Debating to the bitter end

Debating to the bitter end

What began last month with a handshake and visible warmth (सौहार्द/उत्साह/गर्मजोशी) between two very different U.S. presidential candidates degenerated into disrespectful interruptions, unashamed baiting (फँसाने की क्रिया/ परेशान करना) , and abrasive name-calling as the third and final debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump came to a frosty (रूखा) end. With less than three weeks to go before the election, the campaigns saw explosive revelations about both candidates. This included disturbing evidence of Mr. Trump boasting (डींग मारना/अभिमान युक्त बात करना/बढ़-बढ़कर बातें करना) about groping women without their consent, allegations of such behavior and sexual assault by at least nine women, and an avalanche (“a sudden appearance of an overwhelming number of things”) of confidential emails of Ms. Clinton’s campaign released by Wiki Leaks that underscored her proximity to deep-pocketed Wall Street donors. Yet, even as these damning facts have tumbled into the public domain and the degree of hostility (विरोधभाव/द्वेषभाव) has soared (बढ़ना/वृद्धि होना) , they have probably done little to swing the election dramatically in either direction. Ms. Clinton was leading by a little over two percentage points across an average of major head-to-head polls around the time of the first debate. Her margin grew to over 6.5 per cent after the “Access Hollywood” tapes of Mr. Trump’s offensive remarks. Most poll simulation models predict she is well-positioned to capture the minimum of 270 electoral college votes that are necessary to secure the presidency, principally owing to her likely success in the swing States.

However, the electorate is plagued by intractable (बेअदब/असभ्य) , bitter polarization that is beginning to rot (बदतर करना) the core ideals of a tolerant, pluralistic democracy. Even a resounding Clinton victory in terms of Electoral College votes would beg the question whether she will be able to bring on board her stoutly (दृढ़तापूर्वक) Democratic agenda, given the vast number of middle class and poor Americans, many of them white, who may not have voted for her. To achieve her goals will she not be compelled (मजबूर करना) to mend fences with the discredited mainstream Republican Party leadership that will be busy trying to rehabilitate itself after Hurricane Donald passes? Ms. Clinton, if she finds herself in the White House, will have to strike a multitude of bargains across the policy positions that Americans disagree most stridently (कर्कशतापूर्वक) on: the economy, job-creation and the role of the government, national debt and tax cuts, Medicare and Social Security, immigration and border control, women’s reproductive rights, race relations, and a range of foreign policy issues. In the vitiated (विकृत/दूषित) atmosphere of the third debate, the candidates touched upon all of these issues, yet neither enunciated (प्रतिपादित) a new approach or even hinted at a desire to build bridges to make America whole again.

Bank unions announce strike on Sept. 11; demands include 5-day work week

Sep 04, 2026

TN sprinters Neil and Mrithika shatter 100m records in National youth athletics

Sep 04, 2026

Japan to ease rules on overtime work amid labour crisis

Sep 04, 2026

Top court quashes FIRs against Gen Z protesters

Sep 04, 2026

Govt. notifies ₹1.3 lakh-crore semicon scheme’s phase two

Sep 03, 2026

Magsaysay honour for Myanmar activist, Singapore lawyer, Bangladeshi aid giver

Sep 03, 2026