# Trump to skip debate **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 27, 2016, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323 "2016-01-27T00:36:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/181 "2016-01-28T19:28:58Z")
> [@yawuntz](#): > > Point taken, but I’m trying to remember when he’s had to deal with being laughed at regularly. Anger and outrage don’t hurt him, as we’ve seen, just feed him. I’m thinking this could be different if they can ridicule him into losing his cool. If so then this would be the first time that he’d be the trollee and not the troll. It could blow up in his face. Clearly I’m bucking the odds here, and that’s ok because I don’t _need_ him to fail. I would just like to watch. 🙂 Hahahaha. Yes, of course, the classic Democrat/progressive/liberal tactic of ridiculing, lying, twisting, and spinning the facts in order get their intended victim to loss their cool so the Democrat/progressive/liberal can ridicule, twist, spin the truth some more. That tactic used to work better but it’s so yesterday. The intended victims no longer care what the Democrat/progressive/liberal has to say. In Trump’s case, he’s used to make deals with very important, very powerful people. He’s not impressed with the opinions of some morons and wanna-be internet bullies. Trump has experience walking away from bad deals. He is aware that another deal, a better deal, is just around the next corner. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/182 "2016-01-28T19:36:19Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Next up: if Trump wins the GOP nomination, he’ll agree to debate the Dem nominee as long as Hillary isn’t there. 😉 Hillary has already made the mistake of attacking Trump and calling him a sexist. Trump responded by reminding the voters that Bill has been accused of being a rapist and as a liar under oath. And that both Hillary and Bill had attacked the women who pointed out Bill’s sexism. Both Hillary and Bill responded by saying they would no longer talk about Trump unless Trump becomes the GOP candidate. Who won that exchange? Bernie is currently on a roll. Hillary might not be the DNC’s candidates. just sayin’ ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/183 "2016-01-28T19:37:25Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > …Trump is powerful enough, and savvy enough, to put together an competing event (that CNN just announced is sold out). It can’t be “sold out,” since tickets are free (and as of right now Eventbrite is still taking registrations). ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/184 "2016-01-28T19:37:36Z")
> [@yawuntz](#): > > Point taken, but I’m trying to remember when he’s had to deal with being laughed at regularly. At every single step of the campaign season? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/185 "2016-01-28T19:59:39Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It can’t be “sold out,” since tickets are free (and as of right now Eventbrite is still taking registrations). That’s what I get for believing CNN. CNN’s Brook Baldwin just said that Trump’s event tonight is sold out. Mark Preston is also saying Trump’s event tonight is sold out. Are you looking at the info for tonights event??? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/186 "2016-01-28T20:12:12Z")
The only Trump thing on eventbrite I am seeing is for a rally on Friday. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/187 "2016-01-28T20:22:54Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > In Trump’s case, he’s used to make deals with very important, very powerful people. Ah, so it happened once, then? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/188 "2016-01-28T20:50:04Z")
He made many deals with people who used to be rich. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/189 "2016-01-28T21:25:46Z")
[Donald Trump scares the hell out of Fox News: Why his debate boycott really makes the network so nervous.](http://www.salon.com/2016/01/28/donald_trump_scares_the_hell_out_of_fox_news_why_his_debate_boycott_really_makes_the_network_so_nervous/) > [@](#): > > The Trump phenomenon has revealed the deep and unstable fault lines in the Republican establishment and the conservative movement. This latest episode reveals that conservative media is unstable as well. Talk radio, which has been a pillar of the conservative movement for decades is divided on the question of Cruz and Trump and it’s got them practically speaking in tongues as you can see by reading any Rush Limbaugh transcript over the past couple of months. And now Fox News looks as though it’s losing its grip. > > Republicans know this and are helpless to stop it. Republican strategist and TV pundit Alex Castellanos observed in this note to his email list: > > > [@](#): > > > > What is the most powerful Republican institution in contemporary American politics? Most of us would admit, “Fox News.” It’s the stage on which Republicans play. **Fox is also a news network, of course, and a good one, providing needed balance. The evidence is their ratings.** Millions of americans leave their sets turned to Fox as their news source throughout their day. > > > > Primarily, however, Fox is a political platform. It is the Republican Party in the electronic world. National Review and William F. Buckley created the platform in the age of print, an ideological rolls royce for conservative elites. Since then, the world has been connected and democratized by new technologies. Now, Fox is the Republican Party for the masses, a gop hyundai with extra cup holders and synthetic leather. It’s conservatism for screens instead of pages. > > > > We could say Fox’s power is undeniable, but this week, undebatable may be a better word. Most Republican candidates kneel before it, supplicants hoping to sip airtime from its chalice.One GOP candidate doesn’t. Donald Trump has informed Fox News he does not need their debate and won’t attend. Trump has dismissed Fox News like ashes from a fine cigar. It’s a display of confidence and strength. > > > > I doubt Trump’s boycott will be received, as some suspect, as a petulant candidate ducking a debate. Who believes Donald Trump is afraid? Instead, they see Trump confidently taking a risk no other Republican would consider. > > It’s nice to see a conservative admit that Fox has always been a right wing propaganda machine and Republican house organ. At least we don’t have to argue about that anymore. But Trump’s “act of courage” is showing that yet another major conservative institution is not all-powerful after all. If he succeeds in making tonight’s debate an undercard event simply by refusing to participate will Fox ever be taken as seriously by conservative voters — and Republican politicians — again? Bolding mine. The word “evidence” does not mean what you think it does, Alex. