Trump Walks Alone As Macron Rips Into Nationalism

Al Hunt: “Joe Biden lost a presidential debate, rather than assuaging voters’ fears about his age and capabilities only reaffirmed them.” “Biden was halting, encumbered by a raspy voice, and at times seemingly confused or losing his train of thought. The picture of the President standing there mouth open, eyes darting was devastating for the 81-year-old incumbent.

Here is how “one of the most seasoned political pros” in Democratic politics framed the more likely way forward to Politico: “First, it was a pretty shocking performance by Biden, obviously. And any thoughtful person has to ask themself: Should this man be leader of the free world for another 7 months, let alone 55?” “But he’s not going to step aside and there is no clear process for replacing him.

Playbook: “The mass panic among Democrats began last night about 12 minutes into the debate.” “President Joe Biden was answering a question about the national debt. He confused trillionaires and billionaires but corrected himself quickly. He stumbled over millions and billions but again fixed it. Then he started to tick off the things he could pay for with his tax plan: paying down the debt, child care, elder care, strengthening the health care system.” “Then something went wrong.” “As he reached for a final example, he lost his train of thought, stumbled around and then just paused while staring at the floor.

Walter Shapiro: “More than a half century after he was elected to the Senate and in the midst of his fourth presidential race, Joe Biden should spend the weekend facing up to the biggest decision of his political career.” “After an uninspiring, wavering, hoarse-voiced debate performance in which he constantly failed to halt Donald Trump’s torrent of lies, it is time for Biden to face up to the reality of his 81 years.

Joe Klein: “It was worse than disastrous. It was sad, it was humiliating. Biden looked like a hospice patient who got lost on his way to the bathroom. That was probably the biggest thing: He looked and sounded awful. In past debates, Biden maintained eye contact with the camera when Trump spoke; he seemed focused and strong.

New Republic: “Thursday’s debate should have been a tap-in. All Biden had to do was appear mildly competent. All he had to do was let Donald Trump be Donald Trump. Then the rest would take care of itself.” “It’s hard to see how the bar could have been set any lower.