse, even after finding certain policies in the three manifestos, you are still comparing apples and oranges. Every policy should have a budget, an objective and a deadline, but often it is just ambitious goals, without the details. The Sinn Féin manifesto is better than the others in clearly stating their policies.

Anyway, after reading the manifestos, I summarised the main issues in the election and the plans of the three parties to tackle them. I will share it with you here, and you may find it useful.

Summary: Main Issues and Proposals of the Parties (FF,FG,SF)

  1. Cost of Living: The cost of living is a major concern, although falling interest rates and the €10.5 billion budget package may ease the pain.
  • Fianna Fáil: Increase the State Pension to at least €350 a week; cap childcare fees at €200 a month.
  • Fine Gael: Raise the threshold for the highest tax bands by €2,000 each year; increase primary tax credits by €75 each year; changes to reduce the Universal Social Charge (USC); changes to reduce inheritance tax; cap childcare fees at €200 per month.
  • Sinn Féin: End USC on the first €45,000 of income, saving €1,100 per year; €1,000 rent relief; temporary mortgage relief up to €1,250 per year; €10 per day childcare.
  1. Housing Crisis:According to a poll last year, 61% of respondents said the housing crisis is one of the worst problems in Ireland. It is no wonder that Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Sinn Féin have made housing a top priority in their manifestos.
  • Fianna Fáil: Expand housebuilding to 60,000 per year by 2030; prioritize affordable and social homes.
  • Fine Gael: Build 300,000 homes by 2030, with a budget of €40 billion.
  • Sinn Féin: Build 370,000 homes by 2030, including 125,000 social and affordable homes by 2029; three-year rent freeze.
  1. Healthcare: In ainneoin barrachas buiséid de bheagnach €2.2 billiún, léiríonn daoine a míshástacht leis an gcóras cúram sláinte, go háirithe maidir le plódú ospidéil agus liostaí feithimh fairsinge.
  • Fianna Fáil: Reduce waiting times by expanding hospital beds, consultants and GPs; provide new Rapid Access Outpatient clinics; reduce health fees; free medical cards for all children under 12, and specialist services for cancer care and women's health.
  • Fine Gael: Expand healthcare capacity with 5,000 new hospital beds, six surgical centres, and four elective hospitals; extend free GP care to under-18s, and cap prescription costs at €50.
  • Sinn Féin: Universal healthcare with free prescriptions; 5,000 new hospital beds, and four elective hospitals in place by 2031; expand GP services; improve mental health care and supports for people with disabilities; recruit 40,000 healthcare workers; invest €15 billion in infrastructure, and save €1 billion through effective reforms, ensuring equitable and modern healthcare.

And the Irish Language?

Here are the main proposals proposed by the three parties regarding the Irish language.

  1. Government Leadership and Policy
  • Sinn Féin: Create a new position in Government for a Senior Minister for the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht, to prioritise Irish language and Gaeltacht issues.
  1. Funding and Investment
  • Sinn Féin: Establish a dedicated Irish Language Capital Programme to create Cultural Centres and develop Irish Language Quarters in urban areas.
  • Sinn Féin: Provide an additional €50 million in current funding over five years and €75 million in capital expenditure specifically for the Irish language and Gaeltacht development.
  1. Education
  • Fianna Fáil: Increase the number of Irish-medium schools and Gaelcholáistí, improve teacher training, and expand the Gaeltacht Schools Recognition Scheme.
  • Fine Gael: Strengthen Naíonraí within and outside the Gaeltacht, and expand Irish immersion education for primary school children in the Gaeltacht.
  • Sinn Féin: Provide free Irish language books to all children and teenagers, once during primary school and once during secondary school.
  1. Cultural and Community Support
  • Fine Gael: Work with housekeepers and summer colleges to support Irish language immersion programmes.
  • Sinn Féin: Develop cultural centres and create Irish language Quarters with additional funding for language planning.
  1. Labour and Legal Rights
  • Sinn Féin: Make state websites bilingual; extend language requirements to print and online advertisements.
  • Sinn Féin: Achieve 20% bilingual public servants by 2030, with a B2+ Irish language proficiency requirement for state roles.

Conclusion

I hope the above comparisons give you a better understanding of the differences between the plans of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin in relation to the policies that are most pressing for us as citizens, and as Irish speakers. But that’s only part of the story. Making a promise is one thing, keeping it is another.

According to the polls, it looks like Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will be able to form a coalition government with the support of another party (the Greens for example).

