Hunted Biden: The First Presidential Debate Disaster
It was cruel. Sinister cruel. While Donald Trump was always going to relish the chance to be not only economical with the truth but simply inventive about it, Joe Biden, current Commander in Chief of the United States, leader of the self-described Free World, seemed a vanishing shadow, longing for soft slippers and the fireplace with cocoa, a case of comfort rather than the battling rage of politics.
It need never have happened, and certainly not so early. But the earliest-ever US Presidential election debate, held even before both candidates had been formally confirmed at their party conventions, did much to puncture Biden and hold Trump afloat in odd boosts of credibility. The media were at hand to glory in the matter and taste the morsels of slaughter. NBC News was aghast at the president, who “seemingly struggled even to talk, mostly summing a weak, raspy voice. In the opening minutes, he repeatedly tripped over his words, misspoke and lost his train of thought.”
There was much in the way of stumbling, incoherence, and immaturity – just the sort of thing we need for a White House occupant. Biden mumbled nonsensically at several points, trawling his shattered memory for some reference to Covid before claiming that, “We finally beat Medicare.” It soon became routine to expect mangled figures and fantasy mathematics. (The claim that the Biden administration had created 15,000 jobs, for instance; or the number of trillionaires in the United States.) At some point, it became clear that the fetishised fact checkers were out of a job, if for no reason that both candidates were proving loose with their figures.
At stages, this left Trump, his predatory instinct aroused by a limping animal, able to land a stinging jab or two. “I don’t know if he knows what he said either.” At intervals, as Trump spoke, Biden seemed to vanish into a canyon of stricken vacancy, possibly struggling to recall the talking points his aides had stocked him with over the last few days along with the necessary medications to fuel him. This was elder abuse as a gladiatorial sport, your grandfather abused on live television.
The only time when some balance was restored was the issue of the respective golf handicaps of the debaters. Biden’s claim that he had a handicap of 6 in golf received the predictable sneer from his opponent: “I’ve seen your swing.” Here, the world’s most prominent superpower could be reduced to two elderly men talking about a sport described as being a good walk spoilt. Priorities were confirmed.
An army of the delusional and deluded have come out with the “truthful” defence on Biden’s part. Forget the competence of the leader, focus on the inner gold of a supposedly good character. Regrettably for those who believe veracity is important in politics, except when it isn’t, this is unlikely to go far. Debates are shows of tedious pomp, displays, projecting a false sense of hot air authority. Biden failed on all counts; Trump could at least muster a semblance of it, his lies embroidered by a passable confidence.
This is not to say that the physically and mentally feeble have evaded White House occupancy. Presidential history is marked by cerebral infirmity and physical enervation. What matters is election, the great electoral con. John F. Kennedy, despite being murderously cut down at the age of 46, was ruined in body. These are the less than flattering words from Christopher Hitchens in a scathing review of Robert Dallek’s An Unfinished Life in the Times Literary Supplement (Aug 22, 2003): “In addition to being a moral defective and a political disaster, John Kennedy was a physical and probably mental also-ran for most of his presidency.” He was a walking pharmacopeia in office, mortality always more than a threatening suggestion.
Another disaster is also proof than the infirm can still find their way through campaign, ballot box and office. Ronald Reagan may have been celebrated as the master communicator during his presidency, saddled with the grave responsibility of bringing the Cold War to its eventual end. He also tolerated the superstitious interventions of his wafer thin wife on policy, curated through the medium of the astrologer Joan Quigley even as his own mind was taking a lengthy, eventually permanent sabbatical in the realm of dementia. Biden, to put it simply, may still have some room to survive. The question is: can he?
Democratic strategists, at least those reeling from the tingling shock of a cold bath, understood the implications. Others preferred an elaborate ostrich act crowned by sycophantic reassurance. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina was admirably spineless in telling Biden to “Stay the course.” That said, the sages had already given ample warnings before the debate.
The enchantingly shrill James Carville (mad, bad and dangerous to ignore) had warned about the risk posed by Biden’s age to electoral hopes. Julian Epstein, former Chief Counsel to the US House Judiciary Committee and Staff Director to the House Oversight Committee Democrats, excoriated his party for revealing “their own kind of cowardice in refusing to say that President Biden shouldn’t run for re-election.” The party faithful and apparatchiks were defiant: such criticism was ageist. They had their man.
The choice, as things stand, is for a person weak of mind insisting that he is safer for the US and the world while “knowing how to tell the truth” over a man who remains estranged from the truth, guilty of 34 felony counts for falsifying business accounts, and trumpets the winding back of US global commitments. It left such admirers as Alastair Campbell, former communications chief for British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, mournful: Russia’s Vladimir Putin; China’s Xi Jinping, and the Islamic Republic of Iran would be stifling sobs of joy.
