General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Democratic party should start presidential primary debates in June.
Yes, June. June 2025. Putting on early primary debates wouldn't cost any money to any campaign. It's a great way to introduce candidates to voters. Also, a great way to establish the party away from Trump. The debate should be open to all who want to participate. The party should do polls to limit the number of candidates.
The debates can continue throughout the summer. Do one once a month in a different state. Keep doing this until 2028.

walkingman
(9,014 posts)BoRaGard
(4,719 posts)
Ars Longa
(128 posts)
(If we all remember, Trump started right away and was constantly in the media!)
hlthe2b
(108,915 posts)thing he did, said and thought for 4 years. Granted a lot of that was his "criming" and our feeble attempts to hold him accountable, but it meant he was on the minds of Americans for 4 years. Even if a lot of that attention was bad. It didn't' matter.
But, regardless, potential Dem Presidential candidates need to start talking and taking on this administration--objectively destroying them on their attempts to dismantle the social safety net and their lies--while likewise getting name recognition for just that.
regnaD kciN
(26,885 posts)is there any potential Democratic candidate out there who would be able to command that same wall-to-wall coverage for four years?
hlthe2b
(108,915 posts)Alice B.
(466 posts)But this requires a unity Im terrified well never achieve.
Marthe48
(20,360 posts)n/t
0rganism
(24,941 posts)If his majesty's bowels act up overnight, maybe it's time for another purge.
The coming years won't be like anything we've seen before. We're about to learn how much we really had to lose.
Ars Longa
(128 posts)there is going to be quite a national groundswell for an alternative.
We (Dems) should be ready with national forums/debates
with our presumed leaders, (Newsome?, Beshear?, AOC? ect..) giving
quick,smart, non-idiotic answers to a beleaguered nation!
JI7
(91,653 posts)how about focusing on the elections that will come up ?
and voter burnout 4 years before the election.
Yavin4
(37,182 posts)All he did was campaign for four years, and look at the Republicans now. The lesson is that people want to hear from and engage with their elected leaders even in off years.
If the Democrats only talk to voters in the Fall of an election year, don't be mad if they tune you out.
JI7
(91,653 posts)Fiendish Thingy
(19,023 posts)Millions fewer Biden 2020 voters went to the polls in 2024.
Yavin4
(37,182 posts)One, it helps to promote the party. Two, getting all of the bad blood out of the way early allows time for the wounds to heal. Three, what better way to promote the mid term elections than free media talking about a presidential debate in your state.
JI7
(91,653 posts)and you are totally ignoring the midterms.
Fiendish Thingy
(19,023 posts)And gives the media an excuse to write about the Trump administration as competent and disciplined.
betsuni
(27,691 posts)digging up and creating fake scandals from the past and insult nicknames, elite elite elite elite, whining about being anointed by the establishment and corrupt rigging and money (OMG a fundraiser in a WINE CAVE??????? *sets hair on fire*). All that crap is old stupid and annoying. But helps get Republicans elected, that's the goal.
JI7
(91,653 posts)resulted in negative posts of possible picks. And that decision was only up to her and at a time when we should have been prepared to back whoever she picked.
And then there will be all the fake groups making their demands.
There is no way I want to start on that right now.
FSogol
(47,260 posts)Yavin4
(37,182 posts)We have a lame duck president of the opposition party. Additionally, the Democrats are out of power entirely. We have nothing else to do other than talk to the American people directly. Presidential debates are one the best political communication methods.
Fiendish Thingy
(19,023 posts)Did you watch any of the debates with 10+ candidates on stage?
Theres only time for zingers and gaffes, not substantive exchange of ideas.
If you take the long view all president's are lame duck's since the most they can hope for is eight years. True, Trump can only look forward to half that however I would not call him a lame duck until about part way into the last year of his term. He do's not have eight but, four years is not the same as forty day's or so, He has a lot of time now to make new mischief for unfortunately the foreseeable future
dutch777
(4,172 posts)At best this monthly Dem Prez primary debate would be a stunt ignored by most voters. At worst it could really turn even more people away from Dems due to too much noise. Adjust platform priorities and messaging and have our public facing folks voice that. At all opportunities point out the key Trump promises he is not even addressing with a real plan-- inflation, domestic terrorism, supporting US manufacturing (other than by tariffs), containing bird flu, etc. Look at the most successful 2024 Dem House/Senate candidates that ran in toss up or Trumpist districts but one and find the "secret sauce". Seek out highly viable candidates for 2026 House/Senate runs. Make sure local and state Dem party orgs are staffed and working to a plan that is not just the old boys club BS. Basically, keep and strengthen Dem relevance to the voters.
Scipio Africanus
(3 posts)I like the idea of starting dialogue in order to counter what Trump will do. But I suspect some of the stronger candidates won't emerge until after the midterms.
Happy Hoosier
(8,853 posts)I do think we need a deisgnated "Shadow government" that will be on all the shows criticizing Trump every step of the way. We need a constant narrative how Trump is fucking up. ALL the time.
niyad
(122,978 posts)give Dems the same access and time as the fascists they have been drooling over all these years?
