Posted on 06/17/2024 5:02:44 AM PDT by MtnClimber
It’s the demeanor, stupid.
The public already overwhelmingly supports Donald Trump on the issues. But what many of them worry about is his demeanor. In other words, does he “act presidential”?
So, on June 27, when Trump joins President Joe Biden on CNN for the earliest general election presidential debate in U.S. history, it’s not going to matter what the former president says so much as how he says it.
Think of it as the equivalent of a medieval knight running the gauntlet. Every question from pro-Democrat moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and every taunting response from President Biden about threats to democracy will be an opportunity for Trump to lose his temper or to alienate moderate voters with intemperate replies.
But if Trump keeps his cool in hostile territory – and CNN is definitely hostile – he will pick up invaluable points in the “seems more presidential” surveys that will certainly follow. The demeanor issue could cement Trump as the winner not just of the debate, but of the 2024 election itself.
Of course, Biden and his team are betting that Trump can’t keep his cool. They are no doubt thinking about the first debate of the 2020 campaign when Trump came across as a ferocious junkyard dog by constantly interrupting Biden and insulting him. That’s exactly what the Biden campaign is hoping for this time around, and if their calculation is right, then the president may be able to ride his “sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory” persona to victory in the fall.
Remember, this debate and another one in early September were proposed by Biden at a time when he was trending badly behind Trump in the polls, especially in battleground states.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
BWAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!!!
The article is correct.
But the real key is to let Biden rumble off into Joe in Neverwasland.
The “factcheckers” will be hard at work during and after each debate (if any).
“protect Biden from being badgered by Trump”
Americans don’t like to see others mistreated.
“Has ANYONE asked why a presidential debate is being held before the Republican and Democratic parties have actually nominated their candidates? (and don’t tell me it’s because they already are assured). Technically, neither party has a nominee yet.”
Biden’s mental decline means the soon the better.
If he flops on stage, he might be replaced.
If he pulls it off with the aid of the pharmaceutical industry, all that need be done afterwards is to hide him in a basement.
The election is more than Trump.
Congress writes the laws.
“Give s lot of percentages. I.e, border crossings are up 60%, income to debt ratio is Y etc. Extreme competence.”
It will be impossible for a demented Biden to speak accurately about numerical things.
True. But their immigration law seems to be invisible.
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Not questions...carefully planned attacks and accusations laced with hostility intended to provoke.
But that's not all Trump will have to contend with.
Their biggest weapon is frequent use of the mute button to silence and humiliate him. And rest assured they won't hesitate to use it. The deck has been carefully stacked against Trump.
“Are his campaign workers any more competent than the people he appointed in his administration?”
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Fair question to ask. The debate format indicates they are not.
“Congress writes the laws.”
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Throw out the old textbook. Lobbyists and the administrative state write the laws.
I think the needs to relax and smile and take the tone “I hear you America - help is on the way.” Watch some old Ronald Regan videos. The moderators will be trying to spring nonstop gotchas on him about his court cases, he can just reply “When the courts are back in responsible hands, all of this will be cleared up.”
I wonder how many pre-debate strategy sessions Dana and Jake have already attended at the White House…
Who gets to decree who the winner is?
A skilled politician can deal with hostile questions, and can even turn them to his advantage. Does Trump have this skill? I’m not convinced. There is also a risk that he will treat the debate as though it’s one of his campaign rallies where he is preaching to the converted. He needs to use the debate to reach out to undecided voters. Can he do it? I’m skeptical.
They’ve had two months to carefully plan and prepare their ambush. And no doubt sought input from psychologists.
And oh yes, they’ve practiced the effects of using the weaponized mute button as well.
by all means let trump emulate the late great Joe Biden and oh wait, joe isn’t dead yet... he’s getting bitter...
hehehe. go trump. he’ll never win over single ladies or the women who date them.
That is a serious question. Why do you or I care what ABCNNBCBS says about who "won" the "debate"?
Speaking for myself only: I don't give a rip what ABCNNBCBS says about it. They're manure-heads.
1) There is absolutely nothing Mr. Biden can possibly say or do, on a "debate" stage or elsewhere, that would persuade me to vote for him.
2) There are a handful of things that Mr. Trump might do that would persuade me to vote "none of these" (rather than voting for him). None of them are likely to happen on a "debate" stage. None of them are likely to happen at all, in fact.
Therefore, a "debate" between the two of them will not affect my vote in the slightest.
Thus, I ask: what does it mean to "win" a "debate"?
Watch his interviews with non MSM outlets. His interviews with local stations are substantially better. It’s impart because the questions are real and not traps. He’s also VERY good when being pressed in an interview setting (see George S interviewing Trump and to a lesser extent the girl on NBC). Trump has more range than you give him credit for. They are going to try and get under his skin. I wish him the best and hope that he can find a way to present well at this critical moment.
Based on past debate events, the networks will have their Round Table panels, who will be analyzing the debate afterwards, and they will declare Biden to be the winner.
The media will put a spin on it to emphasize how well Biden did in the debate , even if our eyes tell us that Trump had a superior performance.
Good advice. Trump should stick to the facts and issues and avoid personal attacks. His face should be free of sneering and smugness. If Biden brings up any past example of meanness, Trump should apologize on the spot and immediately resume his issues offensive. This doesn’t come naturally for Trump, but does he really want to win big?
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