Posted on 10/13/2016 7:11:23 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
After his own crude comments nearly KO’ed his campaign, Donald Trump’s aggressive counter-attack reassured supporters he’ll press the fight until Election Day in hopes that will keep more top Republicans from abandoning his candidacy.
But House Speaker Paul Ryan told fellow Republicans on Monday that he’ll concentrate on House elections rather than defending Trump. And the GOP nominee’s no-holds-barred assault on Hillary Clinton in their second televised debate did little to expand his conservative base and stem her increasing prospects for winning the presidency.
Indeed, his unyielding stance including a threat to prosecute his rival may create further headaches for GOP candidates, who are aware Trump’s many offensive comments have turned off swing voters but are fearful of losing votes from his fervent supporters.
With polls showing Clinton leading nationally and in most swing states, Trump entered Sunday night’s confrontation at St. Louis’ Washington University facing increasing questions about his campaign’s future after Friday’s disclosure of audio tapes displaying his crude comments about his relationships with women.
Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, signaled he succeeded in averting imminent disaster. Though Trump openly disagreed with the Indiana governor on Syrian policy ..., Pence showed immediately after the testy session he was ready to put aside his own weekend doubts that prompted speculation he might quit the ticket.
“Congrats to my running mate @realDonaldTrump on a big debate win,” tweeted Pence, who canceled weekend appearances after Friday’s disclosure of the Trump’ tapes. “Proud to stand with you.”
... CNN’s post-debate poll of debate watchers showed more than half thought Trump exceeded expectations but still rated Clinton the winner by a comfortable margin.
Unlike their first debate, Trump was aggressive from the outset, countering the expected question about his own behavior and language with a long-telegraphed attack on Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton.
Before an audience including three women who more than 20 years ago accused the former president of sexual misconduct and a rape victim whose accuser Hillary Clinton defended, Trump dismissed his graphic words as “locker room talk,” adding, “If you look at Bill Clinton, far worse. Mine are words and his was action.”
... When the subject turned to the oft-discussed question whether she withheld some of her emails from the FBI investigation that cleared her, Trump said, “If I win, I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation, because there has never been so many lies.”
“It’s just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country,” Clinton replied. “Because you’d be in jail,” Trump countered.
Later, Trump may have increased his political problems about refusing to release his income tax returns. Co-moderator Anderson Cooper of CNN asked if he used a $916 million 1995 loss to avoid paying personal income taxes in ensuing years. “Of course, I do,” Trump replied. “And so do most of her donors.”
Trump repeatedly accused Clinton of lying, saying “she has tremendous hate in her heart” and showing that, unlike their first debate, he was far better prepared to counter her points.
Asked about WikiLeaks’ recent release of emails quoting her defending politicians who have both private and public stances on issues, Clinton explained she was talking about President Abraham Lincoln’s tactics winning congressional approval of the 13th Amendment.
“Now, she’s blaming that lie on the late, great Abraham Lincoln,” Trump interjected, adding, “Honest Abe never lied. That’s the big difference between Abraham Lincoln and you.”
Trump’s criticism of Pence came when co-moderator Martha Raddatz of ABC News asked about his comment that, if Russia continues air strikes supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the United States should be prepared to strike “the military targets of the Assad regime.”
“He and I haven’t spoken, and I disagree,” Trump replied, a rare display of discord between presidential and vice presidential nominees during a campaign.
But Pence said Monday on MSNBC that Raddatz mischaracterized his stance. He praised Trump for “expressing genuine contrition and remorse,” adding he believes “he hasn’t engaged in any of that behavior.”
But amid rumors of further Trump disclosures, Sunday night’s fervent denials may hardly have resolved that issue — or the extent of potential damage.
It would be remarkable for a 30 year old candidate to maintain such a frantic pace, let alone a 70 year old.
This is something one adjusts to over a long period of time.
Trump has been in front of cameras and dealing with both favorable and unfavorable press for well over 35 years.
He is not one to hide from trouble or conflict, he meets it head on.
I caught two minutes of Judy Woodruff interviewing Kellyanne Conway on PBS last evening.
From the look on Woodruff’s face and the tone of her voice, I can tell the MSM is scared sh**less.
Before the first Tom Petty song had finished playing at a Trump event, you can bet Tom Petty’s Facebook would light up with liberals begging him, demanding him to disavow any favor with Donald. As far as a Liberal knows, only they are supposed to enjoy the nice things in life, NOT republicans!
She can see Russia in her emails.
I suspect that's a real good talking point for voters who are undecided and have some thinking skills.
Its inspiring.
Good role model.
Honestly even on our side the never Trumps just amaze me.
Very telling.
“Says who?”
Look, I see where you’re going. Actually, I was basing if on “The Council on Foreign Relations’ Adam Segal walks through the options available and challenges confronting the Obama administration as it decides what to do about its newly-public conclusion.”
Even the rats admit it’s been corrupted! But it doesn’t really matter WHO hacked it. Fact is, we need to CHECK ID AND VERIFY VOTES because the electronics are corrupted. The voting rosters and the logs. Need to get back to basics. The technology outran the security/integrity.
Usually, the Dims stay on a rabid attack and the Reps (RIPs?) meekly back down or apologize, but Trump believes in fighting fire with flame throwers and it has been very effective.
Amazing how meeting force with even greater force seems to be the key to winning battles - perhaps the folks who command our warriors need to sit up and take notice and remember how we prevailed in the world wars - and how stopping the onslaught in Korea backfired.
GO TRUMP/PENCE!!!
#NeverConcede
Trump never concede to Voter Fraud.
Notice they don’t allow you to comment on that article?
“I see a new Rally theme song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in Trump’s future.”
I’ve been wanting to hear Trump use that song at his rallies, almost from the beginning. It’s perfect, and fits the Trump phenomenon to a T.
Yep. Thanks to Trump(!), this election truly is US vs "Them".
But when I look back now at every election since Reagan?
Those elections were like watching professional wrestling on TV.
And it didn't really matter who was elected either, "They" always won and the US of us always lost.
If we, the people, lose this one, it's Game Over. We're out of quarters.
Time loves a hero and time will tell if Trump is ours, but he has to both win and survive this election first.
I’m sorry - did you call me?
“Back down” Really??
What for???
They rigged the system to the point where they assumed that they would never have to reciprocate. Now that they do have to reciprocate, they're throwing a tantrum and either openly or covertly supporting Hillary.
Establishment Republicans are just using Trump's locker room talk as an excuse to dump him - their real reason for opposing Trump is simply the fact that voters rather than party hacks were responsible for his nomination. Since they can't come out and openly express their contempt for voters, feigning prissy outrage over dirty words gives them the cover that they need.
Among many other things, this election will decide whether a candidate can succeed without the support (and in fact, with opposition by) the party's political machine. A Trump victory will not only be a victory over Clinton-style liberalism, but a victory for the notion that voters rather than party hacks should decide the outcomes of elections.
No, I did not.
It was a joke (check your post)... sorry to bother you...
Indeed
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