Fact check of presidential debate: What did Trump, Biden get wrong?

 Andre Byik Joedy McCreary Chris Mueller Brad Sylvester (usatoday.com)

"President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both strayed repeatedly from the truth as they squared off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season.

"Here are the claims the USA TODAY Fact Check Team dug into."

. . ."Trump vs. Biden?Debate's over: I want to elect Michelle Obama president.

"The debate will be quite different from the one's in 2020. Mics will be muted when it's not a candidate's allotted time, Biden and Trump can't talk with staff during breaks, pre-written notes are banned and most importantly, there is no live audience." . . .

ESCAPE FROM HAMAS: What Israel's Hostage Rescue Tells You About Gaza

 CarolineGlick.com  06/11/2024 "An incredible Israeli operation rescues four hostages from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.

"Yet in a new low, the mainstream media focuses on alleged Palestinian civilian casualties, accusing Israel of “war crimes” based on numbers provided by the Hamas-controlled “Gaza Health Ministry.”

"What does the daring rescue mission reveal about the coastal enclave’s “civilian population” and the way mainstream journalists operate?

"I go through the details on IN FOCUS."

'It is a great privilege to be here': Israeli hostage publicly speaks out for the first time since being rescued - Conservative Review    “It is a great privilege to be here after 246 days in Hamas Captivity. It is great privilege to be by my mother’s side after eight months of uncertainty,” she added.

"The two-minute video clip was played in Tel Aviv on Saturday as part of a call for the return of the remaining hostages still in captivity under Hamas. Argamani's mother, Liora, said she has stage 4 brain cancer and only wanted to see her child one last time before passing away. She even wrote a letter to President Joe Biden about the situation.

"While Argamani was safely returned home, she mentioned that her partner, Avinatan Or, has remained in captivity in Gaza.

"'I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that there are 120 more hostages in Hamas captivity, and among them is Avinatan Or, my partner from whom I was separated at the moment of the abduction.”

“ 'Although I’m at home now, we cannot forget the hostages who are still in Hamas captivity, and we must do everything that’s possible to bring them back home," she added.

"Women were specifically targeted during the October 7 attack, many of whom were victims of violent sexual assault.

""Wonder Woman" actress, Gal Gadot, drew attention to the situation in December 2023, writing on Instagram: "We claim we stand against rape, violence against women. We will not let women be victimized and then silenced. We say we believe women. Stand with women. Speak out for women."

“On October 7th, the world witnessed Hamas carrying out its violent plans in real time. Within hours of the October 7th attack, the first blood-chilling video emerged of Shani Louk being paraded naked and defiled by her proud assailants,” Gadot wrote on the social media platform, referring to Shani Louk, the German-Israeli tattoo artist who was kidnapped by Hamas." . . .

And killed by the Gazans, her body in the back of a truck, driven through the streets of Gaza, and spat on by the citizens of Gaza.

CNN and MSNBC: Trump in the lion's den

 

How MSNBC’s Leftward Tilt Delivers Ratings, and Complications - The New York Times (nytimes.com)   "MSNBC placed a big bet on becoming comfort TV for liberals. Then it doubled down.

"Time slots on the cable network once devoted to news programming are now occupied by Trump-bashing opinion hosts. The channel has become a landing spot for high-profile alumni of President Biden’s administration like Jen Psaki, who went from hosting White House press briefings to hosting her own show. On Super Tuesday, when producers aired a portion of a live speech by former President Donald J. Trump, Rachel Maddow chastised her bosses on the air.

"The moves have been a hit with viewers. MSNBC has leapfrogged past its erstwhile rival CNN in the ratings and has seen viewership rise over the past year, securing second place in cable news behind the perennial leader, Fox News."

On MSNBC, the mood turns somber following Biden’s debate performance | CNN Business  CNN: —   On MSNBC, the mood Thursday night was somber.

“I am not going to put a fine sheen on it, or a spin on it, even though I am in the spin room,” "MSNBC anchor Alex Wagner said from the CNN presidential debate spin room

 in Atlanta.

