Once upon a time I was an athlete and played team sports. I even served a stint in the Marines. I have no idea how many times I fell or got knocked down (a LOT) but one thing I always experienced was teammates or fellow jarheads immediately helping me back up to my feet. And encouraging me. I did the same for others, again more times than I can count. Watching Democrats in the wake of what was a bad debate fills me with fury. I can guarantee you that had it been the other way around and Trump performed as Biden did in one voice they’d have rallied around him. AND gone on the attack with anyone in the media who was critical. Democrats? Too many went into panic mode.
As a whole Democrats in positions of influence and leadership just stood there. Worse, for every one who did move to “help Biden back to his feet” there was another moving in to KICK him while he was down.
Not only was a widespread, if not singularly focused effort to help Biden “up off the ground”, to dust him off and tell him to get back out there and fight lacking the panic has, as noted in this article by Politico suggests the panic has taken root. In fact it’s sprouting some ugly flowers. Other old farts like me remember the 1972 gold medal basketball game where a Soviet dangerously undercut Doug Collins as he went up for what should have been the game winning layup. Collin’s head slammed into the base of the basket support and even with the padding he was badly shaken up. His teammates helped him to his feet and kept him balanced. There was even a question if he could continue, and shoot the two free throws he had coming with only three seconds left on the clock. Coach Hank Iba said if he could stand then he’d shoot. With all that pressure Collins stood there and “swished” (made so cleanly the ball didn’t hit the rim, which causes a swishing sound in the net) both of them putting us ahead by one.
Were his teammates worried about him admitting he was seeing double as he headed to the line. I’m sure some of them were. But mostly they believed in him and didn’t argue with their coach, who knew Collins was up to the task even if for the moment he was not quite himself. That my friends is how Democrats SHOULD have seen and reacted to the debate. I reflect on what we’ve seen and my level of disgust grows with each passing day. Yes, I know mental fitness/acuity is an issue as it’s always been. Trump has gotten a pass, and Biden hasn’t. Not since he decided to run in fact. Why Democrats haven’t been hammering TRUMP’S mental competency damned near every day since he first took office is a mystery to me. Hell, the week before the debate he started ruminating on being on a sinking boat and either getting electrocuted from the battery getting wet or getting eaten by the shark! Don’t even get me started on the cognitive test nonsense Trump blathers on about. The targets of opportunity abound and have always been there.
Now? It seems like Biden’s fellow Democrats are debating whether HE should face “electrocution” by the boat’s battery or getting eaten by the shark! WTF? This has been one of those times when Democrats would have been justified in doing exactly what Republicans would have done if Trump had come across during the debate like he does during his rallies – addlebrained and nonsensical. Ignore it and change the subject. Hit TRUMP on mental competency. On policy. On general stupidity on all manner of topics and issues.
Here’s what I know. In the time before the debate, just as has been the case during his Presidency Joe Biden has had (with I’m thinking the exception of his debate prep team) a great set of advisors and solid working relationships with key people on Capitol Hill. And in foreign Capitols. He’s been getting the job done and done so better than most Presidents during our history. While Trump’s been… well Trump and bumbling about spouting lies and getting convicted at trial Joe Biden has been navigating rebuilding the ability to help Ukraine defeat Russia. To contain China. To deal with the situation in Gaza and keep a larger regional war from breaking out.
He had a bad night on the debate stage. It was a mistake to agree to a format where moderators would do NO fact checking in real time with follow ups pointing out misrepresentations and outright lies. Add in the fact that TV is and has long been Trump’s medium and has never really been Biden’s I was admittedly upset during the debate yet not surprised that Biden didn’t wipe the floor with Trump. But I say again, even in recent months and weeks Biden has been doing the job and doing so effectively. He’s engaged. Just ask Netanyahu! Biden’s been making HIM look bad even in Israel. And Ukraine is starting to regain initiative. Biden’s policies will continue to grow jobs, good paying ones.
He’s also shown the kind of integrity and commitment to the rule of law (the situation with Hunter) Trump would never have done. Or do.
Still, a growing number of people including Democratic leaders aren’t willing to give President Biden one single ounce of slack. Instead, there’s a growing number of folks feeling puffed up with a sense of self-righteous superiority. Not just taking shots, but CHEAP shots. People on our side are willing to hit Biden far harder than they’ve been willing to hit Trump.  Given all that it’s hard for me to go into the holiday tomorrow feeling celebratory.
