2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumHow do Hillary and Bernie respond when they are personally attacked by Trump?
For example, what does Hillary say when Trump accuses her of being " the worst Secretary of State in history"? What does she say when he brings up the high poll numbers that show her as "untrustworthy and dishonest"?
And what does Bernie say when Trump accuses him of being a "communist" and a "socialist", without differentiation? What does Bernie say when Trump accuses him of making trips to the Soviet Union, with hints that he is a "comrade" of the Russians?
We have seen the way that Trump operates and there is little doubt but that he will make these types of personal attacks and worse.
Will they be prepared to respond?
Svafa
(594 posts)if he hadn't chickened out on the Faux News town hall.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,674 posts)The way you deal with a vulgar slob like Trump is by either laughing at or ignoring him. The other GOPers, especially Rubio, made the mistake of getting down in the mud with him. Bernie and Hillary are both too smart to do that.
kentuck
(111,079 posts)By letting two ladies from the BLM take his microphone away from him at one of his events?
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,674 posts)He probably wouldn't say that but I would. What he might say, though, is something to the effect that it's not a sign of weakness but of strength when you allow someone to speak even when you think they might disagree with you.
olddots
(10,237 posts)let him blow it out , get his laughs then wait for the people to figure him out for what he is .If the American people actually elect Trump things will get out of controll in ways we can't imagine .
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Jackie Wilson Said
(4,176 posts)you mention?
As to Hillary, average people have no reason to believe she is the best or worst in history nor do they believe she should be completely honest while almost all other politicians alive and dead are not.
As to Bernie, by now, average people know what he means when he says socialism, and it isnt the crap they have been fed by the GOP over the years.
Ultimately this all comes down to turnout.
Trump will get rabid democratic party haters to turnout and the rest of the GOP will turnout simply because they have been told for decades how the left is.
There are more of us than them.
BTW, keep an eye on the states which have initiated voter obstruction laws, which are now offering provisional ballots, shenanigans are gonna occur.
kentuck
(111,079 posts)Would he bring up the "blue dress"? Damn right!
I'm only suggesting that they should be prepared and I would think they would be.
Jackie Wilson Said
(4,176 posts)of the dress.
If it is Trump, he could.
I hope he does, nothing will bring her sympathy and more votes quicker.
If we are all honest, and this plays into your question and why it is a good one, we all want to see a debate between Trump and either of ours.
It will be entertaining
fun n serious
(4,451 posts)BlueMTexpat
(15,366 posts)PatrickforO
(14,570 posts)Downwinder
(12,869 posts)being able to handle a bully. I am sure Bernie will do all right.
Park Ridge on the other hand was a more gentle climate.
fun n serious
(4,451 posts)Hilary has done it all her life. I don't know about Bernie but feel confident.
kentuck
(111,079 posts)I like that gif of Hillary!
fun n serious
(4,451 posts)Our girl. No scandal she can't handle!!
kentuck
(111,079 posts)and cannot take any comments about his "hands", or his hair, or his business practices. Humor is one of the best defenses ever created.
kristopher
(29,798 posts)I don't know how Clinton would handle it, but I'd expect Bernie to take whatever trash Trump comes his way, wave his hand, scowl then link it to a social problem that Trump makes worse and that Bernie has a fix for.
He keeps it real and on the issues. That's why he is heading towards a win.
SDJay
(1,089 posts)for the majority of her professional life. She would skewer him with facts and he'd be left in a heap. Pigs like Trump are actually terrified of women who are successful and smarter than they are, and Hillary definitely qualifies on both counts. Look at how Drumpf peed down his leg at that 'intimidating' Megyn Kelly. He skipped a debate because he didn't want to face her. You thought she was tough, Drumpf, wait until you get into a cage match with HRC. She'll leave smiling with that ridiculous toupee in her hand.
As for SBS, I would think he'd be a bit more matter-of-fact in that Brooklyn sense. Sure, Drumpf will call him a socialist, commie, living off the government and the rest of the people, etc. I would guess SBS would counter with something like, "Well, Mr. Trump, you dumped your bad debts on other people at least four times in your life, skirting responsibility on a whole lot more money than any welfare recipient ever received. Perhaps you should mind your own place before trying to denigrate others," or something like that. SBS would kick Drumpf's ass through the ceiling in a debate as well.
Either way, it would be delicious to watch, because that ape isn't in the same stratosphere with either HRC or SBS intellectually, emotionally or in terms of maturity.
basselope
(2,565 posts)These are the types of attacks they have been handling all along the way and would be considered softballs.
The bigger question is what happens when Trump makes something up out of thin air and hurls it at them.
"Hillary, I wonder how many of your missing e-mails were quid pro quo deals to sell arms to Muslim countries in return for donations to your foundation?" She could say "none" and then he could respond with "how can we know for sure, since they were deleted.
"Bernie, your policies will bankrupt the country, just look what's happening in Venezuela right now". Now Bernie has to try and have a nuanced conversation about the difference between SOCIALISM (where the government takes over the means of production) and DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM (which is actually written into the constitution in the words "General Welfare" (a phrase used BOTH in the preamble and taxation clause). However, by the time Bernie explains this, half the audience has gone to sleep or jumped to their computer to look up the state of Venezuela.
kentuck
(111,079 posts)"Get out! Get out!! Get out !!!"
"I would not want to be charged with inciteful language..."