The crazy train left the station at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Wednesday night ahead of the first 2020 Democratic presidential debate on MSNBC, NBC, and Telemundo with MSNBC’s pre-debate coverage, which featured co-host Nicolle Wallace proclaiming that this election is, most importantly, about Democrats “saving the country” by hitting Trumpism with a 2 X 4 piece of wood.
Speaking to Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson, Wallace praised his latest column as the next year and change serving as a way of answering the question of what kind of country is America going to be going forward (with the answer being a grim one for liberals and a sign of America’s decline if Trump wins).
The Trump Derangement Syndrome sufferer then added, speaking in apocalyptic tones:
I hear you on the policy stuff. But I think this is about more than just connecting and get the priorities right. I think this is about saving the country and I don't think that's — and I think that's where the Democrats have the opportunity to reach across the aisle and grab the attention.
She also praised Biden like a good former Republican, hailing his campaign message as being “about taking a 2 X 4 to the ugliest aspects of Trumpism: The racism, the misogyny, I mean, the three legs of Donald Trump's stool, the Access Hollywood tape came roaring back into the headlines with another accusation of assault.”
Pivoting to immigration, Wallace equated the situation at the southern border to the (constitutional) travel ban, declaring that “children being” not mistakenly but intentionally “victimized by [the President’s] immigration policies” while Trump’s “taking the country to the brink of war with Iran.”
Huh. One has to wonder if Wallace was in charge of her mental faculties when the Obama administration carried out a near identical policy. Amazing how the liberal media only now seem to care and recognize that there's a crisis.
Wallace was back at it moments later, but All In host Chris Hayes briefly pivoted matters back to more conventional analysis about the debate: “I think the other thing that is — is interesting about this debate is the hardest question and answer is the simplest. Why should you be president of the United States? There’s a 100 million people who are constitutionally eligible.”
To see the transcript from MSNBC’s pre-debate coverage on June 26, click “expand.”
MSNBC’s Democratic Debate Pre-Show
June 26, 2019
7:08 p.m. EasternEUGENE ROBINSON: If everybody watching says, “boy, they're really trying to make an impression, that's not a good thing.”
CHRIS HAYES: Right.
CLAIRE MCCASKILL: Right. That’s right now what we’re talking about.
ROBINSON: You can't seem to be trying to make an impression.
MCCASKILL: Right.
ROBINSON: You to seem to be authentic. Yes, spontaneous, but also you have to seem like you could stand up against Donald Trump. You have to seem like you can stand next to Donald Trump in a debate setting and give better than you get and that's what I think a lot of people are going to watch for.
NICOLLE WALLACE: I think what you wrote something that changed the equation. I mean, I think what you wrote yesterday about this is who we are, question mark, I mean, the country and who we are after next election day is on the ballot and I hear you on the policy stuff. But I think this is about more than just connecting and get the priorities right. I think this is about saving the country and I don't think that's — and I think that's where the Democrats have the opportunity to reach across the aisle and grab the attention. We know Donald Trump is going to watching. Republicans will be watching. And I think you put it perfectly in what you wrote yesterday and I think Joe Biden, so far, has sort of branded his candidacy, if you will, with that message.
ROBINSON: Exactly. He has done that.
WALLACE: That this is about taking a 2 X 4 to the ugliest aspects of Trumpism: The racism, the misogyny, I mean, the three legs of Donald Trump's stool, the Access Hollywood tape came roaring back into the headlines with another accusation of assault. The Muslim ban was updated with the — the — the — the children being victimized by his immigration policies. Those aren't mistakes to the policy. That is the policy.
ROBINSON: That is the policy.
WALLACE: That is the policy to penalize —
ROBINSON: Those are not bugs. Those are features.
WALLACE: — exactly and taking the downtown the brink of war with Iran. That was — that was, you know, for kicks for the president last week. He was telegraphing the whole thing on Twitter, so this is about big stuff and I don't think anyone put it better than you.
HAYES: I think the other thing that is — is interesting about this debate is the hardest question and answer is the simplest. Why should you be president of the United States? There’s a 100 million people who are constitutionally eligible.
WALLACE: How are you going to beat Trump if 16 Republicans
HAYES: Yep.
WALLACE: — who are indisputably more qualified and indisputably have more character and one Democrat who had more qualifications asleep than you had hopped up on caffeine, how are you going to do what none of them could do? How are you going to beat him?
