Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« Dreamy Jon Huntsman Now Less Dreamy | Occupy Dave Reichert! »

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

2012 Romney's Not Doing the Trump Debate

Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Dec 6, 2011 at 2:14 PM

Politico says Mitt Romney's not doing Donald Trump's debate:

“I’m not participating in that," he said, per POLITICO's Juana Summers, adding that he had talked to The Donald and said, "I indicated that we just can’t make this debate; we’ll focus on the other two that we’ve got.”

So far the only two candidates who have agreed to the Trump debate are Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. Bachmann is on the edge, and nobody knows if Rick Perry is alive or dead*. Association with Donald Trump is probably not good for a candidate's popularity in the general election, but I'm not sure if Mitt Romney should be backing out of any opportunity to make his case directly to voters right now. His rise-above-it-all strategy simply isn't working.

* Seriously, has anyone seen Rick Perry? He hasn't made a joke about his own stupidity in at least a week. I'm worried. Just go knock on his door or something. Tell him you were on your way to the store and you wanted to know if he needed anything.

Comments (11) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Romney made the right choice--really, the only choice.

Posted by SeattleBound on December 6, 2011 at 2:19 PM

Perry is busy consulting with imaginary Jesus.

Posted by Vince on December 6, 2011 at 2:37 PM

I think taking this debate seriously will be a detriment to a candidate's vote totals in the general election. Passing was the only option.

Posted by JonnyH on December 6, 2011 at 2:43 PM

Perry seriously injured himself days ago, and is busy dialing 91-- what's the third number?

Posted by MacCrocodile on December 6, 2011 at 2:48 PM

Romney may have made the right choice, but he made it in a flip-floppy fashion. Whereas Paul and Huntsman said of the debate, "Fuck that, man," Romney said, "Geez, I wish I could, but we just can't fit it into our schedule at this last minute."

Posted by seatackled on December 6, 2011 at 3:07 PM

@4. You should've sold that joke to Leno, assuming you didn't hear on some late night talks.

Posted by Fartiste on December 6, 2011 at 3:10 PM

It's pig-drenching season for Perry. He hates pork

Posted by bedipped on December 6, 2011 at 3:16 PM

@6 - I know, but I figure I can make even more money by suing Leno every time he uses my joke. I should be sitting pretty for years.

Posted by MacCrocodile on December 6, 2011 at 3:34 PM

Aww man. This is no time for a big ol' gob of common sense to hit the Republican Magic Circus!

I was really looking forward to that Trump debate, with a full crew of Republican loonies on hand... pout pout

Posted by merry on December 6, 2011 at 3:59 PM

All the candidates should be avoiding the Trump debate. Ron Paul was right when he said that it was beneath the dignity of the office they're running for to attend a debate hosted by a reality show star.

Posted by I have always been... east coaster on December 6, 2011 at 4:59 PM

Given that Gingrich is beating him 3 to 2 I think that Romney at this stage has no other options but to completely abandon his "walking the razor's edge" strategy and go back to being a Republican version of Obama. That means a complete rejection of the Social Conservative Agenda and focus on technology, health, education, full equality for all with a fiscally minded, pro-business outlook.

He might as well just be himself because that's all he can be at this point.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe