Debating a slick talking grifter who is both an imbecile politically as well as a fascist and pathological liar by emphasizing policy will not work anymore.
The appeal of Trump, who has fully embraced fascism at this stage, has nothing to do with rational politics and solving the issues before the country, as critically important to any thinking person as they may be. In a so-called debate Thursday night, the winner was based mostly on emotional irrationality, one-liners and a machismo appearance of strength.
Biden found that out at his sub-par performance last light the hard way.
The undisputed liar in chief
Trump lost in 2020 because he tried to look presidential and Biden benefited by actually being more presidential. As well as from a large turnout at the polls partly attributable to the number of progressive anti-Trump and Black-life Matters demonstrations, thousands as a matter of fact. Not so far in 2024, however.
Masks no Longer Needed
No presidential mask today can conceal what Trump is. Nor does he have any desire to act presidential. He has long since revealed his miserable and politically incompetent self.
Media corporate control combined with a long term penetration of excessive Wall Street influence over the Congress and presidents has largely removed critical thought on the real issues that need solving from the debate equation.
Expectations Exceed Realities
President Biden
The media debate format set up unachievable expectations for Biden, who walked into this alleged debate unable to make a single error of speech, strategy or policy without being savaged. Worse, he was apparently badly hampered by a summer cold, with his chance of prevailing even more unlikely.
Yet all expectations were on Biden to somehow look like he was 30 instead of 81. I also suspect that he was over-prepared for a policy debate and not the farcical rank out contest that has become presidential debates and may have panicked a bit the way things actually developed. Perhaps he also did not have a Plan B. Which should have been, be yourself.
Trump, on the other hand, always has the same plan: lie like a rug and babble whatever nonsense comes to mind, just don’t fall asleep or fart loudly at the podium. Everyone knows he’s already a pathological liar, including many of his supporters, so no one’s disappointed when he lies . . . and lies . . . and lies some more.
2024 is not 2020
I’m not in any position to confirm this, just a suspicion that Biden’s campaign crew seems to be following a similar script to what they did in 2020. If that’s the case it’s a big mistake.
Trump’s campaign is getting a huge boost from elements in a mostly corporate friendly media. They cover over the worst statements Trump has made. And they fear Biden’s Democratic Party will be pressured to crack down too much on corporations and increase taxes on them. More than a few pro-fascist elements have escaped wide-spread exposure thanks to media neglect, some of it deliberate. It’s time for Biden to fully confront and counter attack. No more rope-a-dope strategies as indicated by Friday’s after the debate speech in North Carolina.
Is Biden’s Campaign a Lost Cause?
Of course not. But even some supposedly Democratic friendly media have jumped on the “Biden is toast” band wagon over his admittedly poor debate performance. It’s very premature to conclude this and it’s also just as risky to contemplate any major changes at this late stage.
However, truth be told, a great many Democrats have had concerns about his age. It might be one of many reasons, excluding polling fraud, for his consistently poor polling and the knee jerk debate response. Frankly, the stresses of the presidency put “additional years” on any president which are beyond normal aging processes.
Some Presidents Age Dramatically
FDR in 1932 and 1945
FDR had uncontrollable high blood pressure of over 200/100 and was already suffering from the ravages of polio, and aged dramatically during the war years. Even Obama aged noticeably going into his second term and he was much younger that Biden.
Frankly, the stresses of the presidency put “additional years” on anyone which are beyond the normal aging processes. At 81 approaching a possible 2nd term, concern about Biden’s age is a legitimate one as much as with Trump. But to answer the question again, no it’s not over, nor is the campaign a lost cause.
Damaging Middle East Policies
Another unfavorable trend are that expectations by some left and progressive voters clearly have been hurt by Biden’s centrist tendencies in the conflicts in Israel, and his apparent inability to deter an out of control Netanyahu. The latter fascist has unspeakably slaughtered upwards of 30,000 mostly civilian Palestinian women and children and continues to do so. Progressive Democrat Jaamal Bowman recently lost his bid for renomination over Middle East issues and false inferences that he was anti-Semitic for supporting Palestinian rights.
It didn’t help Bowman when he held a large rally attended by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio which was interrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators chanting hostile slogans attacking all three. It’s a matter of opinion how much, if any, of Bowman’s campaign strategies were responsible for his defeat. I won’t make a judgement either way.
North Carolina Speech, Meet the Real Joe
Biden on fire at a NC rally after the debate.
Just a day after the debate Joe, feeling more comfortable and trying to be more like himself, brought the house down where he was speaking in North Carolina. Demonstrating that he’s still more than capable of being President. Those who panicked after the poor debate performance should take a deep breath and exhale.
Biden was 5 for 5
Biden pretty much admitted in so many words that he had a bad night at the debate. Just like a baseball hitter can be great on most nights, but on a bad one can go 0 for 5 with 4 strike outs. But on Friday he was five for five!
A Close Contest
It will still likely be a very close race, although in a sane country it wouldn’t be. Remember that the media attempted, in a single night, to throw him down the toilet. The same media that covers for Trump’s daily moronic and violent rhetoric. They can be expected to do it again, for a traitor who promises an end to democracy and Constitutional Government. And promises revenge, jail and worse for his opponents.
Biden Come Out Swinging in North Carolina