What if Hillary offered to debate McCain two weeks before Obama was about to clinch the nomination?

[Cali_Democrat]

Don't you guys think she would have looked pretty ridiculous?

Bernie looks ridiculous.

[berni_mccoy]

1. I don't recall Obama having a scandal blow up in his face like Hillary is having now

[mathewsleep]

2. Clinton backed out of the debate.

She broke her word because she didn't want to be grilled about her emails by the moderators.

You can't blame her for it even becoming an option.

[KingFlorez]

5. And Bernie wants vote by mail ballots in California thrown out because he knows he can't win

Or Bernie's "supporters" want them thrown out

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bernie-sanders-supporters-file-emergency-injunction-calif-primary/story?id=39419096

[mathewsleep]

8. And that has what to do with the debate?

[KingFlorez]

11. It has everything to do with it

The debate is one more Hail Mary pass at the last minute. Now you all want to just throw votes out. Sad.

[mathewsleep]

15. It really doesn't. The word debate doesn't even show up in that article you posted.

Please.

[KingFlorez]

21. The debate is a Hail Mary Pass from Sanders

It's not about debating the issues, it's a just a desperate struggle to try and win, just like this vote dumping scheme.

[mathewsleep]

23. Refer to post 19.

[mathewsleep]

19. Ignoratio elenchi

[KingFlorez]

25. Big and fancy words

Go get yourself a cookie as a reward...

[mathewsleep]

27. Thank you.

Good idea, I like cookies.

[floppyboo]

47. Show me in the article where it says 'thrown out' and it Bernie supporters AND Indepence party peeps

who are registered as NPP ONLY. Prove me otherwise from the article, or did you read it?

[KingFlorez]

48. I sure as hell read it

including provisions to force 58 counties to segregate ballots already cast by unaffiliated voters; to allow "re-votes" by those voters for presidential primary candidates

That means that votes would have to be thrown out and redone. At this stage there would be no time for new ballots to be sent out in time for the election.

[mathewsleep]

54. All immaterial to the fact that this article has nothing to do with Trump and Bernie debating.

[KingFlorez]

60. There won't be any debate

ROFL Trump tricked Sanders!

[mathewsleep]

63. Just like Hillary did. Boy, those two have so much in common.

[floppyboo]

55. I guess my understanding of segregate is different than yours.

To separate them - hold them to the side, to allow NPP's ONLY to fix the problem with the ballot, both dem and that right wing independence party voters. Where does it say that segregating the votes disqualifies them? I read (my interpretation) that people in that pile of write-ins would be given the chance to correct something. What would happen if they don't? I assume they would get counted as is. Is there a legal definition that you are using in your interpretation?

[mathewsleep]

53. Again, nothing to do with the topic.

[floppyboo]

57. You are correct. Sorry - putting flame thrower Florez on ignore

[mathewsleep]

61. That's how they get you

Deflect deflect deflect

[amborin]

3. HRC looks ridiculous; reneged, yet again, on campaign promise; said she'd debate, now won't

she looked petulant, arrogant, evasive; now she looks cowardly and deceitful

[Uncle Joe]

4. What if Obama backed out of an agreement to hold a debate with Hillary which they had

previously agreed on.

If my memory serves me correctly, I believe they had 20+ debates in 2008.

Thanks for the thread, Cali_Democrat.

[fun n serious]

18. Obama did back out!!

[Uncle Joe]

38. Is that why Hillary did this?

[fun n serious]

20. Trump did not offer

This all Bernie doing

[fun n serious]

29. BERNIE asked Trump first.

Bernis is disgraceful and unqualified

[mathewsleep]

30. Links?

[mathewsleep]

50. So no links then?

[PeaceNikki]

56. Here you go

http://www.npr.org/2016/05/27/479586950/late-night-host-jimmy-kimmel-is-negotiating-a-presidential-debate-it-makes-sense

Kimmel said that Sanders had written in with a question, to be read by Kimmel to Trump, on Sanders' behalf. "Hillary Clinton backed out of an agreement to debate me in California before the June 7 primary," Kimmel read. "Are you prepared to debate the major issues facing our largest state and the country before the California primary? Yes or no?"