"Wagner was speaking about the reaction from Democratic sources, but on the cable news channel that’s seen as the home to America’s progressive political wing, the mood on set was stark.

“There has been a uniformly negative reaction to Biden’s performance tonight.”

“This was about revealing who Donald Trump was, but it was also Joe Biden battling a caricature of himself as an enfeebled person,” Wagner said of the debate. “And he did nothing to disabuse, I think, the country of the notion that he is very old and was lost frequently in that debate.”

From 2020 CNN and MSNBC Fret Over Post-Trump Future - The New York Times 

"CNN and MSNBC thrived during the Trump years, reaching new heights in ratings and revenue while devoting countless prime-time hours to criticizing a White House antagonist their viewers just could not quit." . . .

"People at both networks know that viewers who abhorred President Trump may no longer need their nightly therapy sessions with Rachel Maddow or Don Lemon." . . . 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs 'Save Chick-fil-A' bill

Gwen Aviles (nbcnews.com)  Proponents of the bill say it will protect religious freedom. Critics however, say it will be used to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

"The legislation, known as Senate Bill 1978, prohibits government entities from taking "adverse actions" against businesses or individuals because of their religious beliefs or moral convictions. But while proponents view the bill as a necessary measure ensuring religious freedom, critics say it's a thinly veiled attempt to undermine LGBTQ rights.

"The bill — which has no official connection to Chick-fil-A — received its nickname after the San Antonio City Council banned the fast-food franchise from opening a location in the city's airport because of the company's "legacy of anti-LGBT behavior."

"Chick-fil-A has been under fire for its LGBTQ track record since 2012, when it was revealed that the company, through the charity of its founder, S. Truett Cathy, who died in 2014, donated nearly $2 million to groups that oppose same-sex marriage.

"The Save Chick-fil-A law makes it clear in Texas: You don’t mess with Chick-fil-A, and you don’t mess with religious freedom,” Jonathan Saenz, president of the socially conservative Texas Values Action, said in a statement." . . .

Barack Obama's Debate Post Raises Eyebrows: 'Not Really Helpful'

Kaitlin Lewis (msn.com) 

RealityBites

 "Several commentators were critical of former President Barack ObamaJoe's reaction to the first 2024 presidential debate, where his former running mate's performance raised alarm bells in Democrats ahead of November.

"In a post to X, formerly Twitter, Friday afternoon, Obama offered support for President Joe Biden's reelection run, whose demeanor Thursday night renewed concerns over the 81-year-old's age and ability to serve another four years. A Biden aide told Newsweek that the president was suffering from a cold." 

" 'Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit," the former president continued. "Last night didn't change that, and it's why so much is at stake in November."

"Thursday's debate was the first time that Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, faced former President Donald Trump this election cycle. The night began with Biden speaking with a rather raspy-sounding voice and was filled with several gaffes.

"Trump, meanwhile, repeated many of the same falsehoods that he has used throughout his campaign, including regarding Democrats' policies on abortion, the economy and immigration. The former president is 78 years old and is the first former president in U.S. history to be criminally convicted.

"Biden's performance has sparked concern from some close to the Democratic Party, and commentators have suggested that the president should be replaced with a different candidate before November. Obama's comments of support were received by several as being untimely coming off such a poor debate performance, including political commentator Chris Cillizza, who addressed Obama's point about having a "bad" debate night." . . .

White House Warns Public Any Videos Of Biden Looking Confused And Senile During Debate Will Be Deepfakes (Parody)

  Babylon Bee

"ATLANTA, GA — As the much-anticipated first presidential debate of the 2024 election approaches, officials at the White House have stepped forward to caution Americans that any videos from the debate which show Biden looking confused and senile will be deepfakes.

"The White House also stated that any videos depicting Biden as stammering, forgetting the names of his cabinet members, bending forward at odd times, shuffling aimlessly offstage, or standing stock-still for longer than five minutes at a time are also definitely AI-generated deepfakes.

