Biden challenges Trump to 2 debates but won't participate in nonpartisan commission's debates

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 8:46 AM EDT, May 15, 2024


WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he will not participate in fall presidential debates sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that has organized them for more than three decades and instead proposed two debates with former President Donald Trump to be held earlier in the year.

Biden’s campaign proposed that the first debate between the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees be held in late June and the second in September before early voting begins. Trump responded to the letter in an interview with Fox News digital, calling the proposed dates “fully acceptable to me” and joked about providing his own transportation.

Biden, in a post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, sought to needle his rival, saying, “Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020, since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal.”

The Democrat suggested that the two candidates could pick some dates, taking a dig at Trump’s ongoing New York hush money trial by noting that the Republican is “free on Wednesdays,” the usual day off in the trial.


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/2024-election-presidential-debates-biden-trump-6b1d1dbb2ed61c7637041b23662d7da8

[lark]

1. Big mistake, IMO.

The pig loves the shit too much and that's all we will hear if they do get on stage together - a tsf shouting and mean, fascist, lying fest.

[Ruby Soho]

14. Neither can afford the perception they're ducking debates.

If Biden was up 20+ points, he probably could get away with it but the damage of not debating is likely worse optics for Biden than debating, even if it turns into a shit-show.

But my guess is that Biden's campaign is risking an actual debate knowing Trump very well may not commit or that an agreement can't be reached and therefore, Biden's team can blame Trump for ducking it.

Right now, it sounds like a Biden's team has gotten CNN to agree with a debate next month.

The ball is now in Trump's court.

No pun intended lol

[niyad]

18. Welcome to our DU family.

[lark]

58. TSF said he'd signed the contract yesterday - but we know how much he lies.

Even if he agrees, you know damn well he will NOT follow the terms. If his podium is close enough to Biden's, he'll just continue to shout, even though his mic is turned off and it will still be nothing but a shit show and magats would love it! The only way this will work is if they are widely separated so Biden will not be so flustered by the constant stream of steaming shit, as anyone sane would be.

[former9thward]

2. I am glad to see Biden is dumping the nonpartisan commission.

I thought they always did a poor job at organizing debates.

[Shipwack]

5. It's not a good look (on the surface) but you're correct.

Just the way it's framed sounds bad. "Biden refuses debate hosted by nonpartisan commision".

It's a shame that everyone ganged up on the League of Wonan Voters who had been running the debates with no problems.

I forget the exact circumstances, but wasn't it that both parties disliked not having control, and the broadcast services smelled money?

[former9thward]

8. I think your last sentence is correct.

But, in general, I am opposed to the modern debates. They are just dueling press conferences. I would like to see a Lincoln-Douglas format where one candidate spoke for an hour, then the other candidate spoke for an hour, and they just asked each other questions back and forth without any moderator. Yes, I know, that would be impossible with today's attention spans.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Do you think the "news organizations" (unnamed in the report) will do any better?

I mean, the Sunday political chat shows don't exactly have a great reputation for meaningful discussion these days. And the NYT is full of it. There's a danger they will structure it to provide controversy (good for their business) rather than an objective display of the 2 men.

[former9thward]

10. Maybe not any better.

Right now, the debates are just dueling press conferences. However, I would like to see the campaigns take more control instead of just being ordered around by the commission.

[Ruby Soho]

16. The 2020 debate had no control.

It wasn't dueling press conferences, it was Trump grandstanding the entire time with interruptions every time Biden spoke.

[Qutzupalotl]

23. Remember how Biden knocked Trump back on his heels

with “Will you shut up, man?” Most memorable line of the night, much more than Trump's mindless chatter, which stopped for a moment. It reminded people of what beautiful silence sounded like, and what it might be like to not have a bully in the bully pulpit.

Biden debated in the Senate for decades. He has a much better record to run on than the Manchurian Cantaloupe. He will be fine.

