# Any advice for Hillary regarding the next debate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 15, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649 "2016-10-15T22:06:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/41 "2016-10-16T18:54:56Z")
Trump just gave Hillary a easily excuse to cancel the last debate. > **[Trump calls for drug test ahead of next debate, says Clinton was 'pumped up'...](https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/15/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-drug-test/index.html)** > > Donald Trump suggested Saturday that his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, has been "getting pumped up" with performance-enhancing drugs and challenged Clinton to take a drug test before the final debate next week. Hillary should take the high road and express anger at Trump’s drug testing demand. It’s time Hillary stands up to this bully. Make it clear that a third debate is pointless. She has EVERYTHING to lose in another debate. She gets dizzy, trembles or shows any ill health it’s all over. It’s not worth the risk. She’s already got this election won. Don’t ruin it now. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/42 "2016-10-16T18:58:47Z")
Rumor was that during the last debate, she held back because she didn’t want him dropping out and the GOP rallying behind Pence. At this point with many states already voting, all the ballots printed, its too late. I say she goes for the kill. I was a little disappointed she didn’t give a heartfelt answer to Trump’s attacking of her husband. She’ll get a chance again, I’m sure of it. She should totally highlight the differences between Bill and Don and then just leave it at that ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/43 "2016-10-16T19:25:44Z")
[QUOTE=Morgenstern] Any advice for Hillary regarding the next debate? [/QUOTE] Wear a cup. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/44 "2016-10-16T19:49:37Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > Rumor was that during the last debate, she held back because she didn’t want him dropping out and the GOP rallying behind Pence. At this point with many states already voting, all the ballots printed, its too late. I say she goes for the kill. I was a little disappointed she didn’t give a heartfelt answer to Trump’s attacking of her husband. She’ll get a chance again, I’m sure of it. She should totally highlight the differences between Bill and Don and then just leave it at that I agree. The next time Trump mentions Bill Clinton, Hillary needs to just ask, “How many now Donald, 10,” or “what’s the score now Donald, 4 to 10?” She definitely needs to get that in. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/45 "2016-10-16T21:50:46Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > **RTFirefly** , I understand what you are saying about distinguishing her positions from the general GOP, but drawing a hard line like that may make some of them go to the polls to vote GOP down-ticket. Not sure what’s such a ‘hard line’ about it, but I think it’s important for the voters to have a reasonably clear idea of what difference the election makes, so that voters can say, “I like those things, so I’ll vote for her,” or “I’m against those things, so I’ll vote for the other guy.” Or in this case, “I like these things, so I’ll vote for her, and for Dems down ticket,” or “I’m against these things, but Trump scares the shit out of me, so I’ll vote for her, and vote GOP down ballot.” I know that for a good chunk of the electorate, it doesn’t work this way in practice, but the whole idea of democracy is based on voters making informed choices. And since the media do such a sucky job of informing voters of the policy consequences of voting one way or the other, it’s up to the candidates. And since Trump is a nutcase, that means it’s up to Hillary. It has the added benefit that if, in 2018, voters are saying, “we elected you, but you didn’t raise the minimum wage, or come through with a big infrastructure bill, and it’s just as hard as it’s ever been to form a union without getting fired,” she can say, "I told you back in 2016 that if you wanted these things, you needed to not just vote for me, but vote in a Democratic Congress as well. “So again, if you want these things, get me a Democratic Congress, and stop voting for the Republicans who are against all this. We’ve got another election coming up, so we’ve got another chance to make this happen. Let’s do it.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/46 "2016-10-16T22:11:32Z")
> [@](#): > > I agree. The next time Trump mentions Bill Clinton, Hillary needs to just ask, “How many now Donald, 10,” or “what’s the score now Donald, 4 to 10?” She definitely needs to get that in. Not sure I get that one… Count of number of affairs? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/47 "2016-10-16T22:27:02Z")
No, just don’t even go there. Don’t take any bait. Let him continue to make a fool of himself \*by \*himself. She needs to focus on getting more positive support, both for her and for the Dem brand in general, and the best way to do that is to make the case for the principles she and the party espouse and have produced on. Tie the Republicans all the way down the ticket to what Trump espouses, and make the case clearly that it represents the worst of our natures, not the best. Make voting Democratic more solidly equivalent in the non-deplorables’ minds to voting morally, and voting for Americanism at its best. It’s been a hard job in this environment, with shiny-object-driven reporting and false equivalence, but it’s time to widen the coattails and do more of what she did at the convention. The Presidency is won, but Congress needs to be won too, and so do statehouses. That’s the goal, not discussing Trump’s temperament etc. - _Trump just doesn’t matter anymore_. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/48 "2016-10-16T22:53:01Z")
