Donald Trump answers a question during the presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (Credit: AP/David Goldman) This article originally appeared on AlterNet. Donald Trump’s debate performance was bad; so says the general consensus among even casual political observers who last night witnessed the GOP candidate hold his ground about 10 minutes before sinking into a pool of Rosie O’Donnell insults and begging Sean Hannity for a life preserver. Even conservative pundits, who have every reason to spin the GOP candidate’s debate performance into a sign that their bloviating demagogue is prepared to be the leader of the most powerful country in the world, are wringing their hands.