The 2016 US American Election Thread

[photon]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Again, its normal for people in the various camps to be in contact with people, but law prohibits a lot of it if you are directly with the campaign.

Sure, but I haven't seen anything in these releases yet that's a clear violation, let alone a violation that demonstrates rampant corruption and an ineligability for office, just a lot of stuff that's normal but pretended to be illegal, or stuff that sounds 'shady' but no different than any behind the scenes strategy.

I mean the scheduling about a status conference is going around like a smoking gun, that's how easily even the 'journalists' see something that isn't there.

Trump's had a bad few weeks, they're going to try and dig up anything on Clinton now to appear "balanced", just like last time.

[ResAlien]

I don't know if it's so much wanting to appear balanced as keeping Don relevant. If the election is over ratings drop, they need this golden goose to keep laying eggs as long as possible. Yes Don will continue to be in the news but we've almost reached peak crazy for him regarding public attention, they need some dirt on someone else to keep things fresh. Then Don's outbursts have context and an antagonist to go after.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Here's the Ben Carson clip saying Briana Keilar's problem is she hasn't heard enough bragging about sexual conquests (groping though Ben?)

https://twitter.com/AndrewKirell/sta...96765539037185

So remember, the party of Christian family values has in the past few weeks had its nominee and his surrogates suggest all kinds of ####ed up, non-Christian #### to try and justify a clear charlatan. May God have mercy on their souls (actually nah, punish them severely)

[photon]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Ben Carson on CNN saying guys talk about sexual assault all the time, and that he's surprised the female host hasn't heard this kind of banter all her life. It's common stuff and let's just get over .

The worst part is when the host said she hadn't heard this and Carson says "maybe that's the problem."

She can't even.

Maybe the problem isn't condoning sexual assault, maybe the problem is not condoning sexual assault in front of women enough!

[bob-loblaw]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I am enjoying the Trump scorched earth policy from an entertainment perspective however.

Hillary could go on a vacation for the next few weeks and no one would even notice with all the Trump antics going on.

With Trump seemingly trying to destroy the Republican party, and I know there's talk about him starting his own new channel, I say he's going to go a step further and create his own party too. Imagine the tax breaks and loopholes he could abuse trying to do both at the same time.

[peter12]

This may silence some of the histrionics about Evangelicals, but it actually looks like a lot of them are just going to stay home this election.

https://juicyecumenism.com/2016/10/1...trump-clinton/

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by peter12

This may silence some of the histrionics about Evangelicals, but it actually looks like a lot of them are just going to stay home this election.

https://juicyecumenism.com/2016/10/1...trump-clinton/

Fair assumption to say that hurts Trump more than Hillary?

[photon]

So if you're Clinton, do you do the 3rd debate?

As it stands now Trump needs the 3rd debate as he needs to make up 1.5 points per week just to be even. He needs to win Arizona, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Nevada, AND Colorado. He has a historically impossible hill to climb. He needs to expand to more than his base (I don't think he's capable of it, but whatever).

She doesn't need the 3rd debate. There's nothing more that she can say about him that she already hasn't said, he's just going try to stage more things to denigrate her.

If she says she doesn't need to he'll howl about it that she's scared, but will that have any impact outside his base (who will already believe anything)? Will it hurt her chances of being elected?

I'm kind of thinking no, especially if they spin it right focusing on Trump's attempts to exploit her challenges as a wife choosing to try and make her marriage work after what her husband did (and how this further demonstrates his attitude towards women) and her work as a court appointed defense lawyer providing something every American has a right, a fair trial, how he tried to make a spectacle of the debate by forcing a situation where Bill would have to either shake their hands or not. Etc..

EDIT: She could also say she's as tired of the rest of the public with the mud slinging. She feels that she's done her best to express her honest concerns about Trump's suitability for office and for representing all Americans in strong terms while trying to avoid insults for the sake of insults, while at the same time being called the devil and being told she has hate in her heart. She doesn't need to stand and be bullied and interrupted to tell America about her vision. Etc.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

If they agreed to 3 debates, I would say do them all. No real upside, as you suggest, but I don't think there is much downside either. Don't screw up, look "presidential" and that should do it.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by photon

The worst part is when the host said she hadn't heard this and Carson says "maybe that's the problem."

