Lester Holt is already rigging the first debate for Trump.

[geek tragedy]

The Commission on Presidential Debates on Monday announced the topics for the first presidential debate to be held on Sept. 26: America's Direction, Achieving Prosperity and Securing America.

Those topics were chosen by debate moderator and NBC News anchor Lester Holt, according to a press release. While the debate may not cover these nebulous topics in order, each will be discussed for two 15-minute-long segments.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/presidential-debate-topics-lester-holt

In other words, the discussion will be about vague platitudes and slogans including an "Americas Direction" discussion that's teed up for Trump to talk about how he's an outsider. Nothing about, you know, actual policy and issues that require someone to know stuff.

Lauer redux. Maybe worse.

Trump wanted Holt to be a moderator, with good cause.

Holt, who Trump himself has suggested should moderate a debate, is the odds-on favorite to get one of the three slots.

“I think [NBC’s] Lester Holt is a good guy,” the GOP nominee told radio host Hugh Hewitt in a recent interview.

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/291600-who-gets-to-moderate-clinton-trump

[CBGLuthier]

1. Why is the theme for the day on DU, EXCUSES?

Post after post blaming millennials, the mainstream media, and so on. It is as if some expect failure and want to make sure the stink of such failure does not attach.

[geek tragedy]

3. Trump hand-picked Lester Holt to moderate the debate, and Holt decides to have

the entire debate be about platitudes and slogans rather than actual issues.

Seems legit.

I expect Clinton to do perfectly well, and for Trump to be treated with kid gloves and normalized by the debate moderator. All Trump has to do is show up and he clears the bar.

[bettyellen]

8. Seems like some are desperate to create the illusion of failure for others because they haven't

Quite accepted their own yet.


If DU sucks so bad, whatcha doing here?

[Maru Kitteh]

19. ^^THIS^^..^^THIS^^..^^THIS^^..^^THIS^^..^^THIS^^..^^THIS^^..^^THIS^^..^^THIS^^..X1000

[fun n serious]

2. I am confident

Hillary will make policy out of this BS and come out shining!

[Imperialism Inc.]

4. That doesn't sound too bad really.

Clinton has been highlighting the difference between her campaign of hope and Trump's doom and gloom. She has the facts on her side there. Securing America sounds like it will potentially cover immigration and terrorism which are obviously a big issue this time. Prosperity sounds like jobs and trade.

[geek tragedy]

5. Treating immigration as a "Securing America" subject

would be a huge gift to Trump.

It's really more about what to do with the millions of people already here.

And "direction of America" is a HUGE gift to Trump---a full third of the debate on his single most advantageous theme:

http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/us-right-direction-wrong-track

So, thirty minutes of Clinton trying to argue she'll represent change in Washington vs the ultimate political outsider (an argument she really can't win), then another thirty minutes talking about the politics of fear, with thirty minutes filled by Trump bullshitting about cutting taxes and using his business background to make America great again.

Rigged.

[RBInMaine]

7. Please stop cowering and read my other post.

[Imperialism Inc.]

11. I agree with the "Securing America" part.

If that is how he frames it during the actual debate.

As far as direction goes though she just needs to have a good answer to why so many think we are on the wrong track. Congress is the obvious answer there. Obama has high approval ratings, Congress doesn't.

[RBInMaine]

6. What are grumping about? She will DISMANTLE HIM on these topics as follows:

America's Direction: "15 million new jobs, more than half of the annual deficit cut, Obama at 58% approval, more minority citizens graduating from college, low gas prices, housing starts up, crime down, poverty down, etc. America does not need to go back to failed Republican trickle down and tax cuts for billionaire's like you Donny, the very crap that caused the financial crisis of 2008." etc. etc. etc.

Achieving Prosperity: "Middle class economics, not failed Trump doubled-down trickle down. Not tax cuts for Trump. Not Trump and his multiple BANKRUPTCIES and cheating people out of their payments. And by the way down, if you're so good on the economy and have been so successful Donny, WHERE ARE YOUR TAX RETURNS??!!!"

Securing America: "I have been in the situation room, agreed to take out Bin Laden, have dealt with world leaders in over 100 nations, and know how to lead coalitions to beat terrorism. We don't need a reckless loose cannon with the nuclear codes. Robert Gates says Trump is terrible. You don't start wars over being taunted by people in boats. You don't help in the fight against terrorism by alienating the entire Muslim community who we need to help us and which plays right into the terrorist's hands. On national security, I know how to lead. Trump is a reckless, dangerous, loose cannon disaster who should not have access to our nuclear codes."

That's how you do it! And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

[geek tragedy]

10. Clinton will peform admirably, but Holt clearly intends to allow

Trump to skate by.

[George the Retiree]

12. That's not clear at all

Anderson Cooper will do the best job, but don't be selling Lester short!

[anamandujano]

17. If Trump is talking, he's showing everyone what an idiot he is. Trump can't skate by.

There is no fix for Trump's level of stupid.

[rurallib]

9. Comcast signs his check

Comcast wants the internet.
Much more likely with Trump.

[DeminPennswoods]

13. topics are fine for Clinton

American prosperity? She has a detailed plan and how to pay for it. She can note Trump makes none of his products in the US, hasn't developed anything in a decade and is now merely a brand. She can throw in that he probably doesn't even pay federal income tax. If he disputes that, then she should ask where are his tax returns.

Security? Who was in the room strongly advocating for the (successful) mission to kill Bin Laden? How many top IS leaders are now dead because of the drone (I don't agree with it) program? Who faced down Putin? And who has multiple ties to Putin and other adversaries of the US?

Direction? Who has a diverese coterie of advisors and is advocating for the better angles of ourselves and who is surrounding themselves with white supremecists and neo-nazis?

And I'm not even studying or prepping!

[RBInMaine]

14. Yup, and here is how she will TRAP him on "Direction":

She will make him own all his Obama-bashing on "direction". Time and again Trump has called Obama a failure. A failure at 58% approval in this divided nation? Uh uh. She will glue that to his stupid ass, alienating him from 100% of African Americans (he gets around 3% now) and all the many others too who like and respect President Obama.

This is gonna be GOOD!

[geek tragedy]

15. Any substantive subject is good for Clinton.

But Trump can pretty easily skate by himself, which is the bigger concern--that he gets normalized and look presidential without having to show any substance.


The subjects are all literally the names of Super PACs.

[uponit7771]

18. +1

[TeamPooka]

16. They couldn't boil the topics down to Goodness and Badness? Simpletons. nt