this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2023
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The former president’s apparent decision to skip the first debate is a major affront both to the Republican National Committee and to Fox News, which is hosting the event.

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[–] FlyingSquid 74 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I thought he was the best debater? What's he afraid of?

[–] [email protected] 51 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I think it's a power move. The GOP is nothing without his base. He's forcing that point. Viewer numbers are what feeds his ego.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (3 children)

He’s afraid. He craves attention more than he can provide it.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago

Maybe both. Obviously Tucker will give him softballs. But it's a competition he's more comfortable with: collecting eyeballs.

[–] Oderus 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He's too privileged and stupid to be scared. He's certain he'll get away with whatever he does regardless of what that is.

I agree with others saying this is a power move. By not going, he basically proves that many Republicans won't watch which means less views which means Trump can say, without lying, that because he didn't show the views were down.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Exactly. Why go and share a stage with a bunch of people who are trailing him so much in the polls when he can go sit down with Tucker Carlson and get all the attention.

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[–] dhork 23 points 1 year ago

He's a Master Debater

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Mike Pence. The dude should just crack him. He’d go up in the polls.

[–] paddirn 72 points 1 year ago (3 children)

He doesn't really need to go though. Latest polling numbers have him at 54% of the Republican vote, with DeSantis at 15% as his closest competitor. Who does he need to convince that doesn't know who he is already? As much as I hate him, he's still unfortunately popular with many in the GOP, I just hope he's rotting in a prison cell by the time the actual election gets underway and the GOP has to scramble to put up some other reject in his place.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I just hope he’s rotting in a prison cell by the time the actual election gets underway and the GOP has to scramble to put up some other reject in his place.

You're thinking of the Republican primary. He'll still run in the general with or without the Republican nomination, in or out of prison. If he gets the nomination, and ends up convicted, there's going to be a hell of a fight in the Republican party. Invest in popcorn now.

[–] JustZ 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There's already a hell of fight in the party. He lost twice already.

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[–] partial_accumen 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

He doesn’t really need to go though. Latest polling numbers have him at 54% of the Republican vote, with DeSantis at 15% as his closest competitor. Who does he need to convince that doesn’t know who he is already?

If they're smart, this is the GOPs chance to out all the dirty laundry on Trump uncontested by Trump himself on a nationally televised event. Each candidate will have their chance to dunk on Trump while high-fiving each other.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Except, according to DeSantis' leaked debate prep, he's planning to defend Trump

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

What a pathetic little man. He has a chance to show how he's different from trump and the best he can do is get on his knees and plead fealty!?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I guess he's hoping for VP or at least a cabinet position?

Hopefully the other candidates have a spine and a brain. Trump has already sunk. The only hope for Republicans is to move away, not to sink with him. I don't really care either way. It looks to me like the party is doomed, which is good. Hopefully the democrats split and take over as two parties over time, maybe with actual progressives in one.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

No, desantis already tried the "Trump is too liberal" tactic and failed. Why? Because Trump is the strong daddy in Republicans eyes, and you can't call the strong daddy weak.

Instead you say that strong daddy is being railroaded by the libtards and it's totally unfair, but you should vote for me because he has to concentrate on his legal fights and I'm also a strong daddy.

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[–] Djennik 36 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I thought Tucker hated him passionately?

[–] [email protected] 52 points 1 year ago

He doesn't hate him as much as he loves views though

[–] JJROKCZ 13 points 1 year ago

Yea but he loves money more

[–] nutsack 33 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

a strategically correct move in his case honestly

[–] Landmammals 33 points 1 year ago

Really Trump's best move is just to assume he's the nominee and act like it's foolish for the GOP to even have a primary.

[–] Raptor_007 30 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] LEDZeppelin 28 points 1 year ago

GOP is trump’s bitch at this point

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Wait. Tucker? I thought he’d been deplatformed.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He seems to be on twitter. yt algorithm recommended his video for some reason.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Maybe you’re a republican, but google somehow figured it out before you did?

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (9 children)

YouTube thinks I'm far right because I watch videos related to some of my hobbies, which happen to be dominated by far right morons.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Same here. Also live in a red state. I mostly have hobbies on my recommendations I try hard to keep politics off my algorithms cause it can be a black hole and take over everything.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The article only has one line about this, noting that what platform this interview would take place on is unclear. I just checked and it looks like he's continued to do a show on Twitter despite Fox News sending him a cease-and-desist letter, so presumably it would be there.

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[–] flossdaily 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Weird, I thought Trump was going to use the distraction of the debate to flee the country.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

they're both circling the bowl.. together..

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Haha I love this

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

I wouldn't show up to any debates either if I was him. Why would I I have a motherfuckin CULT that will die for me. All I gotta do is tweet "kill em all my peeps" and it's over.

Wouldn't even dignify these pretenders with my presence.

Honestly I'm curious as to why he hasn't given the "fire at will" order yet. I would have Jan 6. Other billionaires holding him back?

[–] dynamojoe 7 points 1 year ago

Ronna McDaniel's prayers have been answered. Now they don't have to fret over banning Trump for not signing the GOP Loyalty pledge.

[–] mr_tyler_durden 6 points 1 year ago
[–] YourBrainOnScience 4 points 1 year ago

It might ruffle some feathers at the RNC that he is treating their debate invite like he treats a Congressional subpoena.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Let them fight.

There's a reference there, but I didn't feel like looking up the gif.

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[–] Javish 4 points 1 year ago

What a coward.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Gotta try to boost the ratings for the mouthpiece that helped boost you up and covered your ass last time around, eh? And keep yourself from facing direct criticism or being forced to sign that annoying "support the nominee" pledge - or letting tv cameras you don't control show the nation see how fat, sallow, and stressed you look, or hearing the dementia-and-pill addled word salad come out of your mouth.

I wouldn't be surprised if they pre-recorded it, either.

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