Trump needs to pull out a miracle tonight, a Hail Mary pass into the end zone that is caught. Â He needs to be spectacular. Â Not likely.
Tonight’s Town Hall debate, beginning at 9:00, is not in a good format for Trump but a great one for Hillary. Trump doesn’t do well in small groups. He is at his best in front of YUGE raucous crowds who adore him. Hillary likes the small group interaction where she can relate to audience members. She has much practice in town hall debates because that’s where she shines. Â Tonight’s format is perfect for her.
CNN has announced they are changing tonight’s format to allow the moderators to bring up Trump’s disgusting tape at the beginning of the debate. And Hillary gets the first chance to respond.  Already Trump’s in trouble.
Trump is indicating he will bring up Bill Clinton’s past in tonight’s debate. We can assume Trump will again apologize for his own disgusting behavior in 2005 and the crude comments made over the years on the Howard Stern radio program.  Bringing up Clinton’s infidelities can quickly backfire on Trump because he too has had affairs while married and insulted women in many other ways too.  Trump is likely to bring up Juanita Broaddrick’s alleged rape by Bill Clinton. Earlier today Trump was busy tweeting about Broaddrick.  Trump is likely to accuse Hillary of being her husband’s enabler in his assaults on women.  Trump could argue that while Bill Clinton raped a woman, Trump only talked about such things.  Some defense!  This too will backfire on Trump because former President Clinton is adored by many. NBC News is suggesting that children be put to bed prior to the debate.  How low we have sunk in Presidential politics!
Because Trump is a classic narcissistic, all of his bravado and inflated since of self results from deep feelings of inferiority that he cannot allow to get close to the surface. Â That makes him extremely vulnerable to any criticism. Â Hillary was able to ‘trigger’ him in last debate and I suspect she will again tonight. Â It is extremely difficult for Trump to withstand any criticism as we’ve seen time and time again. Â Another characteristic of narcissists is the inability to apologize. Â Tonight Trump cannot avoid apologizing, and it can’t be an apology where he puts it back on the audience “IF I offended anyone, I apologize”. Â That simply isn’t good enough. Â He has to completely own his past behavior. Â Can he do that? Since the Presidency is on the line, he may, but I wouldn’t expect it. Â He will try to ‘prove’ that what he did wasn’t all that bad because, look over there, Bill Clinton was worse. Â That won’t fly either.
Tonight is Trump’s last chance with the party leadership.  National committee chair Reince Priebus has put a hold on all mail going out on Trump’s behalf.  Anything short of a stunning victory by Trump will result in Priebus canceling  all efforts to help Trump and redirect the RNC’s money to the down ballot candidates with the hope of saving the House and the Senate. In addition, the calls for Trump to step down will reach a crescendo.
More on tonight’s debate here.Â
72 comments
You have to give Trump credit, other career politicians would’ve been on the defensive from the get-go. If it was 4th and 10, Trump acted like John Riggins plowing through 2-3 defenders to get 15 and a fresh set of downs.
Add Martha Raddatz to the list of Candy Crowley and Lester Holt.
Tonight’s debate did not change a thing.
In spite of the phony online polls showing Trump winning 75-25, I think Hillary moved the needle in her direction. She answered with specific questions. She showed a mastery of the policy process. She likely won more women and minorities.
Trump reinforced his position among his supporters and that’s all he did. Oh, and given the choice between Putin and Pence, Trump went with Putin.
He won. And I just listened to Frank Luntz group and they overwhelmingly supported Trump at the end of the debate. Luntz says Trump is back in the race.
He was never out of it.
Are they normally affiliated with conservative or liberal clients?
He’s normally on Fox News but his focus group is always well mixed. They gave this one to Trump by a wide margin.
According to CNN, their poll of debate viewers indicated Clinton won 57% to 43%. They claimed more viewers were liberal, but didn’t say what percentage (57%?)
So the fair pollsters who work for liberal outlets say the liberal won. The pollsters who work for conservative outlets say the conservative won. Sounds inconclusive.
Luntz seemed angry at Americans tonight.
Hillary remained conscious and alert, it was a good day, now she has followed her lit path to a lengthy and well-deserved rest.
Tim Kaine, is that you?
So, how did the debate go?
Trump won.
Yes, Trump won the debate. Easily defeated all three of his opponents.
Two hours I’ll never get back. The Hitler Youth will be happy with Trump, but I don’t see him winning other voters back by rationalizing his conduct by basically saying “hey I’m not as bad as Isis.”
