US, the cowboy country!

Indian leaders seldom come face-to-face on the television debates before election, as in America. I have not missed the debates of many Presidents and hopefuls over the last few decades. The first U.S. presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden and was telecast yesterday, 90 minutes of bloodbath and sinking to sub-optimal levels by both debaters.

Despite on the stage and at par, Trump was still the sitting U.S. President, and it was funny to hear Biden calling Trump a ‘clown’ and asking him to ‘shut-up.’ Not that Trump bothers to merit the chair he was occupying and calling Biden names. Surely the U.S. politics have dived into new dark lows.

Rather than focus on their country, the jobs, domestic racism, China, Covid, Syria, Economy or environment, both continued to hit below each other’s belt frequently interrupting each other’s submissions and calling names. The role of a moderator and the importance of refereeing was felt more than ever amid the relentless slugfest, with a weak and helpless Wallace, often being partisan.

My personal opinion is Joe was a shade better in the debate, although almost seventy per cent of the U.S. voters have already decided on the choice of the President. Those who are targeted by the debates are the rest thirty per cent apolitical, or undecided voters and fence-sitters.

Trump refused to condemn white supremacists when prodded to do so, which was a defining moment of the debate. I guess the police excesses related killing of blacks and the resultant chaotic protests, “Black Lives Matter” have already polarised the U.S. citizens. Trump responded in the debate and for the world to watch shocked, “proud boys, stand back and standby,” likely referring to the far-right groups.

Trump attacked an unperplexed Biden over his son Hunter’s past consulting work for companies in China and Ukraine. Biden called Trump irresponsible for holding rallies without observing the physical distancing norms, as Trump mocked Biden that he will not be able to get a crowd.

Trumps claim that America did great in combating Covid was belied by the fact that the U.S. has more cases than any country, with more than 7 million, and more deaths than any country, already surpassing 200,000. Trump also accused the vote-by-mail as a fraudulent one.

Experts doubt the viability of Biden’s ten million clean energy jobs creation proposals. There were many domestic issues, from Medicare to personal tax declarations by the President on which the two crossed swords,

Trump though on the defensive on many, refused to yield any space.From nuking a hurricane, suggesting the drinking of bleach to contain Covid, or calling the veterans’ losers,’ the gaffes of Trump standout as characteristic. But his squarely taking on China on trade and defence, tackling Iran, N. Korea and facilitating the peace accords between Israel, UAE and Bahrain are remarkable achievements as well.

Despite the lows, the closely contested elections will be keenly followed all over the world.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

Pic by courtesy: Damien Gless