I've never felt the debates to be of any value is my deciding who to vote for. My impression is that they are a bunch of bullshit, especially if Trump is involved. And it is wise to not get involved in a bullshit debate when the Republican side seems to have a master of bullshitery.
Debates are a bit antiquated in the sense that candidates, because of the increase of technology, can now get their platform out through various mediums. In years past candidates have also only been afforded a minute to try a jam a message through. As Bernie Sanders rightly mentioned on the Joe Rogan Experience that the time allotted is usually reserved for these quick, pithy gotcha moments where nothing really of substance was said -- basically just a put down, where the opposing side then has to waste time defending the others allegations.
Still, it would unprecedented. It hurts Biden that he won't debate and yet it would also hurt him if he did. You have to realize that there are likely hundreds of thousands of people who otherwise might vote for a Democrat ticket, who otherwise hate Trump, but who secretly feel he is as good as dead and will end up voting for Trump. On the other hand, we all know that if Biden were to win it most likely is because everyone knows that this is essentially a Kamala Harris presidency. Joe will be obliged to step down sooner or later. Even he knows that and Harris damn sure knows it.
So I interpret this to come down to, you respect but wouldn't vote for Bernie against Trump, but you don't respect but will vote for Joe against Trump. Maybe the Democrats need someone who will get votes, even if not respected.
No, it just a recognition that I believe he is a genuine person. I wanted Tulsi Gabbard, Andrew Yang or maybe Pete Buttigieg. In any event I'm right where I was four years wanting to stab my own eyes out given a horrendous ticket. I might vote third party because I don't want my conscience on this...
Hell, I think so little of Trump, that I wonder if I would prefer Dick Cheney (the guy who got us into 2 wars).
Lately I've been wondering how Democrats felt about that exact thing... Although really stupid, Bush was actually a genuine person... his biggest problem is that he allowed his running mate and his Secretary of Defense to bully him into making really poor choices that greatly impacted the country, the world and what could have been at least a mediocre legacy.
"Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it" -- Thomas Paine