Shouting Match--Part 1

The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden has come and gone.

But it was more of a shouting match than a debate.

If anyone still had any faith in any semblance of decency and civility that remained in the US body politic, then last night’s performance by the two candidates dispelled it.

The pathetic and lying Biden and Trump the clown both talked over each other, interrupted one another, and launched personal attacks at each other the whole time.

It was an ugly and embarrassing spectacle.

Most of what was said by both was based on rumors, out-of-context narratives, and hypocrisy.

Trump was definitely the worse of the two. He made himself look like a petulant juvenile with his constant interjections and interruptions.

Both candidates refused to address their own failures and shady dealings, and take responsibility for their mistakes. They are both convinced that they are right about everything.

Trump, while complaining about the rise in suicides, drug abuse, and divorces due to the COVID19 lockdowns, launched a cheap attack on Biden’s son who had to leave the army because of a drug problem.

Biden still clung to the discredited Russiagate hoax and called Trump ‘Putin’s puppy.’

Trump questioned Biden about the Obama regime's withholding of loans from Ukraine, if it didn’t stop the investigation into Burisma Holdings and Biden's son’s presence on the board of that company; a situation which certainly reeks of nepotism and influence-peddling.

Biden demanded that Trump release his tax returns, which is something Biden already did. Trump obfuscated, as expected.

The finger-pointing went on all evening. Nothing new was offered other than promises that have been offered for decades and never kept.

What was truly missing from the debate was a 3rd party candidate in the center of the stage between these two geriatric gargoyles.

It is so sad that the US, which touts itself as the greatest democracy in the world, has only two parties to choose from. And it has been this way for 177 years. There’s something profoundly wrong with this. There is no such longevity in politics unless it’s forced.

The only winner in last night’s debate was Chris Wallace, the moderator, who probably needed a couple of Advils, or shots of whiskey to get rid of the headache- and heartache-after seeing those two cranks bicker for 90 minutes.

It is true that Trump’s performance as president, and debater, was disastrous.

He has withdrawn from treaties, which has upped tensions and made the world less safe.

His tariffs on China, the EU, and Canada are backfiring after the WTO recently ruled that Trump broke the law and that China, Canada, and the EU now have the right to slap multi-billion-dollar tariffs on the US in response.

His mean-spirited and bullying behavior against the protesters have also made things worse, and at no time did he attempt to calm things down and try to talk to anyone like an adult. He just issued angry and threatening tweets.

For the years he has been in power, Trump has made veiled bigoted references and gestures which emboldened the racist element within US society, giving them an inferred license to do and say things they otherwise would not do, along with a false feeling of immunity from the consequences.

This sense of bravado and culture of impunity engendered by Trump could very well have been the catalyst for what happened to George Floyd. Overzealous cops who sympathize with Trump, and feel encouraged by his antics, no doubt think they have a carte-blanche to indulge their sadistic urges upon whoever they see as bad. They think that Trump has their backs, regardless of what they do.

But is Trump personally coming to these cops rescue after they get themselves in trouble? No.

Trump has a long history of exploiting others, then leaving them in a lurch after something goes wrong. The man is only concerned with his own image and self-preservation. This has been the story of his sordid life so far.

This has all caused chaos in an already unstable and divided country.

The Democrats have exploited the chaos for their own ends, but don’t have any new ideas to deal with it.

Biden’s plans and promises are unoriginal, and just election-year talking points.

He has spent decades screwing the people he supposedly wants to help.

The entire Democratic party staunchly refuses to change. They have railroaded other candidates from their own party, and for decades helped squash the efforts of 3rd party candidates to get on the ballot in states.

The choices in this election are horrible and hopeless. Nothing will get better regardless of which one gets elected.

Trump certainly deserves to lose, but Biden doesn’t deserve to win.