Trump's Decision To Debate Sanders In California Is His Most Genius Move Yet

Zerohedge ^ | May 27, 2016 | Tyler Durden

[Former Proud Canadian]

If the Trump/Sanders debate proceeds as planned in California, you’re about to witness one of the most important moments of a 2016 general election that hasn’t even begun yet. To say such a debate would be an unmitigated disaster for Hillary Clinton would be the understatement of the century. Let’s explore why.

First of all, Hillary Clinton outright rejected a debate request from Bernie Sanders ahead of the June 7th California primary. Given Sanders’ recent momentum, as well as her need to persuade a significant number of his supporters to back her in November; such a denial was not only arrogant, it was highly insulting to voters in America’s largest state. From team Clinton’s perspective there was little upside to agreeing to a debate, versus easily manageable downside from a few days of negative media coverage.

Or so they thought…

[pepsi_junkie]

Newt and Co. should have called: 1-800-GO TRUMP! Problem solved.

Trump's strategy has worked extremely well but I think it could only work for someone like Trump. That is, someone with some celebrity lustre who will get followers to his tweets and viewers to his debates, etc out of curiosity. The "will he or won't he" build up to his announcing, for example, wouldn't occur of someone like Newt were to try to play that media angle, they wouldn't bite.

Credit to Trump, he saw a weakness in the media control of access and he ripped it open. Now it might be possible for others to step through, I contend Trump (or someone like him, a man with a built in following outside of politics) had to be first though.

[Eleutheria5]

Damn straight. This election will be a tko.

[knarf]

What's to fear ?

Sanders' reply to ANY question will entail using someone else's money and taxing someone else to get it

The only attack Sanders could possibly have against Trump is; "YOU'RE the problem ... you're rich ! "

Don looks over sideways and softly says, "Yep ... so ? "

[Cboldt]

I agree that both Bernie and Trump are aligned in rooting out corruption, and I don't disagree that my choice of the word "capitalism" is imprecise at best.

But Bernie and Trump are polar opposites when it comes to the role of government in income redistribution, in all it various forms (education, progressive taxes, regulation, fees, and so on).

Bernie's vision, free of institutional corruption, is contrary to the constitution, and contrary to how to harness human nature to better a country.

Trump's vision, free of institutional corruption, gets the government out of the way.

But, as I said, it is an interesting piece of speculation. Who does this hypothetical matchup run against in the general? Are you positive it gets all 50 states? If Trump picked Bernie, I'd vote libertarian, not Trump, just to give you a little view of additional complexities.

[Cboldt]

-- Hillary goes to the convention and picks Joe Biden as her vice president. The convention elects the team, shutting out Bernie Sanders. After the convention, Clinton steps aside and Joe Biden goes to the top of the ticket ... --

That's about the only "orderly" way to get there. If Hillary drops out before the convention, it creates tremendous uncertainty and disorder at the convention. There would be no plausible way to stifle Sanders, without turning off a huge chunk of DEM voters.

[MarvinStinson]

Trump understands that debating Sanders in California ahead of the primary presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to embarrass and belittle Clinton in front of the whole world before the general election even begins.

[ObozoMustGo2012]

[I’m sure he’s a past master at this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Carlo_method#Finance_and_business]

YES!!! This is a perfect example of why we need a seasoned business professional to head our country, rather than yet another smarmy crooked lawyer.

[FlingWingFlyer]

This debate sure would make Clinton look irrelevant.

[bray]

SHHHHH don’t tell anyone. Those are just mistakes that every politician knows to avoid.

Pray America wakes

[samtheman]

You’re probably right. I’m probably just being paranoid.

[AustinBill]

The real brilliance of this move in helping to court the Bernie supporters is that it would force them to see and hear Trump directly for themselves. Most of the reflex reaction Bernie-bots have to Trump is based on "everyone knows" sort of innuendo--talking points they parrot despite having never actually heard the man speak in anything other than carefully edited soundbites that have been fed to them.

Simply being on stage with Sanders forces millions of new people to actually see and hear Trump for the first time and see for themselves that he isn't the ogre that the propaganda they've been fed depicts. If Trump and Sanders have a cordial "discussion of the issues" and show each other respect how can Trump then be portrayed as a demon? Trump will agree with Bernie that he's correctly identified many of the key issues facing California and the nation, but then point out that he has a better chance of actually solving those problems to the benefit of all Americans (and by implication Bernie's supporters).

Meanwhile this is checkmate for Hillary. Totally sidelined and shown to be weak and irrelevant just weeks before her supposed "coronation". Between this and the IG report she's toast and the DNC knows this.

[Ancesthntr]

“Bernie gives Trump a 50 state, 60% mandate to “go medieval” on the DC-NY-LA axis of corruption.”

---

And what happens if some nut kills Trump, or he inexplicably (because he has great genes for longevity) dies? Then we have Sanders as President, naming Justices, making our foreign policy, inserting the government into EVERY economic and social transaction, taxing the productive into bankruptcy, seizing property, etc., etc., etc.

