2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumAn open letter to Hillary Clinton
Dear Hillary:
In four days you will be debating Donald Trump. I don't need to remind you this is the most consequential election since Abraham Lincoln faced John Breckenridge and Stephen Douglas. It will determine what kind of people we are. Are we a people that love our neighbors regardless of their race, religion, national origin or creed or are we a people who fear our neighbors because they look different than ourselves ?
As Michael Kinsley said " a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth." Half of Trump's supporters are deplorable. It is just impolitic to say so.
That being said when Trump and his deplorable followers go low we go high. Trump is a troll. A troll wants to make you upset. The troll loses when you make him upset.
By taking the high road in the debate you will expose Trump for the toothache of a man he really is.
God's speed, Mrs. Clinton. All people of good will are rooting for you.
Sincerely,
DemocratSinceBirth
RBInMaine
(13,570 posts)Look presidential, but also MAKE TRUMP look like the lightweight amateur that he is. HUMILIATE HIM! Show him to be the FRAUD that he is. This can be done sharply but artfully. Use this line at the end:
"This is not a reality tv show. This is very serious business, and it is not time for amateur hour at the White House. I am ready on day one. My opponent Mr. Trump is unfit and unprepared for the job he is seeking, and he has proven it time and again tonight. We can not trust the nuclear codes in the hands of an unprepared loose cannon."
KABOOM!
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,705 posts)RBInMaine
(13,570 posts)Trump is ALL EGO. He thinks he is the smartest guy in the room. How do you crack him and make him shit his pants? You make him look STUPID. You humiliate him. He can't take it. And he will crack like a rotten egg.
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)politicaljunkie41910
(3,335 posts)Hillary,
I agree with DemocratSinceBirth advice about taking the high road but, I would like to add a few words of advice of my own:
1. Please do not talk about those damn emails. There is nothing that you can say which will change the minds of Trump Supporters. Your base has heard enough about those damn emails and we don't need to hear any more about them. We know why you set up the server and hindsight is always 20/20. If Trump doesn't need to apologize for any of his past and present transgressions, than neither should you.
2. If Trump goes low and brings up your husbands affairs and tries to hold YOU accountable for anything you said or did during those difficult times, you should simply reply that, "Your husband made some very bad mistakes during your marriage as many spouses do. He's not perfect and neither am I. But he asked for my forgiveness and I forgave him a long time ago and we stayed together because we loved one another and because marriage is a commitment, that must be worked at every day, not something you just throw away when a new model comes on the market. And we've remained together, and our marriage works for us and isn't that the only two people whose opinion really matters? So if you won't worry yourself anymore about my marriage, I won't worry about any of your three.
3. You have to expect that he will resort to name calling because that is what he does. You have to have a clever response to his name calling or insults when it happens. I know it's really hard when you're up against a jackass, because it's hard to resist getting down in the gutter with an asshole. Most of the things that come to mind don't sound presidential, but I took the liberty of offering a few clean suggestions:
Donald I notice that you've resorted to name calling. I assume that means you are out of grown up ideas.
Donald I notice that you've resorted to name calling. I used that technique too... when I was 10.
Donald I notice that you've resorted to name calling. Did you think you were coming to the kiddy's debate?
Donald I notice that you've resorted to name calling. Did Kellyanne write that line for you? She's good. Give that girl a raise.
Donald that was quite a snappy comeback. Roger wrote it for you, didn't he?
Anyone's welcome to add their own ideas. But remember, Keep it clean. This is our future President you're writing for.