OK. The glee is wearing off. Now we have to deal with the aftermath. Throughout the day we have all been reading about what TRUMP might do. TRUMP might resign from the presidential slot (good luck with that). TRUMP might completely lose his mind and accuse Bill of being worse than he is (quick, hint, Donny. WJC is not running for president). TRUMP might be even more unhinged than he was in the first debate. TRUMP might blow off the debate entirely, being the loathsome pimple on the ass of humanity he is.
But there is another person at this debate. Another person running for president. Another person who has to negotiate the wind-whipped fury which is Hurricane Donald.
And it’s not going to be easy for her. I am sure, in her secret heart, that she would no more like to share the stage with Trump than she would with a tapeworm or a box of rabid rats. But she has a job to do.
Here is my advice for the Clinton campaign. Not that they need it or want it, in any case. I am sure that there are dozens, maybe hundreds of people working for HRC who are smarter and more politically savvy than I am.
Ignore him.
Not in the way you might be thinking. Of course she is going to have to respond to the batshit-crazy things he is going to say on the stage. Of course she is going to have to refute his lies, his misrepresentations, and his ignorance.
But aside from that…
Don’t look at him. Don’t shake his hand when you come out on stage. Don’t make small talk after the debate is over. Treat him as you would a leper or an untouchable. Shun him.
It will drive him nuts. It is obvious that this is a megalomaniacal personality, one which craves attention and applause above all other things. Above honesty, above morality, above the shared set of values most members of this society believe in, above common decency itself. Above, apparently, an acknowledgement of the fact that sexually assaulting a woman is a Bad Thing.
When he sees her on the other side of the stage, controlling the conversation, treating him as no more important than a random piece of lint, it will dial teh crazy up to eleven.
Pass the popcorn.