Under normal conditions, that isn’t even a question that has to be asked. In almost every debate, the two candidates are announced, walk out onto the stage from opposite sides, meet in the middle to shake hands, and walk behind their podiums. It’s a bit more of an issue now, since in their June debate, President Biden let his thorough disgust and disdain for Traitor Tot exhibit itself by walking straight behind his podium.
But it does raise the question, especially for two people who have never met before in person, does she either offer to shake hands first, or meet any offer from Trump to shake hands with an extended hand of her own. But while I can see three possible scenarios that could develop, there’s only one scenario in which Harris loses the battle.
We’ll go with the loser first. And that one is where Kamala Harris hasn’t done her homework, or her staff hasn’t, and she’s unprepared. If Trump gets her hand in his, he is immediately going to go for the bear grip, trying to make her wince, followed by the arm pulling, shoulder displacing, violent up and down Alpha Male handshake he so dearly loves. If he accomplishes that, then he goes back behind his podium with a smug grin on his fat face, having already displayed on national television that he’s the big strong male in charge, while she is the weak, subservient woman.
Now for scenario two. Either Harris or her staff have done their homework, and she’s already seen the video of Trump yanking French President Macron around like a kid trying to get a kite into the air. When he gets there, her wrist is straight, her elbow and shoulder already locked in expectation of the yank, and her grip is strong, with maybe just a touch of claws to make her point. And when his yank doesn’t work, and he’s off balance, she yanks him forward and pumps his hand vigorously. This is already an ice pick in his spleen, being embarrassed by a woman under the national spotlight.
The third scenario has two possible outcomes. First, neither one makes any attempt to shake hands, and they just head behind their respective podiums. This is basically a draw, although it will still get under Traitor Tot’s skin that Harris didn’t at least offer to shake hands, giving him the opportunity to sneer down his nose at her hand before turning, hands by his sides to stand behind his lectern. But if he comes out with an extended hand, and she gives him the coldest look felt outside a fur storage room, and walks to her podium, then she palyed him for a sucker in the national spotlight, and his infamous temper hits medium boil.
As with everything else Trumpian, this is not normal, and not the usual. Ask yourself this. When is the last time you watched a debate where the tone of the entire debate can be set in the first thirty seconds, without either candidate even opening their mouths? But in Trump’s universe of endless brinksmanship, that’s the place we find ourselves. Don’t touch that dial.
I thank you for the privilege of your time.
I think any attempt she makes to shake hands will be a bad thing. She gets jerked around by him-bad. She comes on all butch (i.e. able to actually shake hands which to cons women should never be able to do)-bad. The only thing that will be either neutral or in her favor is to avoid the hand shake entirely. I like the thought of her looking at his hand as if it’s a piece of shit, then walking on to her podium. That would work in her favor. Both of them avoiding the the thing would neither help nor hurt either one.
I’d never shake the hand of a traitorous child killing nazi rapist. It lends some legitimacy to someone who deserves NONE. It will strike a spark to his temper, which would work to her advantage. She owes him NOTHING! NOTHING!
I like to go back to when Canadian P.M. Trudeau first visited the WH with Trump as Prez. He knew all about Trump’s “yank” game and was prepared. Being younger and stronger and having probably even practiced his technique he neutralized Trump’s move. In addition to being ready, and no doubt giving Trump an iron grip of his own (younger & stronger) he put out his left hand against Trump’s chest and took away any leverage Trump had.
Long ago when I was a basketball player I dealt with (and gave) what were called “hand checks” where a defensive player rests a hand on someone they’re defending to push them, but in a way that passes muster with the refs. You can only get away with pushing so much. Right? Well, what I learned before my senior year in high school was there was a whole different level of hand check. In addition to our team going out of town for a week to a basketball camp during the summer, some of us went over to neighboring Carbondale for a joint camp for Jr. High players from the area to serve as assistants to our coach and Carbondale’s – the ones who put the whole thing on each year.
There was a 6’8″ player who was in college but had played h.s. at Carbondale. Mel was solidly builtt to be sure and I was skinny as hell, at least from the waist up but I had powerful legs and playing against guys I did, especially in practice for a couple of years as an underclassman against Juniors and Seniors who had multiple guys not just all conference but a few All STATERS I was I thought pretty tough and capable. Well, I was out front handling the ball (yes, despite being a center myself at 6’4″ I was an excellent ball handler and better passer) for my four Jr. High guys Mel came out and put his hand on my hip bone. Hand check. So I leaned in and didn’t gain an inch of advantage. I leaned in harder and nothing. I wasn’t going anywhere towards where I actually wanted to go. Hard as I tried I simply couldn’t go where I wanted to and I put real force into it, driving with my legs.
What startled me was the realization that Mel gave all the appearance of exerting NO effort at all to hold me up. He made it look THAT easy. Later we talked about it and he had a good laugh and told me not to worry. I’d run into that at the next level but he was not only better at hiding it than most but he did after all have the height and weight advantage. But he warned I should take the lesson because even if my upper body developed if I played in college and found myself against someone more well muscled than me I’d have to deal with what he’d done to me.
Anyway, Trudeau made it look like his hand was only lightly resting against Trump but I’m sure Trump tried with all his might to yank him forward. And couldn’t! No doubt he was pissed in the moment but since we are talking Trump you KNOW he went back later to look at the footage to at least console himself with seeing Trudeau seeming to struggle. Except Trudeau didn’t show the slightest bit of struggle. Trump probably blew his stack!
It would (and maybe is doing so) for some interesting betting odds in your town on whether there’s a handshake. Or not.
I think Harris should reach out for a handshake and be ready for some amount of silliness, but please, Kamala, don’t pull him toward you! He’s an old man whose dementia causes physical imbalance that leans him forward AND he wears lifts!! So, if he’s falling toward you, do you heroically catch him? Sacrifice yourself and break his fall? Or jump out of the way and let the “alpha” fend for himself? Actually, some dilemmas are delicious! 🤣
she won’t shake his hand. Laughable for sure!
haha I guess I was wrong 🙂