http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/11/opinion/campaign-stops/when-they-go-low-do-we-have-to-go-too.html 2016-10-11 09:41:36 When They Go Low, Do We Have to Go, Too? Brooks and Collins on the debate we could be having and the one we are actually having. === Arthur Brooks Gail Collins Arthur Gail Arthur Gail Arthur Gail Arthur Gail Arthur He gets points for telling the truth. But maybe not super helpful to the Clinton campaign? Gail The Clinton camp spin was that he was talking about the problems that need to be fixed. Obamacare’s been stuck in a political hellhole where the Republican majority in Congress refuses to repair what everybody agrees are problems because the only thing they’re allowed to talk about is repeal. Hillary’s said all along that she’s going to repair it. And working with Congress is one area where her record is much better than Obama’s. And then of course if the Democrats win control of the House and the Senate — Arthur Both campaigns have their health plans posted, and it appears that no matter who wins, there will be an attempt to make substantial changes to Obamacare. For readers keen to wonk out, A.E.I. scholars have looked in depth at both: Gail Arthur Gail Arthur Gail My other takeaway from Bill’s Obamacare rant is, once again, that it’s time he be retired from the campaign. His foundation is doing great work with the poor in Africa. He should go supervise. Arthur Gail But about Trump. I find it interesting that he’s so much better informed on Clinton’s email issues than the nation’s health care problems. Suspect the average voter is more interested in the part involving hospitals. Arthur Gail All I could think of was Alec Baldwin on Saturday Night Live. He’s going to be our national Trump image the way Tina Fey took over Sarah Palin. Arthur Gail As much as I’d like to say Trump was the loser on Sunday, I guess he did pretty well in the sense that he beat expectations. Real gift to be a candidate where the expectations are that after 15 minutes you’ll start howling and wander off the stage. Arthur: Gail That was pretty harsh, given the way Pence spent his debate defending Trump even when it required — um, fictionalization. Arthur Gail Arthur Gail Arthur Gail I remember once describing a prominent official as a guy who if he showed up at a grocery store, everyone would switch lines to make sure they weren’t stuck having to make small talk with him at checkout. If Debate Trump was headed into the store, the other customers would run shrieking out the back door. Arthur Yet for now, Trump is still in it. And if you trust the polls, maybe even still within striking distance. Gail Arthur