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geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
Tue Sep 20, 2016, 10:09 AM Sep 2016

Trump will approach the debate as a reality TV entertainment event, not a real debate

He will not try to debate Clinton on the issues, and the topics selected by Lester Holt are nothing but vague platitudes, so Trump very likely will be able to get away with spouting vague platitudes and bluster and dramatic, sweeping statements.

He'll even do his very best to be smiley-faced, charming (psychopaths can be very charming), and purport to provide a positive vision.

You can expect at least a few very well crafted zingers directed at Clinton. He has Roger Ailes drafting them for him. That's a guarantee.

Trump's going to try to turn the debate into a collection of sound bites rather than a substantive discussion. He's betting that his one-liners and big, dramatic statements will get replayed a lot more than Clinton reciting 5 point plans on how to combat climate change.

People expecting Clinton to mop the floor with him should realize that he's not going to be playing the same game as Clinton will be.

He's going to concede the substance of the debate entirely, because (a) he's not interested in substance; (b) he can't do substance; and (c) the central thesis of his campaign is that voters don't care about substance, but rather attitude and emotion.

His bet is that he can win the debate on style points alone.

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Wounded Bear

(58,439 posts)
1. The real problem is that it might work...
Tue Sep 20, 2016, 10:16 AM
Sep 2016

It will definitely work on his supporters, as that is what they will expect and they will not accept defeat. Regardless of actuality, they will think he wins, because that's the way they roll.

Hopefully, enough of the American voting public can rise above the reality show hype and bullshit and see things as they really are, a serious candidate on one side and the eponymous carnival barker on the other.

Yes, Hillary will win on the issues and on real debate points. Trump might "win" on showmanship and his ability to shovel shit.

 

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
2. "No one in this world ...has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses
Tue Sep 20, 2016, 10:22 AM
Sep 2016

of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”

I find myself in the unfortunate position of agreeing with Trump that the majority of voters (especially uneducated white ones) generally make decisions like children and simpletons.

 

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
4. it's the voters to blame, imo, because they let candidates get away with having zero substance
Tue Sep 20, 2016, 11:01 AM
Sep 2016

if the candidates entertain them in the right way

 

NoGoodNamesLeft

(2,056 posts)
5. Have some faith in Clinton...
Tue Sep 20, 2016, 11:10 AM
Sep 2016

She is very smart and knows Trump's game. All she has to do is craft her opening statement in such a way to push all of his buttons that cause him to react. The man has NO self control and she has it in spades. All she has to do is hit him hard in the opening statement in all of the areas he's very sensitive to and it will set him off. He will forget all about what he practiced and was told to say and will become unhinged and be exposed to the viewers for the thin skinned know nothing with a foul temperament that he is.

 

NoGoodNamesLeft

(2,056 posts)
9. Not debating just one person...
Tue Sep 20, 2016, 01:20 PM
Sep 2016

There aren't going to be 15 other people. During the primaries he only needed to talk a total of a few minutes. Not going to be the case this time. She will push buttons and then let him talk and hang himself. Simple.

 

oberliner

(58,724 posts)
7. "a collection of sound bites rather than a substantive discussion"
Tue Sep 20, 2016, 11:27 AM
Sep 2016

That's actually what these debates have been since they started.

The only things that gets reported on from the debates are the "zingers" and those sound bites are all anyone ever remembers from them.

 

oberliner

(58,724 posts)
10. He did manage to "win" all the Republican debates
Tue Sep 20, 2016, 01:33 PM
Sep 2016

And one or two of those people were relatively reasonable human beings.

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