Once you're dead inside, nothing shocks you? I guess he does have a point there.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by photon

So if you're Clinton, do you do the 3rd debate?

At this point, she could probably get a restraining order against Trump.

http://www.vox.com/2016/10/11/132340...l-abuse-debate

[Senator Clay Davis]

Hillary has only downside to skipping the third debate. Yes Trump will likely be in full tantrum mode, but that means she can win the debate by saying nothing of substance, and just appearing to be over the age of 13. Skipping it potentially raises unwanted questions, plus she just needs to keep her cool 90 more minutes and she's President. She's ready for the moment no doubt.

[DuffMan]

Of course she does the 3rd debate, and just let Trump talk. I still think she can shock and awe him with her knowledge and experience that will make him look more like a clown than he already does.

[photon]

Lol get a restraining order but still attend the debate while he stands 150 yards away outside. She could just talk then.

I bet at least someone in Trump's posse suggested they should give away t-shirts to the entire audience at the 3rd debate.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by photon

So if you're Clinton, do you do the 3rd debate?

As it stands now Trump needs the 3rd debate as he needs to make up 1.5 points per week just to be even. He needs to win Arizona, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Nevada, AND Colorado. He has a historically impossible hill to climb. He needs to expand to more than his base (I don't think he's capable of it, but whatever).

She doesn't need the 3rd debate. There's nothing more that she can say about him that she already hasn't said, he's just going try to stage more things to denigrate her.

If she says she doesn't need to he'll howl about it that she's scared, but will that have any impact outside his base (who will already believe anything)? Will it hurt her chances of being elected?

I'm kind of thinking no, especially if they spin it right focusing on Trump's attempts to exploit her challenges as a wife choosing to try and make her marriage work after what her husband did (and how this further demonstrates his attitude towards women) and her work as a court appointed defense lawyer providing something every American has a right, a fair trial, how he tried to make a spectacle of the debate by forcing a situation where Bill would have to either shake their hands or not. Etc..

EDIT: She could also say she's as tired of the rest of the public with the mud slinging. She feels that she's done her best to express her honest concerns about Trump's suitability for office and for representing all Americans in strong terms while trying to avoid insults for the sake of insults, while at the same time being called the devil and being told she has hate in her heart. She doesn't need to stand and be bullied and interrupted to tell America about her vision. Etc.

Not showing up for a debate would look bad on either candidate. I think she'll be there for sure. In fact she's already said that she won't be skipping any of them. No doubt Trump is gonna say some pretty crazy #### at the final debate (since "the shackles have been removed" as he says). All Hillary has to do is maintain her cool and stay on message, and he'll hang himself as usual. This is pretty much a cakewalk for her at this point, unless of course something really damaging comes out from Wikileaks/Russian hackers, etc.. But I seriously doubt that'll happen. If they actually had anything truly damaging to Clinton's campaign, surely it would have been leaked weeks ago before the first debate when Trump's poll numbers were decent.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I would also add the ratings fell 20% from the first debate to the second one, and I strongly suspect a lot of people were turned off by it and likely we see another 20% decline (at least) for the third debate. So it's an even smaller audience, likely to be composed of mostly made up voters or politicos. So the risk factor is even lower.

[troutman]

Trump seems good at stacking the debates with his supporters (cheering and jeering). I noticed some of the "undecideds" in St. Louis were taking pictures with him after the debate.

[bob-loblaw]

Originally Posted by troutman

Trump seems good at stacking the debates with his supporters (cheering and jeering). I noticed some of the "undecideds" in St. Louis were taking pictures with him after the debate.

Lots taking pictures with Hillary too.

[GirlySports]

If I were super rich, I'd hire Brianna Keilar to go everywhere with me and react when someone says or does something stupid.

[photon]

I guess I'm just defense oriented (plus having to put up with the repeated indignity of what Trump says and does when she doesn't need to).

The moderator is from Fox, and given the past two it wouldn't be surprising if the moderator is hostile to Clinton, so that could add some risk.

I'd be interested to see a poll to see how many people want a 3rd debate.