Biden's Debate Debacle and America’s “Ethnic Key” Conundrum

How Joe Biden and the Democrats walked into a hazardous political trap of their own making

Unless you’re living in a cave in the backwoods of Waziristan like some jihadist bitter-ender, you’ve probably heard by now that the United States had a presidential debate on Thursday evening. You probably also heard that it didn’t go very well for President Joe Biden, a view that’s shared by virtually everybody who isn’t a Biden family member or on the Democratic National Committee payroll.

Former President Donald Trump performed decently, acting like himself: full of grandiose claims, some entirely untrue. However, Trump made several valid, painful points, for instance about the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Most importantly, Trump didn’t lose his temper, as he sometimes does: Crazy Don didn’t make an appearance.

Remarkably, Biden came across as the angrier of the pair. His visceral dislike for his predecessor was unconcealed, and Biden repeatedly employed personal invective against Trump. There was even an argument over comparative golf handicaps. Trump returned some of the attacks, but it’s never a good sign when the debater calling for them to “not act like children” is Trump.

Trump was his customary orange-hued self, while Biden appeared alarmingly pale. The latter’s performance was the worst in the history of televised presidential campaign debates, which since 1960 have been a fixture of American politics. Those debates have been largely forgettable, with the occasional humorous moment (intentional or otherwise). Biden’s showing on Thursday night will never be forgotten. He was difficult to follow, speaking incoherently many times, and on a couple occasions the president appeared mutely confused. It was transparently obvious that Biden’s aging issues are serious. If this confused old man were your relative, you would be scouting out dementia care facilities. Anyone honestly watching Biden’s actions was left wondering who’s really running the country.