The most important thing is to have a conversation with the political candidates in your area and let them know what you want from them. If they agree to do your bidding, get their commitment to that before casting your vote for them. If they are elected, be sure to keep putting pressure on them to keep their promises – especially on the Irish language!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Litir ó Mheiriceá – Oscailt Súl don Pháirtí Daonlathach!

Letter from America - A Wake-Up call for the Democratic Party!

by | 2024/11/20 | Current Affairs, International News, Opinion

Letter from America - A Wake-Up call for the Democratic Party!

Donald Trump carried the day. The Republicans took control of the Senate. The Republicans will also keep control of the House of Representatives. That is the reality of politics on the ground in the United States of America (USA) after the latest election. This did not happen by accident, either. No doubt, that is an eye opener for the Democratic Party.

Divining Rod

Why did Kamala Harris lose the election? Well, many people suspected that the same administration would just continue with their same policies, and they were not happy with the administration and their policies. President Biden's satisfaction rating was at 36% before he pulled out of the presidential race, and that's a terrible rating. On the TV show 'The View', Kamala Harris was asked if she would change any decision made by Biden as president during his term. She thought for a moment, and answered: "Nothing occurs to me, and I was involved in the most important decisions." With that answer, she tied herself directly to President Biden and his policies. People came to the conclusion that there would be no significant change with Harris as president. But the majority of the country's people were unhappy with Biden, and they desperately needed changes. So, they saw that they had no other choice but to put Trump in office, whether they liked the man or not. But why were so many people unhappy with Biden and his administration? Well, as it turns out, Trump has a divining rod, and he is able to identify the groups of people who suffer the most from major problems. Then, he speaks directly to them, saying that he will solve their problems as president. What are the problems and who is affected by them?

Eggs, Coffee, Milk…

There was a strategist named James Carville who worked for Bill Clinton as part of his presidential campaign. He was asked about the most important messages for the campaign to focus on. He had three messages, but one spread rapidly, and that message is still in use. "It's the economy, stupid!" Carville said. People were not happy with the economy at the time, and therefore, the Clinton campaign should focus on the economy, and their plan to improve it. That plan was a great success at that time and Clinton won the presidency.

Trump was also able to focus on the economy, and get his message across in a simple way, aimed at those who were struggling financially. He shared an information graphic on his social media ('Truth Social'), claiming that many items were much more expensive now with Kamala Harris as vice president, than when Trump was president. He mentioned salmon, coffee, potatoes, cheese, milk, ham and eggs, and the increase in price from when Biden came in as president. While the details are debatable, his message was very clear – it's harder to put food on the table now with Biden and Harris in charge. That message had a great impact on people in the country who were struggling and who were living from hand to mouth.

The Working Class/Gen Z

Before 1992 and the presidency of Bill Clinton, the Democratic Party was the party of the working class. But Clinton moved his party towards the right wing and big business, and things have continued that way ever since. With that, they lost members of the working class, bit by bit. Often, these people were conflicted and were swing voters. Things got worse for them during the Biden period, when prices increased significantly, so that they were barely able to survive. They blamed Biden and his party and cast their votes for the Republicans.

Young people of Gen Z (18-27 years old), regardless of their class, had the same problem, as they wanted to achieve their independence, but were unable to do so, due to the cost of living. Many of them were voting for the first time.

The Republicans asked people the question: "Are things better for you now than four years ago?" For a large portion of the working class and for Gen Z, things are no better, and they are suffering because of it. According to them, instead of helping them, the Democrats were ignoring them. The Democrats weren't even talking or listening to them. Why would they cast votes for the Democrats, then? And did not do so.

Trump spoke with Joe Rogan on his podcast "The Joe Rogan Experience" for three hours. It's the most popular podcast in the United States with audiences over the age of thirteen. Trump was able to spread his message among the struggling people, blaming Biden and Harris, and saying that he would help them as president. There are many other examples of Republicans reaching out to the working class and Gen Z (for example on Hasan Piker's YouTube show) and saying that they knew the Democrats were ignoring them, but that the Republicans would help them so that things would be better for them from now on.

Lesson

Without a doubt, the Democrats took their eye off the ball. They were doing data analytics instead of focusing on the people of the country. They were not in contact with the ordinary people of the country and therefore did not understand what they desperately needed from them. It is time for the Democratic Party to do some soul-searching, in order to create a new inclusive approach that will tackle, on an urgent and practical basis, the biggest current problems facing the people of the country. To understand what is troubling them, the Party needs to reach out to them and then listen to what they are saying. It will be hard to earn their trust, and it will take time, but there is no other way for the Democrats to resurrect themselves.  

