I think back to the Romney/Obama debates, and the “Proceed, governor” moment. That’s the kind of mood I’d like to see Clinton go for when Trump is being an idiot. But I’m not sure it’d work. Being a woman is going to make this a difficult campaign.
If she’s coming right back at Trump, she’s a ball-buster.
If she’s ignoring his tantrums, she’s a cold bitch.
If she is calm but shows it hurts her, she’s too emotional to be president.
If she outplays him (“Proceed, governor,”) she’s an arrogant bitch.
The reverse has some truth to it: Trump has no way of attacking her without being called misogynist, fairly or unfairly. But I don’t know that it matters so much for his supporters, many of whom have shown themselves gleefully misogynistic; it certainly doesn’t seem to matter to him.
I think Clinton can run intellectual and policy and strategic circles around Trump. I’m not enough of a wonk to know whether that’s a good idea.
(Hey, I just noticed that “wonk” is the opposite of “know.” Is that on purpose? Did everyone else know that and I just realized it?)