The Debate Debate

​I thought that President Biden debate challenge to Trump was brilliant – not that he made the challenge or how he did it, taunting Trump (those were excellent, but not what most pleased me) – but for another specific reason, something that I’ve been yammering about for years.

The challenge was, indeed, excellent on its own.  While I know that some analysts were saying that the President shouldn’t debate, since it would raise Trump to his level, I never bought that.  For all his negatives, Trump is a former president.  You can’t get around that.  But I think one of the reasons Trump is polling as well as he’s been is that it’s early in the campaign, the general public, other than MAGOPs and news junkies, hasn’t seen Trump all that much, most especially at rallies, when he is especially dark, dystopian and failing mentally – notably mixing up words in ways psychiatrists call paraphasia, one of early signs of dementia -- and to a large degree many people have likely forgotten how disruptive Trump is.  Putting Trump on a debate stage, where he can be asked tough questions which he hasn’t had to answer for four years at his rallies and avoiding tough interviews and bypassing all the Republican debates, where he can be triggered by Biden, and where the public can see his mental failing is critically important to remind voters and show voters who Trump is today and all the baggage he carries.

In particular, there are two questions that will be especially difficult for Trump to answer without going into a meltdown rant.  I’m not sure if one of the questions will be asked, though Biden might allude to it, to trigger Trump, but the others could be – and should be – and if not, would be easy for Biden to bring up, and I’m sure he’ll be primed to.  That question is, “Who won the 2020 debate?”  Trump has to answer that he did, since he believes it and has been crying it for the past 3-1/2 years, and he’d likely go into a “the election was rigged!!” rant.  The other question, which as I said might not be brought up, since it’s touchy – but irresponsible if it’s not – is “Mr. Trump, how do you convince people to vote for someone who was found liable by two juries for the equivalence of rape?”  And if asked, Trump will surely do what he always does and that’s go into a meltdown rant about how “I don’t know that woman!!!”

I think just one of those questions and answers would be devastating to Trump.  And two of them would be crushing.

But those are the "Game Over" questions that may or may not get asked.  There are policy issues that absolutely will be asked that will be damning in their own right.

For starters, abortion.  The best Trump can try is his cry of "states' rights."  But the rest of the field is open for President Biden to explain Trump taking credit for ending Roe v. Wade, and list all the Red states that are banning abortion -- and make clear his full-throated support for abortion.

Also, one of Joe Biden's weak points to young voters and some minorities is his support of Israel and how that has impacted Gaza.  But Trump will be onstage, and showing how far more violent he'll be.  And worse, his position on banning Muslims from the country and keep a registry of Muslims in the country will be tied to the discussion.

And related to this will be Trump's position on deporting undocumented Mexican immigrants, tearing apart families, and creating internment camps. 

It's hard to imagine that his cruel and draconian position on such things -- while perhaps appealing to his base -- won't outrage Mexican-Americans and Muslims who weren't previously aware of his views and actions he wants to take.

And infrastructure will most surely be brought up.  Which offers President Biden a trifecta -- the chance to tout all the many programs he was put into reality, while also chiding Trump for all his failed "Infrastructure Weeks" when nothing got done...which will then trigger Trump.

Moreover, the debates will be a chance for Joe Biden to bring up (as I'm certain he will) that, however much Trump talks about his support, Trump's Vice-President is not supporting him.  Nor is his first Secretary of State.  Nor much of his cabinet.  Nor his Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff.  Nor his National Security Advisor.  People who actually know him -- and know him well.

To be clear, it’s not certain that Trump will debate.  He insists he will, but he insists he will do a lot of things, and never does.  Most recently, that he will testify in his Manhattan trial.  But there’s so much more, including that he’ll be explaining his big, beautiful healthcare plan in two weeks – which he repeatedly said four years ago.  And we’re still waiting for Melania’s press conference on her immigration status, which was promised eight years ago.  And so much more.  But if I had to make a bet, it would be that he will.  In part because he was so ridiculing in his “any place time, any place” taunt of President Biden – and similarly, because President Biden taunted him in return on several levels.

But it’s the ground rules that President Biden’s team set up – and that Trump has apparently agreed to – that I think is most brilliant, one in particular.

The four ground rules were pretty basic, but all very good.

Two debates, early in the campaign, and just President Biden and Trump.  No third party candidates.

Only networks that carried primary debates for both parties can participate for coverage and the reporters on the panels.

No audience to play to and react, just a serious debate.

But it’s the fourth ground rule that, when I heard it, I let out a whoop.  That microphones would only be activated when it was a candidates turn to speak!!!

I love it.  Love, love, love it.  As I noted, I’ve been bringing this up for years, and never dreamed it would get anywhere.  But it is so brilliant of the Biden Team bringing it up.  Having Trump’s microphone off is like taking away an ax from an ax murderer.  And it serves two purposes.  One, that Trump obviously won’t be able to interrupt President Biden when he’s talking.  And two, Trump being Trump will most surely talk and respond to the President, because he can’t help himself, and that will be heard in the background…and, being in the background, will show him to be petulant and unable to control himself and breaking the agreed upon rules.

So – great.  Wonderful.

None of this is to say that there will be a debate, or that President Biden will mop the floor with Trump.  In fact, presidents running for re-election have often done poorly in the first debate.  The difference here is that Trump hasn’t been debating either for a long time, which likely equalizes things.  And all the more – I am sure that the Biden team will be preparing to trigger Trump every way possible.  Which is braindead easy, starting with saying, “Trump was wrong.” 

And in the end, troubling too for Trump is his mental issues, which are very real, are not going to be getting better.