Oh boy. That was a mess.
If there was an award for most obnoxious television event, this week’s presidential debate would win handily. In one of the most anticipated moments of this election cycle, and perhaps even the year, both Donald Trump and Joe Biden delivered an absolute dud. It was an assault on the ears, the mind, and even the soul; it was a disheartening attempt at a conversation about America’s most pressing issues; it was an absolute embarrassment for our country. The world was watching, and we missed a wide-open, game-winning layup.
Of course, left-wing pundits and ideological supporters of Biden will say that he won the debate. After all, he didn’t totally melt into a stammering puddle like we thought he would. Likewise, Trump supporters will claim the victory for the president, who savagely (and annoyingly) went after the former vice president and backed him into several tight spots.
In this case, though, both sides are wrong. This debate had no winners. This election has no winners. In fact, in 2020, there are only losers. We’re getting played by the D.C. establishment, and by the ideological forces that have created this strange, deterministic, infantile government. Both the Democrat and Republican Parties believe us to be fools.
The Democrats’ strategy for beating Trump in 2020 has been obvious from the beginning: they’re attacking Trump’s character, rhetoric, and morality. Honestly, it’s not a bad plan: Trump’s failings in these areas make him an easy target. To win, all the Democrats had to do was pick someone competent who could serve as a counter to the Trumpian persona.
But then the Democrats chose Joe Biden. Even if this had been the Biden of ten years ago, it would be a terrible choice; after all, there’s a reason why Biden, who has run for president two previous times, never received a presidential nomination.
Compounding the issue, of course, are Biden’s failing cognitive abilities. Though he’s always been a gaffe machine, he now, at age 77, often has trouble forming full sentences, especially under duress.
Regardless, that’s who the Democrats chose. On debate day, all Biden had to do was not implode. And to be fair, he didn’t. He had a few moments where it seemed that he could handle basic policy questions. But he also showed why many right-wingers are frightened of him. Biden couldn’t bring himself to admit the most basic of truths: that Antifa is a real, violent threat to our major cities and that it is the cause of a lot of our social unrest (Biden simply called the group an “idea”); he was disrespectful (he called Trump a “clown” and told him to “shut up”); and he flip-flopped and lied about his position on the Green New Deal (Biden claimed he doesn’t support it, while his campaign website shows he does).
The list of gaffes could continue. Ultimately, though, Joe Biden is just about everything right-wingers fear: he is a career politician who does not have people’s best interests at heart, and is a weak personality who won’t be able to stand up to violent, radical groups because they make up a part of his constituency.
But Trump wasn’t a saint on the debate stage, either.
Since Trump took office nearly four years ago, I’ve had one significant problem with him: his rhetoric. For some reason, the guy just can’t say the right thing, even when it’s staring him in the face. Granted, the media does lie about him; it does discriminately cover stories to make him look bad; it does cherry pick his words. But time and time again, Trump walks right into their traps, even when the media throws him a softball.
This happened several times during the debate. Chris Wallace, the debate moderator, asked Trump if he would denounce white supremacy – which, for the record, Trump has done in the past. Trump asked for the name of a specific group. Joe Biden mentioned the Proud Boys. Trump said they should “stand back and stand down.”
The Proud Boys, though a right-wing group, do not call themselves white supremacists, so it would make sense for Trump to want specifics. But how hard is it to simply say “I denounce white supremacy in all forms?” The answer: it’s not. It could have been the easiest walk-off home run Trump has ever hit. But he missed his opportunity. Again.
In another moment, Trump was asked if he would respect the results of election. He answered with a frustrating “we’ll see.” Will Trump stage some sort of coupe and announce the results of the election, if he loses, illegitimate? I think it’s unlikely. But, again, Trump’s inability to answer a question clearly came through in this moment; all he had to say was “If there is a dispute, I will abide by the Supreme Court’s decision.”
I’ve been thinking for some time now about the nature of Trump’s rhetoric. I’ve been trying to understand why it is that, seemingly no matter the scenario, he just can’t manage to be clear in his speech.
I think I finally figured it out. Trump can’t answer a question clearly, not because he’s a fascist, a dictator, a neo-Nazi, or a white supremacist. He can’t answer a question clearly because he’s a bulls****er. It’s just who he is. It’s his personality, or at least the character he plays for us every day.
It’s also the key to his success. Trump is obviously a smart man, perhaps even a political genius. But the reason he’s had so much success in politics, television, and in business is because you can’t pin him down on any position. He won’t let you. He’ll find a way to maneuver himself around a question, no matter how direct. Often, the only time he’s clear is when he’s accusing his enemies of something nefarious.
The debate showed us this in spades. It also showed how much of a bully the president is. He ran roughshod over Biden, at one point even making fun of his intelligence (“did you use the word ‘smart’ with me?”).
One could say all these attacks are fair game. Politics and pragmatism are often synonymous.
But it shouldn’t – and doesn’t – have to be this way. It’s possible to rise above the fray, the lying, the slander, and the insults. We shouldn’t have to be making a Faustian deal with either candidate.
I’ve read many left-wing commentators, who fully acknowledge the weakness of Joe Biden and the insufferable wokeness of the Democrats, beg their readers to vote for Biden; Donald Trump, they say, represents an existential threat to our rule of law. I’ve also read right-wing pundits rail about the radicals of the Left, but ignore the moral failings of the President; they think he’s wonderful, that his morals don’t really matter, that his rhetoric is excusable or insignificant, or that, even worse, he’s been chosen by God to defeat the leftist, commie baddies overtaking the country (which is patently insane).
Frankly, I think all of it is a load of nonsense – Left or Right, Republican or Democrat. We shouldn’t have to choose between a decrepit old man and a reality TV star. Both are horrible choices. If America’s ideals are as great as I believe they are, we should demand better.
After Tuesday’s debate, I’ve never been closer to just not voting than I am right now. Our options sicken me. They upset me. They make me angry. A deal with the devil(s) is no deal at all.