US Presidential elections 2024

[brewerb]

All the political talking heads are discussing Biden debating Trump. I don't see an up side for Biden. No matter how it turns out Trump will claim victory and state he was treated unfairly, then flood social media which will get him additional national news time. It will give him a vehicle for manipulating the minds of those not yet committed whether they watched the debate or not.

[Minimalist]

Probably true.  These "debates" are nothing of the sort and have not been for decades.  Frankly, they are merely an opportunity for both sides to read their talking points.... except Fuckface is illiterate so he just makes up words as he goes along!

[Fireball]

All the political talking heads are discussing Biden debating Trump. I don't see an up side for Biden. No matter how it turns out Trump will claim victory and state he was treated unfairly, then flood social media which will get him additional national news time. It will give him a vehicle for manipulating the minds of those not yet committed whether they watched the debate or not.

..."paging Bill Maher...Bill Maher, please queue up, 'Whiny Little Bitch!'"  

Of course, most intelligent people see through this ploy.

[pattylt]

I think it’d be hysterical if Biden refused to debate Trump because he doesn’t debate fascist dictators!

The only way that Biden would benefit is if the debate rules were strictly stated and obeyed…no interruptions (that’s probably the hardest for Trump) and if Trump tries to interrupt the mike was immediately cut off. Another rule is that they must stay on topic. Ramblings would also silence the mike. Trump would never agree to this so Biden can say he was willing but Trump doesn’t know how debates work and won’t comply.

[mordant]

The republican response to the SOTU last night was sad, just sad.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?534120-1/r...on-address

OWWWWW! THE SMARM!!! IT HURTS US !!!

Can that woman un-paste that rictus of a smile from her face for more than 3 seconds? For Jesus' sake if no one else's?

It's pretty typical GOP messaging though ... the country is going to hell in a hand basket, it's worrying and terrifying, our children will have less free-dumb than we did, and the answer is Jesus.

[Rhythmcs]

That performance is indicative of what they believe...about you.

[Aroura]

I have returned to lurk. Apparently injury draws me to this place, lol.
Still miss you guys. No idea why I stay away for months at a time.
Interesting to read what everyone is thinking heading into this election season!

[mordant]

I have returned to lurk. Apparently injury draws me to this place, lol.
Still miss you guys. No idea why I stay away for months at a time.
Interesting to read what everyone is thinking heading into this election season!

Hey Aroura, good to see you and wish you posted here on the regular! Hope you, hubby and kiddo are well.

[Aroura]

I have returned to lurk. Apparently injury draws me to this place, lol.
Still miss you guys. No idea why I stay away for months at a time.
Interesting to read what everyone is thinking heading into this election season!

Hey Aroura, good to see you and wish you posted here on the regular! Hope you, hubby and kiddo are well.

Hi Mordant! Thank you. Same for your wife and kiddo! Did he manage to get into college? My memory is a little fuzzy on the details there, sorry. Was he already in? Just working through?

Mine are fine. We are living in Maine now! Bought our first home up here. Loving it so far.  Kiddo graduates HS this summer, how time flies!

[Minimalist]

I think it’d be hysterical if Biden refused to debate Trump because he doesn’t debate fascist dictators!

The only way that Biden would benefit is if the debate rules were strictly stated and obeyed…no interruptions (that’s probably the hardest for Trump) and if Trump tries to interrupt the mike was immediately cut off.  Another rule is that they must stay on topic.  Ramblings would also silence the mike.  Trump would never agree to this so Biden can say he was willing but Trump doesn’t know how debates work and won’t comply.

All Biden's camp has to do is insist on a black, female, moderator and Fuckface will run like his ass is on fire.

[Minimalist]

And Hi, Aroura.  Nice to see you again.

[Szuchow]

I think it’d be hysterical if Biden refused to debate Trump because he doesn’t debate fascist dictators!

Wannabe fascists dictators. Important addition here.

The only way that Biden would benefit is if the debate rules were strictly stated and obeyed…no interruptions (that’s probably the hardest for Trump) and if Trump tries to interrupt the mike was immediately cut off.  Another rule is that they must stay on topic.  Ramblings would also silence the mike.  Trump would never agree to this so Biden can say he was willing but Trump doesn’t know how debates work and won’t comply.

From my pov there is no gain at all in engaging trump in debate. His cultists will insist that he won and it's just one more venue to let him spread hatred and idiocy.

[mordant]

Hey Aroura, good to see you and wish you posted here on the regular! Hope you, hubby and kiddo are well.

Hi Mordant! Thank you. Same for your wife and kiddo! Did he manage to get into college? My memory is a little fuzzy on the details there, sorry. Was he already in? Just working through?

Mine are fine. We are living in Maine now! Bought our first home up here. Loving it so far.  Kiddo graduates HS this summer, how time flies!

