We did not have Joe Biden issuing a weird cringey debate challenge to Donald Trump on this week’s Bingo card. Yet, here we are.

Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020. Since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate.

Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again.

Well, make my day, pal. pic.twitter.com/AkPmvs2q4u

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 15, 2024

“Make my day??!!” Joe, you are NOT Clint Eastwood by any stretch of the imagination. Furthermore, how long and how many redos did it take to make this video challenge? There are at least five jumps in that 14 second video!! 

Here’s the wild thing about this debate challenge, which Trump accepted. The Biden team has put lots and I mean LOTS of restrictions in place. 

President Joe Biden is officially ditching the bipartisan commission that has conducted presidential debates since the late 1980s and is instead proposing two debates with former President Donald Trump — one as early as June.

In a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon cites several reasons for doing so: That the scheduled debates would take place too late in the process (“after tens of millions of Americans will have already voted”), that its model is antiquated and geared towards “huge spectacles” rather than “good debates;” and that the commission was “unable or unwilling to enforce the rules” during the 2020 debates, when Trump famously talked over Biden and the moderator.

“We are advising you now of this decision, months in advance of the dates you announced you are planning for, to enable you to avoid incurring further production, and other expenses on the assumption that the Democratic nominee, President Biden, will participate. For the reasons stated above, he will not,” O’Malley Dillon writes.

The actual Presidential Debate Commission has already calendared three debates. What the Biden team wants is something entirely different. One that is geared towards enabling Joe to hopefully stay on track, not get distracted by the audience, and alleviate word salads and brain freezes.

Indeed, the Biden Team wants these two debates to be held in a TV studio with zero audience in attendance.

Biden proposed that the moderator should be selected by the broadcast host from their “regular personnel,” with firm time limits for answers, equal speaking time, alternative turns to speak and microphones that are only active during each candidate’s turn. The first debate would take place after the June 15 conclusion of the Group of Seven summit in Italy and the conclusion of Trump’s criminal trial in New York. The September debate would take place before the start of early voting.

What is rich is that the Biden team is also demanding that the debate not include any third party candidates who might meet ballot requirements. Which is a pointed exclusion of RFK Jr. 

The timing of this debate push is interesting given the multiple reports that more and more accommodations are being made for Joe so he can look marginally with it during his highly scripted public appearances.

At this point why even bother with a campaign? https://t.co/euax8rSjhc

— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) May 5, 2024

The DNC is also making adjustments and is evidently planning a half-live, half-Zoom convention from Joe’s basement. Partially due to the rabid protestors who are planning to disrupt the convention in Chicago, but ALSO due to Joe’s cognitive issues. 

President Joe Biden’s top advisers are all too aware the ghosts of 1968 may haunt their convention here, but they’re grappling with a pair of more urgent and thoroughly modern-day challenges as summer nears: How far can they go in reprising their virtual 2020 convention to mitigate the threat of disruption inside the arena, and how will they navigate a rookie mayor who unabashedly sympathizes with protesters?

Trumpeting the success of their Covid-era convention four years ago, some in Biden’s orbit are aggressively pushing to make the 2024 conclave a hybrid production. That would mean in-person speeches from the president, party luminaries and rising stars to draw television attention alongside a mix of pre-recorded testimonials and videos from other parts of the country.

The timing of Joe’s debate challenge is also suspect given the fact that his polling numbers are in the toilet. Zogby polling gave Joe a D minus this last week.  Joe’s Presidency “not working well” is a massive understatement! 

This new idea from Joe’s team is also fresh on the heels of Joe’s flip flop with caveats concerning the shipment of arms and military equipment to Israel. 

https://twitter.com/RantyAmyCurtis/status/1790536498514731360

The internal polling must’ve been hideous to have that decision reversed so quickly. 

Here’s another problem with Joe’s challenge to Trump. 

Hope you understand they do not edit in live debates.
Almost embarrassing you could not get through this brief message in one take. https://t.co/s8ZsZPXdIY

— Brad Slager – Scrubbing Down In a Bloodbath (@MartiniShark) May 15, 2024

Believe me, I’m not sure we’ll have enough popcorn for these debates. IF the debates actually happen. I can just picture the bingo card formats now. Folks will be completely hammered within the first five minutes. Bet me. 

This is from a guy who told us that a return to normalcy is what the country needs. Joe is also the guy who is supposedly campaigning for the soul of the nation.

CNN reporters are now promoting Biden campaign merchandise.

Seems like an issue. https://t.co/fZ2m4BfVgW

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) May 15, 2024

Evidently totally turning the Presidential debate format into an even bigger circus is how Joe’s team rolls. 

UPDATE: First debate is now scheduled with CNN

JUST ANNOUNCED: CNN will host a 2024 Presidential Debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in Atlanta, GA. The debate will air live on 6/27 at 9pET on @CNN, CNN Max and without a cable login on https://t.co/dOLGQHu7eC. More: https://t.co/rjbaLohxLs pic.twitter.com/g3PCztJInt

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) May 15, 2024

Feature Photo Credit: photoshop courtesy of Brand X Studio.