It was the commentary of author Thomas Friedman that got me asking if this is a legitimate tactic: could the Biden Team seriously be considering the idea that they could keep presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden off the debate stage? Could they really keep him from debating President Donald Trump going into November?

Nevermind that failing to debate Trump will cost Biden the election, Freidman’s idea was farcical, as are many of the things now written in the New York Times (like the 1619 Project, which its author now admits is a flight of fancy.) Friedman wrote:

First, Biden should declare that he will take part in a debate only if Trump releases his tax returns for 2016 through 2018. Biden has already done so, and they are on his website. Trump must, too. No more gifting Trump something he can attack while hiding his own questionable finances.

And second, Biden should insist that a real-time fact-checking team approved by both candidates be hired by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates — and that 10 minutes before the scheduled conclusion of the debate this team report on any misleading statements, phony numbers or outright lies either candidate had uttered. That way no one in that massive television audience can go away easily misled.

Tax returns? The Supreme Court has already ruled on this. Twice. Besides, no one who is fence-sitting on this race cares about tax returns (though, if we can also see Hunter Biden’s returns, maybe this could get really interesting!) As to his second point? Ok! Fact check away! But does Freidman not understand the double-edged sword of immediate fact checking? Has he never heard Joe Biden speak? Or, more accurately, fail to speak?