40 Comments
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Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Dear readers, I post to ask questions that may lead to uncovering the truth. Civility is of paramount importance to allow the thoughtful exchange of ideas. If I detect speech that in my imperfect opinion prevents constructive discussion, I will regretfully block that speech. I appreciate your support and understanding.

Jenny Benjamin's avatar

Best comment I have heard on the debate. Accurate, thoughtful, civic- minded and true. Thank you.

Hudson E Baldwin lll's avatar

To somehow insinuate that this administration is an example of anything but corporate donor class self-serving posers is politically ignorant and 100% incorrect. Read the platform. It’s not about the people

Colleen Ware's avatar

Spot On! Would that we in this country had enough intelligent and informed voters that we were not in this circus. And that we had Dark Money and the Electoral College out of all elections. I am afraid, very afraid. that the Cult of the immoral convicted felon will manage to get him back into the White House, where he and they will take this country, and its many good citizens, down.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thanks for your comments, Colleen. I will not give up yet, my children and grandchildren deserve better. I am doing what I can, including turnoutpac.org/postcards.

Karen S. Bonnell's avatar

Perhaps we're arriving (too slowly) to an apex - a crisis - an opportunity. DJT and the now unelected shadow government in the form of the conservative Supreme Court have exposed how a document written in a different era has not protected us from the ills of this one. The greed, the violence, the lack of ethical decision-making, the erosion of freedoms, the "othering" by too many of the folks currently serving should be a concern to all. Admittedly, there's nothing Joe can do in the next five months to ensure term limits, institute an ethical code of conduct, expand the court, protect public education, protect women's healthcare, secure voting rights, solve immigration problems and so much more that we may all wish we could snap our fingers and have different. Joe may be the best "place holder" for a future built out of the mess we've allowed to get to this point. That said, I personally wish that Joe would sit down long enough to realize that in retrospect we all wish the gallant Ruth Bader Ginsburg would have retired sooner than she did... and perhaps that is HIS best gift regardless of the chaos that would ensue. It may the be the very chaos we need!

Karen S. Bonnell's avatar

PS: The brain changes of age that Joe is showing only progress. This is a path, if we live long enough, we will all walk. With great compassion and admiration, his aging is (for me) a serious concern.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Tough decisions ahead for all. Thank you, Karen.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Wisdom, Karen, and well expressed. Thank you.

Rich Graham's avatar

This “debate”, like all the others, will soon be forgotten as the MSM moves on to the next salacious headline, but in November, we have to make a decision on whether to embrace a theocratic dictatorship as outlined in “their” fascist manifesto Project 2025 or stay the course with the current leadership (and not voting or opting for a third party candidate in a swing state like mine only benefits the Brownshirts “wrapped in the flag brandishing a crooked cross”). Politics is a dirty business and in this imperfect world of “inverted Totalitarianism”, it is something of a “privilege” to punch back, rhetorically speaking, against the bullies - looking forward to the upcoming “therapy session” with “them”, the Enemy Within….

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Well said, Rich, thank you.

Carolyn's avatar

Think it’s going to come to whether a majority of voters have critical thinking skills or not.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thanks for your comment, Carolyn. The candidates reflect us in our worst sins and virtues. We vote according to who we have become. 🙏🏻

Hudson E Baldwin lll's avatar

👏😂🤣😂🤣🤪😅🙈 Look at the candidates!!!

Obviously it’s non existent. ffs

W. Scott Cameron's avatar

Solid article and conclusion. However, we should always vote smart and take Tim etc research the candidates.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thanks for contributing, Scott.

Radha Nichole Smith's avatar

Manuel A. Garcia, bottom line: I like and enjoy your rational argument for “Anybody except Donnie and his totalitarian OMB director’s 900 pp. plan for turning USA into an Evangelical Hitlerian Hellscape.

Thank you.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thank you Radha, I agree.

Hudson E Baldwin lll's avatar

I must disagree with the contention concerning “uninformed voters.”

No doubt there has never been a more politically ignorant electorate than currently exists.

The majority haven’t read either party platform.

