I read an article in I think the Independent, that analyzed his performance as over-reliance on memorizing a long list of facts and figures to show the accomplishments of his administration. That was basically his only debate prep.
Nobody in their 80’s is able to rely on memory as well as they used to, and there were no notes allowed on the podium. So he frequently got lost and failed to complete sentences while he tried to remember which list of facts he wanted to recover.
He did better in the NC rally speech because he had a prepared speech to work with. What he should have done at the debate (according to the article) was just spend more time explaining who he was as a person, and why he was a better choice than Trump.
One can only imagine that Monday’s anticipated SCOTUS immunity decision will be a Master Class in Obfuscation! Having taken the case, how can it be anything but that? P.S. I am not a lawyer…(crosses self).
Exactly. However, after Joe wins, IF he feels he can’t make the full 4 years we will have Kamala and I have no problem with that. But I’d think he’d wait until at least after the mid terms IF it came to that.
I watched a bit of CNN last night. Their hand-wringing over Biden’s performance was vomit inducing. And NOT ONE WORD about TSF’s volcanic explosion of lies.
Biden has an excellent staff who add immeasurably to the administration’s accomplishments, AND, unlike the PAB, they are willing, I suspect, to offer advice and counsel that at times will counter Joe’s instincts.
I think we are all here today because voters were too fucking lazy to turn out for Al Gore.
Just imagine where we would be now if the most environmental POTUS ever would have been realized.
I will never let that go. Also why I never, ever have faith in the youth vote and never will.
Anyway, that’s my Ted Talk. Back to the situation at hand.
Going to start looking at real estate overseas. I’ll vote for Biden but my enthusiasm for him is practically nonexistent now. Regardless of TFG’s performance, Biden’s debate performance was way too self-centric, childish, old man gibberish and unacceptable under any circumstance. His administration has incredible diversity and talent, and that has been my rationale in accepting his age issue, yet he presented himself like TFG in a way: “It’s all about me, me, me.” Very disappointed in this man!!! Another Democratic Party fumble.
conspiratorial galaxy brain group think… has so infected the MAGA movement that they can’t even accept a win without looking over their shoulder for the deep state’s hidden hand.
That was my immediate take, too. And I truly hate that kind of response. It’s particularly bad for Joe Biden, who isn’t a rapid fire delivery guy to begin with. Spewing out a bunch of numbers and obscure bill acronyms (think Al Gore!) isn’t “making a point.” It’s gibberish, and not appealing, emotionally grabbing gibberish like Con Man Donnie spouts.
But Donnie has had literally a lifetime of practice. That, and insults. The debate preppers should have geared Biden up for that kind of tongue to tongue combat, not a Wonkerdome battle.
Everything I have listened to (including Josh and Kate’s immediate response podcast) and everything I have read here in the comments and everywhere else all sounds like the people going through the 5 stages of grief. Lots of denial for sure, with people coming up with everything from bad debate prep to an apparently killer cold that is actually responsible. Then lots of anger with people calling people bedwetters and babies for having a strong negative response to what they actually saw. Then the bargaining, thinking that if we just somehow maneuvered Newsome or Whitmer magically into the candidacy all could be saved. Swiftly followed by depression - I am not going to look at the news or discuss this any further, it hurts too much. Finally acceptance - we have to go with the candidate we have and do everything we can to undo the damage.
People can talk about his ensuing rally and everything else but the simple fact is Biden had a stellar opportunity to simply counterpunch Trump Thursday night and he failed miserably. Whatever the reason, whatever the blame, he failed miserably and turned the debate from a condemnation of the worst president in history to a discussion about his fitness for the job. Didn’t really see that coming but shit happens. If I had Biden’s schedule I would have died six months ago.
No one knows what the future may bring besides more awful SCOTUS decisions. I said a while ago that I am not voting for Biden, I am voting FOR a democratic party that represents me and AGAINST the worst candidate and political party in our short history. Nothing has changed that equation and nothing will. I have no concerns about whether Biden can do the job - I believe he can do it and do it well, just like he has so far. But apparently it is going to be a helluva lot bumpier ride than I thought it was going to be, and I already thought it was going to be the bumpiest ride since the Civil War so - I guess I just have to strap in.
I was thinking that Biden needed advice, not from political strategists, but from people like Eugenie Scott who debate creationists. The torrent of lies is called a “Gish Gallop” because it’s the signature tactic of creationist Duane Gish.
Her advice, by the way, to people who want to debate creationists is “don’t”. Scientists- people in undoubted command of formidable mental faculties- routinely lose debates to creationists. Not because they are wrong about evolution, but because it’s really hard to counter a firehouse of lies with conventional debating tactics. Purveyors of bullshit are playing a different game
So one bad debate night with Biden trying counter the GOP cartoon version of himself shows he is too self centered so we should just forget four years of dramatically good Presidenting while old. Got it.
There are no “five stages of grief.” Everybody processes “grief” differently. Some go through the commercialized “stages”, but others, possibly most, do not. Glad to hear you’ve got yours worked out, and yet “grieved” that you will be throwing your vote away because Joe had a bad night.
I’m braking my radio silence for this:
I can’t imagine a more absurd performance than to see two grown men, a former POTUS and current POTUS, engaged in trash talking WWE style debate.
Each response could have started with some version of " Gosh, that’s an interesting version of one of your favorite lies, isn’t it?’ And then Biden could focus on whatever he wanted to say.
