I want to see Hurd on debate stage

38 thoughts on “I want to see Hurd on debate stage”

1. Trump should (but won’t) remove himself from consideration. His presence continues to divide. If he were to be elected to the presidency again, I can only imagine the retribution he would seek to visit upon his ‘enemies.’ It’s time to move on. Surely, among the 300 million plus Americans out there there is someone smarter and more capable than DT or Joe Biden. How low our nation has fallen is so many ways.

   1. I think that’s a vote for Will Hurd. Or Vivek or Chris or Tim or Nikki,

2. Joe Biden is unfit to be President especially during these times. We need a take charge President that is a proven leader that gets things done. I vote for the best candidate , maybe a person that I sometimes don’t agree with but a person that will do the job, a person who did the job, and got things done. I thing long and hard about the candidate that I choose to vote for. I will not waste my vote on a candidate that has no chance of winning the primary election.

   1. To me, a vote cast on principle is never wasted. My 2020 vote for the Libertarian was a “no” vote on both Biden and Trump.

      1. Congratulations on your principles – your parents taught you well. But please remember that your no vote is counted and may be the vote that is responsible for the greater of two evils [and to me one of the major candidates clearly fall into that category] to win.
         Your parents never backed a winner and I’m not sure that should be the aim of your vote.

         1. I stated it is NOT my goal to vote for a winner, but for the person I like best.
            I have never missed an election, so there is no “no vote.”
            Hell, I’ve even voted for a socialist.
            I haven’t voted for a presidential winner since 2008. 😄

      2. And how did that work out for you we got stuck with Joe Biden.

         1. I did not vote for Biden. I dislike half his policies and have often criticized him.
            With that said, better than the lying, narcissist, money grubbing, boorish, stupid Trump.

3. “May the best candidate win!” Wow – what a quaint idea! You’ve produced another nail-head hitter Stu.

4. You are describing Joe Biden when you talk about self centered vindictive narcissist. What his justice department is doing to Trump is a disgrace. They have going after him for years and the only thing they have proven is the Clinton campaign the democratic party the FBI and the justice department are corrupt. You might not like his personality but he was by far a better President than any democrat in my life time. Everyone I know who voted for Biden loved Trumps policies but hated him for whatever reason. And everyone can see the results of their stupid votes.

   1. Justice would have nothing to do if Trump played by the rules. He does not.
      We will see if he gets convicted.
      The “everyone I know” line is asinine. Everyone YOU know is a self-selected sample. I believe I wrote I agree with some of Trump’s policies, not all, and I certainly don’t like his tantrums.
      And I have been covering him since the ‘80s in Atlantic City. He was a bad actor then, and now.

      1. If Trump played by whose rules?

         1. The rules of law and decency.

            1. Agreed. Law and decency. However, compared to H. Clinton, N. Pelosi, Schummer, the Squad, Maxine Waters, that POS from Kenya, etc., Trump looks like St. Peter. No offense intended.

            2. In no world is Trump a saint and I don’t think the first three are as bad as the last three.

      2. Daniel is delusional.

   2. Please tell us exactly why Biden is unfit to be President. Is it a lack of political experience? Nope. Is the economy failing? Nope. Is inflation still rising? Nope. Are we at war? Nope. Is the stock market crashing? Nope. Has he done something illegal that can be proven by even a modicum of facts? Nope. Is manufacturing returning to the U.S.? Yep. Are middle class wages up? Yep. Is the immigration issue greatly improved in the past year? Yep. Are unions making a bit of a coneback? Yep. Is he too old? Perhaps. But last time I checked a) the leading Republican candidate is just three years younger and b) Biden has surrounded himself with younger, intelligent, experienced individuals in all important roles. So, what exactly is your effing problem, then? Spell it out, jeeves.

   3. Sure, sure. I find it hard to believe that all those “democrats” were anti-abortion, anti-ACA, anti-DACA, anti-NATO, and pro-birtherism.

      As for his legal troubles, the NY case is the weakest, but not unfounded (there is no factual question that he falsified his business records), the documents case is darn near a slam-dunk (and currently the strongest–heh, “let’s roll the video tape”) and hence will probably succeed even as his pet Judge Cannon tries to make up law in his favor (though she may succeed in allowing him the significant delays he wants) and new revelations make the Jan 6 case stronger every day.

