Trump Delivered Worst Debate Performance In Modern History

[Celerity]

The president incinerated his one opportunity to catch up with Joe Biden in the polls with the worst performance in living memory.

https://thebanter.substack.com/p/trump-delivered-worst-debate-performance



The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden was without a doubt the most horrendous in modern history. For those still scarred by the spectacle of Trump stalking Hillary Clinton on stage during their debate in 2016, this came as somewhat of a surprise. But no one should ever doubt Trump’s ability to lower the bar and drag everyone into the hateful sewer of his damaged psyche. Behind in the polls and desperate to claw his way back into the race, Trump’s game plan was to be aggressive with Biden and put him on the defensive. In Trump’s rage addled mind, this meant behaving like a domineering, sociopathic, bully for the entire duration of the debate. He refused to let Biden speak by aggressively interrupting him, attacked and insulted Biden’s family, accused him of being mentally unfit for office, and lied about every topic he was asked to speak about. Like a petulant child, Trump raged at not only Biden, but at bewildered moderator Chris Wallace, who completely lost control of the debate and was unable to reign in the president as he laid waste to the format of the event. Trump had agreed to set rules for his engagement with Biden, that included allowing his opponent to speak without interruption during his allotted time.

But Trump, unable to control his impulses, just shouted over Biden as he tried to make his points. The effect certainly rattled Biden, who it must be said, did not have a great performance last night. Biden was a little shaky, fumbled some of his answers, and looked his age as the furious Trump bore into him relentlessly. But the former Vice President stayed the course, kept his cool, and counterpunched well on occasion. “Will you shut up, man,” Biden even said at one point, speaking on behalf of the entire planet fed up with Trump’s belligerent lying. Biden, to his credit, was particularly effective during the Coronavirus Q and A, where he managed to take complete control of the narrative. He painted Trump as an inept liar who knew the dangers of the disease but refused to tell the public the truth about what he knew. More importantly, Biden took several opportunities to speak directly to the American public, asking them how they were doing during the pandemic and steering the conversation away from Trump’s favorite topic: himself. Biden came across as a decent, honorable man concerned about the welfare of the American people, and dedicated to making life better if he gets into office. While he was unable to stop the sneering Trump from controlling the debate, Biden got his message across and drew an effective contrast between himself and the president: Trump doesn’t care about you, but I do. It was more than enough to win the debate.

Trump had to deliver a breakthrough performance, a once in a lifetime showing to reverse his pathetic polling numbers and give himself a shot in November. But he couldn’t do it. Trump simply doubled down on everything that has made most Americans despise him. From the lying to the name calling and bullying, it was 100% Trump for a grueling two hours. And it failed spectacularly. Even Chris Christie, the dutiful henchman who had helped Trump prep for the debates was aghast after the debate ended. On ABC he was asked whether that had been the debate they prepared for. “No,” said a clearly rattled Christie. “It was too hot. You come in and decide you want to be aggressive, and I think it was the right thing to be aggressive. But that was too hot.” It wasn’t too hot. It was a train wreck, and everyone in Trump’s inner circle knew it. Sean Hannity desperately tried to clean up the damage, but even he struggled. “Some people probably think it was too hot,” he told Donald Trump Jr. “But it was both sides.”

The debate revealed the painful truth about Trump’s presidency and his floundering campaign: it is a fraudulent con. Trump has no policies, no substance, no plan, no ideas, and no strategy to move the country forward. Just more hatred, anger, and divisiveness. Capitalizing on this glaring weakness, Biden reminded voters what was on offer going forward. “Under this president, we have become weaker, sicker, poorer, more divided, and more violent,” he said. As if determined to prove Biden’s accusations right, Trump refused to condemn White Supremacy and sent a message to White Nationalist group the “Proud Boys”, telling them to “stand back and stand by” while people vote. And that summarized the sordid affair. There is a demented fascist in the White House intent on burning everything around him to the ground. Biden’s job going into the debate last night was to let Trump hang himself and present himself as a viable president for the next four years — and he did just that. Biden has to do two more debates in the coming weeks, but they likely won’t make any difference. Trump’s appalling performance means that only the most ardent political junkies will tune in to see what happens. The president basically had one shot to convert remaining independents and moderates, and he blew it in truly spectacular fashion.

snip

[NCjack]

1. Apparently he did not over-prepare.

[underpants]

5. 😳😁

That was very funny.

[egduj]

2. You probably didn't need the word modern.

[Celerity]

3. lol, I was thinking that too, but I did not want to play editress on the title nor on the lede

[Sparkly]

4. Or debate

[Kaleva]

7. The Caesar-Brutus debate in the Roman Senate was worse

[Scarlet Begalas]

6. The Debate

Biden got some good zingers in there now and then, but it would be easy to miss them since tRump was talking over him most of the time. But still...

"You're the worst president we've ever had"
"Inshallah"
"Just shut up, man!"

(may not be exact quotes, but close to what I remember)

[LSparkle]

8. Oh but Faux and Jason Miller thought it was the best ever!

Why do these MORANS insist on hyperbole? They can’t just say he did well — they MUST insist that his performance was the “best of all time” ... which is easily proven false.

[7wo7rees]

9. Restructuring the debate

[KS Toronado]

13. Beau makes a good point, don't change the debate rules because of Tee-Rump

Allow Hair-Doo to act like a mad spoiled child at the last two debates. Joe will be prepared to act the adult
and put the child in the corner.

[RussBLib]

10. Trump did the dick schtick on purpose

Starting to agree with the theory that it's just another step in Trump's attempt to dismantle everything.

He wants you to turn off in disgust. Maybe not even vote.

[yardwork]

11. That's an interesting theory. Trump wants to create chaos and make people too discouraged to vote.

[usaf-vet]

12. Or to sick to vote or even better for tRump dead.... terminal voter suppression.