Watching Trump on TV blabbering, "We must target ISIS,"
"We can't add more enemies," Martin thought to himself:
"What's this guy Trump getting from Russia?"
He pondered if there was some shady deal among these three parties, whether he could leverage it.
Guinea's development pace needed to accelerate; recently, France, Egypt, and others had started to take notice of Guinea's growth.
In the final twenty minutes, the topic returned to domestic issues.
Due to a recent vacancy in the US Supreme Court, many Republican congressmen worried Obama appointing a new justice would tilt the court toward liberals, so they demanded waiting for the next president to appoint one.
On justice selection criteria, Hillary and Trump predictably differed.
Hillary implied she'd appoint a liberal justice to overturn Citizens United v. FEC, oppose corporate political contributions, and ensure voting rights for all.
Trump said he'd choose a staunch conservative justice, like the late Justice Scalia, to protect the Constitution, including the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
Yes, Trump opposed gun bans.
In the debate's final stage, an audience member finally raised an unaddressed issue—energy—asking both candidates:
"How would you, if elected president, protect the environment while avoiding massive worker layoffs?"
Trump immediately reaffirmed support for "old energy" industries like coal, stating the US needs not just wind and solar but also coal and oil, and developing "clean coal" could avoid some pollution.
"Though not fully green, if it can boost local economies and jobs, some environmental sacrifice is necessary."
Then, he criticized Obama's environmental policies, saying they hurt local coal industries too much, letting foreign companies take advantage, so the US must revive its energy industry to provide more jobs for American workers.
Hillary, always a "green advocate," emphasized her support for new energy in her response.
Hillary first stated: "The US should become the '21st-century clean energy superpower.'"
But then she pivoted, saying to address employment, revitalizing coal regions' economies and helping workers there re-enter the workforce was needed.
Trump immediately mocked: "See, see, this is a veteran politician's face— for votes, she ignores her own contradictions. So I'd like to ask, what specific measures does Ms. Clinton have to protect the environment while boosting coal industries?"
Hillary didn't even glance at Trump, as if she didn't hear him, ignoring the jab and only saying to the questioner: "My team is crafting a comprehensive energy policy to ensure US energy independence, not relying on..."
Trump loudly said: "Everyone should be vigilant; Ching Chong's steel dumping hurts US businesses and workers. Their goods are starting to dominate every aspect of our lives."
Hillary also sternly said: "After taking office, I'll launch stricter anti-dumping investigations against Ching Chong."
Then she immediately mocked Trump: "Mr. Trump claims to oppose dumping, but his 'Trump Tower' actually uses Ching Chong-imported steel, and plenty of his money is flowing in Ching Chong."
Trump instantly said: "My tower uses Ching Chong steel because it's cheap. But once I take office and implement anti-dumping policies, Ching Chong goods will lose their price advantage. Then, including me, all American businessmen will stop buying Ching Chong goods."
Trump's slick sophistry made Martin, watching TV, laugh.
Many Americans were also amused.
More interestingly, they thought Trump made sense.
Businessmen chase profit, naturally choosing "cheap and good" goods—so it's a policy issue.
Why did Japanese electronics and cars once dominate the US market?
Wasn't it because they were "cheap and good"?
With less than 10 minutes left, the debate's final question was less explosive.
It even drew knowing laughter from the audience.
An audience member smilingly asked: "Ms. Clinton, Mr. Trump, I'd like you both to name one good quality in the other."
In this debate full of personal attacks, this question injected a bit of "cheerful atmosphere," easing the tension.
Then, Hillary's instinctive reaction was caught by the TV cameras.
She rolled her eyes.
Clearly, praising Trump was something she was extremely, extremely, extremely unhappy about.
Laughter erupted in front of TVs.
Then, Hillary, in her response, cleverly avoided directly praising Trump, instead complimenting his daughter Ivanka, present at the scene.
"I've known Ivanka for a long time; she's a highly capable, well-educated woman."
On the word "woman," Hillary deliberately stressed, clearly mocking Trump's disrespect for women.
She continued: "Her daughter's achievements reflect Trump's good points, um, I really like Ivanka."
Trump said: "Though I disagree with all of Hillary's views, I must respect her never-give-up spirit."
"She's a 'fighter.'"
"I think that's a great trait." Trump said.
When saying "fighter," Trump also stressed, likely implying Hillary's belligerence.