So, is there going to be another "Presidential debate"?

Biden has nothing to gain from a debate and Trump hasn’t had a good debate ever. I don’t see why they would.

Trump needs it badly, but the more of Trump Americans see, the worse it gets for him. Biden has been studying and is well-prepared, and it shows.

No one has confirmed a cancellation of the event, which is in six days, but we don't have a list of topics to be "discussed" or any format. Strange. Maybe, if we ignore it, it will go away.

Just out this afternoon. Article is from CNN, which we can't link here.

The Commission on Presidential debates announced on Friday the six topics for the second and final debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden set to take place next week.

The topics are: "Fighting COVID-19," "American Families," "Race in America," "Climate Change," "National Security" and "Leadership." The final debate between Trump and Biden is scheduled to take place on October 22 from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET in Tennessee. The format is the same as the first debate: Each segment will last about 15 minutes, and the candidates will have two minutes to respond after the moderator, NBC's Kristen Welker, opens each segment with a question. Welker will then use the rest of the time in the segment to facilitate further discussion on the topic.

In Friday's announcement, the commission did not explain any further rule changes for the final contest, something it said it would do after the first debate between the presidential candidates devolved into a chaotic affair with the President flouting the rules and repeatedly interrupting the former vice president. The day after the first debate, the commission acknowledged the chaos of the night before and said it would look into rule changes in order to "ensure a more orderly discussion." "The Commission on Presidential Debates sponsors televised debates for the benefit of the American electorate. Last night's debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues," a September 30 statement from the CPD reads. The commission did not specify what changes they would be making, but their statement at the time said they intended "to ensure that additional tools to maintain order are in place for the remaining debates," and that they would be announced "shortly." The chaos of the first debate, which was marked by frequent incoherent cross talk, left a stain on the contest. Trump frequently interrupted and heckled Biden and ignored repeated pleas from the debate moderator, Chris Wallace of Fox News, for Trump to stick to his allotted time. At one point, an exasperated Biden turned to the President and said, "Will you shut up, man?" Trump and Biden were supposed to debate on Thursday, but that debate was canceled after Trump declined to participate in a virtual debate. The commission changed the format to a virtual debate due to the President's positive coronavirus diagnosis earlier this month, which left him hospitalized for three days. Both candidates instead participated in town halls on the night the debate was originally scheduled to take place. Biden appeared on ABC for an hour and a half town hall, and Trump appeared on NBC for an hour-long town hall. Biden has made clear that he wants the debate commission to change the rules ahead of the third contest, and said the way Trump conducted himself at the first debate was a "national embarrassment." "I just hope there's a way in which the debate commission can control the ability of us to answer the questions without interruptions," Biden told CNN's Arlette Saenz the day after the first debate. "I'm not going to speculate on what happens in the second or third debate -- my hope is that they're able to literally -- say the question gets asked of Trump, he has a microphone, he has two minutes, no one else has the microphone, and then I don't know what the rules are going to be. That seems to me to make some sense." The Trump campaign has come out against any changes to the rules. Campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh told CNN in a statement after the first debate that the commission "shouldn't be moving the goalposts and changing the rules in the middle of the game." "They're only doing this because their guy got pummeled last night," Murtaugh said. "President Trump was the dominant force and now Joe Biden is trying to work the refs."

No announced changes, so maybe Trump will have his way. Are there really any undecided voters? Oh, the networks will interview them, but they are not undecided. You can tell by their answers.

Why are they doing this? Trump can't debate.

No fank you.

Do you really think Trump will show up?

Why start a sentence with "So?"

I hope they debate again. Every time Trump opens his pie hole he makes it worse for himself, even when he shouts over Biden.

R9 prefers Pour finir.

After last night's disaster, Trump wants to erase the memory of all that, and now wants a redux of Debate #1.

I'll say yes.

If there's a debate, may I suggest Brianna Keilar as the moderator?

The Biden Campaign should request and receive unequivocal independent verification: 1] that Trump had been COVID tested on the same day of the first debate, and 2] of the results of Trump's COVID test on the day of Oct 22 debate.

R13 Briana would be terrific.

No. When Dump is involved it's not a debate. It's him flinging shit out of his ass like the COVID-infected orange baboon that he is. The American public has absolutely nothing to gain from this.