It’s a striking nightmare, throwing the Republic’s politics into sharp relief, taking the shine off a system Americans regard as sacred, exportable and relevant to the globe. A more sober reading is that political reality has bitten, leaving Hunted Biden to barely escape the slaughter, permitting an alternative to be selected before it’s too late. The question for the Democrats will involve allowing Biden to gracefully withdraw or take himself and his entire entourage to the electoral grave.
Like what we do at The AIMN?
You’ll like it even more knowing that your donation will help us to keep up the good fight.
Chuck in a few bucks and see just how far it goes!
Your contribution to help with the running costs of this site will be gratefully accepted.
You can donate through PayPal or credit card via the button below, or donate via bank transfer: BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969
27 comments
Login here Register here-
leefe -
Phil Pryor -
Roswell -
Harry Lime -
leefe -
Roswell -
Roswell -
Bert -
Ian Joyner -
Harry Lime -
Ian Joyner -
GL -
Ian Joyner -
Terry Mills -
Clakka -
John C -
Russell Wattie -
leefe -
Canguro -
A Commentator -
Max Gross -
Roswell -
Keitha Granville -
Douglas Pritchard -
Canguro -
Clakka -
Douglas Pritchard
Return to home pageFocus. On Trump. The. Same. Way.
Why do thhe media not shine the same spotlight on everything Trump does and says and how he behaves and looks? Why?
The worst candidates ever, for reasons of age, fitness, psyche, attitude, potential, made this commentator horrified,for us all. There can be little predictable peace, progress, security, decency, honesty, achievement from either aged, deficient, inadequate men. Imagine a graph from now to over four years’ away, and shrivel your heart. Other shockers are going, Sunak, Macron soon, but one of the USA candidates seems likely, as of now, to go on failing civilisation, their nation and people, the world in our interconnections, hopes. Who could hope to see a fair, balanced, happy, honest world in a few years, IF….so, Trump should expire, in jail for hs criminality, and, Biden should retire to the rocking chair. We all deserve something better.
Why, leefe?
Because we don’t want Trump to win, and the consensus is that Biden just might not be the person to do it.
I think he is the man to do it, but based on his performance in the debate some people have doubts.
I still can’t believe there wasn’t a smooth transition to a new candidate at least twelve months ago.It’s not as if nobody knew of Joe’s travails.Even dead, he would be a superior candidate to the lying clown,but that’s not the way money works in the good ‘ol US of A.No small irony that the Mainstream stenographers are executing their own country…we should all brace for the impending shitstorm,regardless of the results later this year,the writing has been on the wall for many years.
Roswell:
But the relentless focus on Biden’s perceived failings is not going to help. Talk about how bad Trump is. Talk about everything Biden has achieved. Endlessly carrying on about “Biden not being up to it” just plays into Trump’s hands.
leefe, don’t get me wrong, as I’m with you 100% but we can’t help – as Binoy demonstrates – that dozens of American media agencies are chatting non-stop about the poor debate.
Let’s hope it doesn’t deflect from Trump’s woes.
Harry, during the 2020 campaign Biden is on record as saying he’d only serve one term then hand over to Kamala Harris.
Should there be a retirement age for politicians?
In the US there is a minimum age for a person to be President, 35 I think it is, looking at the candidates this time, a strong case can be made for a maximum age. Mitch McConnell shines as an example for such a move.
Bert.
Lies are easy. Truth is hard.
Lies you can just make up. Truth you must work hard to find it.
Trump just wings it, making it up as he goes. He has done that all his life. More lies to make up for earlier lies. Never admit to it. Never say you were wrong.
A lot was riding on Biden. He knows it is important to keep Trump away from power which he can use to back up his lies to the detriment of all.
Biden has had a life of public service.
Trump has had a life of self service.
Trump always had a privileged life since he was born living at the top of his tower in New York or at Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
Biden has had a tragic life for reasons of losing his first wife and a child in a no-fault car accident, then his other son Beau driving his remaining son to drugs.
Trump would label him a loser for that alone. He is the kind who thinks all misfortune must be the fault of the victim.
Trump is a gaslighter.
Biden overcame a bad stutter. He still suffers from that and some of his stumbles you could see him struggling with finding the right words under pressure. OK, I won’t totally excuse his old age which showed.
Trump would label Biden a loser for that.
I’d rather see someone who is vague with truth and finds it difficult to put into words sometimes and not someone who is glib and polished with lies.
Roswell,I imagined Biden handing over to Harris sometime this term, but, for whatever reasons,Kamala has not shone through as a likely replacement.I think the Civil War still resonates strongly in parts of the ‘States.