[mathewsleep]

64. I see

That does make sense, all official campaign requests always goes through a late night comedian. That's just protocol.

[ThirdWayToTheHighway]

43. Really don't see how you pull either of those opinions from this thread

but to each his own. Shill on, Hillfriend.

[Trust Buster]

7. Forget McCain, what if Sanders and his minions found out that Hillary was negotiating a

pre-convention debate with Trump after all the whining they've done with regards to presumptions ? Their heads would have exploded. They're so desperate right now that, like the far Right, they will convince themselves that their position is righteous regardless of the obvious hypocrisy.

[KingFlorez]

9. The bigger issue is that Trump is playing Sanders for a big fool

After Jeb and Marco got dragged by Trump, you'd think that Sanders would know better than to play into his hands.

[bjo59]

36. You're comparing Sanders' debating skills with those of Bush and Rubio? Oh, please.

[TheBlackAdder]

37. Well, then that will take care of your Sanders problem, while showing HRC exactly how Trump will be.

.


It's one thing going after a same-party candidate, opposition candidates will be handled even more ruthlessly.


It's behooves HRC to see how Trump will be, instead of experiencing it live on the debate floor.


.

[ThirdWayToTheHighway]

44. If you think Bernie can't handle Trump

I can't believe you would be okay with Clinton debating him!

[KingFlorez]

45. Trump is not going to debate him

He was merely baiting Sanders to make him look like a fool and Sanders took the bait.

[Cheese Sandwich]

10. Hillary committed to debate in California and went back on her word.

That's the huge difference.

[Vinca]

12. Since you're not a Bernie supporter, why do you care?

You should be happy as a clam if you think it will make him look ridiculous.

[imagine2015]

13. Obama had it clinced and Clinton hasn't captured the nomination. And she won't.

Obama was popular and well liked by most voters in all the polls in 2008. Hillary is disliked and not trusted by most people in 2016

Get the difference?

[HooptieWagon]

14. If not for email scandal blowing up...

...Clinton could participate.
As it is, I see no problem of a debate between the two candidates not subjects of an FBI criminal investigation. The more debates, the better...and if they are between an R and a D and illustrate the differences between the two platforms, all the better. Which could be another reason Clinton reneged...she comes off sounding like a Republican in debate.

[imagine2015]

16. And Trump would crush her in a pre-convention debate which would end her run for the nomination.

[HooptieWagon]

33. Yep, probably.

But Trump probably crushes her in a GE debate also... Especially after FBI report comes out. She might duck out of debating Trump altogether...the more voters see of her the less they like her.

[onehandle]

17. He was full-on Nader.

Promoting the enemy.

[Sheepshank]

22. This debate doesn't help Bernie is any way....It only helps Trump. Why is Bernie aiding Drumpf? nt

[PufPuf23]

24. That is not an equivalent scenario.

Hillary Clinton isn't exactly looking like a strong candidate at the moment.

What was Clinton thinking to lie on camera so many times over the email issue?

That's aid I neither want nor expect any indictment over the email fiasco.

I do think that Hillary Clinton deliberately used an email system to make her actions less transparent.

The fact that it was a server in her home and the content of some of the emails, specifically Blumenthal but expect others, are of most import.

Hillary Clinton does not look that wise based upon her failed campaign of 2008 and her campaign 2016 which, even if Clinton becomes POTUS, will go down in history as what not to do and already has harmed Clinton's ability to be a solid POTUS.

[bjo59]

31. What if Obama reneged on a commitment to debate Clinton two weeks before the end of the primaries?

[jeff47]

32. I would say "Go get him".

Best case, she makes McCain look like a fool.

Worst case, she comes off badly and reinforces Obama's position as the better candidate.

[Tal Vez]

34. The big mistake that Sanders is making is that he is playing into Trump's hands.

Sanders is adopting a very submissive position waiting for Trump to decide what their schedules will be next week. Sanders is blowing a beautiful opportunity.

Sanders should seize the initiative:

1) He should tell Trump that the public will not be charged to attend or to watch the debate on TV.