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Litir ó Mheiriceá – Dearcadh Hanrahan agus na Poblachtánaigh!

Letter from America - Hanranhan's View and the Republicans!

by | 2024/10/30 | Current Affairs, International News, Opinion

Litir ó Mheiriceá – Dearcadh Hanrahan agus na Poblachtánaigh!

There's no doubt in the world that Hanrahan’s Outlook is ingrained in us here in the United States of America, as no matter what aspect of the media you view, you can be sure that it won't be long before you hear this battle cry or a similar one being sung by someone from the Republican Party, issuing a dire warning about what will happen if Trump/Vance does not win the presidential election...

 “We’ll all be ruined (said Hanrahan),

Before the year is out.”

Talk about a negative attitude!

As everyone knows, the United States of America (USA) is stuffed to the gills with misinformation at the moment and if we want to escape the swamp of mud we are trapped in, we have no other choice but come to our senses, at there is no strength without unity. Don't our politicians need to tell the honest truth, and reveal their plans for how to improve things in the country? But, instead, members of the Republican Party are working hard, not to disprove and defeat negative myths and misinformation, but to invent and spread them! Every chance that Donald Trump and his colleagues get, they share a negative attitude about the Joe Biden Legislature and about the Democratic Party as loudly as possible.

"We will all be ruined if we vote for Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election. We'd better go a different route altogether, if we want to get out of this slush hole we're stuck in at the moment with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris."

Now, we all understand that Donald Trump, JD Vance and members of their Party need to promote themselves and to blame the other side. But they throw ugly personal insults at Harris and Walz all the time. They also say things that are not true against them. And neither Trump nor Vance admit that Trump lost the last presidential election. And they don't have a plan in the least, either.

Here's a sample of a few things Donald Trump has been saying recently while campaigning:

Dogs and Geese

In the presidential debate between Trump and Harris, Trump said, with 67 million people watching: "In Springfield they are eating dogs," referring to the Ohio city where many legal immigrants from Haiti live. “They are eating the cats. They are eating … the pets of the people who live there. And this is what is happening in our country, and it is a great shame." Some time later, he was asked a question during an interview on Fox TV asking why he would not admit that such a thing was not taking place. “I don't know if that's true or not. What about the geese? What happened then? They are all missing.”

FEMA

The federal emergency management agency (FEMA) is responsible for providing disaster relief to communities affected by catastrophic disasters (tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and the like). After Hurricane Helene, FEMA workers were on the scene quickly, doing everything they could to help those badly hit by the hurricane. But Trump repeatedly said that FEMA had no money to help the victims. "They spent a lot of money bringing in illegal immigrants... They have no money for people who live here," said Trump. "They have spent the money on the illegal immigrants."

Shoplifters

Speaking at a recent rally in Pennsylvania, former president Trump said the key to preventing crimes like shoplifting is to allow the police to beat the thieves. "If you had one really violent day...a rough hour, and I mean really rough, the news would spread and it would be over immediately."

The enemy within

What Trump has to say about the citizens of his own country is cause for great concern. This is what he said on 'Fox News' recently. “We have some bad guys. We have some radical left wing lunatics. I think that would be very easy to handle with the National Guard, or if necessary, the military" And he said in another interview “We have a lot of bad people, but when you look at Shifty Schiff and some of the others, yes, they are, to me, the enemies within. I think Nancy Pelosi is an enemy within.”

Conclusion

After reading the above (and they are just a few examples!), isn't it hard to believe that Trump has any chance of winning the presidential election? But if the polls are accurate, Trump and Harris are neck and neck so the outcome is unpredictable. Unbelievable!

Trump's former chief of staff, John F. Kelly, said that Trump is a fascist, according to the definition of the word, and would rule as a dictator if allowed, and that he had no understanding of the Constitution or the concept of the rule of law.

In my opinion, I agree with Trump on the enemy within – but I'm not talking about Adam Schiff or Nancy Pelosi, but about Trump himself. Trump is the enemy within. But it is not necessary to use the National Guard or the military to defeat him. Fortunately, we are able to do so peacefully and legally – at the ballot box. The voters in the decisive states - Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin and North Carolina - have a special duty. I urge the people of those states to think deeply before casting their votes - not only for themselves, but for everyone in the country, and for the future of the country. Trump has already shown his hand, and said what he would do as president from now on. With Trump as president, there is a good chance that we may no longer have a democratic country. Putting Trump in office is an irreversible change – don't do it!

