Democratic bigwigs fear debates will devolve into horror show

[Bayard]

The prospect of taking on a sitting president after a months-long internal bloodbath is keeping many Democrats up at night.

Interviews with nearly 20 Democratic elected officials, party chiefs, labor leaders and operatives the past week revealed an air of foreboding verging on alarm that the debates will degenerate into a two-night, bare-knuckle brawl. With the divisive 2016 Democratic primary fresh in their minds and the current presidential candidates starting to take swipes at one another, the fear is that voters will be left with the impression of a bickering, small-minded opposition party.

“I’m worried it’s going to be a scrum — a lot of people trying to score points on each other and looking like scoring points was more important than communicating with the American people,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers and a member of the Democratic National Committee. “That circular firing squad is not going to help save our democracy or help working families.”

There are a few reasons Democrats think the presidential hopefuls — after pulling their punches for months — might escalate their attacks on Wednesday and Thursday. Former Vice President Joe Biden’s rivals have increasingly shown a willingness to take him on, especially over his recent remarks about working with segregationists in Congress during his time in the Senate.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/25/democrats-2020-debates-1378848

I'm afraid of this too. It will not help our cause at all. And tRump will certainly be using it to his advantage.

[BootinUp]

1. I can think of one loose canon.

But you’ll have to guess.

[CentralMass]

3. Biden ?

[crazytown]

6. Tulsi nt

[CentralMass]

7. I can see that.

[BootinUp]

8. Lol. No. Of course he would respond to attacks. Nt

[emulatorloo]

2. "That circular firing squad is not going to help save our democracy or help working families."

Hope our candidates grasp that and reign the attacks in

[femmedem]

16. It would be nice if our fellow DUers grasped that as well.

Some of the other responses to an OP about the circular firing squad are veiled and not-so-veiled potshots at candidates they don't support.

[sop]

4. Anyone want to predict which one will take the first shot at Biden, or Warren?

[Scurrilous]

5. My money is on Chuck Todd.

[marylandblue]

9. Democrats are also known for endless handwringing.

[larwdem]

10. I agree with them

I hope we don't have a civil war. And I hope many candidates drop out soon!

[Duppers]

11. Same here.

[Duppers]

12. Wonder where the negatives blows will begin?

I don't think it will be from the very strong candidates.

The people who are going to take the shots are more likely the ones not polling so well.

There are a few toxic and a few unrealistic candidates who need to withdraw. Their egos are bigger than their base of support.

[xxqqqzme]

13. If russian hackers see a crack

in the facade, you can be sure it will be exploited.

[TreasonousBastard]

14. More hand-wringing about what MIGHT happen...

no doubt leaked to the press because, well, there's no such thing as bad publicity?

[murielm99]

15. This article was designed to make us

feel fearful and divided. I am not buying it.

[elleng]

20. ditto

[Kaiserguy]

17. The real problem

as I see it are there are far to many people running most of who really don't have a chance but are willing to say and do things trying to get attention that harm the ones who have a real chance. Getting rid of Dumb Don needs to be the most important reason of all not taking down each other. Some of these people need to be running for the Senate since we need to take it if we are to do anything.

[MineralMan]

18. I think the debates will be pretty calm. Each candidate will

have just one minute to address each question, and 30 seconds for a rebuttal. Doing anything but going positive on your own point will waste that brief time. In one minute, you get to say maybe 120 words. Five or six sentences. Why would any candidate waste a word on saying something negative about another candidate?

I think you're going to see every candidate trying to say something memorable about his or her approach to whatever issue is raised. There's no time to do anything else in a way that will help yourself.

However, if a candidate takes a negative stance against another candidate, the results that candidate gets in the polling will also be negative for the candidate who does that.

[oasis]

19. Don't worry about Joe. He's as cool as the other side of the pillow.

[Bayard]

21. Keeping the Big Picture in mind

The goal is to oust tRump, not battle among ourselves, letting rethugs and the Russians to divide us further.

If a candidate can't win on their own merits and policies, they need to give it up.