JI7
(91,653 posts)Marthe48
(20,360 posts)It might slow down a little
Marthe48
(20,360 posts)All Dems that will be targeted by traitor and goons should announce their campaigns right now, so that they can't be arrested for crimes, tried, convicted and jailed by the court system because they are active candidates.
Worked like a charm for traitor.
I'm only being a little sarcastic. traitor actually committed crimes, while any Dems arrested will be victims of an out-of-control megalomaniac.
0rganism
(24,941 posts)We've never lived through the kind of whimsical brutality that's heading our way.
Blue_Tires
(57,596 posts)And the media wouldn't even care unless we had some bullshit celebrity anti-candidates.
Besides, right now the white house doesn't matter anywhere NEAR as much as the midterm elections in 2 years... That's what we need to focus on.
SheilaAnn
(10,350 posts)Rebl2
(16,004 posts)start debates well ahead of election.
Trump is still doing rallies. Hes doing one the day before Inauguration Day.
sop
(13,395 posts)I would like to see likely Democratic candidate(s) involved in town hall-type forums throughout the country, taking questions from local voters, and, if multiple candidates are participating, having open, informal conversations about issues. I believe voters are tired of formal debates, with candidates at lecterns arguing and talking over one another, moderators posing gotcha questions and the media controling the whole process.
pinkstarburst
(1,677 posts)But I do think we need to jump into it RIGHT after the midterms.
And as for the debates themselves, I would love to see them format them differently this time. Last time with 20 people in the debates and 10 per night up on stage, it was a zoo. I turned the early debates off after only a few minutes because it was just people shouting over each other with no moderation. You couldn't even hear what was being said. I really disliked that so many people got in just in the first place because it allowed people with no chance like Marianne Williamson and Tulsi Gabbard (we see how that turned out) to get a microphone and would rather they have higher standards to qualify and ALSO rank and divide the candidates and split them by night.
I would like only the top 6 democratic candidates based on polling to debate each other so that stage isn't as crowded. Most likely one of them will be the candidate anyway, and I would rather not have some doesn't have a chance person taking wild soundbite shots at Harris or Buttigieg or Newsom every 30 seconds, or a wild zoo of everyone screaming over each other so no one can hear anything. The rest of the field could be divided up over 2 nights if we have 20.
Yavin4
(37,182 posts)Yes, voters are tired of news about Trump, but the debates are about charting a future after Trump. If the Democrats only talk to voters in the month before election day, then don't get mad when they don't show up.
Fiendish Thingy
(19,023 posts)Jose Garcia
(3,131 posts)Emile
(33,749 posts)Great Idea!
Quiet Em
(1,740 posts)Our society is very ill. We are close to hitting rock bottom. I think we need to let the dust settle for a bit before we can consider how we recover. Leaders will emerge, there is no need to force it.
flvegan
(64,868 posts)Obvious reasons being obvious.
If that means starting the political discussions sooner rather than later, then lets do so. Might also be a good way to shine some light on the negative things the Stinky DJT party is doing since the MSM isn't going to bother.
Voltaire2
(15,365 posts)The presidential campaign 'season' is already far too long.
Fiendish Thingy
(19,023 posts)Nobody would watch, for starters, and Im guessing no candidates would participate this early, other than Marianne Williamson types who have no chance.
For the next two years, the spotlight should be completely focused on the corruption and incompetence of Trump 2.0, and the suffering it causes.
Then, in fall 2026, Dems can campaign for the midterms with the following slogan:
HAD ENOUGH?
betsuni
(27,691 posts)JI7
(91,653 posts)and a few other important statewide elections.
ThePartyThatListens
(340 posts)It's better for the Democrats to be united than n their fight against Trump at this time.
Start there.
Blue Full Moon
(1,950 posts)File for the presidency. Then every foreign issue that comes up. The candidate calls the foreign leader and derail tRump plan. Russia, North Korea his owners it won't work on. Give press conferences at the same time as his. Need to hold massive rallies all 4 years. Give some hope.
sop
(13,395 posts)Blue Full Moon
(1,950 posts)Interfering with Iranian hostages. Interfering with the withdrawal and treaty with Vietnam. Interfering with the hostages and cease fire with Netanyahu. I am sure there's more.
Vinca
(51,830 posts)Trump will blame that distraction on his massive failure. It would be good for potential candidates to get their ducks in a row starting now. Make a plan, find staff, etc.
BannonsLiver
(19,022 posts)Yavin4
(37,182 posts)without any Democratic presence at all.
Yeah, great plan.
BannonsLiver
(19,022 posts)Last edited Wed Jan 8, 2025, 01:39 PM - Edit history (1)
And beyond that, your goals, such as they are, can be accomplished without having a goofy 4 year long primary. I
canetoad
(18,824 posts)And give you a sane, workable, fair system. One that is not electioneering for three years out of four; one where the political realities do not mean the utter destruction of any hope of bipartisanship.
Sorry, but this is one of the most divisive, impractical suggestion ever. The US is in a constant state of election; this is why you are so divided.