Cancel the last debate

[niyad]

Cancel the last debate


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Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, right, speaks as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump listens during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (Rick T. Wilking/Pool via AP)..
We all know who Trump is. Everyone does. Pull the plug on the last debate.


Donald Trump’s speech is playing in the background, making very clear, there is nothing to be gained from the third and final presidential debate. Trump has made very clear his closing pitch—insane conspiracy theory mixed with bizarre attacks on Bill Clinton.

Onstage, he claims that Hillary Clinton operated in secret to “enrich these global financial powers.” And if it’s bad that Bill treated women poorly, how does that make what Trump did good?

He’s demonstrated (along with his running mate) that he has no interest in dealing with “truth” and “reality.” Tallying up his comments in the second debate, he likely said more lies (33!) than truths. You cannot debate a pathological liar. The rules of the contest assume a certain level grasp of reality that are no longer present on the Republican side.

So what would people see in a debate? Clinton trying to retain her dignity next to your worst drunk asshole uncle? That does nothing to serve democracy. In fact, it cheapens it. People have all the information they need to make their decisions. Pull the debate.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/13/1581960/-Cancel-the-last-debate?detail=email&link_id=1&can_id=dbb0d69c584cc3d0a04f63b55f76c85f&source=email-cancel-the-last-debate&email_referrer=cancel-the-last-debate&email_subject=cancel-the-last-debate

[ProudProgressiveNow]

1. K&R nt

[livetohike]

2. I agree. He is unhinged and the only thing his rabid, foaming at the

mouth comments will do is fire up the base. Hillary has better things to do like get the transition team moving .

[enough]

4. I don't agree with this approach. Hillary Clinton is ready to keep her commitments.

She's ready to debate. If he's not, that's his problem. Very surprised Kos is advocating this.

[niyad]

5. you read his reasons, and they were not about HRC.

[enough]

23. Yes, I read it early today on dKos. Still don't agree, but no problem.

I'm pretty sure HRC will know what to do in this situation, in either case.

[Hortensis]

65. The third debate will give her a chance to present

her views to many millions of people. She'll have to respond specifically to some of his insanity, of course, it's extremely likely that she will go very high, as Michelle suggests, as he goes very low. America needs a high-minded leader about now, right?

[Agnosticsherbet]

6. No. Canceling the Last debate would domnate the News Cycle. Tump would say Clinton was

afraid to debate him, and frightened Republicans would be embolden to go back to him.

If Trump choses to cancel, fine.

[sunnystarr]

7. There's no way for Hillary

to pull out of the last debate. Trump will jump on it so fast and call her a coward and say she's too afraid of what he has on her. He'll insist it disqualifies her to be commander in chief. etc. etc. etc. etc.

[niyad]

8. nowhere in the article does it say HRC should pull out. it says the debate should be cancelled.

by the debate commission.

[sunnystarr]

12. Why would they do that? nt

[niyad]

13. the article states why.

[sunnystarr]

24. It's not that I disagree with kos

although he didn't reference the debate commission. But if the debate commission did cancel the last debate, Trump would be shouting that "crooked Hillary" got them to cancel it because she's a coward and knows she can't win. etc. etc. etc. etc.

[MoonRiver]

9. Hillary will NOT cancel the last debate. WTH should she?

She will win again and Rump will disgrace himself.

[niyad]

11. reading comprehension is your friend. NOWHERE in the article does it say that HRC should cancel.

it says "pull the plug", which is what the debate commission could do.

[LisaL]

14. 3 debates were agreed to.

Commission is not going to pull the plug.

[MoonRiver]

15. EXCUSE ME. Wouldn't the candidates' input be part of a plan to cancel the last debate?

Looking forward to your answer.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

17. It didn't explicitly say the commission should do it either, so I...

Last edited Thu Oct 13, 2016, 09:17 PM - Edit history (1)

... made a similar assumption.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

10. Unfortunately, I think she'll have to put up with that foul sh*t or...

... be accused of being a coward.

Reminds me of this movie scene:

[Martin Eden]

16. I agree

These "debates" are a national disgrace.

[4lbs]

18. NO. Keep the last debate. Why? Here's why:

The Access Hollywood video was bad enough for Trump.

However, we are now getting reports and stories from a sizable number of women coming forward saying they themselves were assaulted by Trump.

It wasn't the Access Hollywood video that did this.

It was Trump's own statement in the second debate where he said it was merely talk, and he never actually grabbed a woman against her will.

The women coming forward to claim otherwise were motivated by his denial in the debate.

Trump's poor performance in the first debate, where he fell into Hillary's trap regarding Alicia Machado, and then continuing to talk about it and dig himself deeper for a whole week, started the slide.

In a third debate, who knows what he'll say next that he himself will cause even more damage to himself?

[forest444]

20. I second that.

Let'im go through the embarrassment of either a) showing up and letting Hillary mop with floor with him a third time; or b) refusing to appear and thus showing himself up as the cowardly bully he is.

Either way works for us.

[Fast Walker 52]

29. yeah-- she needs to go for the jugular in this one

[ProudProgressiveNow]

35. +1000

[AmericanMan1958]

21. If Trump want to cancel, so be it.

But it would be Political Suicide for us to cancel.

