We need primary debates!

[BartenderElite]

Every time I hear RFK & Marianne Williamson interviewed or speaking to a crowd, it's very refreshing. Just new ideas and different angles of looking at problems & issues.

The DNC should be embarrassed. It's against the spirit of democracy not to give voters better exposure to these interesting candidates w/ fresh perspectives. If nothing else, it will improve Biden's messaging and strengthen the party as a whole.

A Presidential race shouldn't be a coronation. I get that there is some tradition around that - but it further reinforces the idea that the parties represent "the establishment" and monied interests. We need these other candidates to be heard.

 

[Hawkeye10]

Under the rule of the Revolution what the people want is irrelevant.

You will do as you are told....OR ELSE!

 

[BidenPresident]

I agree with open primaries. But RFK and Williamson are both nuts.

 

[LurchAddams]

Every time I hear RFK & Marianne Williamson interviewed or speaking to a crowd, it's very refreshing. Just new ideas and different angles of looking at problems & issues.

The DNC should be embarrassed. It's against the spirit of democracy not to give voters better exposure to these interesting candidates w/ fresh perspectives. If nothing else, it will improve Biden's messaging and strengthen the party as a whole.

A Presidential race shouldn't be a coronation. I get that there is some tradition around that - but it further reinforces the idea that the parties represent "the establishment" and monied interests. We need these other candidates to be heard.

If RFK Jr. and Williamson get a significant number of votes in the primary they will deserve an audience. That way the people will decide who is cuckoo and who isn't. Having said that, I don't know much about Williamson, but RFK Jr. has written some nonsense about vaccines.

 

[BartenderElite]

If RFK Jr. and Williamson get a significant number of votes in the primary they will deserve an audience. That way the people will decide who is cuckoo and who isn't. Having said that, I don't know much about Williamson, but RFK Jr. has written some nonsense about vaccines.

I have a harder time w/ some of RFK's positions. But he has some positions I love.

Williamson is another story. She would be far outside the mold of what we consider a traditional Presidential candidate - but would be amazing, imo. Just a completely different approach to the Presidency.

And at this point....why not?

 

[T. A. Gardner]

Yea, like Biden's going to ramble incoherently through a debate... Not going to happen. Trump on the other hand will happily make an ass of himself on stage in a verbal fight with his opponents...

 

[cawacko]

Every time I hear RFK & Marianne Williamson interviewed or speaking to a crowd, it's very refreshing. Just new ideas and different angles of looking at problems & issues.

The DNC should be embarrassed. It's against the spirit of democracy not to give voters better exposure to these interesting candidates w/ fresh perspectives. If nothing else, it will improve Biden's messaging and strengthen the party as a whole.

A Presidential race shouldn't be a coronation. I get that there is some tradition around that - but it further reinforces the idea that the parties represent "the establishment" and monied interests. We need these other candidates to be heard.

The party in power clearly has limited reason to want primary debates. Look at Carter in '80 (Kennedy) and Bush in '92 (Buchanan) both losing after facing a challenge from within. The other question from an inter-party perspective is how to judge the 'worthiness' of the competitors. Someone like Gavin Newsom wanting to challenge Biden is very different than Marianne Williamson or RFK Jr.

Despite their flowery language about democracy etc. political parties exist for one reason, to win elections. They will do everything they can for power and that generally means limiting debate whether its from within their own party or outside third parties.

 

[Uncensored2008]

Every time I hear RFK & Marianne Williamson interviewed or speaking to a crowd, it's very refreshing. Just new ideas and different angles of looking at problems & issues.

The DNC should be embarrassed. It's against the spirit of democracy not to give voters better exposure to these interesting candidates w/ fresh perspectives. If nothing else, it will improve Biden's messaging and strengthen the party as a whole.

A Presidential race shouldn't be a coronation. I get that there is some tradition around that - but it further reinforces the idea that the parties represent "the establishment" and monied interests. We need these other candidates to be heard.

Fetterman debating Quid Pro.

It would be EPIC.

{
Mr. President, the first question is to you, you've destroyed the economy, what will you do to fix it.

Well, Cornpop was a bad dude, and the little black cockroaches scurrying to the pool to bounce on the lump in my lap while I planted the first flag on the moon with Neil Young

Uh, thank you Mr. President, your rebuttal Sen. Fetterman?

Befurdled the glaxonumous pustule. Vonscramal the plebtuscan fergrubnox.

Well said Senator - and I think America can clearly see the quality of candidates the democrat party offers America.
}

 

[BartenderElite]

The party in power clearly has limited reason to want primary debates. Look at Carter in '80 (Kennedy) and Bush in '92 (Buchanan) both losing after facing a challenge from within. The other question from an inter-party perspective is how to judge the 'worthiness' of the competitors. Someone like Gavin Newsom wanting to challenge Biden is very different than Marianne Williamson or RFK Jr.

