Dear President Biden:
I voted for you in 2020. I think you’re a good, honorable person and are eminently qualified to lead the country. I think you speak the truth. I think you’ve done a great job the last four years – within the limits of what’s possible after inheriting the truly gargantuan mess created by trump and the pandemic.
But I don’t think you can win this coming election.
The questions of your age and ability to perform the duties of president have been hovering over the campaign for most of the last year. Your performance in last Thursday’s debate confirmed everyone’s worst fears. You let trump run roughshod over you; you didn’t fact-check most of his horrendous lies; and you devolved into incoherence at several points.
Sure, everyone is allowed one bad night. And one bad debate doesn’t necessarily negate four years of your good work. But perceptions are everything.
By and large, the greater majority of people don’t care if you tell the truth, or if you know how to do the job. They’re interested more in appearances; they want a strong, forceful leader; stupid superficial things that don’t really bear on job performance. And they’re motivated by their own base self-interests.
Trump is an exceptionally gifted liar; clearly, he’s a pathological liar. He’s eminently believable and he’s promising everyone the moon. So in an era where most people get their news on social networks, YouTube, or from friends, trumps lies go unchallenged.
As stated earlier, one of the worst parts of the debate was that you didn’t fact check him; by your omissions, you de facto legitimized what he was saying.
This coming election Is probably the most consequential contest the nation has ever had. As you have suggested, it portends the potential demise of our democracy, if trump is elected.
Trump has no respect whatsoever for the Constitution or any of the institutions we hold so dear; he sees himself as a king, not as a president. I firmly believe that if the worst happens and he regains office, that that would likely mean we would have no further elections. Trump won’t make the mistakes he made in his first term, and will ensure that MAGA people are installed in every key position throughout the entire federal government. Can you imagine Jeffrey Clark as Attorney General? There won’t be any adults in the room as they were in his first term. He will run rampant, unchecked. And likely with the blessing of the conservative majority of the Supreme Court.
You and trump are currently running neck and neck, with trump having a slight advantage. Polling following the debate suggests trump will pull ahead based on your poor performance at the debate.
Because of the extreme consequences hanging on the outcome of this election, I believe for the good of the nation, you should quickly step aside so that a successor can be chosen; so that someone with a better chance of winning can take the reins.
I know this would be tremendously difficult for you, because of your love for the United States and your need to serve the country. But if you truly love the country and want to see our democracy continue, the country’s interests are best served by you stepping aside.
Thank you for your service!
Michael Pellegrini