That beautiful slow, gradual glow of satisfaction after you realize your candidate has won a debate.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Political debates are different than following your favorite sports team. When time runs out on the clock or your team gets that last out, there's that sense of instant euphoria that rushes over immediately. Your team won, and there's no question about it.

You don't get that with politics. Instead, you're stuck with punditry and analysis and spin and it isn't always quite clear. Often times you think your candidate did well, but you still have doubts. Was it just your own personal bias? What does everyone else think? Will the media's reaction affect other's perceptions? Can you even judge who won or lost at all?

But that being said, while there are many times when a political debate is viewed as a draw, there are many other instances where conventional wisdom emerges that there was a clear cut winner. Where one candidate was on his or her game, and the other was most definitely not.

The latter was the case last night. Every indicator shows that Hillary dominated over Trump, whether it be our own positive reaction to Hillary's performance or the frenzied, panic reaction from the right to Trump's missteps. I've seen more than one Trump supporter on my list in Facebook admit that Trump failed last night. Others have in vain claimed that Lester Holt was unfair to Trump. But no one's coming out and claiming he actually won the debate. It's either that he flat out lost, or vain efforts to explain his loss away.

I have to admit I hate-listened to a couple of right-wing radio shows today, which I usually no longer bother with doing. One local host, a particularly nasty piece of work named Joyce Kaufman, was having a total meltdown, refusing to even listen to anyone who claimed Trump was off his game last night. Then you have Rush Limbaugh calling Hillary a bitch. This type of childish grieving process is a joy to see from the schadenfreude department.

But the day after your candidate has decisively won a debate....well, it's like a slow, gradual realization. Your initial doubts melt away as others confirm what you saw and felt. And as the day goes on and on, your satisfaction slowly grows, as does the grin on your face.

I would best compare it to having a drink after a long, stressful day and slowly having that feeling of unwinding hit you. All that tenseness and anxiety slowly fades away as the drink makes it way through your system. Except I don't have to deal with a hangover later, so it's much better than that.

It's an exceptional feeling, I tell you.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. A big, fat K&R!

[pkdu]

2. Kinda like this?

[Gabi Hayes]

4. that made me snort!

is he the biggest ahole that ever walked the earth?

[pkdu]

7. He is. He has given all the bigots , racists and misogynists "cover" to "stop being politically

correct " and say whatever crap is on their minds. They were always there, he just made it okay for them (in their mind at least) to blurt it all out.

[BlueCaliDem]

3. There was no ambiguiity with me. I *knew* Hillary won the debate. It was like watching the Master

school an unruly pupil who can't keep his goddamn mouth shut and is going "la la la la la" all throughout.

She was presidential and knowledgeable. He was flopping on the stage like a fish out of water.

[Johnny2X2X]

5. It was beautiful

Hillary was masterful, especially in the 2nd half, she was getting more and more comfortable and he was melting down.

The only 3 real polls to come out PPP, CNN, and YouGOV show a blowout win. In a week we will see what the polls show, but I suspect this will be a huge shift. She'll be in line for a landslide again by the end of next week.

[Maru Kitteh]

6. Hell. I was jumping up & down in my living room; doing drum rolls on the sofa

last night, less than 30 minutes in!




First thing I did this morning was paste a nice big smile on my face.

Still there!

[anamandujano]

8. I knew she would ace it. I brought home mini-cupcakes and stuffed a few before it even started.

I've watched a ton of her speeches, workshops, senate inquisitions and other assorted challenges over the years. She is not just smart. She is always prepared, thinks on her feet and is diplomatic to the core.

[lamp_shade]

9. This is beautiful. Your second paragraph? That was me. I could have written it.

Thank you for saying what so many of us felt/now feel.

[Madam45for2923]

10. I went to bed last night tired but happy and Today I have felt sunshine on me

constantly even though I stayed indoors ! Yumm!