# A Trump debate? Are you shitting me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 6, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213 "2011-12-06T01:36:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/21 "2011-12-07T06:45:45Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I wish the World Cup was on or something so the rest of the world would be too distracted to see this nonsense. 🙂 Oh no, no siree. US politics have never been this funny since they cancelled Spin City. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/22 "2011-12-07T16:33:25Z")
I’m not sure Trump can run. Hasn’t the deadline to file already passed? If it has, then I think the only way he can get on the ballot is to get the nomination at the (brokered?) convention or to run as a write in candidate. Not that either of those things will happen in this particular universe. Stephen Colbert says he, too, will host a debate with all interested candidates invited. Maybe Colbert will actually do something useful with his PAC money by using it this way (if he can- not sure of the rules). "In an epic, Trump-inspired tirade, Colbert said: “The guy’s a clown, only with more makeup. … I wouldn’t trust him with a burnt match. … This guy’s not a king-maker, he’s small potatoes. Fingerlings. He’s a child. He’s a toddler wearing man-pants. (He) looks like a gin-soaked raisin (that) fell into a nuclear reactor.” And Colbert isn’t about to let Trump have all the debate fun. After all, Republican debates are in such short supply this primary season. So, Colbert officially announced his own “South Carolina Serious, Classy Republican Debate.” “I am doing this, you hear that, Donald?” Colbert said. “It’s going to be on Animal Planet in January, we’ll figure out the date later. Colbert promises it will be the highest-rated debate in the history of television. Why? “Because whoever wins, I’m going to marry them,” Colbert said. “Call me, candidates, this offer expires when I say it does.” " Quote from and Colbert rant here: [http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/colbert-rails-against-trump-announces-his-own-gop-debate.php?ref=fpnewsfeed](http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/colbert-rails-against-trump-announces-his-own-gop-debate.php?ref=fpnewsfeed) ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/23 "2011-12-07T16:41:00Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > I’m not sure Trump can run. Hasn’t the deadline to file already passed? He can’t run in the primaries, but he has plenty of time to get on the ballot as a third party candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/24 "2011-12-07T18:52:36Z")
Trump will never run as an independent. He’ll never run period. He’ll just say he’s going to. The entire process is a masturbatory excercise designed to get him more attention and it’s working like gangbusters. But the mere fact that he’s even hinted at a third party run, despite the .000000001% chance of it occurring, should automatically bar him from hosting a debate for Republicans and should definitely clue the candidates as to whether they should be participating or not. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/25 "2011-12-07T19:31:14Z")
Hasn’t Trump threatened to run for president in every election year since 1988? Shit or get off the pot, Donny. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/26 "2011-12-07T19:55:06Z")
[Colbert trumps Trump!](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/07/colbert-announces-gop-debate_n_1133914.html)😃 ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/27 "2011-12-07T20:24:27Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Ah, that’s a new twist. So no Romney, no Huntsman, no Paul. > > So it will be Gingrich, Santorum, Bachman? Whatever happens–and I suspect at this point the debate will be called off for lack of interest–[Gingrich has already won](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/07/newt-gingrich-donald-trump_n_1133633.html): > [@](#): > > “I think if you’re afraid to debate with Donald Trump, people are going to say, ‘so you want me to believe you can debate Barack Obama, but you’re afraid to show up with Donald Trump?’” Gingrich told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren. “And I think – it strikes me it’s kind of a very weak position. I don’t know why people would do that.” A pretty obvious shot at Romney. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/28 "2011-12-07T21:11:59Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Trump says he will choose a candidate to endorse _after_ the “debate”. Does that include the swimsuit portion of the competition? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/29 "2011-12-07T21:21:31Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > does that include the swimsuit portion of the competition? 😉 Brain Bleach please! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/30 "2011-12-07T22:03:35Z")
I wonder if Trump’s going to invite Pat Paulsen to participate. And whether Justin Bieber will be performing. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/31 "2011-12-08T14:50:24Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Ah, that’s a new twist. So no Romney, no Huntsman, no Paul. I wouldn’t mind seeing a debate between those three. > [@](#): > > So it will be Gingrich, Santorum, Bachman? > > What about heavy hitters like Vern Wuensche, Fred Karger or Tom Miller? Any work on their attendance? I think Trump should comoderate the debate with Sarah Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/32 "2011-12-08T15:05:57Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > So it will be Gingrich, Santorum, Bachman? [CARNAC THE MAGINFICENT] Frown… Brown… Clown… [/CtM] ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/33 "2011-12-08T20:28:57Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Last I checked, Gingrich’s campaign war chest had negative money in it. When you got nuthin’, you got nuthin’ to lose. I’d want to check if Colbert is offering him PAC money to participate. This would give him and Stewart a lot of material. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/34 "2011-12-08T20:31:06Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > Colbert promises it will be the highest-rated debate in the history of television. Why? “Because whoever wins, I’m going to marry them,” Colbert said. “Call me, candidates, this offer expires when I say it does.” " > > Quote from and Colbert rant here: [http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/colbert-rails-against-trump-announces-his-own-gop-debate.php?ref=fpnewsfeed](http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/colbert-rails-against-trump-announces-his-own-gop-debate.php?ref=fpnewsfeed) I avoid Trump like the plague, but isn’t Colbert doing him in these bits? He doesn’t get a lot of opportunities to do impressions in character, so he must love this. ETA: I just realized this thread could go into Cafe Society just as well. Such is the state of Republican politics in 2011. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/35 "2011-12-08T21:05:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Gingrich is not a joke candidate. He’s a serious candidate who just happens to be seriously terrible. A joke candidate would be someone who’s never held any public position who draws his deepest inspirations from children’s cartoons and bases his tax policies on video games. Heh. So it looks like this spectacle may never take place, thank God. So far only Gingrich and Santorum have agreed to it. Several candidates have offered a “Thanks, but no thanks,” and even attention whore extraordinaire Michele Bachmann hasn’t accepted yet. If Gingrich and Santorum are the only ones who agree to show, it might just fall apart. Dudes, when Fox News contributor Karl Rove says, “Seriously guys, this is a fucking circus; stay away,” it’s a fucking circus and you should stay away. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/36 "2011-12-08T21:47:04Z")
I’m not sure what I would enjoy more: The Donald hosting a primary debate between Newt “Yes Mr. Trump, Whatever You Say” Gingrich and Rick “Stop Saying Santorum!” Santorum … or The Donald going on TeeVee solo and weaseling about how he didn’t really want to do it in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/37 "2011-12-08T21:56:14Z")
[“Sometimes when God closes a door, he opens a window,” the “Daily Show” host says. “And sometimes standing outside that window is a circus peanut wearing a badger.”](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jon-stewart-donald-trump-gop-presidential-debate-270335)😛 (sorry if it’s already been posted…haven’t slogged through the whole thread yet) -XT ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/38 "2011-12-08T23:44:07Z")
This thing is beneath the dignity of Michele Bachmann. Or at least, she said no. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/39 "2011-12-09T00:34:08Z")
Perry has also respectfully (or should that be respectively) declined the invitation. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213/40 "2011-12-09T00:46:24Z")
Goes to show how much power Darth Rove still wields, doesn’t it? All he had to do was say it was a stupid idea and all the rats…well, most…skittered away, back into the sewers from whence they came. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-trump-debate-are-you-shitting-me/605213.md?page=3)