Hmm, Biden should have had a Mountain Dew. I watched. I’d say Biden answered more questions. Trump ducked a LOT of them. Biden answered factually. Something many overlooked was that Trump didn’t NEED to “prepare.” He just stood up there and lied, lied, lied. That’s easy. Biden demonstrated a far better, stronger grasp of issues that honestly affect the American people. Again, Trump bobbed and weaved and avoided as many questions as possible. How ELSE could I characterize the debate other than Trump won?

Wait, what? Yeah, that’s right. Trump won. Trump’s bar was to a) show up and b) not act like a petulant child. He did those two things. Biden had to show the same vim and vigor he showed during the State of the Union. THIS, he decidedly did NOT do. Biden looked and sounded old. Biden couldn’t pull his thoughts together quickly enough. He seemed barely able to draw breath sometimes. Biden absolutely did NOT convince the electorate that he will survive a second term.

Biden’s performance was so bad, there was no talk of, “Oh, well, we’ll get them in the next debate.” The conversation went straight to “Uh-oh. Who else is available?” My own personal opinion is that it would have to be either Gavin Newsom (56) or Gretchen Whitmer (52). There are a couple of other possible options but those two already have national name recognition so one less hurdle to have to clear.

The main problem? The DNC. We KNOW they do not pivot, even when they obviously must. We know this from when they insisted on fielding the wrong candidate in 2016 and got Trump as the result. Based on past performance, I suspect they’ll insist on fielding the wrong candidate – that would be Biden – in 2024, as well.

“Biden won the primaries,” they’ll say. True, but that’s only because the DNC discouraged any other candidates. They chose Biden early. It made sense. He IS the sitting President. But it doesn’t make sense now. Biden won’t win this thing. Even those of us who understand the need to vote ‘Biden to block’ aren’t convinced and, sadly, Americans – as a group – are a shallow and stupid people. We vote on which candidate is tallest. (Gavin is 6’3″!) We cast ballots for those who “look the part.” We’ve had a couple of terrible but good-looking Presidents as a result. Biden’s optics are… not good.

Biden shouldn’t leave it to the DNC. He should step aside as the candidate and endorse whomever replaces him. That would be one of the hardest things a candidate could do. BUT… it would be “Washingtonian” of him, stepping aside for the good of the nation. Despite the MAGA media lies, Biden has had a good, successful presidency. He could trust that history will reflect as much. But I’m not sure he has the right stuff to do that. I think his ego will misdirect him.

I know this is a bit “sky is falling” but Biden seemed to highlight his biggest challenge, rather than downplay the thing. He was already suffering under the weight of the perception of his age and he only made that weight heavier. That heavy weight is going to drag Biden, the Democrats, and all of America down with it. If the Dems stay the course with Biden and Trump doesn’t die, Trump will be the 47th, and likely last, President of the United States…