Posted on 10/06/2016 7:24:35 AM PDT by KeyLargo
The Later Debates Are What Matters
By Frank J Biga III
There seems to be a lot of hand-wringing and angst on the GOP side over Donald Trump’s debate performance last Monday nite. To which I reply, "It won’t matter."
Did Obama’s abysmal and downright tired performance in the first debate affect him in 2012? No. Did Ronald Reagan’s seeming absent-mindedness affect the results in 1984? No. Did George Bush’s initial debate performance against John Kerry stop him from winning? No.
So there is little to justify this near panic by some in the GOP over the first debate. In fact, it sets up the expectations game for the coming debates and if Trump can improve each time (and save his choicest attacks for the last one), he will come out looking better and will poise his campaign for the final surge that will be needed to recapture our nation-state from those that wish its demise. But there is more to his debate performance than just the expectations game.
Let’s also keep in mind that journalism is a business. It requires a story to sell. And in the age of nearly infinite choices on cable television and the Internet it relies a lot more on emotion and story-telling rather than reporting the facts and news of the day. So these pundits and self-anointed poobahs of the industry need a compelling narrative. The more sensational the better. If there are no ups and downs the news is just um BORING and they have nothing exciting to write or opine about.
And I think Trump knows this too. He is the best self-promoter of our age. And he’s a maestro at manipulating the press. There is no one like him. He truly can be the hero of our age. statement.
(Excerpt) Read more at illinoisreview.typepad.com ...
The only debate that counts is the last one. The others will be forgotten by everyone but wonks.
I maintain none of the debates will make a difference on how people will vote. Most minds are already made up, and the amount of time left between election day and the last debate is actually quite a long time, in previous debate terms. A lot can and will happen in those last couple of weeks.
I hope he’s practicing. Lying and twisting facts are Hillary’s speciality, not his..and she gets away with it.
I hope Trump explicitly links Anderson Cooper with Hillary. You know they will tag-team. Trump needs to make that abundantly clear.
He brought Nigel Farage over to coach him.
“Some may disagree with this assessment. Some who are at least nominally on his side have basically asserted that Trump is stupid and knows nothing or very little on the issues. I say…. NO WAY! He knows what he is doing. The tactics are deliberate and well-thought out. He solidified his base in the first debate and turned some of the Reagan Democrats in the Rust Belt towards him. And being a little behind in the polls has the added bonus of keeping them motivated and in the game.”
“In the second and third debates, where the formats will be more compatible with his strengths, Trump will come across as reasonable and personable and will appeal to the suburbanites he needs to win this election. The expectations are now already low. The media narrative is that Clinton hit it out of the park in the first debate and that Trump blew it. Romney and Obama had the same storyline in 2012. Trump can only improve, as did Obama. That’s a good position to be in. Trump will show a different side at the next debate. And that is what will matter come November 8.”
I pretty much agree. No matter how Trump does, the drive-bys will say his was a dismal performance (as the author of this article did about the first debate).I think most people watch just to cheer on their candidate, just as they would a sports team. When you watch your favorite team in a sporting event, you don't convert to the other team if your team "loses".
In the second and third debates, Trump will mention Benghazi, Trump will talk about Hillary’s emails and Trump will reveal that Bill has had affairs. After learning of those things, Trump is going to soar ahead in the polls and win he election.
I hope Trump comes to this debate better prepared than the last time, and totally destroys Hillary. At that level, you cannot afford to “wing it.” Regardless of what happens on Sunday, We need to get out there on election day and vote Trump, and convince as many people as you can to vote Trump. It’s time to face reality. All of the things people here predicted would happen to force Hillary out of the race haven’t happened, and aren’t going to happen. The F.B.I. didn’t recommend that Hillary be indicted. Obama didn’t replace her on the ticket with Biden just before the convention. Hillary didn’t skip the first debate, and didn’t collapse in the middle of the debate. She won’t miss the other debates, and she will appear to be perfectly healthy. Wikileaks hasn’t torpedoed her campaign. Quit relying on some outside force to stop her, otherwise, you’re only fooling yourself. The only way to keep Hillary out of the White House is by handing her an overwhelming defeat at the polls on election day. Vote Trump, and convince as many people as you can to vote Trump.
“I pretty much agree. No matter how Trump does, the drive-bys will say his was a dismal performance”
Yes, just as the bitch on FOX does .
Sean Hannity Slams Megyn Kelly, Says She ‘Clearly’ Supports Clinton
It’s a bit of a risky strategy, but I wouldn’t put it past Trump to intentionally tank the first debate in order to raise people’s expectations for Illary and lower his own. After the first debate, anything less than a totally dominating performance will be seen as a negative for cankles. Any improvement for Trump over his first performance will be a positive for him.
That’s what I’ve been saying - he totally winged the first debate. Hillary still couldn’t perform well against him. The last debate...he will destroy her.
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