Reuters: "Trump, Sanders explore staging unusual presidential debate" (Hillary - it's not too late!)

[Attorney in Texas]

Before linking and excerpting the article, I want to point out that the Sanders-Trump debate is not set in stone yet and if Hillary simply un-reneges on the agreed upon debate schedule with Sanders, the other debate can be cancelled and Hillary can reap the following benefits:

* she gets primetime access to a huge audience for free
* she has a perfectly timed platform to give her general election message
* she gets a chance to show herself more centrist than Sanders
* she avoids the Trump-Sanders debate that makes her look scared to debate

link to Trump, Sanders explore staging unusual presidential debate; excerpt:

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders on Thursday explored staging an unconventional U.S. presidential debate that would sideline Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and create a television spectacle that could attract huge ratings.

The two men - a billionaire and a democratic socialist - expressed interest in a one-on-one encounter in California even though Republican and Democratic presidential candidates traditionally do not debate each other until the parties have selected their nominees.

"I'd love to debate Bernie," Trump told reporters in North Dakota, after he secured enough delegates to clinch the Republican presidential nomination. "I think it would get very high ratings. It would be in a big arena."... Trump said a debate with Sanders could raise up to $15 million for charity.

"I'd love to debate Bernie, but they'll have to pay a lot of money for it," he said.

Hillary, you are missing a huge opportunity here! Find the smartest person in the room, and ask her: "Am I better off using the previously agreed California debate with Sanders to promote my own general election themes or am I better off reneging on that agreement and letting Trump take my spot in that debate?"

[lagomorph777]

1. Trump and Bernie recognize that it's time to focus on the GE

and Hillary is irrelevant now.

[KingFlorez]

3. Clinton is focusing on the general election

Why would Sanders focus on the general election since he is not the Democratic nominee? He's the odd man out.

[lagomorph777]

5. Hillary is not the nominee

and the prospects for that are rapidly dimming.

Even if she manages to pull it off, the GE is hopeless.

I hope you are excited about President Trump.

[KingFlorez]

7. She is the nominee

SANDERS LOST! GET OVER IT!!!!!

[lagomorph777]

9. Waaaahhh!

All caps don't make you look mature.

Get your head out of the sand. She blew it. Sorry you lost.

[KingFlorez]

12. She has the delegate lead and the popular vote lead

All caps is the way to get through to you people. It's stupid and delusional to think that Sanders won. Get back to your cell.

[Attorney in Texas]

16. Dewey Defeats Truman (we can count on that because KingFlorez has already called it for Dewey)

[KingFlorez]

18. Again, look at who has the delegate lead

It ain't Bernie Sanders.

[Attorney in Texas]

20. Hillary had a delegate lead after the Iowa caucus. Why not call it then? Oh, that democracy thing...

[reddread]

27. you expect the superdelegates to sanction suicide?

thats the perfect GIF.

you might want to fail at all cost, but that would be the eternal death of the existing party structure.

[Attorney in Texas]

10. If she's the nominee, why is she still campaigning in the primary? You need to tell her she need not

continue campaigning in the primary. Hillary needs smart people like you to point this out to her.

[KingFlorez]

14. It's over save for the formalities

Her delegate lead isn't going to be over taken.

But Sanders won, right?

[lagomorph777]

15. Yeah, the FBI case is over but for the formalities too

only it isn't.

[KingFlorez]

17. If Sanders' only chance at winning is for his open to get arrested, then he's pathetic

There won't be an indictment and when there isn't there will be outrage. Just remember that it's not a good idea to send angry or threatening emails to the FBI...

[lagomorph777]

22. Yes, I'm sure the nice agent explained to you about those all-caps e-mails

And Bernie doesn't need an indictment; Hillary's campaign is in ruins regardless.

[KingFlorez]

23. Whatever

Sanders will never be President. I'll leave it at that. Bye.

[LexVegas]

2. She swept the series. Game 7 not necessary. And Trump is playing you Berniebros like a fiddle.

[Attorney in Texas]

6. Someone's getting played, that's for sure. Not too late to fix it but time is running out.

[TheBlackAdder]

29. In December MSNBC, inc. Rachel, was in favor of having cross-pary debates before the nomination.

.


What happened?


.

[KingFlorez]

4. She can reap a huge reward by staying above the fray

[Attorney in Texas]

8. Excellent game plan. I'll tell Mr. Reagan and Mr. Anderson that President Carter is above the fray.

[KingFlorez]

11. Blah, blah, blah

This is not 1980 or any other year. Sanders got less votes and lost. You don't win by losing. Only in dictatorships does that happen.

[Attorney in Texas]

13. It's not 1980. Carter was trusted by the voters and had a higher favorability rating than Hillary

[Tal Vez]

19. The candidates should not permit themselves to be manipulated by Trump.

I see Trump attempting to place himself in a position to interfere in the Democratic party. He has won his nomination and there is no advantage for him in debating anyone right now.

Trump now believes that he can call the tune for the Democrats. He is holding up a treat for Sanders and is encouraging Sanders to beg Trump to oblige him with a debate appearance. And, so long as he has Sanders jumping up and down to receive that treat, he believes that he is applying pressure on Clinton. However, in the end he will not grant anyone a debate unless he believes it to be in his own best interest.

Trump loves placing himself in the position of appearing to be dominating everyone else around him. Anyone who engages with Trump by dancing to his tune is volunteering to play a submissive role in Trump's public relations game. Trump loves this thing kind of thing. How long can he have one of his opponents jumping up and down and begging to be abused?

[Attorney in Texas]

21. Trump isn't manipulating Sanders or Hillary. Hillary reneged on the agreed debate which manipulated

Sanders into seeking an alternative debater.

I'm pretty sure Sanders would forgive Hillary's manipulation if she would just honor her prior commitment.

[Tal Vez]

24. I see. Your view is that Clinton is calling all the shots.

How long do you think Trump would permit it to appear that someone else is controlling events?

Trump does not need a debate to win his nomination. Sanders apparently feels that he needs a debate to win his nomination. And so, of course, Sanders appears to be the needy one. Trump loves this picture.

Trump will oblige Sanders with an appearance if, but only if, Trump believes that an appearance will make it more likely that he will be living in the White House next year. If he doesn't believe that it will help him, Trump will put the treat back in his pocket and laugh at the way Sanders was jumping up and down and begging for it.

[Attorney in Texas]

25. Clearly, she's in control of this debate blunder, she's in control of the email server blunder, etc.

[Tal Vez]

30. So, you think that Sanders should continue waiting and hoping that Trump will give him some

attention? "Maybe he will call. Maybe he will call. If he does, I'll come running. Oh, maybe he will call. Please call, Donald."

[floriduck]

26. I'm sure her advisors have no desire to risk anything. They'll hunker down and wait it out.

[reddread]

28. I doubt you will even see her in public after a fashion

she will not want to answer a single question.