Once again, our national media, which was once a reliable source of information, is now shrieking about an apocalypse following last night’s debate.

I have something different to say.  Last night was a failure, not a disaster. It may well have been the best thing to happen in our Democracy since Abraham Lincoln.

I was saddened, then relieved. The debate was an almost miraculous gift to anyone who believes in America as one united country, a light unto the world, and a glorious democracy,  our heritage, and hope.

I don’t believe we lost an election; we may have just gotten it back. The debate could well be a new beginning.

And it’s not just up to a few people to work it out; it’s now up to every one of us, united in action, to shape this new beginning.

To believe in something and fight for it.

I was never comfortable with Joe Biden’s decision to seek a second term in office, and neither were many of the people who treasure our Republic, as I do, for all its flaws.

This morning, the news was full of the now standard hysteria when discussing Biden’s awful disintegration on national television.

Biden is a good person with a good heart. He seemed to genuinely care about people and wish to do good for them. His intentions were noble, and that’s something to be admired.

How sad he couldn’t see the truth about himself and step away. He was losing ground rapidly in his own party. Even the people who love him aren’t happy that he’s running.

I will soon be 77 years old, and the key to aging gracefully is to accept what you can’t do and relish what you can do.

There are some things I can no longer do, but there are many things I can still do and do well. I love publishing this blog and taking photos, and I love my wife and life.

I can’t be president for sure; neither can Joe Biden. If the system fails, it will be because it can’t promise a more worthy candidate on either side. We are given the chance to remedy that.

The  Republicans are stuck with their nightmare; ours is doomed.

I’m not here to argue the merits of Biden’s presidency or the dangers of Trump’s.

I don’t argue politics and am happy to rarely write politics.

Biden has lost sight of where he is in life and can’t accept the truth. That is the most important thing to know as I age —I need to face where I am.

Over the next few days, I believe he will face that; I doubt he will have a choice. He seems to care about democracy, and I doubt he will want to be blamed for damaging it, perhaps critically.

As a former political writer, I saw last night that Biden has given the country a tremendous gift by showing the world that he is not able either to lead or to be President and must step away or risk getting pushed away, which is almost certain to happen now.

I didn’t watch the debate, but when I saw the headlines this morning, I  went back to see most of it.  It was heart-sinking and discouraging.

President Biden, a good human being,  was, in fact, a disaster, but Donald Trump hardly has much to crow about. His pathological lying was never more apparent; neither was his ducking almost every critical question he was asked.

There are only questions about this man, no answers. That is his Achilles heel. The worst that could have happened to his awful and vengeful campaign is a better candidate to face.

Red or Blue, we are all eager for something better than this. That is one thing that unites us.

I’m not sure I have ever heard Donald Trump say something genuine, honest, or authentic. Christianity is bigger and more significant than Trump’s lies; true Christians will see through him. Beyond that, I believe in our system. Our founding fathers were brilliant. Being honest in their faith and values, they could not conceive of a Donald Trump or think to protect us from him.

Trump is not going to get back in the White House either. Last night, he only looked good compared to Biden’s inability to acknowledge his age or hide its relentless progress. Biden was helpless to stop him.

A younger, more vital Presidential candidate would have eaten Trump alive. He is a dreadful candidate, drowning in a sea of lies, incompetent and selfish, and a giant target for any functioning politician.

In a different but noticeable way, Trump can’t be a functioning President, as he showed last night. As a nation, we deserve better choices than this and are about to get one. Biden has mumbled us into a way, while there is plenty of time to change.

For long minutes in a precious debate, these two old men crowed and argued about who was the better golfer. It was hard to believe what I was hearing. A tree trunk would do better than that.

When I saw the clips, I have to be honest. I was relieved.

Biden can’t stay in the campaign after a chilling and heartbreaking performance like that. He deserves a better and more dignified goodbye, and so do we. Trump deserves a lot more, and it’s on the way, however long it takes.

The ball is now entirely in the hands of the Democratic Party and the Democratic electorate. As I’ve written and as the Republicans have been proving again and again, politics is a transactional, not a moral culture.

Politicians always choose whoever they think will win. They abandon anyone who doesn’t. It is most often just that simple.

The Democrats have plenty of time to think about a candidate and support a younger, more vital, and articulate person, perhaps one who has ideas to unite the country and the moral strength to expose Trump as the liar and sociopath we know him to be, if only by example.

Marjorie Taylor Greene has been comparing Trump to Jesus lately; she better pray that Jesus doesn’t rise again to turn her into a bumble bee.

If the Democrats are honest about wishing to preserve our democracy, let them do it. They just got the chance handed back to them.

The Democratic Party has a dozen attractive, young, and experienced people in Congress and State houses nationwide to take on Trump, work to unite the government rather than divide it further, and become the next President.

Just think of a candidate from anywhere, but Washington who has accurate and credible ideas for helping America and Americans be a stronger nation that solves and addresses problems rather than argues about them.

That would be the most exciting political and historical event in my lifetime. Even our constipated media would relish that turn and move away from its dreary campaign coverage.

It’s a great chance to prove that Democracy may not be the perfect system, but it is better than any other option. A strong and victorious Democratic candidate would shine in history forever and bring the change we all yearn for.

With Biden going, many of his liabilities would go with him. A new candidate can’t be blamed for inflation, the crises in the Middle East,  the pandemic, vaccines, or the malaise and confusion surrounding a weak and invisible leader. The party would have a new and cleaner platform to present.

A different candidate could also reunite their party, slowly moving away from Biden and his failed ability to articulate a vision for the country or much of anything else.

This is good news for our democracy; this is no time to panic.

Our country has withstood challenge after challenge for centuries now. Donald Trump is not going to be the one to shatter this incredible history.

It will be exciting and stirring to see it survive this one as well, and Biden’s devastating failure last night may be historic afterward.

Just think of the excitement and change, which will be days or weeks away if a strong new candidate is chosen.

I believe in truth and honesty; Donald Trump loathes them both. His only vision of America is to tear it apart  and to punish the people who challenge him.

Joe Biden has given Democrats an extraordinary reprieve. They have become squishy, soft, lazy, and confused, and it’s no wonder many of their followers are abandoning them.

It’s not a time for “yes, but” or “I hope.” It’s a time for faith. I believe in democracy; it has always prevailed when threatened and will prevail again.

More than anything, Democracy yearns to be believed in and fought for. That is its history, strength, legacy, and promise.

That’s the real challenge.