A number of people have expressed concerns about President Joe Biden’s performance during his Thursday presidential debate with former President Donald Trump. Unfortunately, I think at least some of them might be letting surface issues (e.g., Biden initially appearing to lack energy) get in their way of developing a more accurate and complete perception of Biden’s debate performance.
In particular, Biden pretty consistently answered the questions actually asked by the moderators — arguably an indicator of cognitive flexibility and adaptiveness — and made a number of true statements in the process.
By contrast, while Trump may have come across to some people as more polished in his delivery, he frequently didn’t answer the moderators’ questions, despite the moderators explicitly prompting him frequently to refocus. Trump’s persistence in not answering the moderators’ questions and focusing instead on irrelevant issues may be an indicator of a lack of cognitive flexibility and adaptiveness. Additionally, Trump’s persistence in making false and misleading statements — repeating familiar ones while also creating new ones — was on full display.
If I had to vote today, I would much rather choose the candidate who, while perhaps at times appearing less physically energetic, was able to focus and shift that focus as called for in the situation — rather than the candidate who, threats against our democratic republic aside, often seemed unable to perform those basic cognitive tasks.
— James Carney, Evanston
Grandfather’s perspective
I am an 85-year-old veteran of the Air Force (1962-65). I am also a father to three sons and a grandfather of three. I can confirm that we grandpas have bad days every now and then, and President Joe Biden just had one.
But I also know that for a liar and cheat, every day is a bad day.
My vote for commander in chief is still for honorable servant Grandpa Joe rather than convicted felon Uncle Donald.
— Glenn Shipley, Chicago
May we millions show up
President Joe Biden may not have performed well on this one debate night, but he’s been performing well for the past 3 1/2 years, adding jobs, kindness and dignity to the Office of the President of the United States on the world stage. Yes, his voice was low while Trump boomed his lies. And now, it seems the Democrats, in their panic, will publicly throw him under the bus instead of sticking together and having faith in what’s been accomplished.
Only Republicans will mystifyingly band together to support of a convicted felon, a man held liable for sexual abuse, a liar and a threat to democracy, who ended a two-century run of peacefully passing on the presidential office with an attack on the U.S. Capitol and democracy itself.
I pray that letter writer Jerry Hanson (“There are millions of us,” June 22) is right and there indeed are millions and millions of us who show up to vote and support our democracy.
— Sandra Lurie, Highland Park
Dearth of good candidates
Well, we witnessed the very sorry state that we now find ourselves in after watching “the debate.” How can it be that here in the United States of America, we cannot field a multiple of extraordinary people who have exceptional intelligence, integrity and common sense? Do we need to force-feed a substantial change to our political system and process? The debate was an extreme embarrassment in front of the entire world.
It was most obvious that President Joe Biden no longer has the mental acuity to serve our country in any capacity, let alone the presidency. Former President Donald Trump has proved he no longer has the level of fear/respect that he once had on the world stage. Additionally, at best, he will be only “tolerated” by our allies and disregarded by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and others. While he proved in his first term that he has an ability to make decisions beneficial for our country, his lack of credibility renders him unworthy to hold the office.
Why, then, do we have party zealots defending and supporting these individuals? What is the rationale? Is there no one who can step up and command respect? Is the political system so filled with political landmines that taking an opposing position is too risky for one’s political future?
Where are the true leaders? Isn’t there a multiple of highly qualified people available? Are there not any true statesmen and stateswomen with proven ability to be worthy of the office? Is the system broken? Is it possible that we can find new ways and means for a nomination process that will provide we the people with many great candidates whom we could be very proud of and who would have great respect throughout the world?
In the continued absence of having great choices, we will remain in a very sad state.
— Dave Roberts, Frankfort
I know the best choice
Thursday evening’s prime TV event was not a debate. Viewers watched two adversaries positioned in two different spheres. One, a buffoon, hurled insults and untruths, focused as always on self-aggrandizement and acting like a spoiled youngster. The other haltingly and gropingly attempted to defend his record and preview his future plans for the country. At least the latter has a laudable record and sound plans for a second term; good, capable people around him; and a strong moral compass. The other has a criminal record and no clearly articulated, reasonable plans for a second term as president, and a good number of those who surrounded him in his first term are in jail or under indictment. He has no moral compass in his personal or public life.
For me, the choice in the upcoming election is clear. Televised political debates should not be the measure by which citizens weigh their options and cast their votes.
— Madeleine Felix, Evanston
Giving Trump a pass
Regarding the editorial “As America sank into the couch, Joe Biden and Donald Trump combined for a depressing farce. Enough.”: I agree it was awful, but the Tribune Editorial Board continues to do the same thing all major outlets do — give Donald Trump a pass. Sure, the board says slightly negative things, such as, “Trump was mostly just himself, energetically narcissistic, cavalier with truths, cruel of tone, bereft of empathy.” The editorial board knows that’s what his followers like about him, right?
What the editorial board should have said was: “Trump was himself, spewing lie after lie about his administration, attacking America with falsehoods, making wild, evidence-free claims about Joe Biden and his supporters and denigrating the U.S. with every sentence. In short, being the pathological liar that he is.”
But major media outlets, including the Tribune, won’t tell the truth about Trump, for whatever reason, and it may lead to the downfall of our great country.
— Martin A. Pierce, St. Charles
The lies are the winner
What we witnessed during the first presidential debate was the erosion of our democracy. President Joe Biden performed ineptly, and Donald Trump delivered one lie after another. The lies won out!
