Debate Debating

It’s her secret weapon

Trump is angling to get out of the debate with Kamala Harris on September 10th. He’s saying that ABC News, where the debate is scheduled to be broadcast, is biased against him (have they changed in the last month?), and then says he’d do it on NBC, or even CBS who “are unfair but the best of the group.” He said he’d do it on CNN, because “Jake Tapper was fair.” But then he is trying to use the notion that they changed the rules, and that’s why he won’t do it. By changing the rules, he means the request by the Harris team to have mics unmuted, which Trump says he didn’t like before, but “it worked out okay.” So maybe he likes them muted, maybe not. Depends, I guess.

“They keep wanting to change the rules because she can’t answer questions.”

It’s not clear why the Harris Campaign is asking for this change — it might be a negotiating tact — but on its own, it seems to me the right request. Unmuted mics would help Trump hang himself with his rants, hotheaded remarks and rude quips. Harris will be quick to either stay silent and let him do it, or respond with a sharp rebuttle. Biden was not so good at that, although he did say once to Trump, “Will you shut up, man?”

Plus, with an open mic, Harris can fact check Trump as he speaks.

The NY Times writes, “At the weigh-in before a big bout, prizefighters often taunt their opponents in an effort to try to psych them out. So it goes with the presidential pugilists set to meet next month in the city of Rocky Balboa.”

I would not want to debate Kamala Harris, that’s for sure. She is so smart and quick. Trump may be equally afraid of her sense of humor. Can you imagine Harris laughing on the debate stage? I can.

Maybe the Trump team will ask for no laughing on the debate stage.