USA Should Trump take part in the Fox News debate?

[Albion]

Should President Trump take part in the August debate on Fox News between Republican candidates? If he does not, what would the consequences (good or bad) likely be?

 

[Castle Church]

I don't think taking part will affect him one way or another. IMO anyone that will or won't vote for him has already made that decision. That could change in a general election as there are a lot of independents that may have voted D before but will be open to changing.

 

[Josiah]

I don't think taking part will affect him one way or another. IMO anyone that will or won't vote for him has already made that decision. That could change in a general election as there are a lot of independents that may have voted D before but will be open to changing.

I agree.

I think he SHOULD (all serious candidates should, democracy is greatly helped by this) but sometimes a candidate who is way ahead avoids this since they figure they have everything to loose and nothing to gain - they are winning

But I don't think ANYTHING matters with Trump. His supporters tend to be supporters NO MATTER WHAT. I don't think it would matter a bit if he did the debate and was humiliated, proven to be a lair anything else, his supporter support him. NOTHING is going to change that. Nothing can.

Now, is that group over 50%? That's unclear. It COULD work that there is a big rally around one of the challengers, one who could squeeze out 51% or at least send this to the Convention for it's choice. But I think the odds of either are very, very small. And if he doesn't get the nomination, he's already set the stage for a third party run by refusing to support a Republican other than himself. Biden (or worse, Newsom) will be our next president but we MAY finally get past Trump. Maybe. Will all his following stay with the Republican Party in 2028 or from the Trump Party, assuring that the Democrats will win every election in the nation? We'll see.



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[Albion]

Biden (or worse, Newsom) will be our next president but we MAY finally get past Trump. Maybe. Will all his following stay with the Republican Party in 2028 or from the Trump Party, assuring that the Democrats will win every election in the nation? We'll see.

A slightly different question...

Will there be anything other than a one-party government for good IF the 2024 election goes to Biden or Newsome or whomever the Ds put up in 2024? Almost every country that's permanently in the hands of a single party still allows elections to be held, but they don't mean anything.

 

[Josiah]

A slightly different question...

Will there be anything other than a one-party government for good IF the 2024 election goes to Biden or Newsome or whomever the Ds put up in 2024? Almost every country that's permanently in the hands of a single party still allows elections to be held, but they don't mean anything.

Good point.

 

[Albion]

But here's my concern with Trump. I think it's very likely he'll get the nomination - and loose (except he'll insist he won

Could be.

And that is a fair answer to one of the questions asked by the Original Post--what the consequences will be if Trump chooses not to debate.

I have a hunch that if he does not debate, the also-rans will bore the daylights out of the viewers who will see almost all of them as not being credible contenders for the nomination, and this will benefit Trump even more than if he'd appeared and taken them on.

And this is to say nothing about his reported plans to counter that Fox debate by being interviewed by Tucker Carlson at about the same time.

 

[Josiah]

Could be.r

And that is a fair answer to one of the questions asked by the Original Post--what the consequences will be if Trump chooses not to debate.

Challenging Trump is a difficult thing for all those "ALSO RUNNING" Republicans. Trump has the unmitigated, unquestioning support of at least close to 50% of the Republicans. They won't win them over.... but can't alienate them either, they will need them in the Fall and don't want to fuel Trump's running as a Third Party Candidate (which I suspect is exactly what he'll do if he doesn't get the nomination). I suspect Christie will be the only one to mention Trump in the debates... the rest will do all they can to avoid the proverbial "elephant in the room."

The goal of the "also running" will be to rally the support of all those uncomfortable with Trump... and HOPE that's 51% of Republicans. I think it's unlikely any ONE of them will get 100% of the "not Trump" support.... and I doubt he or she could get that 51%. I think Trump will get it. And I wonder if that's not the best thing for the Republicans - he'll loose, we'll have Biden (or Newsom) and PERHAPS we'll finally get rid of Trump. If he doesn't get the nomination, he'll split the REpublican vote in half with a Third Party and guarentee Biden or Newsom and eliminate any conservative party from having a role in the US, we will effectively become a one-party nation.




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[Albion]

Challenging Trump is a difficult thing for all those "ALSO RUNNING" Republicans. Trump has the unmitigated, unquestioning support of at least close to 50% of the Republicans. They won't win them over.... but can't alienate them either, they will need them in the Fall and don't want to fuel Trump's running as a Third Party Candidate...

I'm inclined to think that each of them will be trying to rise out of the pack and establish himself as THE alternative to Trump. That will require every one of them who aspires to have that happen to criticize Trump for one thing or another (as most of them have been doing already, some with increasing frequency).