Biden/Trump Debates Are Scheduled

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The Biden and Trump campaigns have agreed to two debates. I had mixed feelings about a Trump-Biden debate until I read this:

Mr. Biden and his top aides want the debates to start much sooner than the dates proposed by the organization, the Commission on Presidential Debates, so voters can see the two candidates side by side well before early voting begins in September. They want the debate to occur inside a TV studio, with microphones that automatically cut off when a speaker’s time limit elapses.

And they want it to be just the two candidates and the moderator — without the raucous in-person audiences that Mr. Trump feeds on and without the participation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or other independent or third-party candidates.

I don’t know if the Trump people have agreed to that, but if those are non-negotiable terms, I say go for it. The provision about mics being turned off when it’s the other guy’s turn to speak is especially important, since Trump won’t shut up. The debates are set for June 27 on CNN and September 10 on ABC. The Presidential Debate Commission had scheduled a debate for September 20, I believe, but early voting will have begun before that in some states. Plus, I read in Politico, President Biden was not happy with the way the Commission ran the 2020 debates, especially by allowing Trump to talk incessantly over both Biden and the moderators. And Trump, of course, complains that the Commission is “biased” against him.

And I hope CNN and ABC do a better job than they did in the Democratic nominee debates in 2020. I remember not being happy with those.

Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden believe firmly that if the American people get a look at their opponent on a debate stage they will be less likely to vote for them.

The Biden side opened the negotiations. I am not surprised. Trump has been saying many mangled and incoherent things at his rallies, but little of that is reaching the public. They’re both capable of misspeaking, but if I had to bet which one will make an utter fool of himself while speaking, unfiltered, directly to the American people, my money is on Trump. I agree with Digby:

Trump is convinced that Biden is such a doddering, drooling old fool that he’ll fall asleep during the debate. (This is rich considering that it’s actually drowsy Don who’s falling asleep every day in court.) His entire campaign is predicated on the idea that Biden is so ancient that he can’t run the country like the vital, virile superman Donald Trump. And yet, whenever the country tunes in to watch Biden fall off the stage he actually does quite well and Trump whines that he was on drugs.

Biden needs to be seen by a national audience right now to prove that this is all crap. It’s ridiculous but between the Republicans, the mainstream press and Biden’s lack of bronzer, hair dye and Aquanet he’s seen by the public as much older than Trump despite the fact that they are actually the same age — and Trump is the one showing signs of dementia, not Biden.

Of course, it’s still possible Trump will not agree to the terms. I’m sure he will want his mic kept open and would prefer an audience of his supporters to cheer him on and boo President Biden.

16 thoughts on “Biden/Trump Debates Are Scheduled”

  1. I'm hoping to be able to watch the June debate.

    But I doubt if I'll still be around for the September debate/(debates?).

    At least that's what the oncologists are telling me.

    Colon cancer is what's going to kill me soon.

    I've known about this since the adverse reaction to the damn chemo therapy almost killed me late last year.

     

    If you've been wondering why the number and quality of my comments has decreased dramatically of late, it's because I've been in the ICU and hospital far more than I've been home.

    I hope I didn't shock anyone with today's announcement.

    But the reality is what it is.

    Don't cry for me, Argentina/America!

    Or get overly depressed.

    I'm not.

    I love you, maha.

    And I love the commenters here.

    I'm 66, and it is what it is.

    My time on this plane of reality is almost over.

    I'll try to keep commenting.

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    • Good luck, m'friend. I don't know what to wish past that – life is complicated and so, too, especially, is its ending. I hope you can find peace, and maybe even joy, while your journey in this world continues, and I hope you find a peace and a better world on the other side.

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    • I'm glad you wrote, but I'm very sorry to hear of the life-or-death struggle you're in. I had a cousin, my age, who died of pancreatic cancer – she turned down chemo after a while, because it was more than she could bear.

      What do you think is next for you, when your time on earth is over? I have been drawn to YouTube videos of NDEs (near death experiences). They're much more common now, because of medical advances, and they've been studied and cataloged academically.

      At times in this life, I've been a serious meditator, and have had quite a few experiences with people (relatives especially) who crossed over. There's no doubt in my mind that we continue after the body stops functioning – I've experienced too much firsthand evidence. As an example, I was part of my departed cousin's life review (blew me away) as well as with someone else I was close to. There is so much more I could say about all of this.

      Look into this, if it interests you. Death is as natural as birth. I hope you can get good palliative care and can be in as positive a frame of mind as possible when your last days arrive.

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    • I'm so sorry to hear this. You've contributed so much to our little support/therapy group. Know that I and a lot of others here care very much about you and are with you in spirit. Do continue to comment here as much as you can. If there is anything we can do for you, just say the word. 

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  3. Sad news. I count the blessings in my life in terms of humans I have encountered… each one with whom I've experienced positive interaction is a blessing, and you are one of them, Gulag.

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  4. Even money that Trump won't be in any kind of shape to debate by the end of June.

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  5. Gulag… You have a family here. Hang in there as best you can. I share in the sentiments that other have expressed in regard to the news of your situation. 

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  6. Thank you all for the very kind words.

    They come from people I love and respect:  ALL Y'ALL!!!

    They mean more to me than money – or anything else.

    I'm in a good place mentally and spiritually.

    It'll be what it'll be.

    I remember Carl Eagan saying that we are ALL made off "star stuff."

    And when my corporeal body dies and begins to decay, my spirit will join with the star stuff, and be ready for a rebirth in millions/billions of years from now.

    Thanks again, one and all!

    I'll keep dropping my word turds here until I can't anymore.

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  7.  

    Gulag – Pulitzer Prize level Gonzo Commenter – Master Wordsmith – I wish you the best.  

     

     

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  8. I have tried to read 

    From the Magazine

    The Unpunished: How Extremists Took Over Israel

    In today's NYT.  I need help.  Not that it is too long or poorly written.  It is that it paints a picture that is so ugly it is hard to believe anyone had the stomach to research it and write it.   

    Mad Max on steroids with religious overtones.

    I need time to process what I've manage to read.  It is no wonder outside journalists are not allowed into the war area if this is even close to truth.

     

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  9. Gulag, its hard to think of what to say in response.  Its amazing to become acquainted with people you never see but get to know only via somewhat limited online comments, not only acquainted but touched in some way; funny, inspiring, comforting, motivating.  Like so many others here, your comments have affected me personally, at least in the way I think about things.  Thank you!

  10. I'll throw out a little prediction re the proposed debates; tRump will insist on pre-debate drug tests overseen by "Doctor" Ronny Jackson.

  11. I feel completely humbled by your comments.

    Thank you so very, very much.

     

    In my absence, please spread the messages of love and peace.

    Better them, than hearing MAGA's malignant and moronic pronouncements.

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