It’s always easy to spot the intellectual lightweight. He’s the first guy to throw out the Hitler reference. You lose.
He types, as he strokes his tiny moustache
Again with the gutter sex stuff, let it go or get some help.
I didn’t read that as sexual at all. Wasn’t it a reference to Hitler?
It is getting so hard to track and follow between the daughters, unbased attacks, then the vivid wishful imagery.
I get it now, he referred to Hitler Youth earlier, then this inference to another poster stroking a Hitler mustache.
However, for some, the Hitler fixation is sexual, so who knows anymore.
He’ll win back voters. Trump had some great lines.
Hillary was on the defensive most of the night.
Don’t need to win back voters that didn’t leave.
I prefer my President oppose and not facilitate ISIS.
Jeanine, you have become as obsessed as Glem Beck. Is it not at least a curiosity to look at the Bush clan. I have no doubt Trump made those comments and I say so what. It’s done everyday in the dormitories around the country both with men and women and all of the legislative bodies in this country. But back to the Bush family, they are in full force to remove Trump. The elite are so involved in what is happening and are up to their necks in corruption. Open up the Clinton’s Foundation and see the names. The Bush family are and have been parasites on the citizens of this country. They are as much with the Clintons as is Soros. And you concern yourself with comments from 10 years ago. Everyone of those complainers engage in that same silly talk routinely. We have issues that need to be addressed and you waste time with this trivia.
Thanks, finally I get some back up. Most people simply cannot comprehend how corrupt this country is.
No things like that don’t happen everyday in dorms. The men I know do not talk like this nor do their friends. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back for many others.
Absolutely amazing, what a prissy prude, same for every single “man” that declares being offended.
Any chance you watch prime time TV? Far worse is on TV than what Trump said.
This straw was very convenient for many of the #nevers, they are still a nothing.
Jeanine, I’m glad you can live in such a pristine world. Many men I know DO talk like this, and a few women, too.
Yes they do, in men’s dorms, no idea what goes on in the inbetweener dorms.
99% of the time the response is laughter or ‘Cool Story Bro.’
Two guys trading fantasies is entirely believable and expected.
Think about rock stars and groupies, it’s what they do.
It was a contrived and calculated straw that performed the task of its master well — but not enough to do the job intended.
I’m glad that none of your friends talk like this, but yes it does happen all the time in college dorms.
The Good Lord gives the tools to do what needs doing.
When you need to snake out a toilet, you don’t use a silk scarf.
Or he just stays Donald and keeps winning.
Why is it that Hillary can apologize for the e mail fiasco, and it goes away. But, Trump finally apologizes for something, and it stays?
Let’s get something straight. Those women were letting Trump crotch grab while they “wallet grabbed”. No police report says it all. And, how many went back for seconds and thirds?
A member of the Bush family is behind this release. You need to remember that.
How did the Bush’s get the tape? NBC said they’ve had it for sometime.
And yet they chose to release it at an opportune moment… just before the debate. Hmmm; nothing to see here. Just another arm of Hillary’s campaign machine.
And don’t forget Reince
He’s not stupid enough to backstab Trump this way.
I read somewhere he is part of it, he knew for months the tape was coming and he didn’t bother to give Donald a head’s up. I think it was on Gateway, maybe Britbart, Rinse should get the Emmy for his faux acting. That is all who these people are, the ugly people that couldn’t make it in Hollywood, so they play politics where they can have an acting career.
Priebus is no Whitbeck who continuously has everyone pissed if at him — middle of the road politics always bites you in the end.
But Priebus is having a Cassidy/Sundance choice where he has to choose between masters.
His best pals are Ryan and Walker, that is where his loyalties lie. I have to say he did a great job snowballing everyone like he was actually going to do his job.
It doesn’t seem likely, but I hope you’re wrong.
None of them can be trusted.
That would be the Wisconsin political machine…
Apparently he is.
And the media was awfully biased and compliant
The media doesn’t even attempt to act like their unbiased anymore.
The question is how did the Washington Post find out about and get the tape? How many Bush’s work for NBC? Coincidence?
From the Washington Post;
“At that point, a still-anonymous individual forced the issue. The individual called Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold around 11 a.m. Friday and pointed him to a copy of the tape on which Trump brags to Bush that his celebrity status entitles him to grope women.”
“Pointed him to a copy”, yea, right.
You will see an unholy alliance between all the special interests who share a common goal of the status quo. It is only beginning.
