To the Editor:
For viewers hoping for a forward-looking, uplifting and edifying debate, they didn’t get it. As an alternative, with just a few exceptions, what was on show was an embarrassing, regarding, nasty and petty (dueling golf handicaps, actually?) 90 minutes of incessant private assaults, costs and countercharges between two males, a surprisingly befuddled and enervated present president, and a breathtakingly mendacious and caustic former president.
Each clearly exhibited a visceral enmity for one another and failed time and time once more to talk to the problems of concern to the American individuals in a compelling method befitting the event.
The mutually problematic performances validate the unpopularity of those two candidates amongst voters. The truth is that neither man is match to function commander in chief for very totally different causes, and that is the unhappy and stark actuality confronting the nation.
Mark Godes
Chelsea, Mass.
To the Editor:
I’m a lifetime liberal Democrat who has watched each American presidential debate since 1960.
President Biden failed on the one job he needed to do within the debate — persuade American voters that he has the cognitive capacity to earn one other 4 years in workplace. His voice was raspy and wheezy and his solutions had been typically fumbling, rambling, mumbling and incoherent.
He was ineffective even on the problems on which he ought to be the strongest — abortion rights and Jan. 6. His remark that “we beat Medicare” will likely be replayed hundreds of instances.
I imagine that Joe Biden is the one distinguished Democrat who would lose to Donald Trump. I implore Democratic leaders to go to the White Home, thank President Biden for his 50-plus years of service to our nation and urge him to drop out of the race. Then Democrats can nominate a candidate who can win, corresponding to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Senator Cory Booker or Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Richard Kavesh
Nyack, N.Y.
The author is a former mayor of Nyack.
To the Editor:
Re “‘God Help Us’: 12 Writers Rate Biden’s Performance at the First Presidential Debate” (Opinion, nytimes.com, June 28):
I’m amazed on the basic settlement that Donald Trump received the talk. He didn’t. Sure, President Biden had a disappointing night time and Mr. Trump was vigorous. However his blustery vigor was incoherent and repetitious. When he didn’t outright lie, he exaggerated, regularly. He hardly ever bothered with precise info and infrequently made any sense. His weird view of a United States being destroyed by legal migrants and his pretense that he can clear up complicated issues instantly could be laughable if it wasn’t so harmful.
Mr. Biden was not in high type, made errors and regarded his age, however he made many essential factors about how his insurance policies are working to assist Individuals. He decidedly received on content material.
Mr. Trump didn’t sound remotely like an individual who’s sincere, reasonable and considerate sufficient to be a U.S. president. His efficiency made it clear that one other presidency for Mr. Trump could be an unmitigated catastrophe. I don’t name this profitable a debate.
Susanna Sloat
New York
To the Editor:
The morning after we appear to be asking the improper query: “Who received the talk?”
The query to ask is, who misplaced? The reply: We, the individuals, misplaced. We misplaced hope.
Clearly, we have to reduce our losses. Now. For very totally different causes, neither of the boys on the stage Thursday night time are match to guide this nation via the present international complexities, via the dawning A.I. period, via the approaching perils of local weather change or via 2028.
Peter Keating
Charlestown, R.I.
To the Editor:
Watching the presidential debate, I remembered my elementary instructor telling our class that “anybody can change into president.” Watching the 2 gents Thursday night time, I noticed she was proper.
Robert Blume
Alexandria, Va.
To the Editor:
For individuals who missed it for some motive, the 2024 presidential election was held on Thursday, June 27, in Atlanta. God assist us all.
Mike Barrett
Ashburn, Va.
To the Editor:
I feel there was an sudden upside to Donald Trump’s trial in New York. He discovered to maintain quiet. On the marketing campaign path Mr. Trump floated many potential debate methods — and rightly selected to behave himself. The muted microphone helped.
Tragically, Mr. Trump didn’t must interrupt President Biden to win the talk. Mr. Biden interrupted himself so many instances that he misplaced many trains of thought every time he spoke. Mr. Trump’s lies, his appalling first time period and the profound risks of a second time period had been obscured by the palpable ineptness of Mr. Biden’s efficiency. As had been the truths of Mr. Biden’s profitable administration.
Sure, presidencies usually are not about this type of efficiency — however elections could be. If Joe Biden can’t articulate his accomplishments, then how can he win?
Annlinn Kruger
Bar Harbor, Maine
To the Editor:
Re “President Biden, I’ve Seen Enough,” by Nicholas Kristof (The Level, nytimes.com, June 28):
Whereas some a part of me feels the attract of Mr. Kristof’s argument that President Biden withdraw from the race, the higher angel of my nature sees it for what it’s: a disastrous, self-defeating ploy.
Mr. Biden’s withdrawal would imply surrendering each rhetorical inch we’ve got to Donald Trump. Critically, will we need to give the impression that Mr. Trump is true about our man being too outdated, too feckless, too weak? Can we need to ship that argument to him on essentially the most silver of platters?
Moreover, take into account the logistical nightmare of discovering a brand new candidate, and retooling and reorganizing a complete marketing campaign equipment comprising hundreds of individuals and tons of of tens of millions of {dollars} to serve that new candidate.
Higher to remain the course. Conserving Mr. Biden means we could lose the election. Swapping him for anybody else means we definitely will.
Baybars Charkas
State Faculty, Pa.
The author is president of the Penn State Faculty Democrats.
To the Editor:
Whereas President Biden didn’t come throughout as notably sturdy in the course of the debate, I’m surprised that post-debate analysts targeted on that and paid so little consideration to the truth that in nearly each flip he had Donald Trump both informed a lie or grossly refused to reply the query directed at him.
Mr. Trump gave the impression to be appreciated for not exhibiting up as maniacal — largely a operate of mute buttons. Whatever the vitality distinction, a barely slowed down president would nonetheless have far much less likelihood of beginning a nuclear conflict than a peppy egomaniac. Disgrace on journalists and analysts for making picture matter greater than character.
Nancy Dreyfus
Philadelphia
To the Editor:
Concerning your presidential “debate.” Only a view from right here in Scotland …
OMG America — are you kidding me???
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh
