President Joe Biden's debate performance was a disaster, with his incoherent responses and shocked expressions leading to calls for him to drop out of the presidential race.
But amid these concerns, Donald Trump's usual lies, exaggerations, bigotry, ignorance and fear-mongering were forgotten. His performance once again demonstrated that he is a danger to democracy and unfit for the office of the presidency.
In fact, the debate talk is misguided. The only person who should drop out of the race is Trump.
Why would the 78-year-old Trump want to return to a political scene marked by eight years of chaos, corruption and disrespect?
Trump is constantly destroying the country to advance himself. There is no shining city on a hill. There is only sadness in America.
During the debate, Trump repeatedly said the United States is a “failing” country. He called the US a “Third World country.” He said “we are living in hell” and that we are “very close to World War III.”
“People are dying everywhere,” Trump said, before adding, “We are literally a wilderness now.”
Trump told more than 30 lies during the debate, adding to the more than 30,000 lies he has told during his four years as president, dodged questions from the CNN moderators, refused to take responsibility for his actions, and primarily blamed Biden for everything that is wrong with the world.
The response to the January 6, 2021, riot incited by President Trump was a farce. He said that a “relatively small number of people” went to the Capitol and that many were “directed by police.”
After trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Trump has refused to say whether he would accept the results of the 2024 election — unless, of course, he wins.
The debate was a reminder of what the next four years of the Trump administration will be like: more lies, more grievances, more narcissism, more hatred. His supporters say they love Trump because he says whatever he thinks, but what he spews is mostly raw sewage.
Trump attacks the military, despises the Department of Justice and judges, despises the FBI and CIA, picks fights with allies, and cozys up to dictators.
Trump is an unserious carnival barker running for the most important job in the world. During his last term, Trump served himself, not the American people.
Trump spent a lot of his time watching TV, tweeting, and hanging out at his country club: During his four years in office, Trump played approximately 261 rounds of golf.
As president, Trump did not read daily intelligence reports. He continued to use his personal cell phone, allowing Chinese spies to eavesdrop on his calls. In one Oval Office meeting, Trump provided classified information to Russia's foreign minister and ambassador.
The Trump administration did a lot of damage and achieved very little. The much-touted wall was never built. Infrastructure Week became a recurring joke. Massive tax cuts made the rich even richer while fueling massive deficits that others will pay for for years. Trump's support for coal, oil drilling and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement exacerbated the growing impacts of climate change.
Trump has filled the judiciary with a largely white, male, and extreme slate of judges, including several deemed unqualified by the American Bar Association, fired and resigned a record number of Cabinet members, and plunged the White House into constant turmoil and infighting.
Many of Trump's appointees have resigned under the shadow of corruption, fraud and ethics scandals. Trump's children have made millions in the White House. His amateur son-in-law received $2 billion from the Saudi Arabian government for his fledgling investment company, despite having no prior experience in managing money.
President Trump's mismanagement of the pandemic has led to tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths. He has bragged about stripping away individual rights, overturning legal precedent, and installing far-right politicians who threaten our national security on the Supreme Court. If elected, he could join the Supreme Court's conservative majority.
Of course, there was an unprecedented second impeachment, and now Trump has been convicted and faces three additional criminal charges, and he's running for president to avoid prison.
In fact, Trump does not deserve to be on the debate stage, so why give him a platform?
Trump has allegedly stolen classified information and tried to overturn the election. His second term is even worse than his first. There's no way we could seriously consider allowing this clown back into the White House.
In fact, Trump does not deserve to be on the debate stage, so why give him a platform?
Sure, Biden had a bad night — he's 81 and not as sharp-headed as he used to be — but even on his worst days, Biden is far better than Trump on his best.
Biden must demonstrate he is the right man for the job. That much is clear: He has a real track record of delivering real results, including fighting the pandemic, combating climate change, investing in infrastructure, and helping working families and the most vulnerable.
Biden has surrounded himself with experienced minds who take public service seriously, and he has passed major bipartisan legislation despite a dysfunctional Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Biden believes in what is best for America, has rebuilt relationships with allies around the world and stood up to adversaries like Russia and China.
Only one debate participant was deemed unfit to run for president, and the sooner Trump is off the stage the better off the country will be.
