Trump’s Debate Performance was Nothing if not Excremental*
Trump-speak, defined as spewing a torrent of verbal sewage, is standard fare whenever he opens his mouth. At Thursday’s un-fact-checked debate, Trump’s was in top form. If lying is a “strength,” the debate format played to Trump’s: everything from blaming Nancy Pelosi for the January 6 violence, lying about abortion, taking credit for bringing down the cost of insulin for senior citizens, claiming his statements about Charlotteville Nazis were a “hoax,” taking credit for the best environmental record, claiming Mr. Biden called black people “super predators,” claiming he had the “greatest economy in the history of our country,” among many others. See Trump’s Biggest Debate Lies the Moderators Let Slide.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, President Biden “had a horrible night Thursday.” His raspy, hoarse voice, sometimes halting answers, and exasperated expressions as Trump spewed feces throughout the debate venue and all over the millions of television viewers, apparently fell below the expectations of some Democratic insiders, donors, pundits, and news agencies. I was disappointed that the President’s performance didn’t match that of his State of the Union. But I have kept close watch on the administration’s accomplishments under President Biden’s leadership, and they are extraordinary, especially when one considers the mess Trump left. See President Biden’s Record; 30 Things Joe Biden Did as President You Might Have Missed.
By contrast, I have been unsuccessful in coming up with anything even marginally constructive that came from the Trump presidency. The devastation and destruction he left, the havoc and carnage he wrought, and, of course, his criminality will be his legacy. Consistent with that history, Trump’s debate performance met if not exceeded what everyone expected of him: rambling falsehoods, virulent dishonesty, and dangerous disinformation. Mr. Trump has turned projection into an art form.
The Inquirer went on to state what every credible journalist, pundit, and news organization in the United States should be publishing above the fold and in bold: “The only person who should withdraw from the race is Trump.”
“[L]ost in the hand wringing was Donald Trump’s usual bombastic litany of lies, hyperbole, bigotry, ignorance, and fear mongering. His performance demonstrated once again that he is a danger to democracy and unfit for office.
“In fact, the debate about the debate is misplaced. The only person who should withdraw from the race is Trump.
“Trump, 78, has been on the political stage for eight years marked by chaos, corruption, and incivility. Why go back to that?
“To build himself up, Trump constantly tears the country down. There is no shining city on the hill. It’s just mourning in America.
“Throughout the debate, Trump repeatedly said we are a ‘failing’ country. He called the United States a ‘third world nation.’ He said, ‘we’re living in hell’ and ‘very close to World War III.’
“‘People are dying all over the place,’ Trump said, later adding ‘we’re literally an uncivilized country now.’
“Trump told more than 30 lies during the debate to go with the more than 30,000 mistruths told during his four years as president. He dodged the CNN moderators’ questions, took no responsibility for his actions, and blamed others, mainly Biden, for everything that is wrong in the world.
“Trump’s response to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection he fueled was farcical. He said a ‘relatively small number of people’ went to the Capitol and many were ‘ushered in by the police.’
“After scheming to overturn the 2020 election, Trump refused to say if he would accept the results of the 2024 election. Unless, of course, he wins.
“The debate served as a reminder of what another four years of Trump would look like. More lies, grievance, narcissism, and hate. Supporters say they like Trump because he says whatever he thinks. But he mainly spews raw sewage.
“Trump attacks the military. He denigrates the Justice Department and judges. He belittles the FBI and the CIA. He picks fights with allies and cozies up to dictators.
“Trump is an unserious carnival barker running for the most serious job in the world. During his last term, Trump served himself and not the American people.
“Trump spent chunks of time watching TV, tweeting, and hanging out at his country clubs. Over his four-year term, Trump played roughly 261 rounds of golf.
“As president, Trump didn’t read the daily intelligence briefs. He continued to use his personal cell phone, allowing Chinese spies to listen to his calls.
“During one Oval Office meeting, Trump shared highly classified intelligence with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador.
“Trump’s term did plenty of damage and had few accomplishments. The much-hyped wall didn’t get built. Infrastructure week was a recurring joke. Giant tax cuts made the rich richer, while fueling massive deficits for others to pay for years. His support for coal, oil drilling, and withdrawal from the Paris Agreement worsened the growing impact of climate change.
“Trump stacked the judiciary with extreme judges consisting mainly of white males, including a number who the American Bar Association rated as not qualified. A record number of cabinet officials were fired or left the office. The West Wing was in constant chaos and infighting.
“Many Trump appointees exited under a cloud of corruption, grifting, and ethical scandals. Trump’s children made millions off the White House. His dilettante son-in-law got $2 billion from the Saudi government for his fledgling investment firm even though he never managed money before.
“Trump’s mismanagement of the pandemic resulted in tens of thousands of needless deaths. He boasts about stacking the Supreme Court with extreme right-wingers who are stripping away individual rights, upending legal precedents, and making the country less safe. If elected, Trump may add to the court’s conservative majority.
“Of course, there were the unprecedented two impeachments. Now, Trump is a convicted felon who is staring at three more criminal indictments. He is running for president to stay out of prison.
“If anything, Trump doesn’t deserve to be on the presidential debate stage. Why even give him a platform?
“Trump allegedly stole classified information and tried to overturn an election. His plans for a second term are worse than the last one. We cannot be serious about letting such a crooked clown back in the White House.
“Yes, Biden had a horrible night. He’s 81 and not as sharp as he used to be. But Biden on his worst day remains lightyears better than Trump on his best.
“Biden must show that he is up to the job. This much is clear: He has a substantive record of real accomplishments, fighting the pandemic, combating climate change, investing in infrastructure, and supporting working families and the most vulnerable.
“Biden has surrounded himself with experienced people who take public service seriously. He has passed major bipartisan legislation despite a dysfunctional Republican House majority.
“Biden believes in the best of America. He has rebuilt relationships with allies around the world and stood up to foes like Russia and China.
“There was only one person at the debate who does not deserve to be running for president. The sooner Trump exits the stage, the better off the country will be.”
To serve his country, Donald Trump should leave the race (emphasis added).
R.VanWagoner https://medium.com/@richardvanwagoner publishes. https://richardvanwagoner.medium.com/subscribe
*My brother the very talented fiction writer and novelist, Robert Hodgson Van Wagoner, deserves considerable credit for offering both substantive and technical suggestions to https://medium.com/@richardvanwagoner. Rob’s second novel, a beautifully written suspense drama that takes place in Utah, Wyoming, and Norway, dropped on November 17, 2020. Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Bookstore and your favorite local bookshop, this novel, The Contortionists, which Rob himself narrates for the audio version, is a psychological page-turner about a missing child in a predominantly Mormon community. I have read the novel and listened to the audio version twice. It is a literary masterpiece. The Contortionists is not, however, for the faint of heart.