Posted on 07/08/2020 4:49:32 AM PDT by Helicondelta
I worry about Joe Biden debating Donald Trump. He should do it only under two conditions. Otherwise, hes giving Trump unfair advantages.
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That is not a good way for Biden to reintroduce himself to the American people. And, lets not kid ourselves, these debates will be his reintroduction to most Americans, who have neither seen nor heard from him for months if not years.
Because of Covid-19, Biden has been sticking close to home, wearing a mask and social distancing. And with the coronavirus now spreading further, and Biden being a responsible individual and role model, its likely that he wont be able to engage with any large groups of voters before Election Day. Therefore, the three scheduled televised debates, which will garner huge audiences, will carry more weight for him than ever.
He should not go into such a high-stakes moment ceding any advantages to Trump. Trump is badly trailing in the polls, and he needs these debates much more than Biden does to win over undecided voters. So Biden needs to make Trump pay for them in the currency of transparency and fact-checking universal principles that will level the playing field for him and illuminate and enrich the debates for all citizens.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
BS, cooked up in the NYT’s newsroom.
Just having Biden be who he is gives Trump the advantage. Can’t say that it is an un-fair advantage; just that it is what it is.
If Biden’s health is so fragile that he has to hide at home perpetually, how does he propose to function as President?
Friedman can spin that Biden is responsible and setting an example, but we all know that a candidate has to take risks. Hiding in these circumstances is tactical and cowardly.
That's brilliant! The President should definitely push that thought as the debates approach.
If he wins, imagine him giving an inaugural address when his mental state will probably be worse than it is now.
Like all such addresses, I’ll pass
If he comes off as an unprepared, lost in the glare, befuddled old man who can't keep his place in the script, then all bets are off.
And that's considering a virtual convention without the added distraction of 20,000 screaming delegates packed into an echoing convention center.
-PJ
Not sure how. Biden would be ensured of friendly moderators and be facing someone who couldn't give a concise answer if his life depended on it. Debates are a lose/lose for both sides.
-PJ
Never bring a knife to a gunfight.
You really think the moderators will allow that? And sooner or later Trump is going to need to answer a question, one requiring a short, concise, coherent response. Calling them a nasty person and refusing to answer won't work.
Debates are not a friendly format for Trump. He would do better to avoid them to the extent possible. His accomplishments more than speak for themselves.
If Biden does give an inaugural address, it will be on the lines of “our long national nightmare is over.” So he should set a record and have a 6-word-long inaugural address. Of course I am hoping that never happens.
Tactically, President Trump only has to do it once or twice to throw Biden off his game. After that, a flustered Biden will have to work hard to regain his composure and balance (and perhaps, his focus).
The moderators can try to heavy-hand him in the first debate, but that will become the news. "Moderators stopping Trump but letting Biden slide" will dwarf whatever actually happens, and the people will tune into the first debate.
I agree that Trump will need to be able to answer questions pointedly, but he will also need to be prepared for loaded "gotcha" questions that are designed by the MSM to be answered only one way that is harmful to Trump. Trump will have to use his time to rephrase the question that shows its inherent dishonesty in how it was asked before he can effectively answer it, and thus risks the charge of rambling.
-PJ
He seems incapable of holding a thought for long. He is still good at delivering pre written lines. They won’t let him debate and there lies your proof.
Yes, I’ve been scrolling this thread hoping to read what the conditions were, but see nothing. You’ve confirmed...there are none.
Dukakis recently told Biden to ignore the polls, because he himself was far ahead in July of 1988, then got badly beaten by Bush Sr. in November.
Hillary was ahead by 14 points in a national poll taken two weeks before the 2016 election.
Carter was far ahead of Reagan in the spring of 1980.
Truman trailed Dewey badly in 1948.
And so on and so on...
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