Trump isn’t smart but he’s savvy and has great survival instincts. Whatever he says publicly the ONE candidate he’s always feared running against is Joe Biden. Biden needs to tell his handlers to step back. Get himself out there several times a week. We need to see the Biden we saw in Raleigh the day after the debate. THAT Joe Biden is still there. So what if he makes a gaffe now and then? Democrats need to spend as much time talking about TRUMP’S gaffes and downright stupidity as they should be selling Biden’s accomplishments. Every single day. Too many are eyeing 2028 which is dangerous as hell. I simply don’t see anyone who aspires to replace Biden this year being able to beat Trump. Which means it’s unlikely there will be an election in 2028.
One last thing. There should be encouragement to turn “Dark Brandon” loose on a regular basis. The media loves controversy and that would give them plenty to chew on and help make the debate old news.
Amen brother! I 100% agree. I mean, what the hell – one shaky performance in a mostly bogus debate and we’re ready to throw him under the bus? JHC – get the f*** over it and get back in there and fight with and for this guy.
“Democrats need to spend as much time talking about TRUMP’S gaffes and downright stupidity as they should be selling Biden’s accomplishments. Every single day.”
I completely agree Denis!
Washington lost NYC and was on the run from superior, better trained and better equipped British troops. If he had quit, we’d still be a phucking colony of the British Empire. FACT!!!!
Yet when all seemed lost he turned things around. Each Christmas Day I watch a movie titled The Crossing which is about the attack on Trenton that changed the course of the war. The “dinner scene” where the pretentious General Gates got slapped down by Washington is one of many that stand out. We have too many Gates types at the moment and it looks like Biden is starting to “go Washington” (privately) on their asses. At some point he might do so publicly. I don’t think he can wait until the convention, but if the reporting about the Democratic Governor’s meeting at the WH is accurate Biden, like Washington let folks have their say. Even the ones with serious concerns. Then responded and it seems they’re now assured that the debate was a “one off” bad night and that Biden is in fact all there where it matters – in his brain housing group. Me? I’m one of Biden’s “lads” and will follow him into hell if he asks. As should all of us be. Get over the fear and get to work. Be under no illusion about the difficulty of the task ahead but we have a leader who we can trust, and who can organize a successful plan of attack. Washington’s “lads”, the “rabble” of whom Gates (and others) held in contempt routed a regiment of arguably the best soldiers in the world, killing their commander the infamous and brutal Col Rall. As word spread hope in the cause was renewed and with it enlistments. There would be many difficult years ahead to be sure, but the fact is that a courageous group believed in their leader enough to fight a foe they had every reason to fear. The Hessians were routed and there were few casualties on our side.
Thanks Denis for posting that clip. I’d rather follow Biden into hell in the name of everything that has ever been good in America than live FOR ONE GODDAMN MINUTE UNDER DICTATOR TRUMP! THIS IS A PHUCKING WAR AND THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO GET OFF THEIR PRIVILEGED ASSES AND FIGHT FOR FREEDOM!!! Thanks for reminding us what it takes marine!
I’ve found it interesting how two of Biden’s primary opponents are leading the charge to undermine him, Tim Ryan and Julian Castro, the two jerks who were most obnoxious towards Biden during the race and debates. With ‘friends’ like these. Amazing, it doesn’t matter how insane, backwards, criminal, noxious tRump is, the maga/GQP rallies around him like he’s the second coming he imagines himself to be. How can we do less when we have successful, decent candidate who respects the law, the Constitution, his country and fellow citizens and is working hard on their behalf? We need the determination to get our guy re-elected because the alternative is too dire to consider.
I.watched the debate for 15 minutes, from 9:17 to 9:32. Every sentence from.Trump was a blatant lie. Lie after lie. Because of the lack of fact checking in real time,most voters likely didn’t know that. I think they expect it from Donnie Boy.
During the second debate, every channel.MUST check facts in real time. Faux News won’t cooperate. but the MSM just might turn the tide by making clear that most of the stuff vomits up has nothing to support it. Lie after lie after lie being debunked just might move the needle for Joe.
One small criticism of an otherwise wonderful piece. Not one person in the media, any media, would have been critical of orange menace if his performance had gone badly. Well, we saw it first hand – he lied once over 3.9 seconds or thereabouts and not one person in the media harped on that for days! That should have been what was talked about rather than President Biden’s performance.