2020 Presidential Election

[Voronwë the Faithful]

No problem - I appreciate Rogan has said a lot of things people find offensive and I don't think anyone needs to feel compelled to like him or his influence on public debate. I think a debate moderated by him would be far more interesting and less artificial than a debate on a mainstream media platform like CNN or Fox, but I can understand if others would find it a farce.

I am really surprised by this, and disagree with it as strenuously as I can, and I will leave it at that.

[Túrin Turambar]

Are election debates even all that important? I struggle to think of a game-changing moment from a presidential general election debate in recent years, given how stage-managed and sterile they've become, and how much exposure the candidates already get through the 24-hour media cycle. Reagan trounced Mondale and Clinton did the same with Dole, but they were both likely to win anyway. Based on past experience, Biden will perform solidly but not spectacularly on any platform with any moderator. He might (or is likely to) make some sort of gaffe, but everyone expects it now and I doubt it would change all that many minds. Similarly, Trump will say a series of outrageous things and simply ignore any attempt to force him to back up his claims, but it's unlikely to make much of a difference among either his supporters or detractors. Both candidates probably have every incentive not to have a debate, come to think of it - Biden because he already has a consistent lead and there's no reason to take the risk, and Trump because he's unlikely to come across well.

[River]

I think they used to matter more. Now they're more ritual than combat, though there's still some value in seeing the candidates side by side. I wonder if Trump's going to hunch over with his arms crossed. He looks so shriveled when he does that but it happens all the time. Weird for someone who wants to be the alpha.

[RoseMorninStar]

The debates do not matter much to me. Occasionally I am surprised. I often find the Town Hall meetings of more interest. For example, the way John McCain handled himself in the interactions at a Town Hall meeting (in the video below) raised my (already high) estimation of him incredibly. This is how a person of honor and integrity handles himself. I had seriously considered voting for McCain until he chose Sarah Palin as his running mate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... e=emb_logo

[Voronwë the Faithful]

I don't think the debates matter very much, but I very much would not want to give a person who like Mr. Trump is the antithesis of compassionate understanding a broad forum.

[RoseMorninStar]

Trump is trying to take over a full hour on Fox & Friends every week (as he already did this week and has done before). Probably because he's running low on funds. If anyone wants to listen to him babble on all they have to do is tune into Fox.

[RoseMorninStar]

On the subject of debates, Thomas Friedman of the NYT wrote a piece a while back stating that Biden should not agree to debate Trump unless Trump agrees to disclose his taxes (as Biden did and Trump agreed to do long ago but never did) and agree to a real-time fact-checker. I think this is an excellent suggestion no matter the moderator or venue.

[Sunsilver]

Excellent idea, Rose!

[RoseMorninStar]

The idea is an excellent one Suny.. but it's not mine. Thomas Friedman is an excellent journalist/political commentator.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

All reasonable suggestions, and completely and utterly unrealistic.

[RoseMorninStar]

Unrealistic only because of Trump, not because they are bad ideas or bad for Americans as a whole.

[Lalaith]

RBG has died.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk

[Inanna]

[RoseMorninStar]

What an awful year.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

****

[River]

Now watch McConnell and Trump ram through a nomination on the eve of an election...

[RoseMorninStar]

Now watch McConnell and Trump ram through a nomination on the eve of an election...

...or during the (hopefully) lame duck session.

[Sunsilver]

TheHill.com
"My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed," Ginsburg dictated in a statement to her granddaughter that was obtained by NPR.

I think it's a very good bet the current administration will not honor her wishes...

[yovargas]

IAWV

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Mr. McConnell couldn't even wait a day to put out this statement:

"The Senate and the nation mourn the sudden passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the conclusion of her extraordinary American life," McConnell said in the statement.
He added: "President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate."