Jack’s Angle: The Great Debate that isn’t – John J. “Jack” Partridge

by John J. “Jack” Partridge, contributing writer, commentary

We are all looking forward to the Thursday night event. But let us not confuse the event with a debate. The moderators will ask the questions and we know there will be ‘gotchas’ and zingers aplenty, but no audience reactions or off-mike commentary, which have always been present at these pre-election events, never mind the lack of give and take  commentary we are used to. None of that! Nothing in the classical debate rules expected.

You know that Biden will “prep” and drink his Ovaltine to stay awake, and you wonder about Trump who will not prepare, so confident is he that he will skate by as Biden fumbles. And what if he doesn’t?  Will we all assume he can really lead the team for another four years? What will Trump have to do to re-conjure up a “Sleepy Joe” adversary? And let us suppose that the “Donald” is moderate and comes over as a serious candidate. What does Biden do then?

The players will have their set lines on the border, the economy, Ukraine, and the war in Gaza. There will be nothing new there. But we might get a sense of their relative importance to the candidates, which might help some voters, but little else. This is a show and what both candidates want, hoping that the opponent will flub the dub, nothing that will shape the needs of the country. Just a commercial that is a free ninety minutes of prime time when a physical or mental slip of an opponent or quality of meanness and mendacity can be viewed by the country.

Sure. I will be watching; ready for either one to fulfill my expectation of their performance, not for revelation of quality of character or qualifications. 

 Where is my write-in pencil?

___

To read more columns by Jack Partridge, go to: https://rinewstoday.com/our-team/john-j-jack-partridge/

John J. ‘Jack’ Partridge, is a retired lawyer and Senior Counsel to the firm of Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP, with four offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.A Pawtucket native, Jack graduated from St. Raphael Academy and summa cum laude of Providence College, where he majored in history. After Harvard Law School, he served in the United States Army in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal. In 1967, he joined the firm of Tillinghast Collins & Tanner. In 1988, he became a founding partner of Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP.

Jack has been engaged in many civic, political, governmental, and business organizations, serving as legal counsel to the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce for 27 years and was chairman of the Old Slater Mill Association, Common Cause Rhode Island, and Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island.

He is the co-founder of The Pawtucket Foundation and an officer and director of innumerable not-for-profit entities. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club and was Treasurer of the Ocean State Charities Trust.

Jack has a long history of leadership involvement with Providence College, which recognized him in 1999 with the Providence College Alumni Association Recognition Award for Public and Community Service, and in 2011, with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

He is married to the former Regina McDonald and has three children: Sarah, Gregory and David.