# What would the Trump-Clinton debates be like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 11, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835 "2016-02-11T17:37:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TheSeaOtter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed655f/32.png) [@TheSeaOtter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSeaOtter)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/21 "2016-02-12T17:58:37Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I see them each playing to their strengths. > > And when it’s over the Trump supporters who didn’t understand or agree with a thing Hillary said will be utterly convinced Trump mopped the floor with Hillary. > > Meantime the folks on the other side will insist Trump just buffooned another TV show instead of debating. And as such he lost comprehensively. > > And they’ll both be right. > > This will be just like happens in boxing so often where you watch the whole match carefully and discover the judges were watching a totally different fight than you did. Or at least their scorecards reflect that. Quite so. Anyone watching the debate _as a debate_ will agree that Clinton obliterated Trump. His supporters, who are mostly there for the entertainment, will say that Trump won, as he was louder (and more orange-colored) than anyone else in the room. Republicans who had previously entertained dreams of nominating an actual human being or at least an actual conservative, will skip the debate and instead attend a quiet memorial service for their party. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/22 "2016-02-12T18:11:02Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Indeed, I don’t think a debate has really had much effect on any election save Reagan-Carter in 1980. There you go again. ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/23 "2016-02-12T19:09:32Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Hopefully anyone tuning in to learn something about the candidates and the issues would learn that he is a circus clown and has not given the issues much thought The most blatant example of this that I have seen was when he was asked what his priorities related to our nuclear triad would be, and [his answer was essentially “Trump”.](http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/12/17/what-is-nuclear-triad-debate-sot.cnn) ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/24 "2016-02-12T19:46:02Z")
I really don’t have a problem with that. In point of fact the presidency is a position that requires on-the-job training. There’s really no way to train for it and there’s no way until you’re sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office to know exactly what how you’re going to respond to a given situation or challenge. Apart from naked pandering for votes this is why so many presidential candidates fall short on their promises once they’re in office. IIRC, Jimmy Carter himself once admitted that once he found himself in office the realities that come into play which he didn’t know about before hand made it either impossible or impractical once he was in office and had more knowledge of the various factors that came into play regarding what he could and couldn’t do. Much of the support Trump has comes from his base having confidence that once he’s sitting in that chair in the Oval Office, he’ll be able to assimilate the necessary facts and then, through his proven ability to hire good people and get the most out of them, his negotiating skills, and proven record as a multi-tasker able to ride herd over a vast number of complex and difficult projects, successfully accomplish what needs to be done. In a way, Trump is just being more honest. Basically what he’s saying is, “I’ll figure it out when the time comes and I have all the facts”, and most of his base has confidence in his ability to do that. All the other candidates, on the other hand, are promising this and that and all sorts of things that likely will prove to be impossible or untenable once they’re in office, and what they’re doing in reality is going in just as unprepared as Trump but with a facade intended to convince people they know what they’re doing and what they’ll be able to accomplish when in reality they can’t, and most likely don’t even know they can’t. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/25 "2016-02-12T20:12:07Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I really don’t have a problem with that. In point of fact the presidency is a position that requires on-the-job training. There’s really no way to train for it and there’s no way until you’re sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office to know exactly what how you’re going to respond to a given situation or challenge. Clinton, at any rate, is the only candidate who has spent a lot of time **close** to that desk, as FLOTUS and as Secretary of State. The view from behind it will hold no great surprises for her. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/26 "2016-02-12T20:25:50Z")
The trouble is with Clinton, apart from our ideological differences, is that she’s such a liar and a phony and so dishonest that you don’t have any idea what she’ll actually do once in office, or how screwed up it will become due to underhanded shenanigans. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/27 "2016-02-12T23:14:59Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > The most blatant example of this that I have seen was when he was asked what his priorities related to our nuclear triad would be, and [his answer was essentially “Trump”.](http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/12/17/what-is-nuclear-triad-debate-sot.cnn) Trump! The answer that Trumps any question. I predict it’ll be on bumper stickers soon. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/28 "2016-02-13T00:17:13Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > The trouble is with Clinton, apart from our ideological differences, is that she’s such a liar and a phony and so dishonest that you don’t have any idea what she’ll actually do once in office, or how screwed up it will become due to underhanded shenanigans. Everyone on the RW is always calling her those things, but I don’t see how she’s one bit phonier or less honest than any of the Pubs running this year. Well, except perhaps for Trump, who is not exactly a liar, but the sort who can say **anything** and believe it, which is worse. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/29 "2016-02-13T00:44:22Z")
