The first debate has come and gone. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton finally took the stage months after winning their nominations, and the battle between the two candidates escalated to new heights.
I'm not here to review their proposed policies. and I'm also not going to discuss who I thought was the winner. I'm not going to touch on Trump's water sipping and sniffles, or Clinton's little happy dance.
Instead, I'm going to discuss why the debate pissed me off.
For those who know me, it is no secret who I will vote for in November. For those who don't, the answer is Hillary Clinton.
That doesn't mean she didn't make me angry Monday night. Not her directly, of course, but in a more nuanced way that really turned me the wrong way.
And of course, her opponent contributed to that anger too. But again, it isn't directly from him.
It is true that Hillary was poised throughout the night. She handled Trump's interruptions with a grace that had most people approving of her performance throughout the night.
However, I felt like I was watching a fight between two children. Rather than a debate between two presidential candidates, I thought this was a fight for top dog at the playground.
And that's what really angers me.
You might think it comes from how the candidates acted during the debate
But to me, it comes from the buildup to that Monday night.
It comes from the 17 Republicans who wanted to become president.
It comes from the lackluster Democratic side who ended up nominating the one ideal candidate from the get go.
It's from the Bernie or Bust movement.
It's from the Republicans endorsing Hillary over Trump.
How is it that the greatest country in the world is going through an election cycle so volatile it has me thinking of moving to Canada to be with my family up there?
How can we nominate two candidates that a good portion of the population feel wary about winning?
All of this led up to Monday night, where the two top candidates for President of the United States lied about switching their views on topics.
Where they interrupted one another on a whim.
Where they ran over the moderator, leaving me wondering if there was actually a moderator at points.
And that makes me mad.
Because instead of watching a debate in which Trump and Clinton discuss their plans for job growth, cyber security, and racial tensions, I watched two grown adults go back and forth like it was an amateur debate.
Clinton was more prepared than Trump; that much was obvious.
But she wasn't prepared to discuss plans.
Neither was he.
How are we to choose between two people when they're more focused on polishing up their images than on improving this country?
We have a long road ahead of us, and only a short time until we get there.