What dumb ass out there hasn't made up their mind by now?

R17, Guilty Trumpers.

No format change has been announced, so it looks like the 1st 'debate" format will be followed. No cut-off mic. announced, despite the commission's vow to change things after the first debacle. Who would now want to watch that clusterfuck? It's a woman moderator, so you know Asshole will attempt to bully her.

CNN: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said he will demand President Trump take a Covid-19 test, and for that test to return negative, before he will participate in a debate

No one wants to see another debate

Biden will announce he's got the rona and will cancel.

R20, and he needs to make sure his "personal Physician" doesn't do the test.

Biden should not bait

The media, looking to seem "fair" (aka "both-sidesism") will gush about Trump's performance if he seems even 5% less crazy than in the first debate. "A more serious Trump speaks to his record in final debate" or "Trump focuses on policy in final debate"

Biden just has to demand a rules change that Trump will not accede to, there is no debate, and everyone is left with the image of Abusive Debate Trump and Crazy Uncle Town Hall Trump.

When you are running down the clock, you take the foul and let the other team have a foul shot. You don't give them an opening for a three-pointer.

^^LOL. Biden should not DEBATE

For the love of God, please, please cancel this shit fest! I think I speak for millions of Americans to say that we have had enough of seeing this orange fat fuck doing anything.

The Pod Save guys today said the more Trump speaks, the better, because everything he says is alienating.

Funny how our "millennial friend" just fucked up again.

Boris, I am thinking millennial boy have hungry thirsty ass.

Kristen Welker.

Wouldn't be surprised if Trump demands a different moderator to set up his " unfair" scenario.

Yeah, considering the topics she chose highlight all his most obvious failures, I see him trying to get out of this all next week

Though it might be fun to hear him refer to a Black woman as "you people" I still think Biden should avoid this debate and can easily do so without losing any support.

Many people realize that I won the last debate. I don't need to do it again. The fake liberal media cannot overcome the will of patriotic Americans.

Just saw an ad for the third debate on Fox (Sports; never watch that other piece of shit). So I guess it's still on. Should be fun; Trump hates Welker. To be fair, he hates any woman who makes him look stupid; or to put it more succintly, he hates any woman.

Whoops! "succinctly". (is that right? doesn't look right.)

But, NBC aired his Town Hall that garnered the largest audience in the history of television. How could he hate Welker?

I was kind of hoping Guthrie would be the moderator. Is this other person anything like how Guthrie was at Trump's Town Hall?

It would be great if the audience started chanting shut up when Trump goes overtime/interrupts.

Biden should demand enforcement of no interruption rules, but how do you enforce them?

Trump won’t interrupt as much. That backfired big time.

He can't help himself; he has no self-control.

Exactly. His tactic is to make Biden look weak and Beta, and fluster him to lose train of thought to seem like he has dementia

If this "debate" happens, look for Trump to be totally uncontrolled. He knows he has nothing to lose and will be at his worst, since he cannot defend his record.

Not necessary. We all know where the two stand.

tRUMP=racist nitwit, only out for himself Biden=Country and citizens first.

Joe has no reason to face Trump again.

Agreed, the media has likely flipped into "Come on, aren't we being too hard on Trump?, and is eager to set up the horserace this election hasn't been for them yet!

Biden should simply say, "I think America knows who Donald Trump is by now. I know I do", and leave it at that.

T42, when you say he would be his worst you really mean he’ll be himself.

Trump tried to infect Biden with Covid.

He has never definitively said he tested negative before the debate despite question after question about it.

Trump doesn't view us as a country, he views us as an audience. I like, and admire, that Joe has no fear whatsoever of Trump and will eagerly take him on anyplace, anytime. He may be older now, but he's still very much that scrappy kid from Scranton. Joe is the authentic real deal, and owns his flaws...whereas Trump is just hopelessly flawed, period.

Trump will pull another stunt again like the overtalking or bringing in Burisma officials or something stupid. His attempt at biological warfare failed and his October surprise flopped, so he's switching to his next plan. Whatever it is, it will be dumb.

Speaking of dumb, has anyone seen Ivanka or Jared lately?

So, I don’t know, OP. So, what do you think? So, I’d be SO interested to know your opinion.