[Ruby Soho]

25. I have no concerns about Biden's debating ability.

He can handle Trump.

But Trump unchecked, like he was in 2020, ruined that debate and turned a lot of people off. I don't think many blamed Biden but the disgust wasn't just tied to Trump, either.

My only issue is that 2024 is a much more divisive election it seems. Neither candidate is as popular as they were four years ago (and it's not like Trump was all that popular then, either) and the optics of a 2020-style debate again might turn off voters who are already wishing there were different nominees.

Like I said, Biden can brawl but that 2020 debate was exhausting and to do it again might just make voters more disgusted with the options - and we need those reluctant voters to vote Biden instead of RFK Jr. or another third party.

So, Biden's proposed rules seem reasonable but the idea that there should be few limits on how these candidates debate is just not practical with Trump.

If we were talking a sane opponent, I'd love to see a back and forth instead of canned answers but we're not and can't expect that with Trump.

[ClaudetteCC]

27. I wish we did have real debates to give some clarity to issues

instead it seems to have devolved into sound bites so that future newscasts can cherry pick 'highlights' to stuff between commercials. I wonder if some podcasters could do better.

[myohmy2]

55. I agree...

...I want them to talk about Medicare For All and boosting the financial and benefit base of Social Security and Medicare...

...what are the chances of that...?

...instead we'll get non-stop media spam and the usual 24/7 king magat up-chucks with his fascist party pissing themselves because he's not in jail...

...totally irrelevant, meaningless and useless to my daily existence ...

...but for joy, rapture, we get to do 2020 all over again...

...

[wcollar]

17. Remember the debate with Hillary/

They weren’t exactly nonpartisan there! I wouldn’t trust them……

[Cha]

39. Emphatically YES!

[DENVERPOPS]

48. The moderators

were horrific........Allowing Trump to continue talking, to constantly be talking over the Dem, and following Hillary around the stage was beyond despicable.......She missed a good one when he was doing that......she should have turned to the moderator and said would you please order Trump to quit "stalking" me around the stage......

I would love a debate where the microphone is turned off when it is not the person's turn. Period. And shut off their microphone the moment their time is up..............

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Surprise

Any mistakes in June debates are recoverable by November. September also. Clearly avoiding last minute October surprise is a prime consideration. We all remember 1980. Without the final debate a week before, Dems probably could have kept 20 House seats and maybe a Senate seat or two.

I think they're betting Trump won't be available in June, or will be very tarnished by his court cases and perhaps convictions.

Count me in the camp for no debates this year. Trump is too volatile and unstable, you never know what hatred he will bring.

[red dog 1]

37. We should "all remember 1980" for two other reasons

1) "October Surprise"
There is evidence to support the claim that Reagan Campaign Manager William Casey met secretly with Iranian officials to ask that the hostages not be released until after the election, so Reagan, and not President Jimmy Carter, wouldn't get credit for their release.

2) "Debate-gate" or "Briefing-gate"
There are those who allege that William Casey had Donald Gregg, a CIA agent who was detailed by the CIA to the National Security Council, (and may have had access to the White House), steal President Carter's Briefing Papers (while Carter was out of town) for his 2nd debate with Reagan.
Casey allegedly made copies of the Carter Briefing Papers and gave them to George Will, who used them to
"coach" Reagan before the 2nd Presidential Debate.
Remember, Reagan did poorly in his first debate with Carter. He mumbled and stumbled and didn't seem to know much.
Carter clearly "won" that first debate.
However, in the 2nd Presidential Debate, after being coached by George Will, Reagan knew what Jimmy Carter was going to say beforehand, because of the stolen WH Briefing Papers.
["Well, there you go again."]
Reagan did very well in that 2nd debate & went on to defeat President Carter in November, 1980.