No thanks. My grandfather ran away from that crap in 1923, I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit around and allow it to happen, let alone vote for it. F$%^ that noise!

[trebb]

Gotta love it - the Hildabeast is in a lose-lose situation.

If she debates while Sanders is still around, she suffers even more loss of support. If she doesn't show up, Sanders steals more of the limelight and Trump capitalizes on her fear of any debate she can't control.

Plus, Trump can win the debate early on by mentioning that, being a socialist, Bernie has Venezuela as his "Poster Child Example" of where socialism takes folks - despite the promises of "free" stuff.

Gonna have to upgrade the popcorn to pizza/steak/cheeseburgers because they all taste better and are more satisfying than popcorn and there will be many moments where some entertainment snack is apropos....

[Charles Martel]

Brilliant move.....Hillary can only stand by and fume.

Trump is to Hillary as Slim Whitman's "Indian Love Call" is to the Martians.

[painter]

Great Analogy!

[Shanghai Dan]

This debate is the worst thing that could happen as a debate with Trump will only help Sanders. Sanders = socialism = the worst evil of all. Yeah Hillary is socialist too but this Sanders demon makes Hillary look centrist. Yes both would be terrible for America and only Trump can save America now .

Sanders is MUCH less dangerous than Hillary!. He's got zero support in the House or Senate, has no political pull or money-laundering operation to buy pull, and I think really believes what he says. Essentially, there's no way his agenda moves forward - no support, no ability to force or garner support.

Hillary! has actual friends and fellow fascists in the House and Senate who would support her policies. She has leverage on dozens of those in DC (probably including some on the USSC). She and slick Willy have hundreds of millions to toss around to buy influence and votes. Hillary! can get her agenda pushed through - a fascist central Government controlling all.

I am a 100% Trump guy, but of his remaining opponents, Hillary! scares me infinitely more than the Bern. Bernie is the crazy old uncle who comes over, regales you with tales of how it was "so much better" back when he lived overseas somewhere, and asks that you listen to him. Hillary! comes with a few goons, says "we need to talk", drops your horse's head in your lap and says "I need your support for a new Oversight and Internal Domestic Spying committee. I have that support, yes?" SHE'S the scary one.

[eyedigress]

This is hilarious. Now he gets on stage with everybody while Clinton is having someone wash her socks.

I can see it now.

Mr. Trump, why did you choose to debate Bernie Sanders?

Well Cathy, he has won more states than any other Dem candidate.

Next

[Albion Wilde]

Make America Great Again

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Selected Trump articles on FR, from 11:00 PM yesterday to 12:00 PM EDT today, 5/27/16:
Milo Yiannopoulos to DePaul University: Give Me My Money Back –HeatStreet
Trump’s attacks on Martinez should alarm the GOP –Albuq.Journal
Protesters Attack Police on Horseback – Knock Down Horse in NMex –Jim Hoft
Why you should be impressed by Trump's win –Wash.Examiner
Donald Trump outsources campaign operations to RNC –Wash.Examiner
Trump's Decision To Debate Sanders Is His Most Genius Move Yet –Tyler Durden
They're Selling Us a Recovery That Never Was –RealClearMarkets
Tripwire Alert – Signals Intelligence Indicates Wall Street Dropping Hillary –Sundance
LIVE: Two Trump rallies 5/27—Fresno 10am PST & San Diego 2pm PST
Trump: 'The Great White Hope' –Patrick Buchanan
Midterm elections attracting too many white voters –Doug Book
Lovin' It: Trump celebrates delegate victory with McDonald's meal –CNN
MSNBC Accidentally Refers to 'PRESIDENT Trump' –MRCtv
Trump uses energy speech to outline general election pitch –WaPo
Poll: Veterans Much Prefer Trump to Clinton –MorningConsult
Bill Clinton’s Personal Aide— with No Security Clearance—Operated Hillary’s Email Server –Dick Morris
Ample Evidence to Indict Hillary? This Judge Thinks So [Napolitano] –ZeroHedge
Why The Anger That Has Lifted Sanders and Trump Is Here to Stay –Fortune

[catnipman]

“I firmly believe his “gaffes” are planned and executed at the right time...”

There’s no doubt about it. And part of his genius is to make these highly calculated moves and statements LOOK like gaffs so his enemies will grossly underestimate him. While they’re busy telling the whole world what a nimrod Trump is, he’s blowing up the ground they’re standing on and they don’t have a clue as to why they’re suddenly sinking.

[catnipman]

“Sometimes, yes, but suggesting Megyn Kelly might be on her period was a YUGE gaff.”

Trump never said that or even suggested it. That’s enemedia bullshit. It was a tact that they were using then a few months ago, trying to put words in Trump’s mouth. It didn’t work then and they’re not using that tact as much now.