Pre-Debate: Trump needs to convince people he’s not Hitler, Hillary needs to show she’s not Hillary
Trump has a low bar, Hillary has a high bar.
If I see one more story about what Trump/Hillary needs to do tonight, I’m going to ….
So really, what do Trump and Hillary need to do tonight?
Trump:
Don’t take the bait. Mark Cuban and other attempts at trolling are meant to bait you. Just by being on stage with Hillary helps normalize you. Do something along the lines of Reagan’s “there she goes again” when Hillary barrages you. Who cares what the name is of the President of NoOnesEverHeardof-stan. You need to present yourself as a leader, someone who sees the big picture of Making America Great Again but leaving the implementation to people you hire (appoint/nominate), because that is how business leaders who live in the real world are successful. The media has convinced almost half the population you are Hitler. You need to prove you are not Hitler. It’s a low bar, try not to trip on it.
Hillary:
Stay vertical. Don’t come across as Nurse Ratchet. Don’t cackle. Reports say you are studying up for the debate like it is the Bar Exam. Wrong approach, that’s what people hate about you; if you come across as prosecutor and know-it-all, it will reinforce negatives that people already hold against you. This is not, contrary to media spin, about fact-checking and splaining. This is about leadership, likability, ‘merica. You need to convince America you are not the Hillary Clinton they have come to dislike. You have a higher bar than The Donald. Jump!
I’ll update this post throughout the day with news and spin.
Updates (by KK):
FiveThirtyEight posted a prediction shift:
Gee, could this be the reason for widespread media panic?
Appearances matter, apparently.
Hillary will use a custom lectern to help reduce the height difference between she and Trump:
With the first 2016 presidential debate just hours away, every aspect of the much-anticipated event is being analyzed and scrutinized. That includes Hillary Clinton’s customized lectern.
Clinton’s podium at the the Hofstra University debate hall will feature a customized step stool to compensate for the 10-inch height advantage held by the 6-foot-3 Donald Trump, Fox News reported.
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Comments
If Hillary is studying for the debate like she studied for the D.C. bar exam, she won’t come across as a know-it-all so much as she’ll come across as a dumbass.
Hillary flunked the D.C. bar exam.
Hillary better have an industrial-strength earpiece tonight, like Lt. Uhura wore on Star Trek…
Lt. Uhura was not a real person. Then again, neither is HIllary.
And Trump’s people should have a jammer ready to block whats coming through that earpiece with static or feedback. Maybe a high pitched “squeeeeeeee” in her ear will overload her meds.
Actually, if they find the frequency/encoding of it, they’d do better to simply record the prompting she’s getting and release it on YouTube along with the corresponding video. It’s a lot harder to do than it looks. There’s probably a couple hundred wireless devices in that room, not counting phones.
Grandma will fall back on the affected finger jabbing at the air while trying to make a point while raising her voice to a level only Flipper can hear. Warren, Sanders, all of them, same schtick. The audience will be packed with snowflakes who will ululate to everything they think is a made liberal talking point.
I’m pretty sure she could arrive on stage wearing a big set of ear phones with a mouth piece like coaches wear and she would loudly proclaim that she is not wearing a big set of ear phones and the moderator would just accept her word.
The two least-qualified people in America are going to be arguing tonight about the other being more least-qualified. Our job in November is to pick the one who is less least-qualified. I already know the answer, but it pains me accept that fact. What pains me more though is Slick Willy and Sick Hilly getting back in the White House.
You left out the obligatory part about how you’re going to hold your nose when you vote.
It sounds like you are trying t dissuade him.
To me the answer is 2020.
The line of attack has already been set up for the Democrats and their friendly moderators – its going to be foreign policy and Trump’s shifting position on the Iraq war.
True, that’s the drum beat from the liberal trolls. They are touting a NYT piece with a litany of Trump “lies”, Iraq is about the first 5 bullets.
They’d be setting themselves up for a Fool’s Mate. Trump didn’t vote for it; Hillary did. And the mods won’t be able to prevent him from saying it.
Hillary could fall back on her usual defense structure; first, denial; then, “I don’t recall.”
I don’t think it will work this time. Of course, I’ve been wrong before about what Hillary can manage to get away with.
I think there is enormous pressure on Hillary to perform. Her campaign has been faltering and she has to prove to America she can handle this.
In the last few weeks, she has collapsed at a 9/11 memorial, canceled fundraisers, had a campaign rally in Philly with only 210 attendees, had Bill make contradictory statements about what she was ill with, made one of the worst campaign videos in history to a union group in a Trump hotel (“you may wonder why I’m not 50 points ahead”), let it leak that she is pulling back campaigning in Ohio and ending ads in VA, PA, and CO. Her campaign manager, Robby Mook, has been really doing damage to her with his recent off-point interviews. On top of that, she is burning through cash running some of the worst negative ads I have ever seen. Obvious cut and paste jobs.
She is in big trouble and needs this desperately or the election will slip away from her. Many people can see how Trump could pull off an electoral victory now. So, with that in mind, I have no doubt that Lester Holt will pull a Candy Crowley on Trump and do what it takes to make Trump look bad.
My prediction will be that the media will declare Clinton an overwhelming winner as will the blogosphere but the people, ie the voters, will see Trump as the winner.
One side note, Trump is almost a foot taller than Clinton. That will be an interesting visual.
Trump might be a foot taller, but they’ve built a 3/4 scale podium for Mrs. Clinton and you can be sure the camera angle will never, ever note that she is small.
I hope Trump has someone in the audience with an earpiece-jammer!
I bet all it would take would be a 2-way baby monitor. Wouldn’t that be hilarious if someone told stupid jokes, sang 80s songs and cackled in her ear the entire time!
It’d be funny if Trump started the debate by walking halfway to Hillary’s podium and holding out his hand for a starting sportsmanlike handshake. Her options then would all be bad, especially if she’s unsteady on her feet.
Team Trump releases one of the best negative ads I’ve ever seen. Incredible takeaway and high level of persuasion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnkusfFu1Bs
What will team Hillary do if the Hillster falls off her custom podium? Do you think they will seat belt her in to eliminate this?
Trump needs to convince people he’s not Hitler, Hillary needs to show she’s not Hillary
Given all the media spin, Trump’s got the harder job here. He has to prove he’s not Hitler.
Hillary, on the other hand, doesn’t have to prove she’s not Hillary. She just needs to convince enough people that being Hillary is better than being Hitler.
a choice between a giant douche and a turd sandwich.
only real difference is only one of the 2 has created/influenced/enacted policy that legally affected me over my lifetime.
Poor planning on my part maybe, but I just wall-mounted my new 55″ UHD last night and semi-struggled to hook up all the peripherals, so I’ll be damned if Cruella and Prince Cheeto are the first things I watch on it. I’ll just have to read about it tomorrow.
Jeopardy is on before that and that’s way better programming.
Wonder how hard Trump will whack emailgate and StoneTear. Clear as a bell now why the FBI didn’t squeeze Grandma over the server, Frank Marshall Davis Jr has his paw prints all over it. Go for the throat I say.
Trump needs to look presidential, Hillary needs to motivate suburban white women to go to the polls. Her strategy is to get under Trump’s thin skin.
Interesting that the election might be decided the old-fashioned way, by the white middle class.
The debate rules should be simple:
1. No talking about, or mention of, one’s opponent.
2. Questions must be about policy, agenda, and platform – no personal questions.
3. With #3 in mind – questions must be directed to both candidates and as appropriate to one as the other.
I have no interest in watching a finger-pointing exercise. I will only regret not watching if Hillary collapses on live TV.
Correction:
#3 should read “With #2 in mind”