After Biden-Trump debate: 'Presidential debates should be a thing of the past' | Letters
In the aftermath of the first debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, it is fair to say that Biden had a bad night. Biden needed to reassure the American people, including those within his own party, that he was up to the job of being president. In this debate, Biden failed in his mission. He appeared old and feeble at the outset, and although he did better in the second half of the debate, most will remember his poor start. Trump appeared more vigorous, but he spewed a constant torrent of lies, and failed to answer direct questions. Trump was not good either, but in comparison to Biden's weak performance, Trump won the debate.
Biden's bad night has caused panic among some Democrats, who wonder if he should stay atop the ticket. Other Democrats still believe in Biden, and point out that the sitting president often loses the first debate, but recovers after it. They believe that Biden, even if somewhat diminished, would be a better president than Trump.
The bottom line is whether Americans will vote for democracy, that is government by the people, whether they like Biden or not, or will they trash democracy, and vote for an authoritative self-centered Trump.
Earnest L. Robinson Jr.
Southfield
Democrats need a better candidate, like Gretchen Whitmer
I think the presidential debate last night was a disaster for Joe Biden and the Democrats.
Biden looked frail, weak and his voice was raspy and at times hard to understand. He was unable to articulate all the good he has done in the last four years. Yes, this was difficult with Trump lying constantly and berating Biden because for his loss in 2020.
Biden seems to be showing cognitive decline. Yes, he was good at the State of the Union, but it's up and down. The Democrats need to think about this, because Biden is not going to improve, and there are many worthy Democrats who could replace Biden at the Democratic National Convention in August, including our own Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, among others.
We need a formidable opponent to beat Trump, because I believe he is a malignant bully and is extremely dangerous to our democracy.
Faith Allen
Hazel Park
Debates are irrelevant in modern times
Presidential debates should be a thing of the past.
From 1776 through the 1950s, people, deeds and news didn’t travel with nearly the speed they do now, so public political debates were the only way for presidential candidates to present their ideas to a public starved for information.
Flash forward to now, and we are literally barraged on an almost second-by-second basis by mail, telephone, radio, TV, and internet, with talking heads from nearly every persuasion, strafing our eyes, ears, and brains with more information and non-information about candidates than a person can ever fully process.
With all this information and misinformation already enveloping us like a deadly whirlpool, what need is there for debates?
Enough already!
Dave Renwick
Wolverine Lake
More on the Biden-Trump debate: Trump-Biden debate will be rehearsed soundbites and zingers. Can we fix that? | Opinion
The debate wasn't great, but the winner is clear
What a debate! Two old men arguing about their golf games. One seemingly enfeebled, the other off his rocker. Better to have an enfeebled president with some marbles and morality than someone who's loony tunes, barely competent to stand trial for his felonies.
Sidney Kahan
Bloomfield Township
Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online or in print.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Presidential debate between Biden, Trump 2024: Readers respond