Possessive zero policy acumen, and couldn’t concisely explain a single piece of legislation passed in the current cycle.

Blind, tribal allegiance is root of this dynamic.

Your claim, in fact is a not so laughable parody of ourselves.

The only caveat the Framers left us, a prerequisite for their instructions to work as intended….

“A well informed and educated electorate.”

A quick glance at our third world shithole existence makes your assertion ridiculous, or poorly a constructed satire. I’m gonna get banned from

Veronica von Bernath Morra's avatar

Even though Iwatched and it was painful, I also saw Preside Biden back to his normal self in North Carolina, addressing a very cheering and supportive crowd.

What is obvious to me and should be to ALL Americans is that this 82 years old gentleman has been travelling the world. battling jet lag, preparing speeches and meeting with world leaders trying help mitigate all that is happening, not just in America. It should also be evident, that even with the best of intentions, he is not part of any other government and, no matter how hard he tries to influency other countries decisions, they are not for him to make.

He is an honest, caring man, dedicated to better the lives of us, Americans.

The choice, for me, is CLEAR : Joe Biden for anorher four years. GOD forbid, should something happen to our President , I would be very proud to call Kamala Harris my President. I first saw her in her role during the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. I was very impressed. I was also impressed now, as she stood up for the President. We are way behind on the world stage we're many great women have risen as great leaders.

Thank you, as always, for your perspective, which I totally agree with. Watching the so called debate helped me, once more, see how skewed all the media is.

Veronica von Bernath Morra's avatar

I am aware of my typos and automatic corrector changes I missed. Unfortunately there isn't an edit function on this platform.😪

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

It happens to me all the time, Verónica. Substack has some "idiosyncrasies"...😎

Mike Hammer's avatar

Also the pressing family issues.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Very true, Mike. How would I perform in a similar situation?

Jenny Benjamin's avatar

This part of what you wrote is what I have been thinking of too. How would I feel after a schedule like that plus the weight of his son being unexpectedly convicted of a felony at the same time?

“What is obvious to me and should be to ALL Americans is that this 82 years old gentleman has been travelling the world. battling jet lag, preparing speeches and meeting with world leaders trying help mitigate all that is happening, not just in America.”

Veronica von Bernath Morra's avatar

I am a retired nurse. I can recognize extreme fatigue.

Thank you!

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thank you for enriching the discussion from your experience, Verónica.

Mike Hammer's avatar

I’m a retired physician and I agree.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thank you for your professional assessment, Mike.

Veronica von Bernath Morra's avatar

Thank you , Doctor. I appreciate that!

Hudson E Baldwin lll's avatar

But oblivious to disingenuous insulting tokens of policy and the mechanisms of the body politic in 21st century ‘Murikkka.

Joe Biden is a lifelong pillar of the corporate donor class rise to power. I mean you don’t see the irony here of Joe not fulfilling his due diligence as chairman of the judiciary committee? Nixing a fair and reserved investigation of Clarence Thomas is life references…..

Dripping with irony!

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Sound comment, Jenny.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thanks for your sincere comments, Verónica.

Hudson E Baldwin lll's avatar

The only worst choice and Joe was Kamala. Just another corporate donor class ass-kissing water carrier. There’s a special place in hell for women and minorities vote like old white guys upon achieving office. Your DNC fellation is nauseating. Take it elsewhere

Veronica von Bernath Morra's avatar

You can take your comment to where the sun does not shine in your body!

Hudson E Baldwin lll's avatar

Ad hominem bullshit is always convincing.

Radha Nichole Smith's avatar

Why, no doubt, your commentary is composed primarily of such ad hominem bs?

Hudson E Baldwin lll's avatar

You are a fool or a tool.

Are both Joe and Kamala represent nothing but the donor class. Your ack of understanding that dynamic, is why we can’t have anything nice.

Lastly, the people are plug-in. It’s the platform that you’re voting for. If you’re a democratic party order, unless you are advocating for a true progressive, you’re supporting the corporate oligarchy enabling fascists. And I suppose you can make the argument it is slightly better than totalitarian despotism.

Call me an elitist, but this shit is beneath me. I’m partial to first world society.