      Here’s how it looks to lawyers: Other than attorneys Trump actually pays, there is basically no one defending him in the legal press on the docs case, quite a few questioning the legal strength of the NY case (but allowing its factual basis, i.e. “mere” falsification may not be enough), and with the exception of a few outliers like Jonathan Turley (who thinks the docs case is very strong, but the Jan 6 case as weak) see the Jan 6 case as quite strong, especially if, as rumor has it, Mark Meadows has flipped on Trump. Reliably conservative law professors–such as those who brought challenges to the ACA, and have long argued for over-ruling Roe v. Wade–find the Jan 6 case very strong.

      Meanwhile, folks like Bill Barr, Chris Christie, and Ty Cobb (former Trump attorney) are saying the charges are more than justified. The whole thing about the prosecutions being a “disgrace” is just words said by Trump and various supporters. As with the “fraudulent” election claims, there are no facts or actual legal analysis to back it up. To believe it, you have to really want to believe it. (If you have a link where an actual lawyer explains why the docs case is weak, legally or factually, please provide it.) Turley’s argument that the Jan 6 case is a 1st Amendment violation has been repeatedly shot down by his conservative colleagues. (And, as I said, even he says the docs case is very strong).

      That is why Trump’s strategy is not to move for dismissal. Indictments that do not state a crime can be summarily thrown out. His attorneys are trying to delay, delay, delay in the hope that he can get elected and pardon himself. If he really “didn’t do anything wrong” he’d be pushing for speedy trials so he could tout his acquittals on the campaign trail. Why isn’t he–especially in front of Cannon, who has shown every sympathy to him?
      As I said, send me a link to an actual legal analysis of the doc case that says he did nothing wrong. Laypersons and Trump don’t count.

      The real disgrace would be if despite these powerful facts, he was not prosecuted, and severely damage the rule of law.

      1. Everyone is speculating about the trump indictments. Let’s see how they play out. But why is everyone quiet about the Biden family corruption and possibly having a compromised president. It is a much bigger story .

         1. Are you stoned or just stupid? BTW, Trump did business with the NY mafia. Nothing got built in NYC without their ok (the mob tax). Trump knew who he was dealing with. Stu is right; Trump is a lying malignant narcissist who puts himself first and America second. He should never be allowed to hold office. And he weakened the nation with his moronic foreign & defense policies. Biden has energized NATO, adding Sweden & Finland. He started AUKUS and has greatly improved relations with India. Biden’s China policy is showing fruit. All Trump did was slap tariffs on Chinese imports that American consumers paid.
            BTW, would you leave your daughter alone with Trump in a room?

            1. Almost forgot, Trump is Putin’s bitch. He believed a lying KGB thug over his own intelligence services.

         2. The legal community is laughing at the investigation. You got a kid who traded on his father’s name. Show me the money that went into Biden’s pocket and tell me, as Trump liked to say the “quid pro quo.”

            If there was anything, where was the indictment from Trump’s DOJ? Hunter Biden has been under investigation since 2019–way longer than any Trump indictments took, way longer than the Mueller investigation. Why in the world did Biden keep the Trump-appointed prosecutor who was investigating Hunter, if there was anything he was worried about?

            Biden could have shut down the investigation at any time. Trump would have done it if it was his kid, and probably issued him a pardon to boot. Now Garland has appointed Trump’s guy as Special Prosecutor. Biden and Garland say “investigate away.”

            Biden’s been in public life over 50 years. Dirty politicians, even if not caught red-handed acquire an odor about them–sweetheart government contracts, favors for large contributors, unexplained wealth. Biden does not fit that profile.

            As Stu points out, Trump’s conduct has been ethically and legally dubious for a long time. While he ran for president in 2016, he was being sued for fraud in a class action. Why did he settle the case if he did nothing wrong? (Table pounding: “I’ve got a Mexican judge. No fair.”) He’s being sued now in class action for fraud in a pyramid marketing scheme he was promoting before he was president. He was known for stiffing his contractors, and is now known for stiffing his lawyers. (I draw the line at that!) After saying anybody who invokes the 5th Amendment is guilty, he invoked it at least 400 times in depositions.

            When they asked Biden about the investigation, he just laughed. So should everybody else. “Sure, investigate me. Knock yourself out.” That’s what people with a clear conscience do.

            There’s an old saying in the law: “When the law is on your side, pound the law. When the facts are on your side, pound the facts. When neither is on your side, pound the table.” Table-pounding is the tell that you got nothing, and that is all Trump is doing.

