How Hillary should handle the debate?

[kentuck]

First of all, she should be honest and sincere. Brutally honest.

I think we can be assured that Donald Trump will lie, at some point during the debate and he will, most likely, resort to name-calling of some manner or other. That is his nature.

Hillary should maintain her low-key approach that she has had since her bout with the flu. She looks very presidential.

She should use her knowledge and experience to show the American people that she is best-qualified for the job of the President.

Don't attack first.

However, when he tells a lie, call him on it. "There you go again! That just isn't true. Some folks have called Donald Trump a "pathological liar". The people need more than name-calling and lies..."

Otherwise, she should stay on script and discuss the issues to the best of her ability.

The key to her success is to remain low-key and keep her composure but prepared with a good response if he lies or starts calling names.

[beachbum bob]

1. I think its better that hillary places the moderator in the position to call out trump lies....

from one of my earlier posts this morning

trump is a bully....I'm pretty sure that kind of performance will not win him votes he need to have....and more than likely push more voters to hillary. I have been thinking about how hillary could play this....and I see several avenues....

1. she should make it clear early on in the debate when trump first becomes nasty personally to her by addressing directly to the moderator....is this going to be "an adult debate on issues and policies".....or "kindergarden name-calling exercise"....? she should have that serious look directly at the moderator and put the responsibility on him/her right then..

2. she should never go into the mud with trump....she should try use the moderator and the above technique in #1....

3. trump believes he excels at being the bully....not understanding that is a huge weakness when trying to convince people you have presidential temperament....that is a weakness that hillary can take advantage of.....and I am pretty sure goad trump into onstage meltdown......without going into the mud with him

4. hillary has to avoid coming across as "patronizing", instead she must appear cool, calm in stating her position. Obviously trump and the moderator will go at her on the email server thing, her health, bengazhi,...trustworthiness and hillary can easily feign off those attacks....especially the email/bengazhi witch hunt that Gowdy's own committee staff said was nothing more than a way to bring down hillary's popularity....she should make it clear that conservatives have used taxpayer resources and government obstruction against her and Obama for nothing more than a racist sexist political motivation...she should make this huge POINT.....

5. hillary should place emphasis on trumps ignorance of everything...except making money off of other people....she should not hesitate to call out the moderator avoiding the known trump scandals...lawsuits....charity and foundation scams....the secret here...is to chastise the moderator and not directly address trump....a

6....perhaps the most important....avoid all direct conversations with trump...that will infuriate him to NO END....always take it up with the moderator.....the media is no friend of hillary

[underpants]

5. Good advice. I'll add two.

Use "In my experience..." A lot

Do not ask questions regarding Trump. Make statements. This establishes authority and weakens Trump to a "but...but...but..." responses.

[kentuck]

6. I disagree on a couple of your points.

To attempt to get the "moderator" to do the dirty work may be too much to expect? It may be misinterpreted as "whining"?

It should not devolve into a debate about personal transgressions or stupidity, in my opinion.

[beachbum bob]

15. you make the moderator decide if this a debate or a schoolyard brawl...hillary won't appear

to be whining....

if hillary is required to debunk trumps lies...she should demand the time to do it or have the moderator tell trump the lies won't be tolerated....that is NOT whining

[kentuck]

18. In other words, get down in the mud with the pigs?

The pigs love it.

She should stick to the issues and be presidential and call Trump out if he attacks with name-calling or lies.

No one wants the entire debate to be "he said, she said.."

[JustAnotherGen]

2. I disagree to some degree

In 2008 - during a Democratic Primary debate -when asked about what they would do if America was attacked . . .

Candidate Clinton responded with one word: Retaliate.

The first woman President needs to hold true to that.

She has my respect for that.

Retaliate.

Her delivery (which I think is where you come from on this) - is one thing. Trump has attacked her, her husband, her former boss - repeatedly.

I want him crawling on his knees in the deep valley of Comeuppance Monday night.

The asswipe maggot has it coming.

[Imperialism Inc.]

