Letter to the editor: Presidential race, a sad state of affairs

They stood, two old men arguing over who was the worst U.S. president, and then, which of the pair occupying center stage in Atlanta was the better golfer. It could have been a pair of geezers sitting on a park bench. But no. It was called a presidential debate and aired to an estimated 50 million television viewers. There being no live audience was a blessing. It ended up being 90 painful-to-watch, televised minutes.

CNN, which hosted the dismal performances of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, should be ashamed. Two seasoned CNN reporters, Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, were at their worst allowing the pair to ramble, refuse to answer questions and lie. Questions were poorly framed, and the decision not to fact-check answers was a mistake.

While Biden’s feeble, unexpected showing will be long remembered, Trump’s lies will be easily forgotten, as he has the well-earned reputation of being a pathological liar.

National polls have consistently shown that voters wished for other choices in this year’s presidential elections. The Atlanta event demonstrated why so many Democrats and Republicans (not the MAGA cult) were wanting different, younger candidates heading their parties’ tickets.

Now Biden has stepped aside. Republicans, on the other hand, are willing to have a convicted felon, adjudicated rapist and liar as their nominee. A sad state of affairs. Is this America?

Glenn Plummer

Unity