Regarding the editorial “As America sank into the couch, Biden and Trump combined for a depressing farce. Enough.” (June 30): How dare you. When former President Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felonies, the Tribune Editorial Board did not suggest he drop out of the race. When Trump was found liable for rape, the board did not suggest he drop out of the race. When Trump’s business was found guilty of fraud in New York and fined $355 million, the editorial board did not suggest he drop out of the race. When he lied with every breath during Thursday’s debate, the editorial board did not suggest he drop out of the race.
President Joe Biden is old, yes, but he is extremely capable and one of the most effective presidents in history. Suggesting he step down after one lousy debate is unimaginable.
The Tribune Editorial Board is doing no favors for journalism or democracy. How dare you.
— John Eschbach, Palatine
Why not call for Trump’s exit?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Board recently called for Donald Trump to withdraw from the presidential race. The case for such a withdrawal is overwhelming, and Trump’s recent criminal conviction and mendacious debate performance are just the latest reasons to issue such a call.
The Tribune Editorial Board should follow suit. When will it do so?
— Joshua Ruby, Somerville, Massachusetts
Board is overlooking Trump
The Tribune Editorial Board should be as adamant about having a 78-year-old Republican running, again. With a felony conviction — and more criminal prosecutions to come.
— Katie Dunn, Winnetka
Board’s insults are shocking
The Tribune Editorial Board called the president of the United States of America, Joe Biden, a “clown”?
I am shocked by the board’s alarming lack of respect and decency. Not only does the board owe Biden an apology for this childish name-calling, but it also owes him an apology for calling on him to bow out of the race after one weak debate performance.
Biden stands for democracy, and we can see that in his vigorous defense of our ally Ukraine against Russian aggression. He has revitalized NATO and our economy, and he’s marched with labor unions. Yet the board writes that it’s “ridiculous” for him to continue!
I suggest the Tribune Editorial Board rethink its position and apologize. If I may paraphrase the board’s words: You “can do so with honor” if you do it now.
One more thing: The board also called Biden a “gnarly old man.” Where I come from in Los Angeles, “gnarly” means “awesome,” “cool,” “excellent,” “incredible” and “tough.” Tough enough to withstand the board’s insults.
— Cynthia Fox, Los Angeles
Mark Kelly needs to run
I don’t know what it would take, but there are a zillion Democrats in this country who are dying for someone like Mark Kelly to run for president. Joe Biden can’t win now after his debate performance. Kelly fought for his country; let him fight for it now. It’s Kelly’s duty to run for president. Save us from the doom Donald Trump would visit on this nation and humanity. Let Biden retire with what’s left of his dignity.
It’s Kelly’s obligation. It’s Kelly’s responsibility to the nation.
— Jim Arneberg, Hoffman Estates
What the debate showed us
Thursday’s debate between a current and a former president showed that President Joe Biden is perhaps too old to be reelected to the most important job in the world. It also demonstrated unambiguously that Donald Trump can never be allowed to hold any political office anywhere.
— Len Woelfel, Oswego
Democrats can’t ignore reality
The Democrats are fooling themselves. No voter can “unsee” the image of a doddering President Joe Biden in the first debate. They need a new candidate as soon as possible.
— Mark Wolfinger, Evanston
Biden needs an assessment
After the debate, President Joe Biden told his wife that he did not know what happened. We don’t either. Biden was present but not able to participate in a debate. He was cognitively impaired for 90 minutes. For the most part, he uttered campaign talking points. Repeating talking points does not inform us of his cognitive abilities. Neither does his record as president.
As a psychiatrist, if evaluating a patient who has experienced a severe cognitive lapse, I would perform a thorough assessment and obtain neurologic and cognitive assessments. Without these assessments, I would not be able to accept a patient’s view that they are fine.
The country cannot accept Biden’s view that he is fine. His wife, family and advisers must insist that he obtain this assessment, now.
If not now, we may observe a similar episode later. This would ensure the election of Donald Trump
— Sidney Weissman, clinical professor of psychiatry, Northwestern University
Young leaders obstructed
I’m older than either of the presidential candidates, and as I watched the debate Thursday, I thought, “Is this the best we can do?”
Where are our young leaders? I’ll tell you where they are: bogged down in Congress because the old fogeys don’t let them take any initiatives. By the time they get in leadership positions, they’re old fogeys, too.
We need fresh, new leadership. Maybe it’s time we citizens insisted on term limits.
— Joyce Stahl, Hanover Park
Biden should be removed
President Joe Biden is an old person. That is OK! Older people know a lot. He has significant cognitive and physical impairments. That is OK; many elderly people suffer from these conditions. He thinks he is good at his job and wants to keep it. That is OK; most people can be a little vain. But Biden is our country’s commander in chief — its president — and he wants to continue in that role for four more years. This is not OK. It is sad, but he is no longer suitable for this role.
In case voters were not already aware of Biden’s unsuitability for the job he now holds, this fact was presented to them in a very stark manner during the recent presidential debate between him and his rival, former President Donald Trump. His appearance, manner and pattern of speech were alarming. What he said was often incoherent. The president came across as a weak, confused and feckless leader.
Before and during the debate, I wondered what the dictators, tyrants and other malefactors in today’s dangerous world, who want to take America down, were thinking as they watched the debate. My guess? “What is going on with America? Is this the best they have? We can do whatever we want, and they would not know what we are up to before it is too late for them.”
Guiding a nation through turbulence is not like playing a game of bean bag; it is difficult business that requires serious, capable and focused leaders. Right now, America is being run by an empty suit who is being directed by a cabal of insiders: family members, sycophants, toadies and some true believers who want what is good for them, even if is it not good for America.
Today’s focus is upon who should lead in the future, but I am worried about the next seven months in which a weakly led America will be ripe for attack by those who see our weakness and hate us.
The 25th Amendment or other means should be taken to remove Biden immediately. It is time to put the country’s interests ahead of a political party’s interests. A failure to move the president out of office now could easily result in a significant loss of American lives and property.
— Charles F. Falk, Schaumburg
Democrats stay the course
Democrats and President Joe Biden are staying the course. What else can they do? To do anything else, they would admit that they have been lying to us for four years! Many of us already knew that. Millions more received a rude shock Thursday night. The Democratic Party establishment has been dry-gulched at Credibility Gap. They did that all by themselves!
— Michael F. Becker, Montgomery, Illinois
What if it were your grandpa?
If your grandpa looked and sounded like President Joe Biden in the debate, would you be comfortable with him driving a car?
— J.C. Leavy, Oak Park
Nation’s sorry state of affairs
What a sorry state of affairs that the greatest country in the world has two bumbling old men running for the important position of president: one who has trouble remembering facts and the other a liar and felon who also has problems with simple scientific facts.
— Harold Plucienik, Chicago Heights
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