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/190 "2016-01-28T21:39:41Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Exactly. In no way does FOX benefit from this, and I think the seeds of doubt about FOX being a tool of the establishment RINO’s, a news network created for the purpose of misleading “True Americans”, have _already_ been planted in the minds of their viewers. Their audience will now have to ask themselves the question of whether they want RINO news or “real” news, like that found on the internet, and there’s a large number of them (Trump supporters) who already have decided against FOX. > > Or not, and all this will blow over in the next 3 months. This theory has the benefit of being substantially true. FOX really is all those things. Donald Trump may be a lot of things, and he is, but his campaign is showing the rank and file movement conservatives how the Republican establishment views them. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/191 "2016-01-28T22:08:19Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > That’s what I get for believing CNN. > > CNN’s Brook Baldwin just said that Trump’s event tonight is sold out. Mark Preston is also saying Trump’s event tonight is sold out. > > Are you looking at the info for tonights event??? > [@CarnalK](#): > > The only Trump thing on eventbrite I am seeing is for a rally on Friday. It’s right [here](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/donald-j-trump-special-event-for-veterans-des-moines-ia-tickets-21070010970). Don’t remember if I originally found it by clicking a link somewhere else or via Google. ETA: Are you sure you’re not seeing where CNN is reporting that the actual _debate_ is sold out? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/192 "2016-01-28T22:44:29Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It’s right [here](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/donald-j-trump-special-event-for-veterans-des-moines-ia-tickets-21070010970). Don’t remember if I originally found it by clicking a link somewhere else or via Google. > > ETA: Are you sure you’re not seeing where CNN is reporting that the actual _debate_ is sold out? I noticed it because I thought it was interesting that I was posting about Trump’s event this evening at the same time CNN was reporting on Trump’s event for this evening. (OK, it wasn’t “that” interesting. 🙂 ) CNN’s Brook Baldwin and Mark Preston were talking about Trump’s event and they both said Trump’s event was sold out. I wish these “news” agencies would at least attempt to verify the facts before “reporting” on them. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/193 "2016-01-28T22:45:36Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Ah, so it happened once, then? At least once. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/194 "2016-01-28T23:19:46Z")
Well there’s a damn long line up for the Trump thing watching on CNN. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/195 "2016-01-28T23:42:21Z")
Ha! Duke University just released a statement saying “We are now aware that the Trump organization has grossly overticketed our venue. Fire Code only allows a maximum of 750 people”. There is going to be a crapload of people to turn away, though I think they’ve set up some big screens outside. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/196 "2016-01-28T23:48:25Z")
Has anyone found out who wrote the FOX tweet that caused this brouhaha? Has anyone been fired? Promoted? Did Fox News CEO Roger Ailes actually write, or permit, or sanction the tweet in question? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/197 "2016-01-29T01:05:06Z")
I believe it was a press release rather than a tweet. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/198 "2016-01-29T01:21:36Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > This x1000. > > Anybody who thinks that Trump is going to be hurt by this is fooling himself. Nothing dents Trump’s appeal because, for the umpteenth time, his supporters do. not. CARE. What **would** they care about, I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/199 "2016-01-29T01:57:50Z")
According to [this article](http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/28/politics/donald-trump-fox-news-apologized/index.html) from CNN, Trump is saying Fox apologized for the mocking tweet that caused all the trouble and couldn’t have been nicer. But he said it was too late, and compared his decision to skip the debate with the way he’d run the country: _“I wanted to fight for myself just like I’ll fight for the country. You have to stick up for yourself, you have to fight for yourself and you have to fight for your country.”_ Still, he’s not letting Megyn Kelly off the hook. [This](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZzddpVWEAABrcD.jpg), from his Twitter feed. Burn. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/200 "2016-01-29T03:51:11Z")
For all this theatre of the absurd, Google trends at least is saying the debate has more interest Which one is being searched more: “Debate live stream” or “Trump live stream”? #GOPdebate [https://twitter.com/GoogleTrends/status/692906789742837760/photo/1](http://pic.twitter.com/PG0ZXglFCo) ([https://twitter.com/GoogleTrends/status/692906789742837760?s=17](https://twitter.com/GoogleTrends/status/692906789742837760?s=17)) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323.md?page=11)