He let it go the distance. Trump wrecked the debate, but Wallace allowed the shit show to continue without purpose. I feel sorry for him, but his job doing softball interviews on Fox does not qualify him for this kind of thing, and it was entirely predictable this would happen.
This wasn’t a debate by any definition of the term. MandaJo said it perfectly.
Question: How do y’all think MIKE Wallace would have handled the moderator job?
Not an OR, they could be both. That was obviously the case with several of the so called undecided voters on CNN last night.
According to this article, even Fox & Friends wasn’t happy with Trump’s debate performance.
OK, let me correct that: debating is not his wheelhouse, being an attack dog is. That worked for him better in 2016 when his bombastic style was novel and he didn’t have a terrible record as President to lie his ass off to defend. My point was that he is still dangerous in that situation, and shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s the old chestnut about not getting down in the mud with a pig, because you both come out dirty and the pig enjoys it.
The headline of that article is, ‘Fox & Friends’ Trashes Trump for Blowing the Debate Over White Supremacists
It should read, ‘Fox & Friends’ Trashes Trump for Blatantly Showing His Love for White Supremacists
I don’t think I’m underestimating him. He is dangerous, no question.
So well put, all of it.
One prominent Proud Boys supporter on Parler said Trump appeared to give permission for attacks on protesters, adding that “this makes me so happy.”
Total insanity!
Honestly, I think Trump meant to say “stand down,” or by “stand by” he meant something like “don’t get involved, don’t cause trouble, don’t jump into the thick of things.”
But it doesn’t matter much. The celebrating says so much, and Trump is happy to go along with it. Despicable.
I actually agree with you. I think he misspoke. But, the delicious thing is that he’s stuck with it because he’d rather be viewed as a stark raving racist lunatic than admit he misspoke.
It’s the same group who got the vapors when Hillary used the term “basket of deplorables”. Only Don The Con is allowed to call anyone names.
I’m afraid the plan was to cause people to lose faith in the electoral process and drive down turnout. I’m seeing a lot more bothsidesism the morning after than I would like.
At least in “Idiocracy” the president listened to the smart guy.
Missed zinger opportunity would have been, in the context of sending mental health professionals out with police, to have mentioned trump’s former campaign manager Brad Parscale whom, if he were black, would probably be dead right now.
Or maybe just remove “Debate Over”.
No mute button? Sheesh, that’s a tragic detail, isn’t it. It means Trump will just double down I expect.
I suggest they give the moderator a button which does two thing simultaneously, first, it stops the clock on Biden’s time, (and, with luck he falls silent to just watch the Pres melt down!) second part plays, ‘Hail to The Chief‘ deafeningly loud, while the moderator, Biden, audience and home viewers watch in silent amusement. Whenever he stops talking, (give him all the time he needs), BAM! clock restarts, right back to Biden! If he starts in again, or interrupts…back to ‘Hail to The Chief’!
(Of course he’s a slow learner, it could take a few go arounds. Or, he could storm off like a baby and lose his shit on Twitter, that’d be a refreshing change! )
I’d watch the hell outta that debate, HaHaHa!
Did this go any different than anyone expected? Trump was at his Trumpiest- incoherent, rambling, pandering to his base that is going to grovel at his feet, the 14 year old bully in the schoolyard. An embarrassing excuse for an adult, much less the POTUS.
And for those that criticize Biden, why? He was straightforward, he stayed on message, he was level-headed, didn’t get in to a shouting match, and called out enough BS without being childish. If the criteria for “winning” the debate was who could yell the loudest and dog whistle their base without making any real substantial argument about accomplishments and plans, then of course people would declare Trump as the winner. Biden is not a great orator, but he was competent, calm, made enough points, didn’t back down, and was the adult in the room. It was debate judo.
Wallace did what he could, not sure what else people could expect from him. He did his best to hold both candidates accountable, but he was a dad with a screaming child on a plane, and an older brother who just wants the baby to STFU. I love the idea of a Zoom debate where the moderator just mutes the person who should not be talking.
Why is there no mute button? I’m serious. Also, there are already photos of a “wire” on Biden’s shirt and electronic devices on his left wrist.
I bet no candidate would agree to participate if that were the condition. No one wants to look like they are getting smacked on the nose like a puppy on national TV.
Even “stand down” suggests “lie in wait”.
No, I think this is the line they are taking with the Proud Boys and similar in private–because they want their support and think they can ride the tiger “Oh, yes, the president is with you 100% but the time is not right. Stand down and stand by until the moment is right”. He’s heard this said by someone, or he wouldn’t have said it. Now, it’s entirely possible that they think they are just humoring the violent white supremacists, and hold them in nothing but scorn. But that really doesn’t matter, does it? .