She has to be there!!!

She continues to be respectful and the adult in the room. That is all she can do.

If he continues to be a ass, so be it.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

22. No! Who cares if DT doesnt show - Id love to hear HC talk an hour and half without interuption. nt

[bucolic_frolic]

25. Totally agree, cancel it

HRC is ahead with nothing to gain. Trump will be ballistic as he tries to
upset the applecart.

But she won't cancel, it would make her look weak. He won't cancel unless
all the negative stuff finally gets to him, and that would be a good thing.
TV ratings were down last time anyway.

The stunts he tried to pull might spook the sponsors. I think they should offer
each campaign 45 minutes of TV interview time. The banter format is not
conducive to sound presentation for these two together. He brings so much
vitriol and venom, and it does get annoying.

[liberal N proud]

26. Why would Hillary cancel the debate? Trump sinks further each time.

[womanofthehills]

56. Because he is so creepy and mentally ill, she should not have to deal with him

[Fast Walker 52]

27. I understand the sentiment but it's not going to happen and ultimately won't

change anything

[yortsed snacilbuper]

28. For Hillarys saftey,

I think it should be canceled.

[ailsagirl]

30. I felt worried for her safety during the last debate...

seeing that big cowardly bully (if there's such a thing) looming behind her menacingly, hate on his face

It was a disturbing sight

[ColemanMaskell]

31. Hillary can take care of herself just fine. And she has Secret Service nearby.

[ColemanMaskell]

32. The more HRC debates DT, the lower the chances for Republicans in House and Senate races.

Also it is still a month until the election. Every big TV event Hillary has done has given her a bounce, but bounces wear off. She needs to -- we need for her to -- pursue her upward trajectory as far as it can go, so that we still get a landslide if her numbers fall back down at all before the election (as they fell a bit after the Republican convention). Yes Trump is doing badly now, but let's not get complacent. A month is a long time in a campaign.

We need a landslide for Hillary so Dems can take back the House and Senate. Even if we only keep it for two years because people are too lazy to go out and vote at midterms, still there is a lot that can get done in those two years IFF she has congress on her side.

She needs to press the advantage now. imho.

[ailsagirl]

54. This on Nate Silver's website: "...Down-ballot Democrats are losing ground" (senate update)

I didn't read the article because it looked like a downer. Here's the link if you wish to:

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/senate-update-clinton-is-surging-but-down-ballot-democrats-are-losing-ground/

[ColemanMaskell]

67. Yeah, I saw that later, before I came back here and saw your mention of it.

Prior to that, they'd run an article saying that a lot of people vote straight ticket and so on. But yeah it looks like Trump has fallen out enough with mainstream Republicans that a lot of them are not planning to vote straight Republcan.

However I will stand by the general point that getting out the Dem vote is going to help down-ballot Dems, and we need that. But as you say, bummer that the coat-tails aren't longer and made of Irish linen.

[ailsagirl]

70. I don't like posting/reading news that's not positive for Dems

...but I know that hiding from it isn't a good idea, either. So I did a combination of both: didn't read it and passed it on.

Thanks for your comments

[radius777]

59. Agree, she's an excellent debater,

and having both of them on the stage increases the contrast between the candidates, of perhaps the most dangerous and unqualified major party nominee, and a stateswoman who is ready to be commander-in-chief on day one.

Her last debate will likely (imo) be about making the case why voters should choose not just her candidacy but her party as well, over that of her opponent's, in order to help sweep Dems into office all over the country.

[Pantagruelsmember]

33. Trump desperately needs the debate

so somehow she should negotiate from strength.

Perhaps demand to see the Trump tax return in return for showing up?

But that would be a bluff on her part, she should debate as the adult, she wins either way.

[niyad]

36. now that is an interesting prospect.

[Mc Mike]

34. Yeah, but I'm still hoping to see him lurch too close to Hillary,

and it forcing her to taze him.

[niyad]

37. ahhh, wouldn't it be loverly???

[Mc Mike]

38. I'd pay for it as a screen saver.

[niyad]

39. we should put it out there as a request--surely someone can photoshop it!!

[Mc Mike]

40. I saw someone with a Hulk punching dRumpf away from a podium,

floating around here.

He makes enough goofy faces, spastic movements and bizarre gesticulations that could have some sparks and lightning bolts added to them.

I just don't have the technical skill, or the artistic flair. But I know what I like.

[lonestarnot]

41. I agree and issue statement to the last paragraph effect. He would totally wig out of his roadkill.

[TonyPDX]

42. I don't agree. We need to see the process through if only to deprive him of excuses after his loss.

[LiberalLovinLug]

43. Trump would like nothing better than it be canceled.

He loses points after every debate.

In fact I was expecting him to maybe cancel his appearance all on his own. Like he did for one of the Republican debates. Just say it is all rigged and then plan a giant rally at the same time. He'd be lauded for his bold approach I'm sure. So no, why give him that opportunity to milk it without ever having to go through the pressure of a debate?

