Dates, times and places for the three presidential debates were worked out more than a year ago, by a bipartisan commission, well before anyone even knew who the candidates would be. And Hillary Clinton is ready to attend all three debates.
"Secretary Clinton looks forward to participating in all three presidential debates scheduled by the independent debate commission," [Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta] said in a statement. "With so much at stake in the fall elections, she believes these debates will provide the American people with an important opportunity to hear from the candidates on issues critical to the country's future."
However, Donald Trump has already declared that the debates, like the election, are rigged.
Which led to Donald Trump claiming that he had received a letter from the NFL complaining about the competition. Which led to the NFL saying that Trump was a big, fat liar. After which Trump said did too, did too. Because continuing to ride a lie long after it’s become ridiculous is the Trump way.
But now that Hillary Clinton has agreed to attend all three debates, on the scheduled nights, at the agreed on times, the real question is: Will Trump show? While Trump may have bested a field of Republican intellectual giants during the primaries, he didn’t exactly do it by demonstrating a rapier wit or detailed knowledge. Instead Trump “debated” by yelling over people, mocking, and talking about the size of his little Donald. It wasn’t mud slinging, so much as wallowing.
An actual debate, with questions of actual policy, will be about as far from Trump’s comfort zone as can be imagined. Hillary Clinton will take him apart … so long as the commission doesn’t allow Trump to just shout “Crooked Hillary” and “my hands are yuuuge” over and over.
Of course, since Trump has already checked the football schedule, maybe he’d just rather go to a game. Surely he knows an owner who had some space in his luxury suite. Maybe even a guy who can tell a long, rambling story about how he and Donald arrived in their helicopter and Donald wasn’t a total ass to the doorman.
Meanwhile, the rest of us can watch Hillary debate an empty podium. That’s probably best for Trump in any case.
The first debate is scheduled for September 26 at Hofstra University.