Old candidates disappoint with lacklustre debate

THE first U.S. presidential debate between current President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump was far from a masterclass. It was a horror show.

The hour-and-a-half-long debate was deemed unwatchable by many and fell far short of what US presidential debates used to represent.

In the past, these debates were known for sharp exchanges of ideas and suggestions among presidential hopefuls, using the platform to convince the public of their pledges.

There were also stages where defining historical moments occurred, such as when former Democrat President Bill Clinton took part in  a presidential town hall debate and fielded a question about the impact of US debt.

 While incumbent Republican President George H.W. Bush and independent Ross Perot stumbled in their responses, Clinton, who was  then Arkansas Governor, stood up, walked over to a woman who was asking the question and delivered a heartfelt answer that many considered the defining moment of the presidential race.

Clinton, at the age of 46, was the youngest candidate, and his charisma and ability to connect with people were evident.

However, the performance of Biden vs. Trump last week left much to be desired. One issue that arises is the question of age.

Back in February, I wrote an article addressing this topic after Indonesia elected 72-year-old Prabowo Subianto as their president.

I pointed out that Prabowo was the oldest candidate in the election, surpassing his predecessor Joko Widodo by 10 years. When he takes office, he will be the oldest president ever elected in Indonesia.

The question of age has also been widely discussed regarding both Biden and Trump.

The current president is 81 years old, while his opponent is 78. This raises the question: are these two the best candidates the U.S. has to offer?

Leading up to this year’s U.S. presidential election, there were concerns about Biden’s age, exacerbated by his constant gaffes, which are often associated with old age.

The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.

Videos of him falling while walking and appearing confused during public appearances have only fuelled these worries.

During the debate against Trump, Biden appeared weak, possibly due to a mild illness, and failed to inspire confidence. There were moments when he seemed consumed by his thoughts and spaced out.

In contrast, Trump, a polarising figure due to his never-ending controversies, proved to be a stark contrast to Biden. Despite his incoherence and inability to form complete sentences, Trump outperformed Biden in the debate. This has led people to speculate about a potential return to the White House for Trump.

However, such a scenario would be a nightmare for democracy, as the Republican Party has leant towards the extreme right, with its leaders now emboldened and willing to meddle in affairs beyond their purview.

So, what is the way forward? The Democrats need to engage in some soul-searching and consider removing Biden from their presidential ticket.

Biden has been a lifelong public servant, and his presidency has come to represent public service. His final act of service should be to step down and allow a younger candidate to run in his place.

There are many potential candidates to choose from. His vice president, Kamala Harris, has been tipped for the ticket, while California Governor Gavin Newsom is seen as a dark horse.

Regardless, there comes a point where the older generation, like Biden, must realise that the party and the U.S. presidency are bigger than themselves.

Harris or Newsom would likely do a better job and inspire more public confidence than the incumbent, which would be advantageous for the Democrats.

In politics, there is a point where one overstays his/her welcome, and that time has come for the 46th US president.

The US democracy, whether we like it or not, has been constantly regarded as a benchmark for other developing countries.

Unfortunately, it has regressed due to the global political trend of increasing partisan politics and diminishing emphasis on personalities and personal attributes.

To state the obvious, both Trump and Biden are old and uninspiring. They need to step aside.