Don’t know if you’ve noticed but Hillary has a huge likability problem, even among Democrats, and most of it is based on the recognition that if a poll showed the public favored Cap’n Crunch she’d be out running around the next day in pirate’s hat, and because almost everyone knows she and her husband are virtually and maybe literally pathological liars. I’m surprised you’re not aware of this. I don’t know how many times on this very board I’ve read Democrats say they don’t like her, don’t trust her, etc., but if need be they’ll hold their nose and vote for her. This is not exactly a ringing endorsement for the perception of her moral character. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/30 "2016-02-13T01:19:46Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Don’t know if you’ve noticed but Hillary has a huge likability problem, even among Democrats, and most of it is based on the recognition that if a poll showed the public favored Cap’n Crunch she’d be out running around the next day in pirate’s hat, and because almost everyone knows she and her husband are virtually and maybe literally pathological liars. That’s not lying, that’s pandering, and she’s certainly no worse than any Pub on **that** score. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/31 "2016-02-13T01:23:19Z")
Based on last night’s debate, Hillary’s only reason for running is that she wants to be the first woman president. Sanders has ideas (bad ideas, IMO, but actual ideas and positions). Hillary’s campaign seems to be “Vote for me! I have ovaries!”. She has no values, no morals no ideas and very limited intellect. For example, when asked if her server was wiped, she replied "[“What, like with a cloth or something?”…“I don’t know how it works digitally at all.”](http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/09/14/438814692/did-clinton-camp-delete-emails-or-wipe-server-the-difference-matters) I know all the Hillbots will say “Oh, she was just joking”, but NPR, CNN, Washington Times (and Post–I can’t remember which is the sane one of the two) didn’t think she was. She’s dumber than Trump (not crazier though–you can’t beat Trump for crazy) and completely unfit for office. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/32 "2016-02-13T01:28:56Z")
I’d say none stoops lower than Hillary when it comes to lying or pandering. Others do it, yes, but she’s a pro. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/33 "2016-02-13T01:45:55Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > As a debate, Hillary would certainly win. But Trump wouldn’t lose his composure - he doesn’t have any to lose. He would mug for the cameras and never mention any specifics. His supporters would love it. > > Hopefully anyone tuning in to learn something about the candidates and the issues would learn that he is a circus clown and has not given the issues much thought, and that Hillary is a policy wonk and has given way too much thought to the issues and has a sixty three point plan to deal with everything except e-mail. > > It would be interesting if they compare rags-to-riches stories - Trump could tell the inspiring story of how he inherited a million dollars, and clawed his way back from bankruptcy, and Hillary could tell how she recovered from being married to a lying scumbag by grit, hard work, and multi-million dollar donations from the Saudis and $750,000 speeches to Wall Street. > > Regards, > Shodan Pretty much this, yup. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/34 "2016-05-06T22:30:10Z")
Well, it looks like the November lineup is going to be Trump v. Clinton after all. So presumably there will be the usual debates between the candidates, unless Trump blows it off like he blew off the debate on the eve of the Iowa Caucus – never one to feel bound by political tradition, he is. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/35 "2016-05-06T22:41:39Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I really don’t have a problem with that. In point of fact the presidency is a position that requires on-the-job training. And I for one really appreciated how you emphasized that back in 2008, when Obama was being slammed for not having enough experience. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/36 "2016-05-06T23:11:38Z")
There’s a diffence between no experience governing and no executive experience at all. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/37 "2016-05-06T23:30:52Z")
I suspect Hillary will try to be as boring as possible. She’s at her best when getting into policy specifics, but with Trump as her opponent, she’ll want to keep things a vague as possible so as to appeal to the widest swath of anti-Trump voters. And trying to engage with him seems like a fools errand, since Trump’s policy positions are such a self-contradictory mess that I doubt she’ll try and chase him down the rabbit hole. She’ll basically just be reciting vague platitudes, with one or two pre-arranged zingers about Trumps mysogyny mixed in. Trump’s bullying style didn’t seem to work as well in the GOP debates as the number of opponents shrunk, so I think he’ll be forced to drop it now that its one-on-one. I think he’ll end up giving Palin-esque word-salads, which is more or less what he does now in interviews when policy questions come up. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/38 "2016-05-07T03:30:13Z")
I’d kinda like to see Hilly adopt the Queen Bitch of the Universe avatar we know she keeps hidden, because I don’t think Trump has the stones to stand up to her. Look at how scared he is of Megan Kelly? This is the woman who almost scares Bubba, and the prospect of being on the receiving end of it terrifies me. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835/39 "2016-05-07T03:48:45Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > There’s a diffence between no experience governing and no executive experience at all. Not much, there isn’t. Trump’s executive experience in running commercial enterprises in no way constitutes any qualifications to run a government, whose nature and purposes are entirely different. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835.md?page=1)