So?

r46 I believe you are right and that is pure evil on Trumps part ...and to think he and many trump supporting republicans have the nerve to call themselves pro life yet try stuff like this?

K' but WHY America, WHY this ????

The remix is better R51

No rules have changed, no cut off switch, weak moderator. What could possibly go right?

Biden should cancel because Trump’s Infected and crazy.

I think the words "Presidential" and "debate" do not mean what they think they mean.

Wonder÷ why no military que?

I thought they had already decided to control the microphones and cut Trump off when his time was up? And then Trump said he wouldn't debate with those rules - and that was that.

So they caved for that ogre?

(I don't know who I mean by 'they' - the powers that be, I guess - RNC / DNC / the networks / the devil?)

I wish they would cut his mic.

He would become apoplectic

@duty2warn Oct 18

Trump is decompensating. His psychopathology is fiercely malignant. Desperation is heightened. Nobody anywhere wants him around. WH keeps him on the road for their own peace. Rallies keep him narcissistically placated. New polls will show Biden up big. We'll enter new territory.

Those of you who watched him today in Michigan and Wisconsin, who heard him incite violence, saw him dance like a fool, and witnessed lie after lie interspersed with gaffes in a thunderstorm of unpunctuated half-sentences, probably think this is as bad as he can get. Think again.

So I can irritate R9.

I hope not..

"Handlers" claim Trump will tone it down. We'll see.

Snowflake- in-Chief whining again.

He’s going to tone it down and the media will say he exhibited a change in tone etc.

I do not see an upside for Biden on this.

As I noted earlier, the media will take anything short of complete madness from Trump and play it up as "a more presidential Trump" or "a more focused Trump" and then highlight some minor gaffe Biden makes because Both Sides.

If we use the basketball analogy, then Biden not participating in the debates is like a foul-- Trump gets two foul shots but it slows the game down and Biden gets the ball back again.

Versus doing the debate, which is like letting Trump inbound the ball and set up a play, possibly hitting a three pointer and then stealing the rebound.

Biden can easily insist on restrictions that Trump will not agree to.

Debate prep.

[quote] "Handlers" claim Trump will tone it down. We'll see.

It's like trying to train a diseased, rabid dog foaming at the mouth.

I want to see more debates! They are lovely and fun. Its great to see Trump get rabid and Biden lose his words.

When the Trump family shows up unmasked, will they be bounced? Have there been any conditions placed on this debate by the Biden Camp? Why is the Commission on Debates being so craven about implementing the " new rules" that they promised after the first fiasco? Trump always gets his way, which discredits every organization that bows to what he wants.

Why bother with this? Unless they cut mics, I see no point.

R53 why do you think Welker is weak?

Can they get Drunk Don Lemon to moderate?

Well just announced that Trump suffered a stroke earlier, so I doubt that there will be any debate now.

Link r73?

R73, he had another stroke today?

He didn’t have a stroke. He was dancing.

They moderator can’t cut their mics. The rules are agreed to by both campaigns. They negotiate them for months. Both campaigns have to agree. It’s not gonna happen.

I don’t think they should cut his mic. The more he talks the more people hate him. Let him to continue to hang himself. These next two weeks are going to be insane. Buckle up.

I really wish they canceled this...Thursday, right?

9 pm eastern on Thursday.

Monster's debate coaches.

Cheeto is already complaining about Kristen Welker moderating.

Sorry

Kristen Welker seems to be pretty non-confrontational. The fact that he is already complaining and saying she's biased shows that he has no strategy.

I definitely think that he'll fuck up and make some racially-charged comment toward her, which will only make things much worse for him than they already are.

It'd be great if they got Frank Welker to be the moderator.

He could use his Soundwave voice to moderate.

[quote] R69: Have there been any conditions placed on this debate by the Biden Camp?

Biden has asked Trump to take a verifiable COVID test the day of or day before the debate. I think Trump will pretend this insults him, and he will refuse, declaring that his word should be good enough (“I’m negative. I know it, everybody knows it, and YOU know it too!)

I simply can’t imagine how and why people cast their lot with this moron.

Or, Wes Welker.

Bwaaaaaah.

R84 that is his strategy. “See, if you’re mean to me I’ll sic the Trumptards on you! Be nice! Be nice! .... Cunt!”

R88, see R82.