Bert asks it there should be a retirement age for politicians.
Well, most monarchs are King or Queen until the die.
The Pope generally is there for life (Benedict XVI set a good precedent).
The problem with US presidency is they have far too much power, like monarchies of old.
The Donald must be slipping, he only told 50 lies during the debacle, I mean debate.
https://meidasnews.com/news/a-complete-list-of-all-of-trumps-debate-lies
The problem with the US presidency is that it is like an elected monarchy, but not a modern monarchy. It is modelled on the old idea of monarchy where the monarch was an absolute ruler, some were despots.
But it is even older than 1776, more like Charles I and the battle he had with the Parliament and John Pym. Pym died, and Cromwell took over. Charles I was executed. Cromwell reigned for 10 years, but again a despot, and a puritan one who closed down all entertainment, including theatre.
So they brought back Charles II.
Since then the power of the British monarchy declined and really now has no political power and must accept what parliament decides.
In Russia, Nicholas II was despotic and he was brought down in 1917 and he and his family eventually brutally murdered. Russia has been in turmoil since and now has another despot because it puts too much power in one person.
But that is the same in the US. The elected president has far too much power and is in constant conflict with Congress. The president is supposed to set the agenda and Congress just signs it. That is upside down. The power is not with the people. It is an illusion of democracy. Give the people a vote, but what are they voting for? They vote for representatives in an electoral college that decides who will be president. That is not direct people power.
Power is still top down and not bottom up.
Yes Britain and Australia have descended to two-party systems where they just beat each other up. And Britain is a mess due to incompetence and Brexit and the man who brought them the mess of Brexit might even get into parliament.
But should we trust the people with democracy. That is what brought Britain Brexit and Australia the failure of the Voice referendum where lies won out over any rational thinking.
Interesting and difficult times. We must hold these people to account.
Until 1977 High Court judges in Australia, as with the Supreme Court in the US, were lifetime appointments but inevitably this was seen to be not always a good thing.
As a constitutional change required a referendum, it was put to voters for approval in a referendum held on 21 May 1977 to require that judges retire on achieving 70 years of age : it passed.
The same thing needs to happen with the US Supreme Court, in my view but I’m not as convinced about such a limitation on chief executives – but when they start talking about their golf handicaps in a debate, that might be a good time for them to retire to their golf club and stop bothering us.
Rapid change is upon us all. As historically usual, it happens quickly. That the ‘West’ is inexorably failing due to the corruptions of corporatized neoliberalism ought be no surprise. At the same time, totalitarian China enters a convenient detente in a weird economic dance of energy, arms and nukes with hostile orthodox monotheist-backed Russia and dictatorial atheist North Korea to keep the ‘West’ at bay. And South / Central Asia is hypnotized and challenged by the lunacy aflame in Israel / Palestine with the now powerful and wealthy modernized Arab world looking on agog. India growing sick, and north / central Africa emerging scathed and understandably wanting to throw off the exploitative shackles of ‘Western’ imperialism. How could it be any other way given the bling, trappings and hubris of old exploitative religion and its tentacular strains have been revealed? When old men and women’s aspiration for supremacy pushes war between these old testaments, it is surely no surprise that loyalty lingers with fear and blind faith drums up blame.
However, it’s probably fair to say that most punters do not have a politically savvy view of that progression from behind sunglasses tinted by bling and false comfort. That old folks rest from war behind them, that boomers mostly have them in innumerable shades and forms, and the young aspire to them by right and to shelter from UV and shield their tears is completely understandable.
As the Earth and its ecology calls for our attention, out of all this will crawl the despots and parasites, seeking to prey. Through their diversions they will call those with sunglasses from the Earth and its humus. Their kleptocratic wiles will be set against the old failing status quo to bring on their desired plutocracy.
From behind the sunglasses and false comfort, will desperation be revealed as a reality? Or will the hangers on hide in the temporary shadows and allow two old men to battle it out against the inevitable failure of faith and plunge to absolutism and immediacy, a temporary plutocracy or the old crawl of status quo?
It seems everyone will have their limited time in the scorching sun and the floods, for the old men and women, and their loyal progeny, appear to have left it too late to afford good or the building of an ark.
Next ….. if there is one!
Even if Biden were passed away and lying in a coffin he would still be a more trustworthy and honest person than the bloated loudmouthed uncouth lying pig and probably still do a better job as president as well. It is sad that he is losing his faculties but I hope if I make it past 80 years that I still carry myself with as much dignity as him. It was always going to be risky standing in front of the cameras next to a pathological liar who will say anything to keep the camera’s attention squarely focused on himself. This debacle showed the world that America as a world power is in decline and their election system as the joke it is.
