# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/61 "2016-01-27T14:55:56Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I know it’s fun to bash Trump, but skipping one of the twelve debates isn’t quite the same as skipping an international summit. Except he does this constantly. Hugh Hewitt was fellating Trump before the first debate. Hewitt asked Trump one (1) semi-hard question (something like “Should we support the Sunnis or the Shias or something else?”), Trump fumbled it horribly and spent the next two weeks trashing Hewitt and either hasn’t been back since or rarely gone back. Any time _anyone_ is even the teeniest bit tough on Trump, Trump bursts into tears, then throws a tantrum and runs away. He’s a chickenshit. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/62 "2016-01-27T15:10:54Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Ted Cruz, in a “fuck it, if craziness works for him, why not me?” mood, just [challenged Trump to a 1-on-1 debate sometime prior to Iowa.](http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/267125-cruz-challenges-trump-to-one-on-one-debate) The sort of thing that should only be done inside a cage, and knee-deep in Jell-O. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/63 "2016-01-27T15:17:12Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Yet Trump’s nuggets of wisdom have packed enough fight in every previous case to utterly annihilate and reduce to atoms the carefully amassed, pseudointellectual critiques of him. There is, secreted somewhere beneath the splotched linen of your trundle bed, a cardboard box containing one dog-eared copy of _The America We Deserve_ covered with bubblegum-scented kiss prints; a blond-haired male mannequin head aside a tortoiseshell comb and an aerosol can of Aqua Net; and a padlocked diary with page after page of the signature “Mrs. Qin Shi Trump” adorned with heart-shaped stickers and metallic glitter. ---
**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 27, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/64 "2016-01-27T15:21:51Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Except he does this constantly. Hugh Hewitt was fellating Trump before the first debate. Hewitt asked Trump one (1) semi-hard question (something like “Should we support the Sunnis or the Shias or something else?”), Trump fumbled it horribly and spent the next two weeks trashing Hewitt and either hasn’t been back since or rarely gone back. Any time _anyone_ is even the teeniest bit tough on Trump, Trump bursts into tears, then throws a tantrum and runs away. > > He’s a chickenshit. The whole Republican party burst into tears and ran pissy pants afraid from NBC so maybe this isn’t much of an issue for Republicans. And how many times would a non-coward appear on one guy’s radio show? “Hasn’t gone back or rarely gone back”? Which is it? ---
**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 27, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/65 "2016-01-27T15:45:10Z")
I see Loretta Lynn just released an album in November and she’s a Trump supporter. Wonder if he could convince her to do a song at his veteran fundraiser. That would play well in Iowa, no? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/66 "2016-01-27T15:53:10Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > . Any time _anyone_ is even the teeniest bit tough on Trump, Trump bursts into tears, then throws a tantrum and runs away. > > He’s a chickenshit. I can understand not liking Trump, but every time someone has pissed him off in this election he has destroyed them - that is pretty much a fact. Trump may be many unsavory things, but chickenshit is laughably inapplicable. Also, the specific incident you speak of lacks materiality in regards to the larger election picture. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/67 "2016-01-27T16:01:00Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Ted Cruz, in a “fuck it, if craziness works for him, why not me?” mood, just [challenged Trump to a 1-on-1 debate sometime prior to Iowa.](http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/267125-cruz-challenges-trump-to-one-on-one-debate) If they did this, each in full-blown Sumo dress, I’d watch. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/68 "2016-01-27T16:02:16Z")
Apart from candidates he’s leading, exactly who has Trump “destroyed,” and how? Megyn Kelly, for example, seems to have raised her professional profile, by bruising his delicate skin. ---
**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 27, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/69 "2016-01-27T16:09:23Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Also, the specific incident you speak of lacks materiality in regards to the larger election picture. Yeah, I don’t know where Fenris is getting his anti-Trump talking points but this seems like it’s trumped up. Looking at the Hugh Hewitt transcript listings, it appears the one where Trump got stumped was Aug and was on the show previously in Feb, so the fact that he hasn’t been back since is not a telling point in any way. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/70 "2016-01-27T16:26:37Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > Does anyone know whether Paul’s going to skip the debate again? Rand Paul is invited to the main stage this time, so I assume he will show up. Will be interesting to see how much criticism gets thrown at Trump without him there to defend himself. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/71 "2016-01-27T16:31:22Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > This is why Trump is such a sissy-ass wimp. Someone hurts his teeny-tiny feelings and he takes his ball and runs home crying and sucking his thumb. What’s gonna happen when Putin is mean to him. Is he gonna refuse to meet with him too? If this douche can’t handle Megan Kelly asking (actually pretty dumb but) tough questions, how’s he gonna handle a summit meeting? Before you attribute cowardice to Trump, you’ll have to determine why it would be a strategic advantage for Trump to participate. Sometimes the smarter move is to not respond or to control your own narrative. Being able to pick your battles at a time of your choosing is desireable, no? > [@Chronos](#): > > It’s long been rumored that Trump wants out of this race, and is desperately looking for something that will make his supporters abandon him. This looks like just one more desperate ploy. Can you point to some of these rumors? I’ve heard this narrative on this board, but pretty much not anywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/72 "2016-01-27T16:36:52Z")
**Trump to skip debate** I consider this to be a positive development. Now, if we can just get him to skip the primary, as well. ---
**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 27, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/73 "2016-01-27T16:41:56Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Can you point to some of these rumors? I’ve heard this narrative on this board, but pretty much not anywhere else. Oh it’s beyond ridiculous. Some people just can’t accept that he’s really doing this. And even if he wanted out, he sure as hell wouldn’t want it to look like he dropped out because he lost his supporters. This “rumour” is seriously grasping at straws. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/74 "2016-01-27T16:46:43Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Can you point to some of these rumors? I’ve heard this narrative on this board, but pretty much not anywhere else. > [@CarnalK](#): > > Oh it’s beyond ridiculous. Some people just can’t accept that he’s really doing this. And even if he wanted out, he sure as hell wouldn’t want it to look like he dropped out because he lost his supporters. This “rumour” is seriously grasping at straws. I don’t know that I’d call them “rumors”, but there certainly has been a lot of speculation (some of it by me) that Trump is just in it for the publicity. While that may have changed recently, I still think it started out that way. And I still think he wold go nuts if he had to actually BE the president. I could see him resigning. ---
**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 27, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/75 "2016-01-27T16:51:04Z")
But he wouldn’t intentionally lose, that would damage his brand. He’d fake up a health scare while he’s on top or something. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/76 "2016-01-27T16:54:54Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I don’t know that I’d call them “rumors”, but there certainly has been a lot of speculation (some of it by me) that Trump is just in it for the publicity. While that may have changed recently, I still think it started out that way. And I still think he wold go nuts if he had to actually BE the president. I could see him resigning. Ok, then same question. Why do you think it started out as a publicity stunt? If he were actually elected, it would be the largest ego boost imaginable. No way in hell he’d resign. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/77 "2016-01-27T17:06:32Z")
Not to be tinfoil hat guy, but is there any chance this is all a work? Lately, there has been a push among the Republicans that if forced to choose between Cruz and Trump, they will take Trump. So, Foxnews sets up a WWF type feud with Trump, allowing Trump to show his powerful negotiating skills when Foxnews gives in to his demands and he ends up debating anyway all the while claiming victory. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/78 "2016-01-27T17:08:12Z")
That’s it, Trump is actually[David Xanatos.](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/XanatosGambit) ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/79 "2016-01-27T17:12:10Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > That’s it, Trump is actually[David Xanatos.](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/XanatosGambit) Yeah, except there is absolutely no way to lose. Worst case scenario, he doesn’t do the debate, and the debate happens without him and there is nothing novel that happens. Trump simply says, “Debate sucked without me, and the ratings were way down, so clearly I’m ever so important.” In other words, no convolution is required for him to win with this gambit. The man is a straight up carny. Everything with him is a work. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323/80 "2016-01-27T17:46:52Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > There is, secreted somewhere beneath the splotched linen of your trundle bed, a cardboard box containing one dog-eared copy of _The America We Deserve_ covered with bubblegum-scented kiss prints; a blond-haired male mannequin head aside a tortoiseshell comb and an aerosol can of Aqua Net; and a padlocked diary with page after page of the signature “Mrs. Qin Shi Trump” adorned with heart-shaped stickers and metallic glitter. That one’ll earn you a warning, VT. It’s specifically against the rules to insult other posters by implying they derive some sort of sexual gratification from their posts. Please don’t do it again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-to-skip-debate/744323.md?page=5)