" 'The president is feeling sharp and energetic as he prepares for this debate," said Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a press conference. "Because he is in such tip-top shape, any videos which seem to depict him as bewildered, unstable, or ineloquent are certain to just be deepfakes made to spread the far-right conspiracy theory that the president is incompetent. Just remember — if the president seems to be displaying anything less than perfect, inspiring rhetoric and logic in the debate, you're just watching a clever deepfake."

"When asked for comment, President Biden stared into the abyss for several minutes and then threatened to fight a moose. Karine Jean-Pierre, however, clarified that this behavior was "just another one of those devilish deepfakes."

"At publishing time, the White House had cautioned Americans that everything bad from the past four years is probably also a deepfake and we may, in fact, be living in the matrix." 

A.F. Branco Cartoon - Debate Fallout - Comically Incorrect

MSNBC is a real piece of work.

Lefties losing it: Jon Stewart ridicules MSNBC ‘meltdown’ over Joe Biden decal (youtube.com) "Sky News host Rita Panahi reacts to footage of The Daily Show host Jon Stewart “actually being funny”.

"Mr Stewart lampooned MSNBC for refusing to show a “disturbing” image of Joe Biden being tied up on a pickup truck decal. "Just earlier this month, much of the media in the US had an absolute meltdown about an obviously doctored image – a meme basically – on the back of a pickup truck,” Ms Panahi said. “Can’t imagine why people have lost trust in the media – even Jon Stewart has lost faith.”

MSNBC DESTROYS Jen Psaki Trying To Spin Biden Freefall   "MSNBC can't cover up that voters are waffling to side with Donald Trump - yet Psaki tries to claim President Biden stands for the 'ideals of the greatest generation'. Talk is cheap as the past 4 years of the Biden Administration has shown quite the opposite in a huge push of progressive non-sense. People are waking up and not buying into the garbage being hurled. The current administration is failing and it's just rolling out the red carpet for President Trump to get back into power."

MSNBC Hosts Nearly in TEARS After Bidens PATHETIC Debate

A news network where not one employee appears to have ever had a desire to be a reputable, trusted journalist: Chris Hayes, Nicolle Wallace, Rachael Maddow, Joy Reid, Lawrence O'Donnell tear into anyone not a leftist. TD

MSNBC - Bias and Credibility - Media Bias/Fact Check (mediabiasfactcheck.com)

. . ."Analysis / Bias

"In review, MSNBC uses strong emotionally loaded headlines such as this “GOP senator says he’s ‘concerned’ Trump was ‘involved in a crime” and “Cohen gets 3 years in jail for covering up Trump’s ‘dirty deeds’”. Generally, story selection favors the Left; however, they are also occasionally criticized by left-leaning organizations. For example, according to Fair.org, MSNBC did not dedicate much airtime to the West Virginia Teachers Strike until the fair.org article was published. Further, Salon published an article criticizing MSNBC for employing the “Republican Never Trump” type of conservatives.

"According to the article, they are “Loading up on semi-repentant conservatives and ignoring the activist left, MSNBC is doing the nation a disservice.” In other words, MSNBC is so focused on negative coverage of Donald Trump that they are ignoring the progressive left and actually moving right. However, as a whole, according to Pew Research Center, MSNBC is favored by a liberal audience, which indicates content and story selection tends to lean left to appeal to their core viewers. Further, MSNBC frequently reports negatively on progressive candidates.  Lastly, in a 2018 survey conducted by the Knight Foundation/Gallup, they found that the public rates MSNBC the 3rd most biased media source (left) behind Fox News and Breitbart (right).

"When reporting news, MSNBC mainly provides video clips from reporters in the field. Text-based news comes directly from the Left-Center NBC News website. When reporting straight news stories, MSNBC is highly factual and well-sourced. They use NBC News as their primary source; however, due to some of the guest political pundits spreading misinformation on their daily programs, we cannot rate MSNBC High for factual reporting on the whole." . .  .

