Why Hillary Should Dodge the Debates — But Can’t

 

Writing in the London Spectator, the always astute Christopher Caldwell:

In the course of their political careers, Hillary has tended to lose ground in debates, and Trump to gain it. While one would not wish to be the aide who suggested she withdraw from a battle of wits with a man whose intellect she has ridiculed, it would have been the wiser course.

Her episode in New York makes that impossible. After her campaign’s alarming lack of transparency in the wake of it, people might decide they prefer Trump’s Putin to Clinton’s Brezhnev. They might use Hillary’s illness as a face-saving reason to vote for him. So Hillary now must travel the dangerous road to the debates, if only to show she is up to it.

The debates, the next and perhaps decisive act of this campaign.

Bring ’em on.

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  1. Joseph Stanko Coolidge
    Joseph Stanko
    @JosephStanko

    KC Mulville: As president, we need a closer. Hillary’s not a closer.

    Are you saying come November, Hillary will win a set of steak knives?

    • #31
  2. GLDIII Reagan
    GLDIII
    @GLDIII

    iWe:Are the debates going to be while standing, or sitting?

    I think Trump should be a magnanimous gentleman and allow the old lady to have a seat while he stands.

    • #32
  3. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    GLDIII:

    I think Trump should be a magnanimous gentleman and allow the old lady to have a seat while he stands.

    If he adjusted her pillows once or twice during the evening or brought an extra cough drop that would look kind too.

    • #33
  4. Casey Inactive
    Casey
    @Casey

    A couple of things – First, say what you want about Trump but he’s definitely interesting. Hillary is not that interesting.

    Second, Trump has physical presence, she does not.

    Third, Trump is entirely unpredictable, she is robotic. Advantage Trump. If i were her I’d almost pretend he wasn’t there. Give answers then shut up and look forward. If she bites, she’s done.

    • #34
  5. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Doctor Robert:

    Joseph Stanko: I almost feel sorry for her. Almost.

    Don’t.

    She wants to ruin your country, and she has no pity for you. Not a shred. You’re deplorable.

    also irredeemable and unAmerican….

    I think thats one of the few times she hasn’t lied about something, she was being honest in her beliefs.

    • #35
  6. Hypatia Member
    Hypatia
    @

    I just filled out the supporter survey his campaign sent out concerning the debate.  (I hope they’re actually reading those, even if the respondent doesn’t give money!). I said:

    call her “Mrs. Clinton”.

    If she delves into “birtherism” (which I doubt they will, cuz now there have been enough articles about Omega’s book blurb where he himself said he was born in Kenya, and proof of her ’08 campaign’s use of the issue) use her own words:” what difference at this point does it make?”

    if she tries to use past business failures against you, use Omega’s line about her: “That’s what happens when you TRY!”  Then ask her to,list anything she accomplished while a senator.

    Trump University?  ask about Laureate, world’s largest for-profit education system.

    Women’s issues?  Be prepared with quotes of what she said about Bill’s ladies..but most importantly, with your OWN stellar record of hiring and promoting women

    i just hope the wonderful Ms. Conway is involved with this!  She did a great job with Bill Maher.  Example: this flap about whether or not he supported the war in Iraq.  She actually went right back yo the source and quoted what he had said, off the cuff, in response to a question posed him as a private citizen”Yeah, I guess so…”  Compare THAT to actually voting for It in the senate!

    Putin? Wasn’t SHE the one who came up with the “re-set button” catchphrase about Russia?  She failed miserably; he can actually accomplish it.

    oh, there’s SO much!

    • #36
  7. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    It may be that Democrats provide the bread (in the way of entitlements to their clients), but one thing you’ve gotta say for Republicans. — We provide the circuses!!

    This is going to be a really big show!

    I’m not counting Hillary out, though. She wants it baaaaad and she has a lot of experience. Let’s not lower expectations for her.

    Whatever direction it goes, it will be my first live debate watched in years. I bet I’m not alone.

    • #37
  8. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Jamie Lockett:

    Peter Robinson:

    Joseph Stanko:Another coughing fit during the debate could sink her campaign. She’ll likely be on medication, but then there’s the danger of repeating the Rick Perry debate performance that he blamed on painkillers for his back. And did I read somewhere there will be no commercial breaks, and therefore no bathroom breaks?

    I almost feel sorry for her. Almost.

    Joseph, I like you even more now that your new icon reveals you as a ‘Niners fan.

    If either of you want to go to a game let me know, I have season tickets.