            Look, if they get the kind of evidence against Biden that they have against Trump, I will write my congressman and senators demanding impeachment. I’ll be done with him. What I don’t understand is how someone can pretend to be concerned about Biden being corrupt on so little evidence, while defending Trump in the face of so much.

            Can you explain to me why when Trump is, at best, damaged goods, that a big piece of the GOP can’t move on to someone with the same policies? Take his policies, dump the man. That’s what DeSantis thought was going to happen. It’s what McConnell wants, especially since Trump’s endorsements tanked GOP hopes of winning the senate and blunted what should have been a red wave in the house. There were no dems clamoring for another Clinton run. What makes him their lord and savior that can do no wrong, and whose every utterance, however far-fetched, is taken as gospel? In my book, that is the true “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

5. I’m in favor of getting Hurd in the debate, and in the highly unlikely event he gets the nomination, I will give him a good look. But, as for the last general election, I’m just surprised you voted for the only full open borders candidate in the race. Is that the issue you wanted your protest vote heard on? That–or legalizing all drugs, along with privatizing Social Security–not to mention eliminating all foreign aid, withdrawing all American troops from abroad and remaining neutral in foreign affairs. (So much for supporting Ukraine). The vote was quite a misrepresentation of your positions. It seems to me, both Trump and Biden had more policies in common with your views than the Libertarian candidate.

   I am only ribbing you a little bit, because I’ve got to admit, I’ve voted Libertarian as a protest vote as well–but only in situations where the outcome of the election was not in doubt. I respect Libertarians, because although misguided and impractical, they follow their principles wherever they lead, and they value personal liberty above all else. But when the outcome of an election is in doubt, I generally think it is my duty to choose the lesser evil, however hard that may be, because a protest vote is effectively a vote for the winner in a close election. So, in my book, third party voters do not avoid responsibility for that result. Ranked choice voting would eliminate much of this problem, which is why I am for it.

   1. Yes, mine was more a protest vote than anything else.

6. What’s asinine is that you would vote for Biden over someone who has proven he’s a better President. You have a bad case of Trump derangement syndrome.

   1. I addressed TDS, but as a typical reality-denying Trumpster, you ignore anything that doesn’t fit your agenda.

      1. Talk about reality look at the state of the country and the world since Biden has been president.

         1. You mistake me for a fan of Biden. I did not vote for him in 2020. Nor Trump.
            But if it is Biden c Trump, I will vote for Biden.
            You call it TDS. I call it taking out the trash.

         2. The world is better off with Biden. Trump wanted to leave NATO and dump our Asian allies like Japan, South Korea & Australia. He would gut tge Defense & State Depts. and our intelligence servicesHow does that make us stronger, dumbass?
            Had Trump successfully stole the 2020 election, Ukraine & a good chunk of Eastern Europe would be under Putin’s tyrannical dictatorship. And Trump’s buddy Xi would’ve invaded Taiwan.
            P.S. There is no such thing as the ‘Deep State”. It’s a Right wingnut lie.

7. First of all, I’m in agreement with Tom A’s last comment.

   More importantly, I am in agreement with you on the former president. He was a bad actor during the Atlantic City days in the 80’s, skirting but never quite breaking the law. He has a temperament that makes him unsuitable to occupy the office of President, not to mention he’s a vindictive narcissist. He, unlike Biden, has not proven an ability to be a President for all Americans, whether you voted for him or not. Look no further than all the factories on which ground is being broken in Red States due to Biden’s policies. Look no further than the 100,000’s of thousands of jobs that will be created when they are online.

   At 72 though, I myself am an agist. I do not believe Biden should be reelected, but that’s only with the provision that Republicans put up a reasonable alternative. I donated to Christie to get him on the debate stage, and will do the same with Hurd. But given the mean spiritedness generated by Ron DeSantis, I’m pinning my hopes on Tim Scott as that reasonable Republican alternative. We’ll see.

   1. You have mentioned a couple of good alternatives. I would add Nikki Haley and maybe Vivek Ramaswamy, who attracts me with his intellect and patriotism, but repels me with some extreme ideas.

8. I voted Green party in 2012 and 2016.
   Before the last election I thought I MIGHT vote for Biden because Trump was really awful. But then the Dems (in PA) sued to get the Greens taken off the ballot.
   I went to the polls, the only third option was Libertarian, which I voted.
   When I got home I figured I should look up the dude’s name I voted for. It turned out to be a woman, whose name I don’t recall.

