To the Editor:
For viewers hoping for a forward-looking, uplifting and edifying debate, they didn’t get it. As a substitute, with a number of exceptions, what was on show was an embarrassing, regarding, nasty and petty (dueling golf handicaps, actually?) 90 minutes of incessant private assaults, prices and countercharges between two males, a surprisingly befuddled and enervated present president, and a breathtakingly mendacious and caustic former president.
Each clearly exhibited a visceral enmity for one another and failed time and time once more to talk to the problems of concern to the American folks in a compelling method befitting the event.
The mutually problematic performances validate the unpopularity of those two candidates amongst voters. The truth is that neither man is match to function commander in chief for very totally different causes, and that is the unhappy and stark actuality confronting the nation.
Mark Godes
Chelsea, Mass.
To the Editor:
I’m a lifetime liberal Democrat who has watched each American presidential debate since 1960.
President Biden failed on the one job he needed to do within the debate — persuade American voters that he has the cognitive capability to earn one other 4 years in workplace. His voice was raspy and wheezy and his solutions have been typically fumbling, rambling, mumbling and incoherent.
He was ineffective even on the problems on which he ought to be the strongest — abortion rights and Jan. 6. His remark that “we beat Medicare” will likely be replayed hundreds of instances.
I imagine that Joe Biden is the one outstanding Democrat who would lose to Donald Trump. I implore Democratic leaders to go to the White Home, thank President Biden for his 50-plus years of service to our nation and urge him to drop out of the race. Then Democrats can nominate a candidate who can win, comparable to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Senator Cory Booker or Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Richard Kavesh
Nyack, N.Y.
The author is a former mayor of Nyack.
To the Editor:
Re “‘God Assist Us’: 12 Writers Charge Biden’s Efficiency on the First Presidential Debate” (Opinion, nytimes.com, June 28):
I’m amazed on the normal settlement that Donald Trump received the controversy. He didn’t. Sure, President Biden had a disappointing night time and Mr. Trump was vigorous. However his blustery vigor was incoherent and repetitious. When he didn’t outright lie, he exaggerated, frequently. He not often bothered with precise details and barely made any sense. His weird view of a United States being destroyed by prison migrants and his pretense that he can resolve advanced issues instantly could be laughable if it wasn’t so harmful.
Mr. Biden was not in high kind, made errors and regarded his age, however he made many vital factors about how his insurance policies are working to assist People. He decidedly received on content material.
Mr. Trump didn’t sound remotely like an individual who’s sincere, practical and considerate sufficient to be a U.S. president. His efficiency made it clear that one other presidency for Mr. Trump could be an unmitigated catastrophe. I don’t name this profitable a debate.
Susanna Sloat
New York
To the Editor:
The morning after we appear to be asking the mistaken query: “Who received the controversy?”
The query to ask is, who misplaced? The reply: We, the folks, misplaced. We misplaced hope.
Clearly, we have to minimize our losses. Now. For very totally different causes, neither of the lads on the stage Thursday night time are match to guide this nation by way of the present international complexities, by way of the dawning A.I. period, by way of the approaching perils of local weather change or by way of 2028.
Peter Keating
Charlestown, R.I.
To the Editor:
Watching the presidential debate, I remembered my elementary instructor telling our class that “anybody can turn into president.” Watching the 2 gents Thursday night time, I spotted she was proper.
Robert Blume
Alexandria, Va.
To the Editor:
There isn’t a query that Joe Biden has been a fantastic president and might be able to governing for an additional 4 years. There may be additionally no query that Joe Biden bombed badly within the debate Thursday night time.
He could have been sick, and he might be able to pivot and are available out sharp, robust and decisive within the weeks to come back. Sadly, that won’t be sufficient to beat Donald Trump. The actual query is whether or not he can overcome the bombardment that’s positive to be coming from Fox Information, Newsmax and the Trump marketing campaign.
Mr. Biden gave the right-wing media and Mr. Trump and his surrogates sufficient ammunition and embarrassing clips to gasoline assault adverts and speaking factors that will likely be blasted to the American public on a continuing stream from now till November.
Irrespective of how nicely Mr. Biden does from this level on, he will be unable to rise above the vicious content material that the far proper will produce by utilizing Mr. Biden’s personal phrases and feeble efficiency towards him. The earlier Democrats and Mr. Biden perceive and settle for this, the earlier we are able to get to beating Donald Trump with a contemporary candidate.
Mr. Trump is unfit for workplace, and he proved it Thursday night time with each lie and bombastic assertion he made. Democrats want a bulldog of a candidate to take over the candidacy and drive dwelling that message. God prepared, Joe Biden is a sufficiently big man to understand this.
Jean Phillips
Florence, Ore.
To the Editor:
For many who missed it for some purpose, the 2024 presidential election was held on Thursday, June 27, in Atlanta. God assist us all.
Mike Barrett
Ashburn, Va.
To the Editor:
I believe there was an surprising upside to Donald Trump’s trial in New York. He realized to maintain quiet. On the marketing campaign path Mr. Trump floated many doable debate methods — and rightly selected to behave himself. The muted microphone helped.
Tragically, Mr. Trump didn’t have to interrupt President Biden to win the controversy. Mr. Biden interrupted himself so many instances that he misplaced many trains of thought every time he spoke. Mr. Trump’s lies, his appalling first time period and the profound risks of a second time period have been obscured by the palpable ineptness of Mr. Biden’s efficiency. As have been the truths of Mr. Biden’s profitable administration.
Sure, presidencies will not be about this form of efficiency — however elections may be. If Joe Biden can not articulate his accomplishments, then how can he win?
Annlinn Kruger
Bar Harbor, Maine
To the Editor:
Re “President Biden, I’ve Seen Sufficient,” by Nicholas Kristof (The Level, nytimes.com, June 28):
Whereas some a part of me feels the attract of Mr. Kristof’s argument that President Biden withdraw from the race, the higher angel of my nature sees it for what it’s: a disastrous, self-defeating ploy.
Mr. Biden’s withdrawal would imply surrendering each rhetorical inch we’ve to Donald Trump. Critically, can we need to give the impression that Mr. Trump is correct about our man being too outdated, too feckless, too weak? Will we need to ship that argument to him on essentially the most silver of platters?
Moreover, think about the logistical nightmare of discovering a brand new candidate, and retooling and reorganizing a complete marketing campaign equipment comprising hundreds of individuals and tons of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to serve that new candidate.
Higher to remain the course. Holding Mr. Biden means we could lose the election. Swapping him for anybody else means we actually will.
Baybars Charkas
State School, Pa.
The author is president of the Penn State School Democrats.
To the Editor:
Whereas President Biden didn’t come throughout as significantly sturdy in the course of the debate, I’m surprised that post-debate analysts centered on that and paid so little consideration to the truth that in just about each flip he had Donald Trump both advised a lie or grossly refused to reply the query directed at him.
Mr. Trump gave the impression to be appreciated for not displaying up as maniacal — largely a operate of mute buttons. Whatever the vitality distinction, a barely slowed down president would nonetheless have far much less probability of beginning a nuclear struggle than a peppy egomaniac. Disgrace on journalists and analysts for making picture matter greater than character.
Nancy Dreyfus
Philadelphia
To the Editor:
Concerning your presidential “debate.” Only a view from right here in Scotland …
OMG America — are you kidding me???
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh
