Staff Reports
The CNN presidential debate was less a clash of titans and more a candid exposure of an elderly incumbent who can barely string a coherent sentence together. Joe Biden, the worn-out president who’s supposed to lead America for another four years, stumbled and mumbled his way through the debate. He took almost a week off to rest up for this momentous occasion only to deliver a performance riddled with halting speech, frail tones, and incomprehensible syntax. In a classic Biden blunder, he even claimed to have “beat Medicare” minutes into the sparring match. You know it’s bad when Sleeping Joe kicks off with a gaffe that leaves even his most loyal base questioning his competence.
President Biden froze and then had a verbal blunder, saying he “beat Medicare,” minutes after he kicked off his debate with former President Donald Trump on Thursday pic.twitter.com/enAH0xG13a
— New York Post (@nypost) June 28, 2024
When he wasn’t talking, Biden’s absent-minded stare into the void was a sight to behold. It was as if “Sleepy Joe” had physically clocked out but left his body on stage as an exhibit. By the time age became the inevitable topic, Biden had already done the talking—or rather, the lack of it. CNN’s moderators, surprisingly competent this time, seemed to be running interference for him, but even they couldn’t save him from himself. Post-debate, even the left-wing media couldn’t sugarcoat the debacle. The emotional pundits looked more like mourners at a political wake than analysts, sounding the alarm bells for Biden’s campaign. The Democrats are now openly discussing methods to nudge Uncle Joe out of the race before he completely tanks their chances.
This was physically painful to watch. https://t.co/MDmxxYQM4N
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) June 28, 2024
With the Democrats in a clear state of panic, the question arises: can they rally behind someone who just proved he’s more fit for a rocking chair than the Oval Office? Those who’ve defended Biden until they were blue in the face are now startled by the stark reality that he can’t hide behind smoke and mirrors forever. And with logistical obstacles that make changing horses mid-race nothing short of a Herculean task, the Democrats are in quite the pickle.
Trump, on the other hand, didn’t have to be flawless to come out on top. Armed with his usual bravado, he artfully parried Biden’s feeble attacks. Granted, Trump’s relationship with the truth is often tenuous, but compared to Biden’s half-comatose performance, Trump’s confident demeanor made him the clear victor. In fact, two-thirds of a CNN snap poll—yes, CNN!—declared Trump the winner. Some pundits are even arguing this was Trump’s best general election debate ever, a far cry from the frenetic disaster he brought to the table in 2020.
Now speculation runs wild. Will Biden even remain the Democratic nominee, or will the Democrats scramble to slot in someone—anyone—more viable? If they can’t rally behind their current figurehead, they’re stuck dealing with the fallout of their own alarmist proclamations. And don’t even get started on Kamala Harris, whose popularity—or lack thereof—presents almost the same set of problems. The Democrats are in damage control mode, trying to salvage what’s left of a campaign that looks increasingly like a sinking ship.
Let’s not kid ourselves, folks. The election cycle is set to get even crazier. There’s a reasonable chance this debate won’t significantly shift the polls; people have already made up their minds. Biden’s age and frailty have been obvious for a while now, and yet here we are, still trudging through the muck. Buckle up, because we’re in for a wild ride.
