Hours before yesterday’s CNN presidential debate, we published “Thoughts before tonight’s debate.” That post is re-published here with post-debate comments below the Simone de Beauvoir quote on a moral revolution.

Simone de Beauvoir might be chagrined that a person of faith — even worse, an ordained minister — would site her work in 2024. Ms. Beauvoir was a brilliant French philosopher, novelist, feminist, critic of religion, who kept close company with Jean-Paul Sartre.

A Moral Revolution Back to the Lost Self

Whatever the country, capitalist or socialist, man was everywhere crushed by technology, made a stranger to his own work, imprisoned, forced into stupidity. The evil all arose from the fact that he had increased his needs rather than limited them; . . . As long as fresh needs continued to be created, so new frustrations would come into being. When had the decline begun? The day knowledge was preferred to wisdom and mere usefulness to beauty. . . . Only a moral revolution — not a social or political revolution — only a moral revolution would lead man back to his lost self.” — Simone de Beauvoir

Gordon C. Stewart, June 27, 2024, 4:15 PM CST.

After the Debate – the morning after

Last night was a downer. I’m Joe Biden’s age. I applaud what President Biden has accomplished in a short time to address infrastructure, climate change, health care, and so much more. But what we saw last night was an old man with no energy, quick of mind, or engagement with the issues. He looked tired. He sounded tired. His voice was weak. His thinking was not sharp. The President I saw last night confirmed widely-held concerns about his age.

Of greater concern than Biden’s frailty was the forceful behavior of the other candidate, evading questions for which he had no responses. Donald Trump managed to avoid addressing crucial issues, such as climate change, which I consider the most significant matter for any party, nation, and the world, as well as gun control, women’s reproductive rights, his stance on retribution, and how he plans to determine the legitimacy of the 2024 election results. While he mimicked Muhammad Ali’s provocative taunts, the moderators neglected to challenge even the most flagrant falsehoods and distortions. Trump excelled where Biden stumbled. Trump was animated, taking an aggressive and at times offensive stance. He displayed strength.

Both candidates have clearly demonstrated cognitive decline. One of them is certain to be his party’s nominee. The same can no longer be said of the Democratic Party nominee. The Biden campaign and the DNC face a critical moment of decision-making. Is the President up for the job over the next four years? Can he beat Donald Trump and lead the way to successful outcomes in down-ticket races? Who, if not the President, has the energy and stamina to lead an anxious American electorate through the moral revolution that will lead us back to “the self” we’ve almost lost?

Gordon C. Stewart, June 28, 11:33 AM, Brooklyn Park, MN.