[TheRickles]

4. Key question - Can the moderator cut the mic if someone runs over?

[Marcuse]

6. Any debate rules must include a cut off switch on his microphone.

[RAB910]

9. Will Trump be able to stay awake through the whole thing

[Mysterian]

11. The "non-partisan" commission would likely have some asshole like Kristen Welker

as the moderator. Good move by President Biden.

[DownriverDem]

12. I'm getting very worried.

All the news we see about Biden is not good. I don't think the voters grasp the seriousness of a trump second term.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. "All the news we see about Biden is not good."

You must be missing my LBN OPs then.

It's quite the opposite of what you have "seen".

[DownriverDem]

15. Except

what I see the voters see. What are LBN Ops?

[BumRushDaShow]

20. You are in a swing state like me (I am in PA)

and guaranteed there are quite a few resources being thrown there, including ads, etc.

MI, which the pundits CONTINUE to ignore when it came to the 2020 results, flipped MI back to blue by a margin of over 154,000 votes vs the less than 11,000 vote difference in 2016. Your state has taken back the governor and legislature.

And LBN = "Late Breaking News" which is a forum where news items get posted - https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1014 (it has a stricter criteria to post versus General Discussion).

[DownriverDem]

28. Yes Michigan

has turned Blue and that makes us happy here. However we have a pretty good amount of Muslims/Arab citizens here (I live nesxt to Dearborn.) and they are not happy with Biden. A lot of young folks here are not happy either. If they don't vote or vote 3rd party we are screwed. They post anti Biden stuff. Like I said I don't think many understand the gravity of a trump second term. BTW my family on my mother's side came to PA from Ireland in the 1860s.

[BumRushDaShow]

32. I have been to Detroit a couple times

(used to supervise folks there) and saw that Arab community even there.

However your state is not just folks there. It's all those folks up and down the state including all the way up to the Upper Peninsula.

And by golly, do NOT count out these folks -

and what Biden did there (which was unprecedented) -

That had a powerful impact for actual blue collar VOTERS and the unions are some of the biggest organizers for the vote.

And Philly did get quite a lot of Irish immigrants back then and they were tormented by the "Know-Nothing" nativist party as they came in (including a few decades before the biggest groups began to arrive) -



There is a memorial to that period - https://irishmemorial.org/



(had to be temporarily moved because they are capping the whole area by the Delaware River where it is, to cover I-95 and replace with parkland, etc).

[Cha]

40. Mahalo for the Uplifting Post, BRDS.. Counteracting the

Vote Depressing one.

You are the Best!!

[BumRushDaShow]

43. YW Cha! We gotta ignore the negative media and make sure we GOTV!!

[Cha]

45. I got that coveed.. I Cancelled All "media" in

November 2002. But I know what how much worse they've gotten.. if possible.

I only Do DU.. We have Standards!

TY!

[John1956PA]

51. Here in the Pittsburgh area, both sides air TV ads at noon.

The 12:00 PM noon news telecasts are popular in Pittsburgh. President Biden's TV ads criticize 45 for his role in overturning Roe. On the other side, 45's ads accuse the President of being insensitive to the effects of inflation on the middle class.

[BumRushDaShow]

52. I don't normally have the TV on during the day (unless there is some big breaking news)

but in the evening (drive-time and beyond), they have been running Biden & Casey ads on MSNBC here in Philly. I expect they are also running them on the OTA stations as well (they certainly have amassed enough $$$ to do that)!

Haven't seen any 45 or McCormick ads yet although every once in awhile, there will be some oil company PAC ad or tech PAC ad that makes insinuations against Biden.

[John1956PA]

53. Today, at noontime, I saw a McCormick TV ad.

The spokesperson in the ad introduced himself as a West Point classmate of McCormick. Of course, there was no mention that McCormick is not really a Pennsylvanian, nor was there any mention that he is a multi-millionaire hedge fund operator.

[BumRushDaShow]

54. His CT home will be to him

like the 9 home(s)/mansions (including a principal NJ mansion), were to Oz!