I read, and don’t remember where, I think Gateway P, so don’t ask for a link, you can look it up yourself if you are interested enough, that Reince knew about the tape and did nothing to give Trump a heads up. It is all the same Never Trumpers still screaming Never Trump, and they still don’t get it, Trump isn’t going down unless he is murdered, and honestly I wouldn’t put it past the Beast or RNC to take him out of the picture. After all TRILLIONS are at stake.
Have you even bothered to venture out into cyber space and read all the details of things the Beast and the media have done? The sheer unadulterated corruption, lies, deceit, murder? And a grown man using slang for a woman’s female part is what worries and offends you? Are you really so naive that you are not aware of what is going on in the Swamp and who the players are? Please come out of the 1950’s and come into 2016.
I think Trump’s team knew about this and the others. It is hardly an October Surprise, if this is the worst, he should start measuring the drapes.
Good question, how much did it fetch and who’s going to get punished for taking releasing leaking whatever?
I don’t think that action was taken?
What do you mean?
I’m saying that there seems to be a difference between what Trump said and what Trump did.
Many of the critics seem to be condemning him for doing something that he was boasting about to another guy.
And they are taking extreme liberties with what was said and projecting all manner of things.
I don’t have the imagination that many folks here seem to have, I must be a little more objective than they.
Why don’t you just say “they asked for it” like all people who defend rapists. I hope you have daughters and they make you explain yourself.
How’d you get from a friendly crotch grab for wallet trade to rape? How’d you make the bridge? About those police reports, did they end up in those 33,000 missing Hillary e mails.
She hides her transgressions. He tells his to the media. Say no more.
Gee, that sounds like transparency. Along with this policy disagreement with Pence everyone is harping about. After eight years of Obama, a stale breath of air is just as welcome as a fresh ocean breeze.
“Friendly crotch grab” — is that what you call it? Do you grab women by the crotch in friendship???
In case you missed it…
“I moved on her like a bitch. But I couldn’t get there, and she was married…Â [I] just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait.”
“According to Harth, who was married at the time, Donald Trump cornered her during a tour of his Mar-a-Lago mansion, pushed her against a wall, and started to kiss her without her consent. “He was showing me this big mural and the next thing I know, he was pushing me up against the wall and making a move on me and was all over me,” Harth said, adding, “I had to push him off of me.”
 http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a49408/trump-sexual-assault-accusations/
And, there is no police report? It wasn’t a problem until now? Get real.
Read his words. He SAID he did that sort of thing!
Guess you don’t want to expound on your views of friendly crotch grabbing? Is your ankle bracelet buzzing?
When do you expect the polls to reflect him winning?
The only poll that matters is on Election Day.
Wow. Clever! That’s what they always say and the polls are always right.
That’s why Britain just voted to stay in the EU.
I turned the debate off. Both of them are obnoxious clowns.
That’s President Obnoxious Clown!
When they are done honestly.
When it favors the pollsters and/or not Trump.
When I was studying in Chinese in the mid-1970’s, one of our subjects was “cheng-yu” — short, pithy, four-character adages that were filled with wisdom. Here’s one:
骑 虎 éš¾ 下 qà hÇ” nán xiÃ
if you ride a tiger, it’s hard to get off
For three decades or longer, the republican party has been joyfully, gleefully riding the tiger.
You told the public to be terribly afraid of “those people” — you know, “those people” — the ones who spend their food stamps on lobster and steak — the Reagan myth about the welfare queen and her Cadillac — the Muslims who have created “no-go” zones in Dearborn (in spite of the fact that no such things exist).
You have painted a phony picture of the good-old days when Father Knew Best, when women stayed in the place, and blacks rode in the back of the bus.
You told the “pro-lifers” you would pass a Constitutional amendment banning abortion, knowing full well you would not even introduce such a measure.
You told the gunnuts that Democrats were out to grab their guns . . . when even some of use Democrats own more guns that we can count and not a single gun has been seized from anyone.
Your lying, bloviating “talk radio” hosts have created an alternate universe in which up is down, black is white, and truth is of no consequence.
You railed against Nixon’s EPA and you generated the lie about Obama killing coal . . . when, in fact, natural gas is killing coal.
You gave the biblethumpers the private phone numbers to the White House then laughed at them after they called.
You did exactly what LBJ described: “If you can convince the lowest white man that he’s better than the
best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give
him somebody to look down on, and he’ll even empty his pockets for you.”
You should have studied Chinese because the tiger is now waving his Confederate flags and his AR-15, just waiting for you to try and dismount. If you think angry white male rage is directed against Hillary Clinton, just wait — your turn is here. You created this monster.
Between the Lady and the Tiger, I’m going with the Tiger.