This last week of June 2024 will go down in history as one of the most important in American politics.
Thursday, June 27, in particular will go down as one of the most important debates in the American election – perhaps even more so than Nixon / Kennedy or Lincoln / Douglas.
This is because the CNN debate between President Biden and former President Donald Trump was an absolute and unmitigated disaster for the American people, and it just might change history.
On the one hand, the convicted, sexual abuser, cheater and habitual liar, who lied more than 30 times in 90 minutes, an impressive speed even for him.
On the other hand, a wilted, sometimes lost, weak former boxing champion, now unable to take a swing, let alone land a punch.
It was hard to watch both sides, but for Biden, whose senior moments were well-presented, the shocking performance seemed painful, especially for his supporters.
Sadness spread, and the conversation after the debate felt like an awakening.
My friend and colleague Van Jones, who worked in the Barack Obama/Joe Biden White House, was visibly teary when he said on CNN, “I love that guy, he’s a good guy. He loves his country. He’s doing his best. But he has a test to meet tonight. To restore confidence, the country and the base, and he failed to do so.
Kennedy family member Maria Shriver also tweeted, “I love Joe Biden. I know he’s a good man. I know he has a good heart. I know he’s dedicated to our country and surrounded by good people. Tonight is heartbreaking in so many ways.” .”
Biden’s personal family friend and New York Times columnist Tom Friedman was downright uncomfortable:
“I watched the Biden-Trump debate alone in a Lisbon hotel room, and I cried. I can’t remember a more exciting moment in the politics of the American presidential campaign in my lifetime – because of what it revealed: Joe Biden, a good person and a good president do not have business for re-election.
As a lifelong conservative who voted for Biden in 2020 because of the belief that another Trump term could harm our democracy, I am saddened by this. Watching Biden publicly and spectacularly fail to do the one thing Democrats hope will come out of the debate — address concerns about his age — is sickening.
Watching Trump use it to his advantage, looking 10 times more cogent and capable than Biden while lying through his teeth is also painful.
But sadness was not the emotion I felt most when the debate was over. I was angry.
In voting for Biden – and the first Democrat in my life – even though I knew I would be against many of his policies, I trusted decent people who love this country to do good things because they love this country. .
His wisdom was worse than I expected. From inflicting economic inflation and profligate spending, to allow the border crisis to our cities and towns, whose administration has – fairly or unfairly – led many Americans to believe they were better off during four years of Trump in the White House. And despite a global pandemic, racial violence, two impeachments and an uprising happening on his watch.
Second, I hope that Biden will get rid of other younger Democrats – I always envision him as a transitional president, not a transformational one.
When he announced he was running, I was concerned.
But despite all that, I believe that Trump is a more existential threat to America, and that if Biden is at the top of the ticket, he still deserves to vote.
But, deserved or not, what we saw yesterday was a man who may not have completed his first term, let alone four years. And more importantly, we saw someone who couldn’t beat Donald Trump.
This was supposed to happen, but Democrats and Biden insist that Biden is strong, the polls are wrong, he is the best man for the job.
He doesn’t, and many of you probably know it.
That they – and he – will gamble with the future of America is infuriating, unconscionable and political malpractice. He took my vote, my trust and my confidence.
And now it may be too late. Replacing Biden less than two months before the convention is a big risk.
But one Democrat, who has done this to himself, should now seriously consider it.
If Joe Biden is the good, decent, good guy that many say he is – and I believe he is – he should do the right thing for America and get rid of him.
SE Cupp is the host of “SE Cupp Unfiltered” on CNN.