The Day Before the Day Before the Debate

The first 2024 presidential debate is the day after tomorrow, and Joe Biden may have the advantage as all he has to do is stay alert and seem sane for ninety minutes, whereas Donald Trump has the incredibly difficult task of acting like a normal human being - or at least act like a normal mammal.  Don't think Trump can't pull it off; he knows that if he wins, several of his opponents may go to jail (well, the lucky ones), but if he loses, he goes to jail.  In act, having already been found guilty in May 2024 of election interference in 2016, he may already be prison bound when he's sentenced on July 11.

Biden will likely tout his achievements and explain how he plans to build on them - ad oh yes, he'll bring up reproductive rights - and he may just get the better of Trump by assassinating his character . . . which is the same as letting Trump talk.  But Biden shouldn't act like his record in general and his economic record in particular are worth bragging about.  There are young people who can't buy a house in this economy.  In fact, there are people my age who still can't buy a house in today's economy.  

Trump still has one card named for himself - his base, who will go out to vote for him come hell, high water, or whatever else climate change can dish up (aside: severe thunderstorms are expected for my area, and I'm counting on a power outage this time).  Biden supporters are more meh about their man.  But for whatever reason - the good pre-COVID economy, "The Apprentice" - Trump supporters still see their dude as a businessman just because his name is on buildings and neckties, like Henry Ford's name is on cars (oh, wait, Ford doesn't make cars anymore except the Mustang, just SUVs and trucks!)

Let's get this straight.  A guy who's declared bankruptcy six times is no businessman.  Also . . . 

W.C. Fields was a father.

Jack Benny was a philanthropist.

Don't always believe what you think you know.