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Do you think Trump will chicken out of the debates? (Original Post) DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2016 OP
They won't let him, but unless the debate rules are carefully setup, it will be an ugly still_one Jul 2016 #1
They can't compel him to debate. DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2016 #2
Maybe not compel him, but I am sure the rnc will exert a lot of pressure on him still_one Jul 2016 #4
Frankly, I think he's shitting himself. MADem Jul 2016 #9
I like that analysis MA still_one Jul 2016 #11
How many minutes into the debate will he come out with "Crooked Hillary"... Rosco T. Jul 2016 #10
That is a given, but at the same token he is going to be in for the surprise of his life still_one Jul 2016 #12
His white wing supporters expect him to debate, and think he will slam HRC, Obama, and Democrats Hoyt Jul 2016 #3
I passed. sofa king Jul 2016 #5
I think he's deathly afraid a moderator will demand specificity or point out the lies. Shrike47 Jul 2016 #6
A lot depends on polls I think piechartking Jul 2016 #7
He has been successful in refusing to release his tax returns. I can totally see him refusing to gratefultobelib Jul 2016 #8
He will show for the first one workinclasszero Jul 2016 #13
Yes, and then blame Hillary. louis-t Jul 2016 #14
I think he'll show up, try to be "presidential" and she will feed his fingertips to the wolverines. nolabear Jul 2016 #15
He'll try... The larger question--who the hell would WANT to moderate? hlthe2b Jul 2016 #16
Trump is a coward Gothmog Jul 2016 #17
He'll Come Up with a Reason... LonghornJack Jul 2016 #18

still_one

(91,937 posts)
4. Maybe not compel him, but I am sure the rnc will exert a lot of pressure on him
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 12:47 PM
Jul 2016

if he decided not to debate.

I believe that even Trump realizes that if he refused to debate, he would essentially be forfeiting the election

MADem

(135,425 posts)
9. Frankly, I think he's shitting himself.
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 01:01 PM
Jul 2016

I don't think he expected to get this far--and he has no plan.

On the one hand, he's giddy with power, on the other, he's shitting bricks because he owes so much money to the Russian mob (Putin's pals).

He has, as the saying goes, his hand in the dog's mouth.

If he wants to escape the debates, he'll have to fake illness or something.

still_one

(91,937 posts)
12. That is a given, but at the same token he is going to be in for the surprise of his life
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 01:17 PM
Jul 2016

when he discovers that Hillary will NOT tolerate that sexist, racist, bigoted bully.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
3. His white wing supporters expect him to debate, and think he will slam HRC, Obama, and Democrats
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 12:42 PM
Jul 2016

in general. To that 40-45% that support GOPers, no matter what, he will likely accomplish that (maybe a few will go we should have fielded a better candidate, but not many).

sofa king

(10,857 posts)
5. I passed.
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 12:47 PM
Jul 2016

I think the national security violations that Donald Trump has committed in the past 100 hours will be used to gently walk him straight out of the race. I think that he will step out either this Friday or next, and I think that the RNC will try to nominate Paul Ryan in his place. Ryan may be too smart to do that, in which case we may see the return of Jeb!

I am definitely not 100% on this, however I consider it more likely than not that Trump's severe national security mistakes (asking the Russians to commit espionage, telling crowds of people what he learned in his first classified Presidential Daily Briefing) will require the national security apparatus of the United States to attempt to compel him to leave. They can be quite persuasive, I am told.

Shrike47

(6,913 posts)
6. I think he's deathly afraid a moderator will demand specificity or point out the lies.
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 12:48 PM
Jul 2016

Since he doesn't actually know anything, he could be awfully embarrassed.

piechartking

(617 posts)
7. A lot depends on polls I think
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 12:49 PM
Jul 2016

If Clinton is ahead in the polls he will take the risk. If he's ahead there's less motivation to debate

I have a niece whose husband was campaign manager for Congressman Scott DesJarlais in TN, a real gem of a human being, and DesJarlais never debated his Democratic opponent, seeing no need to with his comfortable lead.

gratefultobelib

(1,591 posts)
8. He has been successful in refusing to release his tax returns. I can totally see him refusing to
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 01:00 PM
Jul 2016

debate. I don't know how it works, i.e. rules governing the debates, but unless it's against the law or something, he'll do whatever is in his best interests.

 

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)
13. He will show for the first one
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 01:22 PM
Jul 2016

Demagogue it, verbally poo on the stage so to speak, then storm off and claim its rigged against him and refuse all other offers to debate.

His bagger base will love it and Fox news/Hate radio will have his back.

nolabear

(41,915 posts)
15. I think he'll show up, try to be "presidential" and she will feed his fingertips to the wolverines.
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 01:31 PM
Jul 2016

After that all bets are off.

hlthe2b

(101,698 posts)
16. He'll try... The larger question--who the hell would WANT to moderate?
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 03:23 PM
Jul 2016

and who on earth could do so effectively?

LonghornJack

(136 posts)
18. He'll Come Up with a Reason...
Sun Jul 31, 2016, 02:12 PM
Jul 2016

....that he'll use a pretext for pulling out of the debates.

I can see Trump objecting to the moderators, or insisting that the third-party candidates be included. When he doesn't get his way, he'll pull out and go back to his "the game is rigged" mantra.

I can also see him insisting that his fans be allowed to cheer his arguments, as they did during the primary debates. I don't think he can live without the cheers that make him appear to be winning the debate. The debate organizers won't allow cheering, as they have since the start of presidential debates, so, predicatably, Trump walks out.

Anyone else see any similar scenarios where Trump skips?


LHJ

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