To the Editor:
For viewers hoping for a forward-looking, uplifting and edifying debate, they didn’t get it. As an alternative, with a couple of exceptions, what was on show was an embarrassing, regarding, nasty and petty (dueling golf handicaps, actually?) 90 minutes of incessant private assaults, expenses and countercharges between two males, an incredibly 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 folks in a compelling method befitting the event.
The mutually problematic performances validate the unpopularity of those two candidates amongst voters. The fact is that neither man is match to function commander in chief for very completely 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 means to earn one other 4 years in workplace. His voice was raspy and wheezy and his solutions have 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 1000’s of occasions.
I consider 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, comparable 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 common settlement that Donald Trump gained 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 details 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 necessary factors about how his insurance policies are working to assist Individuals. He decidedly gained on content material.
Mr. Trump didn’t sound remotely like an individual who’s sincere, sensible 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 mistaken query: “Who gained the talk?”
The query to ask is, who misplaced? The reply: We, the folks, misplaced. We misplaced hope.
Clearly, we have to minimize our losses. Now. For very completely different causes, neither of the boys on the stage Thursday night time are match to guide this nation by way of the present world complexities, by way of the dawning A.I. period, by way of the upcoming perils of local weather change or by way of 2028.
Peter Keating
Charlestown, R.I.
To the Editor:
Watching the presidential debate, I remembered my elementary trainer telling our class that “anybody can turn out to be president.” Watching the 2 gents Thursday night time, I noticed she was proper.
Robert Blume
Alexandria, Va.
To the Editor:
For many 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 doable debate methods — and rightly selected to behave himself. The muted microphone helped.
Tragically, Mr. Trump didn’t have to interrupt President Biden to win the talk. Mr. Biden interrupted himself so many occasions 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 have been obscured by the palpable ineptness of Mr. Biden’s efficiency. As have been the truths of Mr. Biden’s profitable administration.
Sure, presidencies should not about this sort of efficiency — however elections will be. If Joe Biden can not 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 have now to Donald Trump. Severely, can we need to give the impression that Mr. Trump is true about our man being too previous, too feckless, too weak? Will we need to ship that argument to him on essentially the most silver of platters?
Moreover, contemplate the logistical nightmare of discovering a brand new candidate, and retooling and reorganizing a whole marketing campaign equipment comprising 1000’s of individuals and tons of of tens of millions of {dollars} to serve that new candidate.
Higher to remain the course. Retaining Mr. Biden means we could lose the election. Swapping him for anybody else means we definitely will.
Baybars Charkas
State School, Pa.
The author is president of the Penn State School Democrats.
To the Editor:
Whereas President Biden didn’t come throughout as significantly 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 instructed a lie or grossly refused to reply the query directed at him.
Mr. Trump appeared 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 battle 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