[Traurigkeit]

49. don't read the "news". those corporations are too invested in the GOP mode of profit

[The Mouth]

19. Debates should be required

It would be nice to see them enshrined in the Constitution.

Should *not* be optional.

[retread]

22. What we have now are NOT debates.

[pnwmom]

38. The things we've been calling debates weren't really debates.

They were rallies full of supporters ready to cheer or boo. And the moderator allowed Trump to talk during Biden's time.

I'm glad they took the responsibility away from the Commission.

[retread]

21. My limited understanding of Biden's proposed conditions include 2 conditions that would limit Stinky's antics.

1. No live audience. No Maga sycophants to disrupt.
2. Automatic cutoff of audio if over time limit. I can't wait to see this happen.

[Katinfl]

24. Imperative that the mic be turned off when the other person has the time.

That eliminates interruptions and shouting over each other. Trump wanted a big stadium crowd but I believe there will be no audience. Great. Otherwise he will turn it into a circus.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

26. Here is President Biden's letter to the Presidential Debate Commission

Last edited Wed May 15, 2024, 03:06 PM - Edit history (1)

Link to tweet

[Cha]

41. TY Again!

[ananda]

29. Boy, our guy is good!

Dark Brandon strikes again.

[KS Toronado]

30. Only debates I want to see is where all questions are asked by the debaters.

Let's see 2 politicians go after each other with everything they got, let voters see who can think on their feet
under pressure. Let's see the lack of knowledge stable geniuses enjoy.

And one bailiff to cut the mikes off when their time has expired.

[nowforever]

35. Agree

Yes, a real debate. Listening to candidates regurgitating talking points is not a debate.

[Traurigkeit]

50. and a high pressure water hose when they won't stop talking.

[bmichaelh]

31. Submitted a debate question and it was ignored

I submitted a question to one of these debates in 2020 and it was ignored.

I asked about Trump's campaign promise to repeal ACA and its impact on millions of Americans.

In a way, it does not matter; Trump will lie anyway.

Is there a point in debating a pathological liar.

[Mr.Bill]

33. Every time I try to second guess whether President Biden

should do or not do something, he does the opposite of what I think and shows me why he is the president and I'm not. I have totally come to trust that he knows best about what to do.

[Polybius]

34. Why does Biden want them to be early?

What debate in modern history was ever before September?

[BumRushDaShow]

36. See my answer to your same question here --

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=3240944

[Cha]

42. I think it's a good time.. TY!

[BumRushDaShow]

44. They did explain that due to more states doing "early voting"

(whether "in person" or mail), the timing of the first would occur before that early voting for the general election started (and in this case, it would be just after the last of the primaries and before the conventions).

The 2nd debate would be happening just as some states would start "early voting".

[Cha]

46. Yes, Excellent reasoning.. Biden Team knows what they're doing.

TY!

[Polybius]

56. I want a second opinion lol

I get it, early voting and all. But why not September 1st? June is insane. I think there are other reasons.

[BumRushDaShow]

57. There will be a 2nd debate in September

It's scheduled for September 10th and hosted by ABC.

https://abc.com/news/6abdd5ab-5cdc-48c2-8184-8be2f1a532c1/category/1138628

[dchill]

47. All he has to do is get Trump on a stage...

... And ask him "do you pick your feet in Poughkeepsie?"

[keithbvadu2]

59. monitoring the debaters' physiological signs; breath rate, pulse, temp, sweating, eye movement and such

An article years ago talked of monitoring the debaters' physiological signs; breath rate, pulse, temp, sweating, eye movement and such and displaying them on a screen with instantly changing dials for all to see.

And make them visible to each speaker. Think of the entertainment value of them trying to control the readings.

[BumRushDaShow]

60. CNN (et al) has sortof have been doing that since 2008

with "reaction" plotting.

Article about the 2012 VP debate - https://phys.org/news/2012-10-debate-reactions-real.html