Footnotes to History: Reading the Thankfully Final Clinton/Trump Debate

It’s no surprise political and media Twitter, in the half-hour or so before the debate, was so chock full of kittens and puppies. Facing an exercise nobody could feel good about, it’s how the platform self-soothes. If Trump’s worst mistake last night was reserving the right to reject the election results, the third and final debate amplified the necessity to treat his candidacy the same way. By the end, it seemed Trump, thoroughly overexposed, also realized he didn’t belong there. Here are best of our live tweets. Hats off to Getty Images for all the telling images.

Locker room entrance? pic.twitter.com/hV5IfO3hb2

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

Hmm, red tie. Suggests it’s gonna be Mr. Hyde. pic.twitter.com/7TeuH5ZRr2

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

The difference is black and white pic.twitter.com/V0FlEpFcNM

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

Mic anxiety replaces the sniff pic.twitter.com/MWZQD8gBN5

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

She’s pretty contained but look at her eyes when he blames Hillary for violence at his Chi rally. pic.twitter.com/aZQV9e0Xx1

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

Lectern feels the pressure on the groping allegations pic.twitter.com/EFTjNhLsnO

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

Talk about alienating everyone. Trump stares at Wallace while dragging in media for “stacking the deck” #rigging pic.twitter.com/UjfNlFkBcO

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

Walking off without his tribe #hadenough pic.twitter.com/ouCtptGt0v

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

Ignoring DT, HRC gets the jump on the moderator handshake @gettyimages pic.twitter.com/NT3sJaJI1Y

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

It’s the moments just before & after that are so revealing. What got baked in tonight was Trump’s condescension @somogettynews @gettyimages pic.twitter.com/UC3POz1pSe

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

Best moderator Trump could get. And still, there’s the sparring #bodylanguage @gettyimages pic.twitter.com/0MAQZL0n4Y

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

When was last time you saw someone, at the same time, make a point w one hand, and an accusation w the other? @somogettynews @gettyimages pic.twitter.com/SOEhUVziX2

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

Footnotes to history #Pence #Palin @somogettynews @gettyimages pic.twitter.com/fAUbTKFtId

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

The hands, yes … but it’s the child’s face that really burns. We’re so better than this. @somogettynews @gettyimages pic.twitter.com/duANQA3Yjj

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

Smart shot of Ivanka looking over her shoulder. Visual metaphor as campaign not only teeters, but Dad endangers the brand. @somogettynews pic.twitter.com/VCsZtpk0iA

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016

 

What it captures, underneath the bravado and in spite of the hoopla, is how this man is so utterly alone. @Robyn_Beck @gettyimages pic.twitter.com/WjwVtbP2fV

— Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) October 20, 2016