I viewed the presidential debate as a partisan Republican, as an 88-year-old man, as an American, and as a human being.

President Biden entered first, stage right.  He walked slowly to the podium.  He appeared empty-eyed, slack-mouthed, and rather lost.  Although Trump had yet to appear, I said to myself, that quickly, it’s over.  I was saddened, the partisan me unexpectedly silent. My father had Alzheimer’s, my mother refused institutional help, and he looked like death warmed over at the time he passed. I know of the suffering within a family in a cognitively challenged situation.

The debate was set up under different rules from previous presidential debates, rules suggested by the Biden team and agreed to, without issue, by the Trump team. There was some concern that the new rules would lead to confusion. But they did not -- the rules were fine. There was some concern that the moderators would show bias. But they did not -- the moderators were fair and unobtrusive and their questions substantive.  Would that all the answers were likewise.

Biden started out poorly and if anything, worsened (e.g., see here from 11:30 to 12:30 minutes).  I became worried about a possible medical emergency.  Early on, each man responded to the questions as asked; with time, their responses devolved into mutual disdain.  The audience was overwhelmed by the confirmation of President Biden’s cognitive difficulties. 

Think of Jill and Joe in the privacy of their own home.  Is the old saw, “Take the pacifier away from the dog and give it back to the doddering old man” appropriate?  Probably not.

But then think of Joe in the Oval Office and you should scream, “Take the nuclear football away from that doddering old man!”

Who is responsible for putting this man in the White House with his trembling finger on the nuclear button?

• Jill and Joe, certainly. But they had somebody’s permission to run and simply rolled over for ambition, power, fame, and fortune. 
• Cackling Kamala?  Hardly.
• The Old Guard; Bill, Hillary, Barack?  Maybe.
• The Administrative State?
• The Back Room? Robert Wolf says there are no more “back rooms.” I believe he believes this, I’m not sure I do.

Ultimately, the Democrat voters are responsible.  But they’ll tell you they didn’t know.  They’ve been lied to by the Democrat Party.  The fabled and very effective Democrat propaganda machine lies to Democrats as well as us poor Republicans.  You have to think for yourself lest the lying Wizard behind the Green Curtain leads us all into oblivion.

• Joe Biden doesn’t like Donald Trump, so Joe blew away Trump’s border control policies and we now have a disaster.
• Joe Biden doesn’t like Donald Trump, so Joe blew away Trump’s energy independence policies and we now face an energy shortage.
• Prices are 20% higher and interest rates more than doubled under Biden than  under Trump.
• With the high prices, high interests, and the influx of illegals, there is a housing crisis under Biden.
• There is war in Europe under Biden, there was peace under Trump.
• There is war in the Middle East under Biden. The Trump Abraham Accords, which promised Middle East peace, are on life-support and anti-Semitic violence rages throughout our country under Biden.

Wise up, Democrats, and help us Make America Great Again!

Mike Johnson is a small government conservative, a retired rocket scientist (junior grade), and a resident of Gloucester, MA.  E-mail mnosnhoj@comcast.net

Image: White House