Post-Debate, The Stakes Haven't Changed
Nothing about the debate changes the fact Trump is the most dishonest, extremist, authoritarian major party candidate in US history. Whatever form it takes, we need to beat Trump and Project 2025.
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On Thursday night, President Joe Biden and Donald Trump had their first debate of 2024. Unfortunately, it didn't go as Democrats would’ve hoped.
I won’t relive everything here. We all saw it. President Joe Biden had a disappointing performance, especially in the first 30 minutes. It was not the powerful performance that was given just a few months ago at the State of the Union that was so strong it had Republicans calling him “Jacked Up Joe.”
Biden’s poor performance has become the focus of the post-debate discourse, but Donald Trump had a terrible, dishonest, and depraved performance. As the debate dragged on, he became increasingly unhinged and showcased his extremism. Trump lied about abortion, defended January 6 rioters, suggested that the January 6 Committee members be jailed, and unleashed dehumanizing, fear-mongering rhetoric targeting immigrants.
While Biden may have stumbled while telling the truth, Trump was shamelessly spewing absolute disinformation with no fact-checks from CNN moderators.
Nonetheless, I’m sure you’ve seen the conversations circulating on mainstream media panels and social media about replacing President Biden on the Democratic ticket through a contested convention in August. Today, President Biden gave an energetic speech in North Carolina, seeking to assuage the fears triggered after the debate. At the end of his remarks, he acknowledged the debate performance:
"I know I’m not a young man… I don't walk as easy as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth! I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job... I know like millions of Americans know; when you get knocked down you get back up!"
After this speech, high-profile Democrats seemed to begin to coalesce around him. Most notably, former President Barak Obama spoke up for his former Vice President in a post on Twitter:
“Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November.”
Will this calm the nerves of Democrats who were concerned after the debate? It’s unclear. But while these conversations are ongoing, I think it’s important to take a deep breath and look at the bigger picture.
First off, we don’t know what the impact of the debate will be on voter sentiment. Early data from a FiveThirtyEight/Ipsos poll shows no significant change in voter intentions. Only time and extensive polling will give us some indication of what this debate will mean over time.
Also, it’s only June. There is so much that can happen between now and November to change the dynamics of the race, including Donald Trump’s sentencing next month. There’s also a second debate in September. Incumbent presidents always struggle in their first debate, maybe not this badly, but they do typically flounder.
Whether you believe Biden should pull a Lyndon Johnson and step aside or you think this one debate night was a fluke and he can recover from it, I think we should hold space for all perspectives from people with the shared goal of defeating Trump. But whatever decision is made, we’ll have to unite behind it.
For pro-democracy Americans, the stakes of this election have not changed. On my end, I’m not engaging in the replace Biden discourse. I’ll let Democratic operatives who can actually influence that decision commentate on that. I’ll be focusing my attention on continuing to spotlight the authoritarian threat posed by Donald Trump and his Project 2025 allies.
Nothing about the debate changes the fact Donald Trump is the most dishonest, extremist, authoritarian major party candidate for president in US history. Trump’s first term was defined by chaos, pandemic negligence, and authoritarian actions. His second-term plans would go even further, twisting the government into a tool of the far-right.
Organized by the Heritage Foundation and over 100 right-wing organizations, Project 2025 has created a 920-page playbook outlining exactly how Donald Trump can abuse the full force of executive power. The agenda includes replacing civil servants with Trump loyalists Project 2025 is already training, dismantling multiple agencies, consolidating power in the White House, and executing a far-right agenda that targets our civil liberties.
Just today, the stakes were further highlighted. An absolute avalanche of judicial overreach and terrible decisions came from the Supreme Court. The consequences of the 2016 election will be felt for generations, and now, the consequences of the 2024 election will be felt for many more. Alito and Thomas will likely retire if Trump wins and he’ll pick younger, even more radical versions of those justices, who will help approve his authoritarian agenda.
This election is a binary choice between administrations and the people who will staff them, not just two individual people. It’s between two different visions of America. It’s between outright authoritarianism and democracy.
If you’re feeling restless after last night, there are things you can do. It’s worth looking into volunteer opportunities up and down the ballot in your community. Get involved. Action is the best antidote for despair.
Also, if you need a minute to recalibrate, take a break from the discourse if you’re getting frustrated. Enjoy a few weeks of your Summer. Take a social media break and recharge. Do what gives you peace.
I know I’ll be focused on what I can personally control and the work I can do to spread the truth about the looming threat of a second Trump term.
The bottom line is this: Whatever happens next and whatever form it takes, we need to beat Donald Trump at the ballot box.
My neighbor asked me about the NY opinion that Biden should step aside - I told her absolutely not, he's been a great president, it's early days yet and we'll lose voters if someone else put forward. She thanked me and later told me she just ordered her Biden yard sign.
Thanks, Ahmed. I’ve been reading the responses all day, and I’m going to take a break and socialize to re-group. Definitely need to keep the focus on saving democracy.