Commentary: Will we learn anything from Biden-Trump face off? It's debatable.

Let the 2024 Hunger Games begin! May the odds be ever in your favor! I mean, let the Presidential debates begin. But, in the first days after their announcement, the vibe is a little more Hunger Games than something as lofty and salient as a debate between a former and current President over who should be the next President of the United States of America.

I didn't like President Joe Biden's video challenge to Donald Trump for two debates. I thought it was beneath the office he holds. “Make my day, pal!” Really, Joe? Now you're Clint Eastwood? Don’t start gritting your teeth. The snarky, “I hear you’re free on Wednesdays” moment was equally trite. It's a reference to court not being in session Wednesdays during Trump’s criminal trial, and I find very little funny about a former President being on trial.

Regardless of where you stand on the prosecution, we all should find it very serious—Particularly the sitting President who absolutely should not be involving himself in that discussion in any way. (Anymore than the Congressmen and women who showed up in court to support Trump last week, including the Speaker of the House. Why is Speaker Mike Johnson using his official office to announce his opinion of a criminal trial?) Back to the debates.

I’m equally dismayed by Donald Trump’s response to Joe Biden’s challenge, although I guess I should be used to “all caps" rants from the former President. After accepting the two dates quickly negotiated by CNN and ABC, Trump closed out with “Let’s get ready to rumble!” Oh good, so we’ve got Clint Eastwood going on stage with a boxing announcer from 1984. I wonder if Michael Buffer knew his now infamous phrase would one day be invoked by a former President.

President Trump has been goading Biden with an “ANY TIME. ANYWHERE. ANY PLACE!” call for debates, which is a little rich considering he refused to debate even once in the Republican primary. Now he wants more than the scheduled two. I don't think Biden is required to do any more than that, in light of that fact. If Trump thought debates were so important for the American people to see the differences between the candidates, he should’ve stepped on stage last year.

I do think it was smart of Biden to come out so early and agree to debate and Trump's immediate acceptance, even with the Biden team's dictated rules. But, now the complaints begin.

People are upset that the CNN debate on June 27 is before the Party Conventions and that it’s too early, because people aren't tuned in. I disagree, it’s very hard not to be “tuned in" to the Presidential race right now. I like the early move. It give the people time to discuss and analyze what they think of each candidate and performance. Performance. That's all these debates are these days. Gone is the time of Lincoln/Douglass where people discussed actual issues and what they will do in office, beyond a few pre-planned, scheduled zingers and one-liners. This is why I also am pleased with the decision that, at least the first debate, will be in a studio, with no audience. There is no reason to have an in-person audience. That just feeds the distraction for the candidates and the true intended audience, undecided American voters. With a physical audience, it becomes nothing more than performance art for those in the room—everyone wants to get that laugh, or deliver the applause line or perhaps a real winning moment—earn a “boooo" for the other guy.

Without the theatrics, maybe, just maybe, we’ll hear something note-worthy when it comes to goals and plans for our country. Though, I’m not greatly optimistic. We've seen these guys debate before. They talk over each other, make smarmy comments under their very loud breaths and generally provide nothing beneficial for voters to consider. Remember Joe Biden last time around, “Will you shut up, man…”?! Not a super "Presidential" moment. I mean, I agreed with the sentiment, Trump wouldn't stop talking over him and Biden was answering a question directed toward him and it was his time to speak and very annoyingly, Trump wouldn’t let him. I get Biden's frustration in that moment, but telling your counterpart to “shut up” get’s you put in a corner for a time-out in kindergarten. This time, moderators for these debates need to render there own version of a “time-out” and cut the mic of the person who’s not supposed to be speaking.

I think the “reveal” of the debates last week and the behavior of both candidates is making a mockery of the system. Speaking of the “system”, many are complaining that this debate schedule and plan is changing a decades long system and tradition. Good. Systems need to change with the times. We see systems/rules change in games all the time. MLB, FIFA, NFL, etc. rules all change every few years as the games change. Well, like it or not—and I don’t—the game has changed and the “system” must change with it. So, close the studio, cut the mics and ask questions of merit. The American people deserve a civilized, discussion, worthy of the office these men had/have and wish to hold. Will we get it?

Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos is a former political consultant and member of the media. She’s a native of Hampton Beach where she lives with her family and two poodles. Write to her at PrestonPerspective@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Commentary: Biden and Trump agree to debates, let the circus begin