Here’s why I think President Biden agreed to that disastrous, early debate with Trump

Tampa Bay Times ^ | June 29 - July 1 (update) | Barry Golson

[CondoleezzaProtege]

As my wife and son and I awaited the start of the debate, before Biden tottered up to the podium to his mumblecore destiny, I said to my son:

“I’m telling you my suspicion now, rather than after. I think the date of this debate is the most important thing about it.”

My son asked why.

OK, how’s this? ... Think outside the box, Joe.-Why wait till October, with everything on the line? Cut it back to just two debates. And here’s the beauty part, Joe: Do the first debate six weeks before the convention! It’ll be radical, three months earlier than any other debate ever — but for a reason.

Absolutely, I’ll do it hoping I wipe the floor with him, if I have a good night. But if I don’t-if my 81-year-old body, and my spotty memory, betray me, I’m not betraying the country. If I blow it, really blow it, I can still step down. Make it an open convention, leave the second debate to Kamala, or Gavin, or whomever.

I like it. It can work. I don’t have to tell anyone.

Plus, I feel a summer cold coming on.

So what did I say to my son in the first moments of that debate? Not because I’m smart, but because I’ve been around, I’ve played a little poker, I can see a “tell.” Biden may not play poker like Harry Truman did, but he’s decent and crafty. And I have an old-timey sense of when something seems a little off.

“I think this debate is radically early for a reason,” I said to my son. “It’s a move.”

My son looked quizzical.

“Joe thought he could pull this off. But he’s fundamentally decent. If he blows the debate, he’s hedged his bets. For the country.”

[catnipman]

“I still think we in Florida can launch our own Dunkirk to turn the state blue”

VERY long winded DELUDED fool ...

[oil_dude]

OBAMA FORCED him into the early debate so we could get to the point we are at now. OBAMA knew he would implode.

[Captainpaintball]

I said this the day of… nice try.