[SCantiGOP]

44. Damn you, OP

I started reading the OP thinking I would reply "bullshit." By the end it made sense.

Thanks for the post.

[niyad]

45. you are most welcome

[meadowlark5]

46. No way Hillary could ever cancel it

Trump, of course, could and his supporters would applaud him for standing up to the smearing, rigged debate system.

I, on the other hand, will probably not watch it. I think Grey's Anatomy will still be aired that night and I'll watch that. This last debate Trump was so hostile towards her it made me so agitated and uncomfortable. I can't watch the scorched earth assault he most likely has planned.

[niyad]

47. I can certainly understand that. the only reason I will watch is because I will be

doing it with friends, and we can scream and swear to our hearts' content.

[wisteria]

48. Totally agree. It will be nothing more than a spectical.

[Cresent City Kid]

49. Did I hear correctly that the topic would be primarily foreign policy?

Can he focus on one subject that long?

[niyad]

50. you did, and he cannot--unless the topic is sex, apparently.

[NYC Liberal]

58. Hillary will eat him alive on foreign policy.

I mean she already has in the other debates...but this one is going to be a disaster for him.

[Mc Mike]

60. Fox moderating foreign policy? Sure to be great.

Maybe there's an 8 page bulletpointed memo / coloring book that dRumpf can get from the birchers and bannon bund, to prep for how he's going present his business whiz genius foreign policy platform.

Bomb everywhere but Russia, boots on the ground in Mexico, surround every one with everything we've got, & love on Putin, who's currently threatening us with the bomb. There, all done.

Still time left? Guess we could discuss all the hotspots the rightie repug intel people are fanning right now, world wide, due to the congenital treason they've suffered from since the '30's. If there's saber rattling, blood on the ground, or it's blowing up, it goes right back to the treasonous righties clawing for control of our gov, here.

[Cresent City Kid]

62. It will be Bizzarro World Charlie Rose

One time Charlie asked Hillary a question on China's territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The question took close to a minute, the answer went over five minutes with no repetition and without the word "disaster".

[Mc Mike]

66. There is absolutely no way on earth for main stream mass media to

feasibly promote a pretense of reasonable competence from dRumpfenfuhrer. It's impossible for them to engage in a false equvalency that both sides are equally competent, and both have reasonable foreign policy viewpoints that should be considered.

Still, I'd like to offer 2 questions to Fox, so they can try:

Q: Mr. drumpf, will your foreign policy be one based on winning, and will it be huge? And please stop grabbing your crotch, sir.

Q: Sec. Clinton, recent developments where Turkey backs the Macedonians and Greece backs the Kurds have raised the specter of a nine way hot war in Syria, where Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, Iran and Iraq now have boots on the ground, in a fight between Russia's Syrian proxies, ISIL, and non-aligned Syrian rebels. What precisely will you do to put a complete halt to the hostilities, and restore peace in the region that stretches from the nation that was the flashpoint which ignited WWI, right down into the Middle East powder keg that threatens to ignite an Armageddon style WWIII? In ninety seconds, please.

[ecstatic]

51. I agree. I'd prefer for it to be trump who pulls the plug, or the

Debate committee. But we really have seen all we need to see.

[Ilsa]

52. MSM makes money on these, right?

Or are they better off financially cancelling them?

[Nevernose]

53. I actually turned down my tickets

Not only are they surrounding the locale with box cars stacked four high and locking people in, but once you take your seat, you're not allowed to go pee. Fuck that. I want to pee whenever I feel like it.

It's also, ironically, where the World Final Rodeo championship will be held just a few weeks after the debate.

[Laffy Kat]

55. As much as I can't stand the sound of his voice or to look at him..

He should be the one to cancel or no show. Anything else will look bad for HRC.

[pnwmom]

57. I don't mind watching him dig his grave deeper and deeper,

while Hillary does the shimmy.

[Coyotl]

64. Agreed. People have seen his canned events, need to see his stupid in contrast to true intelligence

The stark contrast between Trump and Clinton is what people need to see, not another rally broadcast on major channels like a free hour-long special advertisement.

[muriel_volestrangler]

61. For the sake of the country, the debate should go ahead

Hillary's win must be, and must be seen to be, a normal election. If Trump behaves like a clown, has a meltdown, or whatever, that will just hurt him with undecideds and moderates more. That doesn't "cheapen democracy", it enforces the idea that it is stronger and more important than Trump's antics, and the don't-give-a-shit mentality of his core voters.

If Kos thinks he's speaking to the debate commission with his message, then them cancelling the debate would be a disaster (especially if they gave his reasons in public) - some would claim they were being partisan, like a ref who calls a boxing match before he should. But I think he's just doing an extended riff on "delete your account, Donald", or "why would anyone reading this on this site need another debate to decide?"

[ScienceIsGood]

63. The worst idea even IMO, She has gained after every debate! n/t

[avebury]

68. It would be fun to see someone sitting in the front row with a white straight

jacket. The person would not have to say a word, just sit there with the jacket in his/her lap.

[oberliner]

69. I'd prefer an hour long sit down conversation with each candidate

By someone that can really drill down on the issues.