Presidential debate megathread (debate 1: June 27, 9pm EDT, CNN)

[emailking]

Was this what it was like watching the first Obama Romney debate?

no. Obama's problem was that in the split screen he was always looking at his notes while Romney was looking right at him. And he got visibly agitated a few times.

[oraclebones]

Was this what it was like watching the first Obama Romney debate?

No, absolutely not. Romney outperformed Obama, but Obama didn’t remotely embarrass himself like Biden is right now.

[Mr. Smith]

Obama lost to Romney in the first debate too. Hillary won all the debates handily.

Just going to put that out there.

[John Dule]

Did Biden’s mother never tell him to close his mouth at the dinner table?

[VBM]

Wow. Based on how people in this thread are reacting, maybe my hoped-for scenario that Biden s—ts the bed so bad he actually is replaced at the convention might actually happen.

The two people on our ticket are perceived as a doddering old dementia patient and a talentless diversity hire. Dem leadership needs to be purged for coalescing around Biden and making him pick Harris

[walleye26]

I think Trump is winning on the border issue, not even close.

So you believe that nothing but terrorists and people from mental institutions are coming across our border?

Of course not, but this border is a f**king mess. And the second all the blue state cities got them they all went “OMG this is a crisis!”

Look, the GOP intentionally tanked the border bill to deny Biden a win. But most average people DO think the border is a mess.

[Progressive Pessimist]

I can't watch anymore of this....

Biden has to be replaced, and that's why this debate was a good idea, and an upside no matter what.

I don't blame you, but I'm still watching. Maybe it'll get better for Biden, or maybe Trump will hang himself. But I do think Biden should drop out.

How Biden starts, and how this looks on style rather than aubstance is all that matters. And from the first moment Biden opened his mouth I knew it was time to stick a fork in him.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

Everyone finally concluding that Biden needs to drop out now must not have been watching him much for the past year.  This is the worst that I’ve seen him….but not by that much.

[Oregon Eagle Politics]

Was this what it was like watching the first Obama Romney debate?

I don't think anyone that was credible ever took issue with Obama's faculties or intelligence.

Obama still sounded presidential even though Romney destroyed him on substance. Biden sounds like a rambling, hoarse, old man

[jojoju1998]

Wow. Based on how people in this thread are reacting, maybe my hoped-for scenario that Biden s—ts the bed so bad he actually is replaced at the convention might actually happen.

The two people on our ticket are perceived as a doddering old dementia patient and a talentless diversity hire. Dem leadership needs to be purged for coalescing around Biden and making him pick Harris

But democrats had a very weak bench in 2020, and Biden was choosing out of a very slim field.


Of course we have 2028.... Warnock. Walz. Whitmer. Even Newsom !

[super6646]

It's so much bullsh**t, but the coherence difference is just stark.

[Alben Barkley]

Well I can’t think of a better way for it to finally get through some of your heads why people think Biden is too old even compared to Trump. There’s no denying or spinning it this time. If you don’t get it now you’ll never get it, but most Americans have eyes and ears.

Replace now.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Biden has done a lot better since then, but the abortion section was truly atrocious.

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

Biden makes a good point about the Iran retaliation but it doesn't matter because he sounds like he's on death's door

[SWE]

Kamala Harris is starting to look like a pretty good option now ngl

[morgieb]

Was this what it was like watching the first Obama Romney debate?

No, this is a million times worse than that.

[dead0man]

if the Dems allow Biden to get the nomination after this debacle it will confirm my belief that they don't actually believe Trump is as bad as they claim, because if he was as bad as you guys say, there is no way in hell you'd run this broken old man against him.  I get that you don't have a lot of good options (and why is that?), but any generic Dem in a suit would be a better option.

[DrScholl]

Wow. Based on how people in this thread are reacting, maybe my hoped-for scenario that Biden s—ts the bed so bad he actually is replaced at the convention might actually happen.

The two people on our ticket are perceived as a doddering old dementia patient and a talentless diversity hire. Dem leadership needs to be purged for coalescing around Biden and making him pick Harris

There is always room for racism on Atlas.

[super6646]

I will give Trump credit to pivoting on that question lol. Like goddamn, it almost sounds competent to an untrained ear.

[John Dule]

Everyone finally concluding that Biden needs to drop out now must not have been watching him much for the past year.  This is the worst that I’ve seen him….but not by that much.

They’ve been in complete denial. Biden’s incoherence was obvious in 2019, and anyone who said otherwise was an obvious hack.

[Dumbo]

Biden is 81 no problem about this but he looks and sounds like a 100 year old

[Agonized-Statism]

Okay, I gotta comment on this- it's so, so Joever. I expected Trump to win this one but the difference between the candidates is so much more dramatic than I even expected.

[beaver2.0]

Dean Phillips voters are vindicated.

[Convicted Felon Donald Trump]

I haven’t really thought Trump had a decent chance at winning again until tonight.

This debate seals Trump’s win, if Biden doesn’t get out.

[ProudModerate2]

trump is full of bull****, if people think he will have the Ukraine war "settled on day 1 of his presidency."