The reflections and observations following the recent debate have solidified certain thoughts in my mind, even though this topic is not within my academic expertise. I acknowledge that my observations may be flawed and that others may have articulated them better. Nevertheless, I wanted to share my thoughts with my fellow Americans.
1. The current situation sheds light on key issues within the Democratic Party. It appears that many Democrats were aware of Biden’s cognitive decline, recognizing the threat it posed to the country and their own electoral prospects. They had numerous chances to encourage the President to step down gracefully in favor of a replacement candidate who could capitalize on Trump’s weaknesses. A well-functioning party should be able to handle such tasks, even if convincing a President to resign is challenging.
2. The current situation also underscores the problems within the Republican Party. Regardless of one’s support for Trump and his policies, it is worth considering if he would have been a desirable candidate twenty years ago. Do you trust him to handle foreign policy crises calmly? Is he an inspiring leader? Can he be compared to past admired presidents? Even if you aim to oppose the Democrats, has Trump effectively achieved that goal, considering his electoral track record and public perception?
3. Turning to the media, their role is to inform the public about government affairs, including the President’s cognitive abilities. Have they done a good job of reporting on this issue? Did they address these concerns during the Democratic primary elections? If they were aware of Biden’s decline beforehand, what does that reveal about their reporting?
4. Finally, considering the criminal justice system, Trump’s convictions and ongoing legal battles have not significantly impacted his poll numbers. This raises questions about public trust in the justice system and its perceived fairness. The lack of consequences for a presidential candidate facing such legal troubles during an election campaign is concerning.
In conclusion, while there may always be bad actors, our constitutional system is designed to mitigate their influence. Checks and balances, institutional safeguards, and the constraints on individual egos are meant to prevent the unchecked power of flawed individuals. It is essential to reflect on these issues and consider how they would be perceived if they were happening in another country. In that particular campaign, an 81-year-old incumbent showing signs of cognitive decline was facing off against a 78-year-old candidate with a criminal record and ongoing legal issues, who also displayed un-Presidential behavior following a previous electoral defeat. If this was the scenario in a foreign country, would we consider their political institutions to be healthy?
It’s hard to pinpoint the exact causes of these issues. Could the shift to primary elections be a factor? Was the old smoke-filled-room system better? Is the ideological homogeneity in the media contributing to the problem? What about the influence of social media? Or is it something else entirely? Even if we can identify the root of the problem, is there a feasible solution?
It seems like there is a deeper issue at play here beyond just the weaknesses of these specific candidates. Moving forward, we need to come up with solutions that go beyond the current candidates and election cycle in order to find a way to progress.
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