Thursday 1 October 2020

Trump says Joe Biden is too weak to run the country

The first presidential TV debate between Trump and Biden was neither presidential nor entertaining nor watchable nor, hopefully, repeatable in the planned next two confrontations. They say the rules are going to be changed, but unless the moderator is allowed to put sticking plaster over Trump's mouth I can't see how a rule change will stop Trump from interrupting when and how he likes. Still, my theme for today is not the disgraceful set-to between the two men hoping to lead the US in the next four years but Trump's comment at a rally in Minnesota the following day in front of adoring, yes adoring, supporters. He said Joe Biden was too weak to be leader of the United States. His adoring crowd seemed to share his view. The fact is that Biden does not come across as a toughie. He is not a brawler like Trump, he's not rude and bad-mouthing. His strongest line when trying to get a word in edgeways during the TV debate was:"Shut up man." But it was said in an exasperated way, not an angry way. He didn't shout it. He just said it in a slightly diffident way. It was more of an appeal to the moderator than a direct order to the president to shut his mouth. Perhaps if he had bellowed "Shut the f... up" he might have got somewhere. But this is Joe Biden, Mr Decent Guy. So is Trump right? Is Biden just too nice and weak to lead the United States of America? Some author once wrote that to be president of the USA you have to look like the president of the USA. I don't think there's a stereotype persona for the job but I think there is something in that. If you don't look the part in America, you won't be any good. It's more Hollywood than politics. But this is America. It's why Al Gore never made it and Ros Perot and Spirow Agnew for heaven's sake. Trump's supporters think he looks the part, big fella, long arms down by his side, oversized suit, big mouth, big hairstyle, orange face, all the ingredients you need to stand head and shoulders above everyone else. Biden, by contrast, looks and sounds mild. He couldn't drown out Trump on Tuesday night because Trump was louder and more insulting and more in everyone's face, especially Biden's. According to Trump you can't run the most powerful nation on Earth by sounding meek and mild. Oh my God, he might be right!

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