3. I'm expecting Trump to sling a lot of mud in the debate.

Trump has people on his team that specialize in trashy innuendo and sensationalism. The type of claims that have the barest sliver of truth to them that Clinton will have to spend time defending herself from them. Claims like the one about approving the sale of Uranium One. Yes, Politifact rated the claim mostly false but Trump won't care, and Clinton can't just reference the fact check and leave it at that; she'll have to spend time on it.

I think that is probably going to be Trump's strategy, to force Clinton to spend as much time as possible explaining away his attacks, thus stealing the time she has to promote herself. The public hasn't responded well when the focus has been on stories that play into negative public perceptions of Clinton.

How she responds to that I don't know. Hopefully they have worked up succinct responses to as many of the attacks as possible so she can move on to promoting herself and her policies.

[kentuck]

7. I think that is the last thing he wants to do.

He wants to look "presidential". However, I don't think he will be able to continue his charade for very long. But, I don't think he will come out swinging.

[Imperialism Inc.]

21. I guess I don't see it.

Surely the best way to cover up for the fact he can't discuss policy for 90 minutes is to change the subject. I don't think he's brought on Stephen "Clinton Cash" Bannon and David "Hillary: The Movie" Bossie (not to mention Roger Ailes) just to do a clean debate. I hope you're right but I'm expecting the worst.

[kentuck]

23. He would prefer to talk trash...

than to have an actual debate with facts and ideas. Hillary should be careful not to fall into that trap.

[beachbum bob]

8. hillary should not waste time on lies but force the moderator....she should always put the moderator

in the line of fire....

make the debate look like its trump and moderator vs hillary ........and hillary WINS

[kentuck]

12. How would that be reported in the rest of the media?

I don't think it would work. Just my opinion.

[underpants]

10. Know your target audience

We aren't a target of the debates neither are the Trump supporters.

Her target are mothers especially "independent" or "middle" women. That's everyones target. Strong but compassionate.

[BSdetect]

4. Good advice

Just watch the mod ignore her attempts to expound facts and cut her off.

The drumph will try to appear "pres" but that is a thin veneer which could explode easily with the right prodding.

He will probably be drugged and told to waste time speaking his usual drivel. He won't win any votes and may lose a few but he's too slimy to be pinned down early in the debate.

He will attempt to attack if he thinks he can score some cheap sound bite (prepared y his disgusting helpers). She should lure him into his blustering BS and then go for his temperament issues.

Can't wait to see his face as he realizes that his sham is exposed once and for all.

[kentuck]

9. If he loses the debate, he is confident he can win the spin afterwards.

He is not worried.

[beachbum bob]

17. trump can believe what he wants....and why he is losing the voters he needs

college educated white women.....and he will lose that demographic by a significant number....the best thing about a narcissists? They believe their own crap....no matter how it differs from reality

[beachbum bob]

11. yep....trump can easily be prodded off script....and hillary can make it appear

that she is taking on the moderator AND trump....which plays well for her

[kentuck]

14. Don't take on the moderator.

It's a loser.

[beachbum bob]

19. I disagree. Make the debate look like its rigged between the moderator and trump to go after hillary

, the voters that make the difference in elections will clearly see that

[kentuck]

20. Whose side will the rest of the media take?

Hillary or the moderator?

We disagree.

[whistler162]

13. She should wear the ugliest color pantsuit she

can find. To blow the Press and Trump minds(?).

[kentuck]

16. Whichever she chooses will be the "ugliest"...

and reported likewise in the media.

[northoftheborder]

41. She should wear black or grey.

[Albertoo]

22. 1- keep calm 2- make him blow his top

Looks contradictory? Not so much. Make him lose his temper by calmly stating taunts:

• he's a bad businessman (3 major money management magazines say he lost billions)

• he behaves childishly with journalists (Megan Kelly, tweet war, etc)

• he constantly flip flops (Obama birth certificate)

• ask if his tax returns would show the Russians own him?


Simple, short, provocative sound bites. Donald J. will lose it.