2) He should tell Trump that he will not participate in any kind of a joint fundraiser with Trump because he knows that Trump cannot be trusted with funds. In that regard, he should point out that Trump has apparently still not let go of the millions of dollars that he claimed to be raising for veterans that time he skipped the debate. But, the point is that Trump's fundraiser proposal provides Sanders with the perfect opportunity to begin the debate right now by calling Trump a con man who cannot be trusted. Sanders could win this debate before it even begins.

3) Sanders should find a place (e.g., LA Colosseum) and tell Trump to show up on a night that Sanders likes, that the two campaigns will be sharing the cost for the venue and that Trump should bring a check with him.

Finally, Sanders should tell Trump to either show up or shut up.

The point is that Sanders should not be doing what he seems to be doing - sitting at home hoping that Trump will call and grant him a debate. If he takes the initiative and makes the demands outlined above, it will place Trump in the submissive position. Sanders should not underestimate the importance of how the two are positioning themselves. If Sanders appears to be begging a more dominant Trump for a debate, Sanders will have lost the real debate before it even begins. As things now stand, Trump will want to let Sanders continue his submissive role of waiting for Trump to tell him what to do. And, when Trump gets tired of toying with Sanders, he will probably conclude that he already won and refuse to debate with the explanation that there would be no point in debating someone as "goofy" as Sanders. (That's the way Trump has been characterizing Sanders - goofy).

Sanders should seize the initiative and demonstrate that he can put Trump in his proper place.

[cherokeeprogressive]

39. Yawn...

Wut?

[reddread]

40. so much egg

oops. that isnt egg, is it?

[CherokeeDem]

41. Sanders is ridiculous....

If he does in fact, debate Trump it proves he does not have the best interest of the Democratic Party at heart He is nothing more than an insignificant senator who was, unwisely, in my opinion, allowed to run on the Democratic ticket and got a taste of the big time. He's not a champion of the people, he is a self-centered, power hungry candidate.

For him to debate the Republican candidate when our own party's nomination is not official is playing into the hands of the enemy.

It's disgraceful.

[TheSarcastinator]

42. Hillary's a Coward Who Can't Use a Damn Computer

If she wanted to control the dialogue she should have kept her promise to debate.

[CherokeeDem]

51. That's all you got? She's not computer savy? Neither was my father and he was brilliant.

At least, Hillary is a Democrat. Sanders is using the Party to his own advantage.

Why should she debate Sanders? The nomination is hers... it's not going to happen for the Bern. For him to debate Trump when he is not the official nominee is disingenuous and in my opinion, traitorous to this Party. He should have never been allowed to run as a Democrat in the first place.

LOL... Trump just announce he wouldn't debate Sanders.... too bad for Bernie.... poor thing doesn't get what he wants.

[Nanjeanne]

46. I would have watched. Who knows. She might

Have changed my mind on whether she was the better candidate. Especially if Obama reneged on his agreement to debate her.

[floppyboo]

49. Clinton doesn't have a sense of humor and Jimmy didn't ask her for a question. But if he did

ask her to ask a question of McCain, what would she have come up with? Probably something completely inappropriate for a comedy show I'm guessing

[RAFisher]

52. It would make McCain look pretty stupid.

Why would he waste his time debating a fellow Senator who he is not running against?

[EndElectoral]

58. Actually that would have been a very interesting debate.

[bvf]

62. What if god and Superman got in a fight?

These cheesy hypotheticals are always good for a laugh.

What if Hillary Clinton <fill in the blank>?

[R B Garr]

65. LOL, what a great analogy! This whole thing makes Bernie look bad. Alll Donald did was

reinforce that Bernie is in second place. He doesn't want to debate Bernie because Bernie is in second place. He got his cheap shots in, which is all this was about. Not hard to figure out.

[okieinpain]

66. i'm voting for hllary, but to be honest she looks like she doesn't

know what's she is doing. the only thing saving her is the african-american vote.

[Carolina]

67. No, she did worse

She praised McCain's leadership and experience while deriding BHO as someone who just gave speeches

Spare me. Some are so amnestic about 2008