    Because they give them away these days.  I mean, don’t they actually have to pay you to take them?  I heard a 49ers fan left a pair of tickets on his dash, and a thief broke the window, and left 4 more tickets.

    • #38
  9. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    CB Toder aka Mama Toad:

    GLDIII:

    I think Trump should be a magnanimous gentleman and allow the old lady to have a seat while he stands.

    If he adjusted her pillows once or twice during the evening or brought an extra cough drop that would look kind too.

    He should bring her an extra bottle of Trump Water.

    • #39
  10. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    Spin:

    Jamie Lockett:

    Peter Robinson:

    Joseph Stanko:Another coughing fit during the debate could sink her campaign. She’ll likely be on medication, but then there’s the danger of repeating the Rick Perry debate performance that he blamed on painkillers for his back. And did I read somewhere there will be no commercial breaks, and therefore no bathroom breaks?

    I almost feel sorry for her. Almost.

    Joseph, I like you even more now that your new icon reveals you as a ‘Niners fan.

    If either of you want to go to a game let me know, I have season tickets.

    Because they give them away these days. I mean, don’t they actually have to pay you to take them? I heard a 49ers fan left a pair of tickets on his dash, and a thief broke the window, and left 4 more tickets.

    Call me when your lilliputian QB wins you 4 more titles.

    • #40
  11. Tony Sells Inactive
    Tony Sells
    @TonySells

    I don’t get the mindset that Trump was good or even competent in the Republican debates.  He always looked bad in them.  I would also like to see data that he went up in the polls after debates.  It was almost always the opposite if memory serves.

    He had one good moment when Cruz foolishly talked about New York values.  Other than that he was horrible.  I think the folks who have decided to get behind Trump, and held out the debates as his opportunity to shine will be disappointed.

    • #41
  12. Larry3435 Inactive
    Larry3435
    @Larry3435

    Kevin Creighton:If she looks as unsteady on her pins in the debate as she did during her press conference on her plane last night, all Trump has to do in order to win is show up and have a pulse.

    That’s good, because if he tries to do anything beyond having a pulse he will start losing poll numbers again.  Like, for example, if he says anything off teleprompter.

    • #42
  13. Bill Nelson Inactive
    Bill Nelson
    @BillNelson

    Kevin Creighton:If she looks as unsteady on her pins in the debate as she did during her press conference on her plane last night, all Trump has to do in order to win is show up and have a pulse.

    What Trump must do is move around. When Clinton is answering, needs to step 3 or 4 steps away from the podium and stand rock steady where all can see him. Challenges her to do the same.

    Sad part of this is some people are hoping Hillary wobbles, its the only way Trump can win.

    • #43
  14. Pilli Inactive
    Pilli
    @Pilli

    rico:

    Peter Robinson: The debates, the next and perhaps decisive act of this campaign.

    I’ve argued that the race is clearly trending Trump’s way. Absent the debates, Hillary has no real opportunity to reverse that trend. She needs the debates more than he does.

    It’s possible that voters will be impressed by Hillary’s command of policy details (without considering the ineffectiveness of those policies) and her name-dropping of obscure prime ministers drawn from her impressive rolodex. But I think that Trump’s vision for a brighter future will win voters’ hearts, and likely, their votes.

    All Trump has to do is say, “I’m not familiar with that name.  Is he/she a donor to the Clinton Foundation?  Is that how you know him/her?”

    • #44
  15. Craig Inactive
    Craig
    @Craig

    Hillary does not have a track record of overcoming challenges or conquering them.  She was put into a Safe Seat to become U.S Senator, that was not a challenge for her.  When challenged she lost to Obama in 2008.  In 2016 she might have lost again to Sanders, that is had the DNC not helped her to defeat him.  She has never won an election or Primary convincingly on her character alone.   It’s no wonder she’s crashing now.

    • #45
  16. Richard Finlay Inactive
    Richard Finlay
    @RichardFinlay

    The Dems are actually pretty well situated.  If Hillary does well, they have no worries; if she falters…. Well, she has enough public health issues for them to pull a Toricelli/Lautenberg maneuver.

    • #46
  17. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Are you sure that her being sick is all that bad?  I can see her bowing out of the debates claiming illness and drumming up the sympath vote.  Then after the debate window passes she “powers through” it as all womyn always do and bring in the victory.  With the press spinning for her about how she is sacrificing her health for the good of the country she can get pull even higher womyn numbers by showing how strong womyn can be.