Even sadder is that many Americans will think of it as great entertainment, sitting back on their couches on over padded backsides watching two old men bickering and shouting at each other over who shouldn’t be running their country. The world needs stability now from what still is, sadly, the world largest nuclear arsenal. We don’t want a nutcase who is as unstable as a two legged table having the codes to set them off. But the mainstream Septic Tank media seems determined to make it that Biden is not the man for the job. Maybe not anymore but the other clown was never the man for any job other than heavy manual labour in a maximum security institution where they can also try and fix his brain. A lobotomy would be best, for our planet all round!
Seriously, the flaw in Bidens capacity is not new. You have to wonder why the Democratics persist with endorsing him?
Could it be like Dutton here in Australia, a candidate put up to lose an Election rather than win it?
Blind Freddie can see a Resession looming, wouldn’t you want the other side to take the blame?
Ian:
Given how the states control voter registration, plus the Electoral College, USAnia has never been a true representative democracy. And, given how Trump has stacked SCOTUS, it probably never will be.
As flawed as our system is, it is still vastly superior to what exists there. I was never a fan of compulsory voting (yes, I know, it’s not the vote that’s mandatory, don’t @ me), particularly without concommitant education in the realities of politics, economics and especially critical thinking, but I’ve come to realise it’s one of the greatest safeguards we have.
Seymour Hersh’s essay – ‘WHO IS RUNNING THE COUNTRY?‘ is informative on this current hot potato issue of competency.
1.Yes, Biden said he would stand for only one term. Kamala Harris looked like a great successor at the time. Her CV looked outstanding. Unfortunately she hasn’t proved as capable as hoped.
The Democrats have to figure out a way to get Biden to decline nomination and endorse someone with far wider appeal.
Californian Govenor Newsome would appear to be the best option.
2. I’m a supporter of the US system (in theory)
As opposed to our system, it has the potential to provide a wider choice of candidates, and does not simply reward time servers.
A presidential run off between (say) Penny Wong, Albanese and Peter Malinauskas would provide a far better choice.
Appointing diplomats and academics to head foreign affairs would be better.
On the other hand the system also has to downside of allowing the entry of corrupt populists like Trump
One candidate is a dangerous megalomaniac, the other a geriatric war criminal. Both are too old and both probably have or are on the verge of dementia. No wonder so many Americans can’t be bothered voting. The USA is circling the drain.
AC, Gavin Newsom and Pete Buttigieg come to mind.
(You’ll never appreciate the effort I put in trying to spell Buttigieg.)
the Yanks have never bothered with voting – the rest of the world has to watch as prob 20% of the voting age population choose a lying scumbag to lead them. Into what though? Undoubtedly Ukraine will be left for Russia to plunder, the Palestinians will be annihilated, AUKUS will be dead (that’s the only good thing). Trump has grandly stated that as soon as he’s back the Americans imprisoned in Russia will be freed immediately and he’ll stop the wars. And he’ll build a wall tomorrow.
The man is a ticking bomb, and it’s fallout will affect us all. When he does win we should close down Pine Gap and send them packing before we become a target.
Come on then, be honest, you would not expect a fair minded, honest, young and fit candidate to climb onto the podium looking for your vote in the good old USA?.
This is the worlds most democratic nation, teaching us all how to behave(or else).
You need more funds than anyone else, dubious contacts with money, and low life in general, and have spent a whole useful lifetime doing favours for money, and inclined toward provoking the next State enemy.
Meanwhile I think Trump has this one in the bag
Any fair-minded, honest, young and fit candidate who wants to climb onto the podium looking for the vote and who manages to get him/her-self elected in good ol’ USA can probably expect to get a bullet through their head like their predecessor, JFK.
‘Merika doesn’t do fair-minded and honest, probably never did, probably never will. Maybe George Santos should throw his hat in the ring… after all, it’s a circus, right?
Canguro, is that an understandable Oz Freudian slip? Is it not meant to be Soros?
Why should Americans bother to worry? After all, they have an impeccable history of sorting themselves out with mayhem, ecological vandalism, bloodshed and murder, after which they, with introspective resilience, pull their finger out of their arse. Trouble is, they forget to wipe it clean.
Perhaps its their reminder of the perineum the are forced to habituate?
Biden may look weak and a bit frail, but I have to hand it to him when he makes forecasts about future events.
I mean he did tell us that NS2 would never be commissioned, and that certainly happened in a big way leaving Germany and Europe without their source of cheap energy.
Then he arranged for USA to pick up this shortfall, but a bit more expensive.
When we thought that their could be a peaceful solution in Ukraine, he forecast that was not going to happen.
He has said pretty much the same over Gaza.
Really the yanks should take some advice from some Chinese IT folk, and fix the Autocue he is using.