Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders agree to debate each other

[anon61221983]

[Terrin]

I think this will help Bernie the most. The attention could help him win California. It’d also be a slap to Clinton who decided not to debate Bernie before California. Trump would gain for the reason. Kicking Clinton is a win for Trump.

[Gristle]

…I’m half expecting this to go full “Epic Rap Battles”. And I’d be okay with that.

[generic_name]

Does Donald trump look at everything and gauge the profit margin?

[aluchko]

@anon15383236

OTOH, Trump especially has little to lose, and much to gain. Seems to me that if he’s any more than a giant ego who loves any chance to draw attention to himself, he won’t try to destroy Sanders. Instead, he’ll repeatedly label Sanders’ popularity as similar to his own – “I actually like this guy. We’re both outsiders fighting against a corrupt system. C’mere, gimme a big hug, you New York lug!”

I think that’s right. Assuming Trump is serious the debate will probably be Trump playing nice with Bernie. Trump’s objectives are to help Bernie in the polls (to hurt Hillary) and to sway the Bernie Bros to come over when Bernie drops out.

It will be awkward for Bernie to attack a guy trying to be nice to him.

@anon15383236

Best case scenario: Bernie does well, and masses of people realize that the polls are right – he’d do better than Clinton against Trump in the general.

Other than Trump playing nice I suspect the entire coverage of the debate would focus on the portion where Trump attacked Clinton.

If Bernie defends Clinton too strongly he’s seen to be conceding the race and acting as her surrogate.

If he’s neutral or actually backs Trump’s attack then he starts to look underhanded and opportunist.

I think Bernie’s best play is to spend the whole debate acting as a brutal attack dog against Trump, constantly bringing up Trump’s baggage, hounding him for an answer, and keeping him on the defensive. No one has really done that in a sustained manner yet and Sanders really does have nothing to lose if it backfires.

I prefer Hillary, but if Sanders does the debate I really hope he goes on the attack and decimates Trump.

[anon68939300]

Oh come on. Sanders is done. This will do nothing except amplify Trump’s message. I think Sanders is adopting the GOP ethic where making sure your opponent loses is just as important as winning yourself.

[anon68939300]

if Sanders does the debate I really hope he goes on the attack and decimates Trump

Trump went after the biggest sacred cow there is - hero war veterans - and it only further propelled him upwards. What on Earth can Sanders possible do to harm Trump’s public perception when even an attack on veterans doesn’t hurt him? McCain supports Trump now, ferchrisakes!

[Brainspore]

@Chesterfield

McCain supports Trump now, ferchrisakes!

I don’t know which is sadder, that or when McCain hired the same hit squad (Karl Rove & Co.) who trashed him when he was running against Bush for the nomination in 2000.

[Sludge]

You have to pay Trump to take up debate he knows he’ll lose.

[daneel]

When you need to get elected in Arizona, I guess you have to appeal to the same people that keep voting for Arpaio.

Principles, sminchiples.

Has Lindsay Graham endorsed Trump yet?

[Jabberwocky]

UPDATE: From CBS: “Multiple sources told CBS News Thursday morning, however, that the presumptive nominee [Trump] was just kidding about debating Sanders — it will never happen, they said.”

[jtiii]

Christ, what a coward…

[aluchko]

@Chesterfield

Trump went after the biggest sacred cow there is - hero war veterans - and it only further propelled him upwards. What on Earth can Sanders possible do to harm Trump’s public perception when even an attack on veterans doesn’t hurt him? McCain supports Trump now, ferchrisakes!

Talking about war veterans is also one of those weird political theatre acts where every candidate gets all solemn, respectful, and uncritical because that’s what you’re supposed to do. Trump’s shtick is violating sacred cows and his McCain attack was probably his best one, it signalled him as an outsider and something different without creating any real vulnerability.

But Trump has said and done a lot of other things that aren’t just sacred cows. Bernie could actually explain why banning Muslims is a stupid idea. He could hold Trump’s feet to the fire on his contradictions.

Heck, if Trump throws up some Clinton dirt from the 90’s Bernie could counter by mentioning the time that Trump’s ex-wife accused Trump of a violent rape.

One candidate bringing up a rape accusation in the middle of a debate is pretty unusual, but it’s a really credible charge and hard for Trump to defend. Sander’s doesn’t have a lot to lose at this point, I think it would be worth the risk.

[anon15383236]

@Jabberwocky

“Multiple sources told CBS News Thursday morning, however, that the presumptive nominee [Trump] was just kidding about debating Sanders — it will never happen, they said.”

Ha – that didn’t take long.

[nimelennar]

@Jabberwocky

UPDATE: From CBS: “Multiple sources told CBS News Thursday morning, however, that the presumptive nominee [Trump] was just kidding about debating Sanders — it will never happen, they said.”

[anon68939300]

@aluchko

He could hold Trump’s feet to the fire on his contradictions.

No he couldn’t. Everybody knows about them but nobody cares about his contradictions.

Trump will come up with some stupid nickname (maybe old man Sanders) and that will be the only thing that sticks after the debate is over.

[Brainspore]

Sometimes I wonder if Trump’s entire election bid was meant as a “just kidding!” thing that got way out of hand.

[Snowlark]

Donald ‘Trumpismo’ Drumpf is capable of saying things that would make Bernie Sanders bleed through his forehead.

As @Chesterfield suggests above, this is a no-win for Bernie and by agreeing to this debate he is failing to heed an important dictum in politics: never wrestle with a pig.

[Mausium]

@Old

I wonder if any of the important people who pay for a seat at these events actually go. A rubber-chicken dinner and a speech by Trump sounds like hell on earth.

There’s plenty of loathsome conservatives with money in Hollywood.

[anon15383236]

@Snowlark

As @Chesterfield suggests above, this is a no-win for Bernie and by agreeing to this debate he is failing to heed an important lesson in politics: never wrestle with a pig.

Maybe he agreed because he knows it’ll never happen.