— Sam Solomon, Deerfield
Contrast in visions
Despite a disappointing debate performance, accentuated by a pronounced feeble manner and weak voice, President Joe Biden still demonstrated that experience, integrity and a grasp of issues that affect all Americans eclipse the views of one in service of himself.
Donald Trump was undeniably more vigorous, but vitality alone is not a measure of reassurance when it comes to protecting the sovereignty of our nation. Trump’s widely known character flaws usually detract attention from his ignorance about matters crucial to effective governance. Not this time. His nescience was on full display.
The contrast in competing visions couldn’t have been more clear-cut, but this election isn’t just about dissimilar ideologies. It is about the very survival of the republic. So, voters must decide if they want an ill-informed president who favors dismantling the Constitution or one hell-bent on doing whatever is necessary to protect it.
— Jim Paladino, Tampa, Florida
No war under his watch?
The Thursday debate between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump provided new and terrifying insight into Trump’s foreign policy perspectives. He asserted that had he been president instead of Biden, the wars in Ukraine and Israel would never have taken place. So how, then, might that have come about?
It takes little imagination to see how Trump could have averted the war in Ukraine: In keeping with his own well-demonstrated proclivities, once the Russians began with their saber rattling and their assertions that ethnic Russians in Ukraine were being abused, Trump most certainly would have made it known to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the United States had no interest in the affairs of his country, nor would he provide any monetary or military support for his defense efforts.
Under those circumstances, Ukraine might have been able to hold off the Russian army for a short while, but eventually, Trump’s friend Russian President Vladimir Putin would undoubtedly have prevailed. Moreover, the United States would have saved billions of dollars.
We have no idea where Putin’s ambitions might take Russia after his takeover of Ukraine, perhaps Poland and the Baltic states, but those countries are members of NATO and are therefore part of a mutual defense agreement that includes the United States. That would have provided a perfect time for Trump to move ahead with his long-held plan to withdraw our country from NATO and leave Europe to fend for itself.
It is still unclear how Trump could have averted the war between Israel and Hamas. Perhaps he will clarify that one in a later debate.
— George Honig, Chicago
Policy versus complaints
It is Thursday at 9:21 p.m. while I write this, and I have been watching the presidential debate from its start. I’m frustrated. One of the contestants is talking policy and offering provable facts while the other is doing nothing but complain, even saying that the country is falling apart. And he has not offered any proven policy statements. Just complaints.
Lordy, lordy.
— Bernard Biernacki, Aurora
Biden will win again
If the Democrats do as the Tribune Editorial Board is calling for and replace Joe Biden, they lose incumbency, party cohesion and the presidency. Chicago is again host to a chaotic Democratic open convention with no clear leader.
Why not call for convicted felon Donald Trump to step down for the good of the country? You know the answer; he won’t.
Biden is not incompetent. He will win again. The country will be led well through 2028, as it has been since 2020. And way better than a criminal demagogue.
— Tony Quintanilla, Chicago
Focus on the content
I am unconcerned about what some think were shortcomings in President Joe Biden’s debate performance that were far more about presentation than content, the latter being more important.
The presidency is not a “no notes” job, and one can’t repeat the “greatest hits” of rally speeches, no matter how well-rehearsed, for four years and call it governance.
Donald Trump, as always, was a walking make-work project for fact-checkers.
— Curt Fredrikson, Mokena, Illinois
Missed opportunities
President Joe Biden missed many opportunities to deliver haymakers against Donald Trump during the debate. Every time Trump brought up the border, the response should have been that the bipartisan border deal, championed by conservative Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford, was scuttled by MAGA Republicans so Trump could use it as a campaign issue. When the economy was the topic, Biden’s easy answer was to point out that Trump had several infrastructure weeks, but the Biden administration passed an actual infrastructure bill.
Trump’s contention that somehow we are a failing country is laughable. All Biden had to ask in return is: If that’s true, why do people from the world over wish to come here? Why do they send their children here for college?
Biden stumbled badly; there is no denying that fact. Because of that, I believe Trump will cancel the September debate. He won’t need it.
Until the debate, I was not overly concerned about Biden’s age. It is now obvious to me that his age will be the focus for millions of voters.
Biden claims to have always put the country first, and his record of service bears that out.
I take no pleasure in saying it, but if that still holds true, he should withdraw from the race and release his delegates. The Democratic Party has a strong bench of young, vigorous men and women, ready to serve.
A brokered convention would be interesting, to say the least, and it would yield the best candidate to defeat the authoritarian fascist candidate that is Trump.
If the polls are accurate, Biden versus Trump is the contest most of the country does not want.
It is time for the Democrats to prove they are the adults in the room.
— Len Levy, Glenview
Biden the better man
Granted, President Joe Biden was not feeling his best on Thursday. He had a cold, and he’s dealing with major world issues while trying to make life better for us Americans at the same time. He’s got a lot on his mind, and he got some statistics wrong. I have trouble remembering stats, too, so I try to avoid them.
Still, Biden provided many truths over Donald Trump’s lies. If we look beyond his confusion over statistics, Biden still looked like the better man and the wise elder statesman that he is.
— Linda Morton, Harvard
A job for the voters
Joe Biden does not need to defeat Donald Trump. The American people need to defeat Donald Trump.
— Joe Artabasy, Glencoe
The future looks bleak
As I watched the debate, my heart sank. This president appeared to be a doddering old man. His rival appeared to be a blathering liar. What to do? Move to Canada? I hear that they have great health care!
The future looks bleak to this senior citizen.
— Carole Bogaard, Oak Lawn
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