After last night's final presidential debate between Hillary "I Got This" Clinton and Donald "I'm Losing It" Trump, it's clear Mr. Trump's declaration that he may or may not accept the results of the election hurt him and badly. Check out just some of the headlines this morning.
First, on what Mr. Trump actually said:
Trump on Whether He’ll Accept Election Results: 'I'll Keep You in Suspense'
Herewith, some takeaways, responses to Mr. Trump.
CNN's Cuomo Drills Conway On Trump Rejecting Election Results: He's Disavowing the Process!
David Gregory on Refusal to Accept Election Results: 'This Is a Death Blow for Donald Trump'
This, from the very Right Wing pollster Hugh Hewitt. Even he admits Mr. Trump took a hit.
Hugh Hewitt: Trump 'Knocked Himself Out' With Rigged Election Claims
Another Right Wing voice:
Krauthammer on Trump's Refusal to Accept Election Results: 'This is Political Suicide'
Here's one from a Republican strategist:
Steve Schmidt on Rigged Election Claims:
‘A Moment of Clear and Present Danger’
Two takes from Jake Tapper.
Tapper: Trump Maybe Not Accepting Election Results Was 'Disastrous Answer'
Jake Tapper Points Out That 'Rigged Election' Talk Could 'Hurt Republican Turnout'
Four takes from mainstream media:
Brian Williams on Rigged Election Claims: 'A Disqualifying Moment For Americans' Who 'Respect a Peaceful Transition'
Brit Hume: Trump 'Stepped On' His Best Debate Performance by Hedging on Election Results
Tom Brokaw: 'A Lot of Republicans' Will Have 'Hands Over Their Heads' After Trump's Debate
Chris Matthews: 'There's No Justification' For Trump to Question Election Results
The Associated Press had this rather more maybe official and rather dour evaluation of Mr. Trump's comment.
AP Lede on Trump at Debate: 'Threatening to Upend a Basic Pillar of American Democracy…'
For what it's worth, two opinions and descriptions of last night's comments from Mr. Trump from Rachel Maddow.
Rachel Maddow Calls Giuliani and Conway's Rigged Election Defense: 'Insane'
Maddow: 'It's Inarguable' the Moment of Debate Was Trump Not Committing To Election ResultsMr. Van Jones take on it all will likely surprise no one.
Van Jones Rips Trump's 'Appalling Lack of Patriotism'
Of course, one can always take the course of denial.
Kellyanne Conway Says Trump Will Accept Results of Election — Because Trump Will Win the Election
Bill Kristol Works Himself Into Screaming Fit, Insisting Trump Is a 'Fluke' and Not Representative of GOP
The New York Times conclusion, turning Mr. Trump's own words on him:
Who Won the Debate? Hillary Clinton, the 'Nasty Woman'
Finally, then, today, one last result from last night's debacle for Mr. Trump.
Fox News Drops in 2016 Brand Index Ranking Among Republicans
Ladies and gentlemen, what you are witnessing, what we are all witnessing is the freefall of one Mr. Donald J. Trump, electorally and popularly, and what was formerly known as the Republican Party in America, let there be no doubt.
My only concern is the power vacuum it will create. We have to hope for who and what will replace it.
I will say this, this has been the most fascinating, bizarre, unpredictable and even dangerous election, all, and solely due to Mr. Trump, his candidacy and his pronouncements and reactions in it. The only explanation that seems to make sense about it all is that he put himself up to do this, to run and run in the campaign as far and long as possible, in order to destroy the Republican ticket, if not the entire political party. I'd heard that rumor. It's out there. But by doing this, he's hurt himself, his corporate brand and, yes, the political party.
It's the only thing that makes sense. What little sense it does make.
Link: Hillary's Best Takedown of Trump During Debate