Despite their flowery language about democracy etc. political parties exist for one reason, to win elections. They will do everything they can for power and that generally means limiting debate whether its from within their own party or outside third parties.

The bolded is true, and a stark statement that the people of our republic have ceded a great deal of control to a very small group.

We can call it for what it is, but that doesn't change the fact that it's very much against the spirit of what we're supposed to be about. And if we cede that kind of control, it's hard to say that it's really "for the people," as we like to profess.

As to RFK and Williamson, they're both polling pretty well. I don't see why they shouldn't have a right to debate.

 

[BidenPresident]

I have a harder time w/ some of RFK's positions. But he has some positions I love.

Williamson is another story. She would be far outside the mold of what we consider a traditional Presidential candidate - but would be amazing, imo. Just a completely different approach to the Presidency.

And at this point....why not?

"Why not me?"--Trump

 

[BartenderElite]

"Why not me?"--Trump

Well, that's the extreme dark side of "out of the mainstream."

 

[Lionfish]

I agree with open primaries. But RFK and Williamson are both nuts.

Then you just lied.

 

[Tinkerpeach]

All candidates on both sides want Biden on the debate stage because they know what a train wreck it would be.

I doubt Bidens handlers will even let him debate in the general election

 

[BartenderElite]

All candidates on both sides want Biden on the debate stage because they know what a train wreck it would be.

I doubt Bidens handlers will even let him debate in the general election

Kind of a myth. It wouldn't be different from 2020.

He doesn't have dementia, or any sort of progressive mental decline. He talks the same way he talked in '20, and would debate the same way. He wasn't the winner of those primary debates, but he did fine.

 

[LurchAddams]

I have a harder time w/ some of RFK's positions. But he has some positions I love.

Williamson is another story. She would be far outside the mold of what we consider a traditional Presidential candidate - but would be amazing, imo. Just a completely different approach to the Presidency.

And at this point....why not?

Let the people decide. If either or both candidates receive a significant number of votes in the primaries, they deserve to be heard.

 

[LurchAddams]

Yea, like Biden's going to ramble incoherently through a debate... Not going to happen. Trump on the other hand will happily make an ass of himself on stage in a verbal fight with his opponents...

Holy shit - trump is the master of rambling incoherently. Did you see all the people trying to leave his campaign launch and literally being locked in the room, given no escape? It's funny you always incriminate your chosen lame-brained candidate when you pick on Biden.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/people-tried-leave-trumps-2024-155510924.html

https://www.businessinsider.in/poli...ty-abc-reporters-say/articleshow/95564199.cms

"Some people tried to leave former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign launch in Mar-a-Lago early — but were stopped by security, two ABC News reporters said.

Trump formally announced his third consecutive bid for the White House in a ballroom at his lavish golf club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday night.

But his speech — which lasted just over an hour — prompted some of his supporters to leave early, according to ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, who was in the room."

 

[Geeko Sportivo]

Ford was the last incumbent president to face a debate in the primaries.

But, the public will demand one from Biden this time around, as he is the oldest candidate to ever run for president.

I think he will hold his own, and would easily win it should he have to.

 

[cawacko]

Ford was the last incumbent president to face a debate in the primaries.

But, the public will demand one from Biden this time around, as he is the oldest candidate to ever run for president.

I think he will hold his own, and would easily win it should he have to.

You think he'd easily handle Newsom? Not asking this in a confrontational way but just curious, why?

 

[Nordberg]

Yea, like Biden's going to ramble incoherently through a debate... Not going to happen. Trump on the other hand will happily make an ass of himself on stage in a verbal fight with his opponents...

Biden would mop the floor with Daffy Donald in a debate. However, he has nothing to gain from debating Williamson or RFK. They have no change of beating him.

 

[Geeko Sportivo]

You think he'd easily handle Newsom? Not asking this in a confrontational way but just curious, why?

The good things going for Newsom, are the very same things going for Biden. He is popular, he is pretty well known now- THANKS TO THE REPUBLICANS constantly bashing him, and him being able to justify his actions and hold his own. Both seem to be good humanitarians, both seem to be good Democracy fighters, both seem to fight for women's rights, Minority rights, and here is a big one- NO SCAMS- both are scam free in their administrations.

On a debate stage, I do not think people would be able to distinguish them a part.

The Democrats want a younger president, and I believe Biden wants to see someone like Gavin coming up on the radar screen- to hand over the reins!

So, should Gavin enter the race, he would be a good shoe in replacement for Biden.