   1. I knew it was a woman, but now don’t recall her name. I also voted for another woman whose name I didn’t recall.…. Clinton, I think. 😄

      1. In 2020 the Rhode Island Green Party didn’t put anyone on the presidential ballot for the first time since 1996, citing the danger of Trump being reelected.

         As I said, I’ve voted Libertarian in protest as well, but only in cases where an election is a foregone conclusion.

         In voting one’s conscience, I think that one’s conscience has to include the impact of not voting for “the lesser evil” when it means that “the greater evil” might prevail. How would you and Bill P. have felt if Trump won Pa. by a couple of votes, and therefore the presidency? Maybe you were prescient enough to be confident Biden would win without your vote. Then, no problem. (I don’t fault the Jill Stein voters, whose votes could have elected Hillary, because they, like the pundits, Hillary and even Trump, assumed that the so-called “blue wall” would hold.)

         For most of my votes, I’ve had to hold my nose while I cast my ballot. Mostly, my choice in the primaries doesn’t make it. I was not at all fond of Gore (hated his and Tipper’s campaign against Rock n Roll–voted for Edwards whose political career ended because he paid hush money to cover up an affair during the campaign–back then, such things mattered; nowadays, apparently, it would be a big plus), but I argued a progressive friend out voting Nader for one reason: the Supreme Court. As it turned out, Bush nominated Roberts and Alito–directly leading to the Dobbs decision (not to mention some other more obscure rulings–such as the fact that “actual innocence” doesn’t necessarily get you out of jail– with which I disagree) years later. It is this type of effect that even marginal differences between candidates can have.

         Only very rarely is it 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Even if the split is 5 and a half versus 6 and a half, I try to make that judgment. Gore lost Florida by about 500 votes–so I do blame the Fla. Nader voters for the loss. Everyone knew it would be close.

         For good or ill, the structure of our republic (and some additional impediments the two parties have put in to benefit themselves) generally makes a third party vote a throwaway. Game theory says that if you want to have an influence on policy, you gotta vote for one of the two parties. (This is the same reason Stu maintains his Dem registration in Philly–the only hope of using his vote to make a difference).

         As I said before, the only way to fix this, given the structural barriers, is ranked choice or preferential voting. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the choices presented by the two parties should be for it. It makes candidates try to be, if not your first choice, your second. People should be allowed their “conscience” vote, without forfeiting their influence on the election.

         1. If it is Biden vs Trump in 2024, my protest vote will be for Biden.
            I have come to like ranked choice, but I don’t see it in the general presidential election.

9. Like how you describe yourself as a disloyal democrat and vote on principle rather than party. You mirror my sentiments. I had an interesting conversation with my in-laws last month on the Ventnor beach last month and was taken to task on that issue. They are CNN addicted party loyalists. In their view, I was speaking heresy and were taking the position that if I were to vote 3rd party next November, I was part of the group paving the way for Trump’s return to the White House. Madonna Mia! This past winter I was an active volunteer in the J.B. Kelly campaign for councilman at large, because I like the man, his position and believe he would have brought bring some fresh ideas to the that less than august body and frankly, he’s smart. I also supported Jeff Brown first, Allan Domb secondly because their businessman perspective and take-charge attitude was another change desperately needed at City Hall. Expressing these views in a Facebook group page, I was labeled a Trumpist by Philadelphia “progressives”. I left the Democratic party two weeks ago and registered as Independent. The party is too whack-a-doo anymore especially with its worship of identity politics and other woke agenda. It no longer mirrors or supports my views and beliefs. I had an honest talk with my brother yesterday who is a Fox TV addicted, dyed in the wool Trumpster. Told him why I left the democrats, who I want the Republicans to nominate and to please leave Mr. Trump behind and consigned to history’s dust bin. We were able to have a civil conversation on this. However, he’s not deserting his champion and I, at least, am reaffirmed in my observations that the hyper-partisans on both sides are only succeeding in pulling the two poles of our society further apart and to dangerous places.

   1. If you live in Philadelphia, and are no longer a D, you no longer have a chance to stop the crazy progressives (as opposed to the sane ones) in the primaries.
      I endorsed Cherlle Parker for mayor not because she was my first choice, she was not, but because I saw her as having the best chance to stop Helen Gym, who would have been a disaster.

10. The Left better come up with a better VP candidate for Sleepy Joe before the next election. I suspect he will kick the bucket if re-elected, and the thought of Kamala Harris as president gives me the willies. It will look like a remake of Dumb and Dumber.

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