Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

I was asked the question in this blog headline the other day and my answer was “no.”

Interesting for a political junkie like me to answer that way.

But, here are my reasons:

• First, I’d rather read about the debate the following day in three national newspapers – the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times.  Which together give me a center-right and center-left perspective.

• Second, given the balanced perspectives of the three papers, I end up with a nuanced view of what the debate produced.

• And, third, I don’t want to endure the to-ing and fro-ing of the analysts on the scene who try to dissect what has been said or not said.

As the debate nears, it appears the two candidates – Donald Trump, whatever he is, but not a true Republican, and Kamala Harris, a true Democrat – are essentially neck-and-neck.

So, that’s why my fond hope is that Trump will skewer himself by his usual over-the-top comments.  Which is why the Harris camp was advocating for open mikes so Trump can talk himself and others to death. 

It’s always all about him, and he is ever the victim.  He probably cannot do anything other than what comes through his brain and enters his mouth.

Harris, for her part, will have to be better than she was a few years ago on the candidate-for-president or vice-president debates.  It appears to me that she has matured enough to accomplish that objective.

In a story in the Wall Street Journal this morning, the reporter wrote this:

“’I’ll be paying attention to their words, the truthfulness of it,’ said a congresswoman, who represents most of Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County in the Philadelphia suburbs.

“’Is it factual?  Based on what you all care about?  What we care about, what our families care about?  Or is it demeaning?  Is it othering?  Is it filled with hatred or bigotry?  ‘I’ll be looking for the bright and the light and the love.’

“She didn’t even have to say, ‘Vote for Harris,’ and her statement reflected something important about presidential debates.  While the panel of journalists moderating Tuesday’s event will and should ask about specific issues, the relatively small number of voters who are still undecided or might be open to switching are far likelier to judge Harris and Trump on their affect, coherence, empathy and toughness.”

I agree.  Which, I suspect, is one of Harris’ advantages.

Meanwhile, beyond the debate, Trump continues to be selling himself…literally.

This from the Washington Post:

“With less than 10 weeks before the presidential election, Trump had a message for voters in late August:  He would be selling more digital trading cards for $99 each.

“Fifty all new stunning digital trading cards — it’s really something. These cards show me dancing and even holding some bitcoins.”

Trump will sell anything – even a Bible with his name on it – and even his soul, if he has one.