Biden needs to practice answering questions clearly and concisely with a buzz saw running next to him, keeping eye contact with the camera and finishing his thoughts without stopping to say "C'mon man", "Time out", etc.

i can't believe there is another one ... so fucking sick of it all

This one will be the lowest rated. No one wants to see a replay of the first debate. No one. Trumpers can watch his rallies, in person or on-line. Joe has produced massive amounts of information for his people or the undecided.

The commission is meeting TODAY to discuss possible changes to the way the debate is urn. Why wait so long? No matter, Trump will get his way; he always does. The commission is afraid he will back out again. From CNN:

The Commission on Presidential Debates will meet Monday afternoon to discuss potential rule changes to the final contest between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden, two members of the commission tell CNN.

"We are going to consider what changes we are going to make with regards to the debate on Thursday night," one commission member said. The member added that there is a chance no changes are made, saying the conversation will be on "what, if any, changes will be made." The commission members did not tell CNN on Monday what changes were being considered in the meeting. After a chaotic first debate where Trump frequently flouted the rules and interrupted Biden, the commission acknowledged the chaos and said it would look into rule changes in order to "ensure a more orderly discussion." The commission had said after the first debate that they would announce the changes "shortly." The meeting, however, comes weeks after that first match up and just days before the Thursday's debate. The commission's second presidential debate was canceled after Trump declined to participate in a virtual contest, a change that was made because of his positive coronavirus diagnosis.

"The Commission on Presidential Debates sponsors televised debates for the benefit of the American electorate. Last night's debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues," a September 30 statement from the CPD reads. The commission, at the time, did not specify what changes they would be making, but their statement at the time said they intended "to ensure that additional tools to maintain order are in place for the remaining debates."

The commission will also certify that both Trump and Biden have met the 15% polling threshold needed to qualify for the debate at the Monday meeting. Biden has made clear that he wants the debate commission to change the rules ahead of the third contest, and said the way Trump conducted himself at the first debate was a "national embarrassment." "I just hope there's a way in which the debate commission can control the ability of us to answer the questions without interruptions," Biden said the day after the first debate. The Trump campaign has come out against any changes to the rules. Campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh told CNN in a statement after the first debate that the commission "shouldn't be moving the goalposts and changing the rules in the middle of the game."

Don't fuck with Proper Bagel!!!

If only Ronee Blakely could be persuaded to sing some songs!

I think trump will balk at any changes.

I think they will turn off the mic for the candidates when it’s not their turn to speak. Also, Biden wants Trump to take a [italic] verifiable [/italic] COVID test prior to the debate, to prove that he’s not contagious, and I think Trump will balk at that too, because he may well still be contagious.

So far I'm not hearing of any friction re the debate. Biden is preparing, Trump is holding rallies. Has anyone heard anything?

Fox says that Trump will bring up Hunter's e-mails. We can link to Fox, but not CNN

Seems like someone has had a change of heart on debate and may chicken out again

Trump wants a foreign policy debate so he has plenty of opportunity to throw in his lies about Joe's fictitious million-dollar payouts from Ukraine and the "mayor of Moscow."

I'd be happy if Trump pulls out and we don't have another debate.

[quote] I'd be happy if Trump pulls out

Dat's vat I say every nait.

More like once every 40 days, or whatever is in her contract

Another debate would change nothing and only give Trump another opportunity to attack Biden with lies. Why should Biden have to endure it? Kristin Welker can't control Trump. He will run all over her. Enough!

It’s not like Biden can defend himself or correct the record if Trump just screams over the moderator endlessly, like a two year old throwing a tantrum on the floor in the supermarket.

Kristen Welker certainly won’t be able to control him.

Most experts believe, as do I, that the more airtime given to Trump, the more damage he does to himself. His rankings don’t persuade anyone.

Donald’s not going to be happy:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Debate commission adopts new rules to mute microphones to allow Trump, Biden 2 minutes of uninterrupted time per segment.

He'll pull out.

Here's hoping R109

Without the debate he'll be limited to ranting to the people who are already voting for him. The rest of the media is pretty much glossing over his rallies, sort of "Today President Trump held a rally in Arizona where most of the crowd did not wear masks. He then flew to Nevada for a similarly maskless rally."

