Originally published at: Republican National Committee plans to stop its candidates' participation in presidential debates | Boing Boing
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They really should let a non-partisan group host them, like the League of Women Voters who hosted it back in the 70s…
BTW, apparently Nixon would not participate in debates in 1968 and 1972 (probably because of the perception that the debates did him in in 1960), so this is not entirely without precedent.
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No problem. The Commission should still hold the debates, and still invite the Republican candidate, but if they choose not to show up, then an empty podium can answer the questions and debate the Democrat candidate. If that’s not stimulating enough debate, then there’s plenty of under-heard third parties that would jump at the chance to enter the debate.
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The problem with that is the current state of our mass media. You’ll end up with forums on the channel of choice for each candidates which does nothing but offer more entrenched worldviews for the viewer. It will be all softball bullshit, even more than before. And yes, that was and is already a problem - lack of depth on these debates. But at the very least we got some contrast…
I mean, that’s why they dumped the LOWV forums in the first place… they don’t want third parties in, because then real questions will be asked. It’s one of the few points of bi-partisanship left.
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That should be done carefully.
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Pretty much admitting Trump will get slaughtered in any debate, especially after the insurrection. If the Dems were smart, they’d start portraying the Republicans as cowards and idiots from this point forward for making this their policy.
“Candidate X knows he’s not smart enough to debate me, and is cowering in his bunker at the very thought!” Maybe throw in a couple “bwuk bwuks” for good measure.
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Hey, good enough for the goose, right?
Side note: why didn’t every Republican in that room all stand up and loudly tell Clint Eastwood, Hollywood actor, to shut up and act like they do with other celebrities?
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Trump boycotted one of the Republican primary debates for the 2016 election because he didn’t like the rules. Many people, both within the Republican establishment and the public in general, hoped this would be a self-destructive act that hurt his standing in the polls. Alas, it did not and the RNC quickly capitulated to his whiny demands for the following debate.
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These cheats and cowards are done pretending they have any respect for liberal democracy. Putin is their model now.
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So their strategy is that everything will rely upon the advertising. Whoever spends the most to get the word out will be the only Republican to stand out from the field, therefore until the PACS themselves revolt, The Party will have the final say.
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those two couldn’t debate a boiled potato.
eta: without shooting it.
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if they won’t turn up, tub of lard them.
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Or when they took the B movie actor seriously back in the 80’s, or their current death cult around the reality show twit.
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Why waste your time with debate when you’re gonna steal the election anyway?
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Debates? They maybe optimistically called that, but they aren’t debates.
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Here’s a promising start. Actual sedition charges for people involved with 1/6
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Makes sense. Why have debates? What is there to debate at this point? We’re in a cold civil war at the federal level already, whether anyone wants to admit it or not.
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