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Tuairisc ó Mheiriceá -An Deighilt Mhór

Report from America - The Great Divide

by | 2024/10/23 | Current Affairs, International News, Politics, Opinion

Report from America - The Great Divide

I watched the vice presidential debate between J.D. Vance (Republican) and Tim Walz (Democrat) at the end of September 2024. This debate was in stark contrast to the two presidential debates that preceded it, one between Trump and Biden and another between Trump and Harris. As the world knows, Biden had a bad day in the first presidential debate and had no defense against Trump, who told lie after lie. In the second presidential debate, Harris clearly won, but they were on the offensive one minute and then on the defensive the next, and the people of the country didn't hear much about the topics that mattered most to them. Their attention was more on their public image, and on making little of their opponent. But in the vice presidential debate, the candidates discussed important issues - including abortion, immigration and school shootings. Vance and Walz respected each other, even though they both attacked the others’s presidential candidate. The following are the highlights of the debate, in my opinion.

Health Care

Vance was asked why Trump only had a concept for a new health care plan. Would Vance be able to confirm that Americans would not pay more if they had any pre-existing health conditions. "In fact, they would have health insurance coverage if they had any pre-existing health conditions!" replied Vance. But Trump never declared what he would do in that situation. Vance also declined to discuss the details of Trump's plan, saying it would be boring to discuss a 900-page bill on the debate stage. He also said that Trump supported Obama's plan, the 'Affordable Care Act' (ACA). Walz said Trump promised in 2016 to repeal Obama's plan, and he almost succeeded except that Senator John McCain stood up for it.

Immigration

Vance went on the attack, blaming vice president Kamala Harris for the problems with illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border. He referred to her as 'Border czar'. Walz then criticized former president Trump, saying he blocked a bipartisan bill that would have tackled the same problems, and did it to gain an advantage in his presidential campaign.

Abortion

Vance was battling the odds on this issue and took a cautious approach here. Vance said it would be ideal if each State were able to put its own laws in place regarding abortion. Walz said it is a basic human right, so it is a federal duty to protect that right for everyone in the country, regardless of the country's layout. Vance acknowledged that the Republican Party needs to do a better job of providing fertility treatment and affordable housing. Vance is a smart man and he wanted to attract votes from the people who are currently undecided.

Gun Violence

Vance and Walz agreed that the situation is bad and getting worse when it comes to gun violence, especially in schools. They agreed that the problem needs to be tackled. But they did not agree on an approach to solve the problem. Vance admitted that there were many reasons behind the problem - and in particular mental health problems and drug abuse. Walz didn't agree with that. "Sometimes it's the guns, just the guns!" he said. And "Having a mental health problem doesn't mean you're a violent person."

January 6

It was clear that there was a big divide between Vance and Walz about what happened on January 6, 2021. When they were discussing the uprising and the false claims that Trump claimed to have won the presidential election, Walz asked Vance directly: "Did he (Trump) lose the 2020 election?" "Tim, I'm focused on the future", Vance replied. "That's a damning non-answer!" said Walz. Later, Walz said: “Here we are 4 years later, in the same situation. The winner must be the winner. This has to stop. It's tearing us apart."

Vance's change of heart

Vance was asked why he had a change of heart about Trump. He criticized Trump harshly in 2020 but is very much in favor of him now. Vance blamed the media, saying they misled him with lies about Trump. He said that Trump also made good on his promises to the people of the country as president.

Tiananmen Square

In 2009, Walz said he was in Hong Kong when the Tiananmen Square protests were taking place. But he was in Nebraska at the time. When asked about that, he waffled about it for a long time. When the question was put again, he finally admitted that he had made a mistake.

Conclusion

J.D. Vance is the master of smooth talk. Vance, without a doubt. J.D. Vance had the opportunities that Tim Walz didn't have. As Walz said: “I grew up in a small town – Butte, Nebraska, population 400 – and there were 24 students in my high school class. And not one of them attended Yale.” Walz was trying to say that he was a normal person, unlike Vance. Perhaps it was also a kind of excuse, because Vance was better on the debate stage. But does it matter? The central question is which presidential candidate should be chosen. And on that issue, it is clear that Trump is a danger to America and the world, and that it would be completely wrong to re-elect him as president.

Although J.D. Vance can dazzle people with his smooth speech, talk is cheap. Despite Vance's platitudes, there is no way it would be right to put the convicted criminal, Donald Trump, back in office. That was very clear, when Vance refused to answer the question posed by Walz: “Trump is still saying he didn't lose the election. Did he lose the 2020 election?”

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