It took him 7 years to complete his bachelors degree in math and philosophy but he did it. He sort of imploded after that, though ... autism, ADHD-I, OCD, Tourette's. So he'll be 32 this year and still living with us. He's subcontracting under me as a data analyst and he's fantastic at it, but can only focus enough for about 10 hours a week. We are having the devil of a time finding health care providers with proficiency in adult autism. I think with med adjustments and the RIGHT therapy he could make progress but he's a bit stalled now. On the positive side he's taken to working out with a trainer and to cooking, both of which he also excels at.

In self defense I'm going to assume he's permanently stalled and am setting up a trust to keep his head above water after we're gone, but we hope he can live independently. We're getting old, my wife just weathered a cancer scare, etc.

Other than that nothing has happened ;-)

Maine ... wow that is a big change from ... Oregon, wasn't it? Beautiful place though. Enjoy!

[Thumpalumpacus]

My feeling is that most Americans are brainwashed into thinking the US is doing the right thing in Ukraine.

You apparently think that turning one's back on people suffering invasion and atrocities is a good thing to do. Bring this to the Ukraine thread and I'll explain in detail why you're once again wrong as usual.

[airportkid]

Welcome back Thump!  Glad you're well.

[Deesse23]

Dito

[Thumpalumpacus]

Welcome back Thump!  Glad you're well.

Thanks, AK, thought I'd drop in and see what's up here.

[Minimalist]

Welcome back Thump!  Glad you're well.

Thanks, AK, thought I'd drop in and see what's up here.

SS-DD

Howdy, bro.

[Aegon]

I think it’d be hysterical if Biden refused to debate Trump because he doesn’t debate fascist dictators!

The only way that Biden would benefit is if the debate rules were strictly stated and obeyed…no interruptions (that’s probably the hardest for Trump) and if Trump tries to interrupt the mike was immediately cut off.  Another rule is that they must stay on topic.  Ramblings would also silence the mike.  Trump would never agree to this so Biden can say he was willing but Trump doesn’t know how debates work and won’t comply.

There is no scenario where Biden benefits from a debate. He's just not able to keep up. It would make him look terrible.

[pattylt]

I agree with you if it was just another free for all like his last one but, Biden is pretty good at countering arguments, especially bad arguments. He has much more experience than Trump does. Trump is used to giving presentations but when he has to answer questions, especially if he didn’t expect some difficult ones, he flounders terribly.

What I do also agree with is that it doesn’t benefit Biden and Trump will just spew garbage to his base…even if there were rules. So, he should just state that he doesn’t debate traitorous dictators and walk away.

[mordant]

I agree with you if it was just another free for all like his last one but, Biden is pretty good at countering arguments, especially bad arguments.  He has much more experience than Trump does.  Trump is used to giving presentations but when he has to answer questions, especially if he didn’t expect some difficult ones, he flounders terribly.  

What I do also agree with is that it doesn’t benefit Biden and Trump will just spew garbage to his base…even if there were rules.  So, he should just state that he doesn’t debate traitorous dictators and walk away.

I am put in mind of Jim Carey's SNL impersonation of Biden debating Trump ... "WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP?!" It was priceless.

Still, I'm with Min on this one, debates are just beauty contests under another name, a waste of time and there's probably no upside for Biden. Then again, Trump seemed to suffer little damage declining various debates and Biden would probably have more to loose there. And Trump would be happy to hypocritically criticize / taunt him for doing so.

[Cavebear]

Well, actually, I think Biden would win any debate. With the following provisos...

1. Trump is chained to his podium so he can't walk around and "hover".
2. There is a security guard between them with a taser.
3. Fact-checkers who can respond in real time.
4. Trump has 4 hamburgers (and fries) on his podium.

Note that Trump is the one who needs controlling in a debate...

[Minimalist]

Actually, it could be done.

1.  Ask the same question to both candidates.
2.  Cut the microphone to whichever one is not answering the question.
3.  Cut the lights to whichever one is not answering the question so no one can see the dumbass facial expression that Fuckface makes.
4.  Draw a three foot circle around each podium and, if a candidate steps out of the circle he loses a minute of rebuttal time for each such transgression.

Fuckface would never agree to such terms so that's the end of the debates and the rest of us can get on with our lives.

[skyking]

My feeling is that most Americans are brainwashed into thinking the US is doing the right thing in Ukraine.

You apparently think that turning one's back on people suffering invasion and atrocities is a good thing to do. Bring this to the Ukraine thread and I'll explain in detail why you're once again wrong as usual.

Welcome back and I fully second that thought. Magic Mike has single handedly stalled support this time. Fuck those bastards.

[Thumpalumpacus]

You apparently think that turning one's back on people suffering invasion and atrocities is a good thing to do. Bring this to the Ukraine thread and I'll explain in detail why you're once again wrong as usual.

Welcome back and I fully second that thought. Magic Mike has single handedly stalled support this time. Fuck those bastards.

Thanks, good to be back. Johnson and the antis in Congress, with this refusal to continue support, have gone beyond being useful idiots to being tacit supporters of Putin's aggression.