[kentuck]

24. I think she saves those for later debates.

This debate is about first impressions with a lot of voters. She should stay on message and retaliate when he calls names or lies. She doesn't want to play his game.

[Albertoo]

26. Disagree. That's how Romney lost, losing on first debate.

Hillary should maul Donald J. without warning.

When he'll come back for a revenge on debate #2, he'll be even more gaffe prone.

Shoot to kill. On day one. Schoolyard taunts with a smile.

[kentuck]

28. It's not her nature.

When you get out of your comfort zone, you risk losing a great deal. Just my opinion. She cannot beat Trump at his own game.

[Albertoo]

30. Disagree. It's not that hard to learn.

She just has to imagine herself a Victorian waspish old maid a la Agatha Christie.

If she takes it as a game, it should be rather easy. Schoolyard she-bully with a smile.

[kentuck]

31. We need to have foresight.

Imagine how she would be portrayed in the media if she came across as a "waspish old maid". The people do not believe what they see - they believe what the media tells them.

[Albertoo]

32. Ah, C'mon, you know what I mean

Distill poison with a smile and an innocent gaze.

It's not hard to say with a big smile that a few fortune management magazine called him a failed businessman, is it?

And the resulting pyrotechnics should be most gratifying.

[kentuck]

33. Better to smile than to display anger.

True. Mark Cuban has had similar comments about how she should handle Trump in this manner.

[Albertoo]

34. Better catch a bull by the horns

When you see a bully, punch him senseless before he can retaliate.

If there are cameras on, do it with a smile.

[kentuck]

36. And I think Hillary should stick with her strongpoints.

She is not a bully. 90 minutes of responding to a bully is a losing debate.

[Maeve]

40. I'm going to agree with you--she'll do more with a lifted eyebrow than nastiness

Underplayed reactions (without smirking) will get her farther than engaging with bullying tactics. And the cooler she stays, the more the 'temperment' judgment will go against him.

[Albertoo]

43. That's what I wrote from the start 1- keep her cool 2- make him lose his

[JNelson6563]

25. She should be relaxed and in command of the facts.

Not get drawn into spending much energy on Captain Tiny-hands.

She can really shine in this sort of thing because she knows so much.

[ecstatic]

27. First and foremost, be herself. You can't go wrong when

you're being authentic.

Second, if there's a way to discreetly provoke trump and expose his narcissism, do it! I would love to see him meltdown on stage.

[kentuck]

29. Very true.

I think she appears very presidential when she is being herself. But she cannot rely on the moderator to call Trump on his name-calling and lies. She must be prepared to respond when he does that.

[pangaia]

35. I have absolutely no idea.

This is stupider than Biden having to stand on the same stage with Palin.

[kentuck]

37. Unfortunately...

you have to play the cards that are dealt you.

[pangaia]

38. Obama said something recently about "getting real"

after he is out of office.

Maybe he should get started right now!

[Lil Missy]

39. She should listen to her advisors, and, never look to DU for advice. n/t

[jmowreader]

42. Come at him from a position of strength

She should dress like a CEO: severe black suit, white blouse, black pumps, minimal jewelry, power red lips.

She should describe her planned policies in enough detail you can understand them, but briefly enough people won't turn her off.

And her response to Trump's smears should be on the order of, "he attacks me because he can't admit how bad his plans are."

Her response to Trump's known plans should explain how stupid they are: "Mr. Trump wants to build a wall all the way across the Mexican border. He isn't telling you they've got one in San Diego now and the ground under it looks like Swiss cheese from all the tunnels smugglers have dug. My plan to punish people who hire illegal immigrants is better because they come to the US for jobs, and if they can't get jobs they won't come."

[cbdo2007]

44. She should only address him as "my opponent", not using his name.

His name is his brand. He is counting on her to give him free advertising every time she says it. We need to distance the "trump" brand from the campaign so people will start seeing his stance on the issues as any politician, rather than his branded image. This will highlight how wrong his viewpoints are.