For what it’s worth, as I quoted earlier, these are the folks that are supposed to be moderators for the September 10 ABC debate:
David Muir and Linsey Davis
I don’t really know them so have no opinion about whether they’d be any good.
Anderson Cooper would be great for sure.
Yes, that’s a decent response. Note that, in the unlikely event that Trump’s team said “okay, we’ll do the September 10 debate if Harris does the Fox News debate,” then I would expect Harris to show up to Fox - making every effort to advocate for a fair set of rules, but being willing to stand up to whatever is thrown at her regardless of how it all plays out.
The choice on whether to debate should not be based on fear that the playing field is not level. The president of the United States is the president of ALL Americans, not just the ones who happen to prefer particular news sources, and the people deserve to see how candidates respond under pressure.
The job of every presidential administration is to promote fairness and fight against unfairness, not run away because something is difficult.
I nominate Jon Stewart and John Oliver.
Is there any chance and I mean any chance at all that Fox News says “hey, we’re trying to run a business here and that business isn’t drop everything any time Donald Trump throws a tantrum?” I know news organizations can change plans on the fly as needed (see many examples from breaking news that happens on weekends) but still, for Trump to just declare this debate into existence on a particular date is at least inconsiderate to whatever plans they may have already had, if not impossible altogether. Assert your independence, Fox! Tell Trump he doesn’t make your schedule!
Why in god’s name should Harris do something that absurd? TFG had already agreed to the Sept 10th debate before turning tail from it. The Sept 4th debate on Fox ‘news’ exists entirely in TFG’s own head. It is a transparent attempt by TFG to deflect from his cowardice at backing out of the debate he had already agreed upon. It isn’t something both parties had previously agreed upon. It isn’t even something Fox suggested. The first Fox heard about it was when TFG announced it.
If Harris agreed to said debate, I’d question her fitness to hold office. She is under no obligation to indulge TFG’s delusions.
David Muir is the anchor for ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir which is the highest rated nightly news show. He is highly respected and I would expect him to do a good job.
Linsey Davis has been a correspondent for ABC and anchors World News Tonight Sunday. She has also done a lot of election night coverage and I think also some past debates. Also, highly respected and very qualified.
I would imagine DJT has issues with both of them and will try to paint them as unfair.
What’s absurd about keeping a promise, especially one that involves negotiation and compromise? Trump will do September 10 even though he doesn’t like it, Harris will do September 4 even though she doesn’t like it. And if she does her part and Trump backs out (again) from his, that’s pretty good campaign fodder for attacking Trump.
Then Harris has nothing to lose by agreeing to do it, does she?
Part of my reasoning goes well beyond what we’ve discussed so far. Honestly, if the election were to be decided by the most partisan of partisans, then it probably doesn’t matter if Harris stoops to Trump’s level of idiocy, cowardice and dissembling. (Though I’d still like to think her campaign would strive for honesty and fairness.)
But as most everyone recognizes, it is the people haven’t made up their minds yet whose opinions may determine the outcome. For those of us who understand what is at stake, it can be hard to put ourselves into the mindset of a person who is still unsure of who to vote for.
But we must. If I’m a low-information, barely-paying-attention citizen, but I MIGHT be arsed to go to the polls in November, then I’m going to notice who is brave enough to show up and deal with things I don’t like. and who is reliable enough to keep promises. If someone has evidence to back a claim that the other candidate is a coward, I’ll notice that too. Those things are much easier to keep track of than deeper issues that might require more thought.
And I have agreed to become the next POTUS.
There is no controversy at all. Trump agreed to a debate at a somewhat neutral site with no audience to cheerlead him on. He then backed out of the first debate, and then he, in cooperation with Fox News, independently created a fake “debate” with very partial moderators and a live audience to cheer him on. If any news crew or reporter refers to Trump’s proposal as an alternate debate they deserve to be spit upon.
FOX had originally proposed a debate on September 18th. I assume DJT wants the earlier date so he can ditch the ABC debate.
What’s controversial is Trump backing out like a coward when facing a formidable political opponent. He’s trying to paint it as if that agreement no longer stands because Biden isn’t his opponent, which is not at all true. He’s also trying to claim a conflict of interest because he is suing ABC, yet he was already suing ABC at the time he agreed to it.
Harris has no promise to debate at Fox, and no reason to agree to it. Trump is the only one backing out of any deal. She already has great campaign fodder for attacking Trump. She literally gains nothing by agreeing to the Fox debate. She holds all of the cards in this situation. Trump has nothing and looks weak in his cowardice.
Agreeing to what-a fake debate put together by Trump and Fox, with no input from Harris or the Democrats?
Where, pray tell, is the negotiation and compromise you find so dear?
Thank you for moving everything - that had to have been an absolute beating. Sorry about that - I didn’t think the topic would attract remotely this much discussion.
Where did I say she should agree to having zero input into the rules? She should make reasonable demands, then when those are denied, her campaign has fodder to use.
Doing the actual moving isn’t hard. Deciding which posts to move can be. Thanks for your kind support.
“Debate me on ABC like you already agreed to” IS a reasonable demand.
Okay, a question for those who are adamant that Harris shouldn’t debate Trump if Fox runs it: are you afraid she’ll blow it?
I am not.
Skip the fake second debate and concentrate on the first one he backed out of after agreeing to it, then.
What was wrong with it?
Why are you afraid of the first debate then both agreed on?
Nothing’s wrong with the first debate. She offers a deal: you debate me as you said you would, I’ll see you at Fox News.
What on earth did I say that made you characterize my view as “afraid of the first debate”? I hope you mean that Harris should be asking that of Trump, because she should.
"Hey Trump, why are you afraid to debate me as you originally agreed to debate Biden? Are you scared? I’m not scared, I’ll debate YOU in the debate you propose, at Fox, if you’ll debate me at the originally planned debate.
“Oh, the second debate is ‘unfair,’ you say? Then why did you agree to it in the first place? Anyway, aren’t you supposed to be strong enough to stand up for yourself even in less than ideal situations? I am ready to do that. If you aren’t, you aren’t fit to be president, because presidents have to deal on the world stage where things aren’t fair all the time.”