> [@](#): > > She gets dizzy, trembles or shows any ill health it’s all over. It’s not worth the risk. 😕 did you watch the last two debates? I think we are past pretending you can make the “ill health” thing stick. anyway, look at _him_. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/49 "2016-10-16T23:10:14Z")
Stick with policies. Let people hear what you want to do and let Trumpy stammer like an idiot. Ask him how taxes work. Forget the rumors about health and accusations of being a crook and ask Trump HOW he would make his presidential policies happen. He’s not a politician. Point at that. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/50 "2016-10-16T23:12:06Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I think she needs to make explicit the connection between her goals and the need to elect a Democratic Congress, while she’s got the ear of a national audience. > > She needs to say, "I want to increase the minimum wage to ($12? $15? can’t remember what she supports). The Republican Party will fight to keep it at $7.25, and many of them want to reduce it to zero. The minimum wage will only go up if I have a Democratic Congress to work with. > > "I want to invest billions of dollars into our neglected infrastructure needs. President Obama has wanted to do this, but the Republicans in Congress have kept this from happening. This would create hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs. But only if you elect a Democratic Congress. > > "And because I’m such a pawn of Wall Street, I want to pass laws that would make it easier for workers to unionize and have the power to fight their own battles with big corporations. The Republican Party is fervently opposed to this, and will fight it to the last Congressperson, which should tell you which party is the true pawn of Wall Street. I can only get these laws passed if you elect a Democratic Congress. > > “So if you want these things to happen, don’t just vote for me. Vote for Democrats all the way down the ticket. Because that nice Republican Congressperson or Senator who represents you now, who is so friendly and likable, is going to be friendly and likable while voting against all of these things.” This. Far the best answer so far. You could add strengthening Obamacare, while you’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/51 "2016-10-16T23:22:39Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > anyway, look at _him_. SNIIIFFFFFFFF… Hillary’s taking drugs before the debates, believe me. [/Trump] ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/52 "2016-10-17T02:01:25Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I agree. The next time Trump mentions Bill Clinton, Hillary needs to just ask, “How many now Donald, 10,” or “what’s the score now Donald, 4 to 10?” She definitely needs to get that in. I was thinking more like defending her family while acknowledging the past. Don’t get down and dirty with Donald, he lives in the slop, was born in it, was molded by it, she can’t do that. She can say that what happened (and never be too specific, just vaguely refer to the incident using those words) tested their marriage, her faith, and her resolve, but like a good Christian, she forgave his husband and decided that keeping her family together was more important. Of course she questioned the accusations, what person sides with the accuser over her own family? But that was decades ago. She has forgiven Bill and moved on. The difference, she should highlight fiercely, between what happened with her and Donald is that we all saw how he revels in demeaning women, describes in detail how he’d assault them, and now we have women who have been his victims in that exact situation he personally described. That’s the difference. And, she should end the speech, Bill is not running for president, she is. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649/53 "2016-10-17T03:16:12Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > Rumor was that during the last debate, she held back because she didn’t want him dropping out and the GOP rallying behind Pence. Rumors can often be crazy and that’s one. Trump dropping out would be worse than Trump staying in - FAR worse. The GOP would lose at least a quarter of the people who plan to vote for it. It’d be the worst electoral defeat suffered by either party in modern history. Clinton knows these things. If she could get Trump to drop out she’d press that button in a heartbeat. There is no way out for the Republican Party. Riding Trump to the finish line is _the best possible outcome now._ To dump their own nominee would result in open violence and losing 100+ seats in the House, at least. They all sold their souls and now the time has come to pay the price. A bad loss would be something to celebrate; abandoning their so-called candidate and infuriating his deplorable supporters would mean a rout that would make the Falaise Gap look like a cottage weekend. They need to ride this out and then let the grownups take over starting November 9. Hillary Clinton “held back” because she has no reason at this point to take chances; she’s a football team with a 17-point lead and there’s only fifty seconds left on the clock. [QUOTE=aceplace57] Hillary should take the high road and express anger at Trump’s drug testing demand. It’s time Hillary stands up to this bully. Make it clear that a third debate is pointless. [/QUOTE] Let me get this straight: Trump calls for a drug test before the debate, and you think Clinton should immediately _refuse to attend?_ Should she also wear a T-shirt that reads I TAKE DRUGS? Because that’s what that would look like. She should show up to the debate, explain her positions, and assume Trump will say any awful thing you can think of. I’d say it’s fifty-fifty he accuses her of murdering Vince Foster. Smile, say “oh, Donald, there you go again” and continue on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-for-hillary-regarding-the-next-debate/768649.md?page=2)