No mics, no foreign policy, no debate. It's rigged against me.

Biden better have his Secret Service people ready to tackle Trump if he tries to touch and spread his germs on the former VP. Not just being facetious, Trump is quite desperate right now. It'd be great if he were literally tripped on his face from getting to Mighty Joe.

I watched Trump's entire Arizona rally speech to have a good laugh. He's fun to watch now as he melts down.

I've never heard him curse more than he did today, he referred to his administration a few times in the past tense, (revealing his expected election loss), etc He won't debate again He may be in fuck it mode

@BillStepien: "President Trump is committed to debating Joe Biden regardless of last minute rule changes from the biased commission in their latest attempt to provide advantage to their favored candidate."

“Last minute”? Everyone agreed the second the first debate was over, the microphone needs to be muted when it’s not his turn. Why does this guy even want another opportunity to sound like an asshole? He already got the asshole vote. Why bother?

Hey, assholes actually have a bodily function. Correction: he's got the shit vote, like himself.

I was watching ABC tonight and there was a big ass ad proclaiming 'THE LAST DEBATE!!!' and some shit like, be sure to tune in Thursday....

They were sure acting like it's a done deal so R114's post isn't surprising. I don't think they'd go so triumphantly all-in if they weren't sure Trump will be there.

And really, he has nothing to lose. Biden does though - I hope something intervenes to cancel this shit. What is the proverb? Don't get int he pigpen with the pig - you'll just get shit all over you and the pig loves it? something like that.

Biden needs Pete Buttigieg now that Kamala is done with him. He needs some zingers that will make smoke come out of Trump's ears.

Will Trump agree to take a Covid test though? I bet he’s not taking any right now. He probably has no idea if he’s positive.

They are muting mics. Trump wants to still go because he thinks he has dirt with Hunter but it’s going to be him talking with no sound and will be hysterical

It's not turning out the way they wanted it to, #120. Maybe because Hunter is handsome and sounds like a fun party guest.

Trump just needed the story in print so he could quote it over and over at his Covid rallies.

Trump must participate, since the only thing he has left is Hunter BIden and the lies he can spread. Look for him to bring him up at every opportunity. Joe must strike back early and hard.

Yes, it's going to be all, "Joe shouldn't even be on stage, he should be in jail," all night long.

Preemptive attacks on the moderator. The most hilarious fact gleaned from the article: Tucker Carlson is registered as a Democrat in DC!!!!!

He's attacking the moderator because, if she dares to cut off his mic or challenge anything he says, he can play victim and make it more about her, so he doesn't have to answer any questions.

Biden should just ask Don this simple question: Would you please tell the American people your plan for Health Care?

If it's set up like the last debate, each candidate will have two minutes for a statement and then there will be an "open" period in which Trump will be free to lie, bluster, hector and bloviate.

Or, "What is your alternative for believing scientific research? Faith healers?"

On Twitter, several journos have been handing Biden a great debate question: If Trump thinks Fauci is such an unmitigated disaster, why is he still leading his Covid response team seven months later?

[quote]it's going to be all, "Joe shouldn't even be on stage, he should be in jail," all night long.

CBS News' Mark Knoller:

Pres Trump calling on Atty Gen Barr to launch official investigation on corruption charges against Joe and Hunter Biden. “This is major corruption,” said Trump on @FoxNews, “and has to be known before the election.” “We’ve got to get the Atty Gen to act and act fast,” said Trump.

Kristen Welker being attacked as a hyper-partisan Democrat by Trump and right-wing media in an attempt to intimidate her into taking it easy on the orange one.

The Commission on Presidential Debates

Co-Chairs

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.

Dorothy S. Ridings

Kenneth Wollack

Honorary Co-Chairs

Gerald R. Ford*

Jimmy Carter

Ronald Reagan*

George W. Bush

Barack Obama

Co-Chair Emeritus

Paul G. Kirk, Jr.

Board of Directors

John C. Danforth

Charles Gibson

John Griffen

Yvonne Hao Antonia Hernandez

Reverend John I. Jenkins

Newton N. Minow

Richard D. Parsons

Olympia Snowe

Executive Director

Janet H. Brown

*deceased

It's scheduled, but he still has time to back out.

What happened to the Biden campaign's demand that Trump be Covid tested before the debate?