It’s probably a good thing I’m not on Joe Biden’s campaign team. Because Trump is throwing spaghetti on the walls by the ton trying to instigate Joe to lose his cool and terrify the rest of the country. And I must admit, he has caused me more than a few sleepless nights. While he should not be tempted to lose his cool, I think Biden should still go for the jugular. Trump will.
By that I mean it’s no secret that Trump has promoted violence and law breaking at his rallies and threatened to not honor the election results and hopes that by stacking the Supreme Court with an immoral appointment to replace the honorable RGB, he can claim fraud if he loses and prevent certification of the results. I suspect that the debates might be his October surprise which he hopes can turn things around for him. His surprise might even be backing out of them?
Can Trump be Stopped?
Assuming there is at least one debate, I think Biden must express controlled outrage and can pre-empt Trump by confronting his campaign threats for what they are, an outrageous attempt to destroy our Constitution and rule of law and make himself a dictator. I would hope he states forcefully that no other nominated candidate or president has ever threatened not to leave office if voted out. Nor has any candidate or president urged his supporters to become violent or break laws. And then demand he pledge to honor the results of the election, which Biden can do on the spot, and which Trump will not do. I suspect Trump might even walk out on Biden if confronted directly. If Trump weasels out of a direct confrontation, Biden should also emphasize that no president ever failed to have a coordinated national policy in a national emergency such as with a pandemic virus that has already taken 200,000 American lives and work with his party to withhold much needed aid in Congress. He should say this before Trump springs his own “trap” if there is even is a debate.
President or Dictator?
I would also ask him point blank if he believes a president is morally and legally above the law? Many of the voters never considered the implications of his intentions because they are only watching Fox News and alike. I think Biden might be able to force Trump to withdraw from further debates by making him uncomfortable. Trump’s latest threats forced even the Republicans in the Senate to admonish his remarks — not that I trust their sincerity for a moment. Of course, the question is, will the format of the debates allow him to do this, and can he or does he want to attempt to risk a direct confrontation? Or has Trump decided on his own surprise?
With our country on the brink of Constitutional destruction, it’s not time to beat around the bush. If Trump is not put on the defensive, he will definitely contest a lost election. Biden’s team should consider that possibility carefully. Again, I’m not suggesting Biden lose his cool. But he should go all in when identifying what Trump is saying and doing. If he even gets the chance.
Dangers of Debating Trump
I think Trump has made enough outrageous statements about not honoring the election if he loses, even hinting at a coup by the Senate to make him president, that Biden may be walking into an ambush at the debates. Does Biden raise this possibility in the debates or ignore it. Can the right kind of responses throw a monkey wrench into Trump’s plans? There is now great risk for Biden at these debates should they happen. Will he demand Trump publicly swear to honor the election results or will he continue to violate the oath he took? I think Trump is desperate and without assurances of no prosecution will try anything to forestall the inevitable.
Update: Trump Coup?
I started this article two days ago, but recent reporting, events and words by Trump suggest his intentions more clearly — that he definitely planning an attempt to invalidate the election results and hold onto to power should be lose and his own party’s cheating and voter suppression are not enough. It may not be a bluff. He now/or will soon have a 6 -3 right wing Supreme Court, a Senate Majority, and Attorney General to help in this endeavor. I have no way of predicting the outcome, but he has shown by his past behavior that he and his traitorous clique are more than capable of attempting this, and in my view, of succeeding. And in the process trigger civil war conditions.