    • #47
  18. Chris Campion Coolidge
    Chris Campion
    @ChrisCampion

    She should be fine dodging if she just follows the 5 D’s of dodgeball:

    https://youtu.be/18ASBsQfXnw

    • #48
  19. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Fake John/Jane Galt:Are you sure that her being sick is all that bad? I can see her bowing out of the debates claiming illness and drumming up the sympath vote. Then after the debate window passes she “powers through” it as all womyn always do and bring in the victory. With the press spinning for her about how she is sacrificing her health for the good of the country she can get pull even higher womyn numbers by showing how strong womyn can be.

    This is a good point.  If she recovers her health and runs a marathon followed by wrestling a bear to the ground (or something along those lines) then all those people who’ve made her health the primary issue against her are going to be left looking rather silly.

    • #49
  20. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Fake John/Jane Galt: Are you sure that her being sick is all that bad? I can see her bowing out of the debates claiming illness and drumming up the sympath vote.

    If she bows out of the debates, she’s toast.

    Old, soggy, nasty, toast.

    • #50
  21. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Kozak:

    Fake John/Jane Galt: Are you sure that her being sick is all that bad? I can see her bowing out of the debates claiming illness and drumming up the sympath vote.

    If she bows out of the debates, she’s toast.

    Old, soggy, nasty, toast.

    I doubt it.

    If she was an old white guy going against another old white guy then sure you are correct.  But she be womyn, fish nor fowl.  Deference must be given for her sex, unless it works against her then her sex must not be considered.  Those are the rules of these times.

    • #51
  22. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Fake John/Jane Galt:

    Kozak:

    Fake John/Jane Galt: Are you sure that her being sick is all that bad? I can see her bowing out of the debates claiming illness and drumming up the sympath vote.

    If she bows out of the debates, she’s toast.

    Old, soggy, nasty, toast.

    I doubt it.

    If she was an old white guy going against another old white guy then sure you are correct. But she be womyn, fish nor fowl. Deference must be given for her sex, unless it works against her then her sex must not be considered. Those are the rules of these times.

    Don’t buy it for a second.  She has all the delusional votes she is going to get. She needs to convince a lot of normal people she is not a total sleeze and strong enough to be POTUS. She can’t debate, she loses.

    • #52
  23. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Kozak:

    Fake John/Jane Galt:

    Kozak:

    Fake John/Jane Galt: Are you sure that her being sick is all that bad? I can see her bowing out of the debates claiming illness and drumming up the sympath vote.

    If she bows out of the debates, she’s toast.

    Old, soggy, nasty, toast.

    I doubt it.

    If she was an old white guy going against another old white guy then sure you are correct. But she be womyn, fish nor fowl. Deference must be given for her sex, unless it works against her then her sex must not be considered. Those are the rules of these times.

    Don’t buy it for a second. She has all the delusional votes she is going to get. She needs to convince a lot of normal people she is not a total sleeze and strong enough to be POTUS. She can’t debate, she loses.

    We are going to disagree on this one.  The debates can only hurt Trump not HRC, the establishment and media will be sure of that.  Trump can walk into the debates with a halo and the MSM will spin how the halo’s light hurt the audience.  Hillary could eat a live baby at the debates and the MSM will fawn on how she mercifully relieved it suffering.    All not having the debates does is remove an opportunity for the media to praise Hillary and demonize Trump.  In truth they are political theater for the plebs.

    • #53
  24. Joseph Stanko Coolidge
    Joseph Stanko
    @JosephStanko

    Fake John/Jane Galt: The debates can only hurt Trump not HRC, the establishment and media will be sure of that. Trump can walk into the debates with a halo and the MSM will spin how the halo’s light hurt the audience. Hillary could eat a live baby at the debates and the MSM will fawn on how she mercifully relieved it suffering. All not having the debates does is remove an opportunity for the media to praise Hillary and demonize Trump. In truth they are political theater for the plebs.

    People who don’t actually watch the debate will get their impression of it through media reports, so that might be true for them.  People who actually watch the debate will make up their own mind, if they see a strong, confident, Presidential-looking Trump next to a sickly Hillary, subsequent spin can only do so much to counter first impressions.

    Usually I’d say the percentage of people who actually watch debates is so small that it doesn’t have much impact, but this one might attract record audiences like the primary debates did.  It’s a chance for Trump to reach a audience that may have never watched him before in an unfiltered medium, so he has to make a good first impression.

    • #54
  25. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Joseph Stanko: People who don’t actually watch the debate will get their impression of it through media reports

    The will be me.  But I read the media reports the way people used to read Pravda.

    • #55
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