General Discussion

applegrove

(119,087 posts) Tue Apr 16, 2024, 02:34 PM Apr 16

Why Biden Should Not Debate Trump

Why Biden Should Not Debate Trump

April 16, 2024 at 9:00 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 197 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2024/04/16/why-biden-should-not-debate-trump/

"SNIP............

David Frum: “In their letter of invitation, the networks refer to presidential debates as a ‘competition of ideas.’ But one of the two men they’re inviting turned the last election into a competition of violence: Trump tried to seize the presidency by force in 2021.”

“If Trump had not occupied the presidency at the time of his attempted coup d’état, he would very likely be already serving a lengthy prison term for his alleged crimes against the 2020 election. Earlier this month, a principal figure in the January 6 attack was sentenced to seven years in prison, the latest of many such serious convictions and sentences. Fortunately for Trump, the U.S. justice system is highly cautious, deferential, and slow when dealing with persons of wealth and importance. Although the followers have been punished, the indicted leader of the plot is unlikely to face trial before Election Day 2024. Until tried and convicted, Trump must be regarded as innocent in the eyes of the law.”

“But the political system has eyes of its own. No doubt exists about what Trump did, or why, or what his actions meant. Trump lost an election, then incited a violent mob to attack the Capitol. He hoped that the insurrectionists would terrorize, kidnap, or even kill his own vice president in order to stop the ceremony to formalize the victory of Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris. By disrupting the ceremony, Trump schemed to cast the election’s result to the House of Representatives, where Republican voting strength might proclaim him president in place of the lawful winner. Many people were badly injured by Trump’s violent plan, and some died as a result.”

............

The networks want their show, but to give the challenger equal status on a TV stage would be a dire normalization of his attempted coup.

.............SNIP"

10 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why Biden Should Not Debate Trump (Original Post) applegrove Apr 16 OP

Why give trump a large audience for lies? Why advertise trump as a legitimate Karadeniz Apr 16 #1

And also should not... appmanga Apr 16 #2

I often agree with Frum, but not on this. Qutzupalotl Apr 16 #3

I agree that Biden should not debate him but not for Frum's reason blogslug Apr 16 #4

Another perspective referencing this article: Fiendish Thingy Apr 16 #5

Agree w your post and with others. Don't debate...not because of political risk but because this wiggs Apr 16 #6

Trump doesn't "debate" -- he gish-gallops and spews talking points. LeftinOH Apr 16 #7

"Competition of ideas"? Who wrote that tripe? Boomerproud Apr 16 #8

For starters, I don't think Joe Biden speaks Klingon DFW Apr 16 #9

He had a chance to debate republicans and Emile Apr 16 #10

Karadeniz

(22,634 posts)

1. Why give trump a large audience for lies? Why advertise trump as a legitimate

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 02:48 PM

Apr 16

candidate when the Supreme Court should have done its constitutional duty and forbid his running? Biden shouldn't lower himself to be on the same stage as an insurrectionist !

appmanga

(602 posts)

2. And also should not...

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 02:50 PM

Apr 16

...allow him to have classified briefings. I don't know how that could even be a consideration for a person credibly accused of mishandling classified information.

Qutzupalotl

(14,364 posts)

3. I often agree with Frum, but not on this.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 02:51 PM

Apr 16

Yes, sharing a stage with an insurrectionist normalizes him. But the alternative, declining to debate, would spark a lot of theories and questions about Biden's fitness, or he would perhaps appear cowardly. But Biden is a strong debater, and has a great record to run on. You can go down the list and compare the two candidates; Biden shines. Trump's only move is to insult, chatter nonsense endlessly, and shout lies over people. I think the contrast would be clear, even if anyone is still undecided.

blogslug

(38,033 posts)

4. I agree that Biden should not debate him but not for Frum's reason

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 02:57 PM

Apr 16

I just think it would be a big dumb mess like the last time where Donny rants and blusters and rants until Joe finally says:

"Will you shut up, man?"

It would be nothing but a terrible sequel to a show that sucked and nobody learned anything.

Fiendish Thingy

(15,730 posts)

5. Another perspective referencing this article:

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 03:46 PM

Apr 16

https://www.emptywheel.net/2024/04/16/media-organizations-omit-mention-of-trumps-allegedly-criminal-exploitation-of-2020-debates/

The article focuses on how Trump used the 2020 debates as a springboard for violence and other criminal behaviour, including his command to the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by”.

That alone is reason enough for Biden to decline to debate Trump, and should be reason enough for the media to refuse to encourage debates.

wiggs

(7,832 posts)

6. Agree w your post and with others. Don't debate...not because of political risk but because this

Reply to Fiendish Thingy (Reply #5)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 04:16 PM

Apr 16

individual is a loathsome person by any measure, because he doesn't debate he just shits all over the event, and this is a debate between a president and a former president...we already know everything we need to know about these two in order to make a choice.

LeftinOH

(5,360 posts)

7. Trump doesn't "debate" -- he gish-gallops and spews talking points.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 04:38 PM

Apr 16

Of course, the MAGA cultists don't know (or care) about proper debate format. If it's going to happen at all, it should happen in a studio without any in-house audience.

Boomerproud

(8,006 posts)

8. "Competition of ideas"? Who wrote that tripe?

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 04:42 PM

Apr 16

The MSM thinks they've got a ratings winner. They're not smart.

DFW

(54,593 posts)

9. For starters, I don't think Joe Biden speaks Klingon

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 04:48 PM

Apr 16

By the time they could get a debate organized, the way he's deteriorating, I'm not sure Trump would be speaking anything else.

Emile

(23,353 posts)

10. He had a chance to debate republicans and

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 04:52 PM

Apr 16

chicken out. Screw him, why give him a stage to lie his ass off. Everything god damn he says is a lie.

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