Much more at the Tunnel Wall

Biden Hallucinated During Debate

American Free News Network (substack.com)

"Joe Biden repeated the oft told story that he decided to run because of the events in Charlottesville in August 2017. According to Demented Biden, Nazis and KKK thugs “came out of the forests, fields and woods with torches.” Earth to Joe: There are NO forests, fields or woods in downtown Charlottesville. You were hallucinating during the debate! He repeated this fantasy several times Thursday night. He also hallucinated that his son died in combat.

"President Trump knew when he accepted this challenge, that he would probably be debating three people, not one. Roger Stone tweeted, “Asking Jake Tapper to moderate a debate with Donald Trump is like asking the Boston strangler to massage your neck.” This extraordinary imbalance did not seem to bother Trump, however… More here… or here:  Which Joe Biden Showed Up Last Night? (afnn.us)

Obama and Biden Explain Away the Debate in a Way That Makes Old Joe Look Even Worse – PJ Media  Let's skip down to the meat of the subject:

“This is the God’s truth. My word as a Biden.”

. . ."Just in case you’ve missed any, here are five of Biden’s most egregious lies: 

1. On Dec. 1, 1965, the faculty of the Syracuse College of Law published a report about Young Joe, stating that Biden “used five pages from a published law review article without quotation or attribution” and recommended that he fail a legal methods course because of his plagiarism.

2. For years, Biden claimed the accident that took the life of his first wife Neilia was caused by a drunk driver. The real story was that Neilia drove into the path of the oncoming truck. The driver’s daughter repeatedly asked Biden to apologize for lying about her father, who was driven into a deep depression by Biden’s public lies. The cheerful grifter never, of course, did so.

3. In Sept. 1987, Biden delivered a speech that mixed class warfare rhetoric with his own experiences and those of his family. “Why is it that Joe Biden is the first in his family ever to go to a university? Why is it that my wife… is the first in her family to ever go to college? Is it because our fathers and mothers were not bright?” Powerful stuff — at least until you realize that those weren’t really Biden’s family’s experiences at all. He had lifted all this from a speech by British Labour leader Neil Kinnock.

4. Biden claimed in Feb. 2020 that he had been arrested in South Africa while trying to visit Nelson Mandela in prison: “I had the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of Soweto trying to get to see him on Robbens Island.” Biden even had the audacity to add a few days later that after Mandela was freed and became president of South Africa, “he came to Washington and came to my office. He threw his arms around me and said, ‘I want to say thank you.’ I said, ‘What are you thanking me for, Mr. President?’ He said: ‘You tried to see me. You got arrested trying to see me.’” However, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations at that time, Andrew Young, refuted Biden’s claim outright: “There is no chance I ever was arrested in South Africa, and I don’t think Joe was, either.”

5. In Dec. 2022, Biden told a moving story about how his Uncle Frank had won the Purple Heart but never received it. Biden obtained it for him, but noble old Frank said: “I don’t want it….The others died. I lived. I don’t want it.” A registry of recipients of the Purple Heart doesn’t include the name Frank Biden, and when Frank died, his obituary contained no mention of his having won this honor. Also, the story is suspiciously similar to one Biden was fond of telling in 2019. Biden claimed that when he tried to pin a Silver Star on a Navy captain, the recipient said, “Sir, I don’t want the damn thing! Do not pin it on me, Sir! Please, Sir. Do not do that! He died. He died.” Biden concluded, “This is the God’s truth. My word as a Biden.” Sheesh.

"Biden has told so many more lies that I could fill a hundred columns recounting them all. But these five are useful to keep on hand the next time you hear someone repeat the Obama/Biden line and say, “Well, at least Old Joe tells the truth.” The senescent corruptocrat never has. And he likely never will."

‘Anarchy U’

 ‘Anarchy U’ | Streaming Now | The Daily Caller   "What started as routine leftist protests in April quickly turned into a battle for the UCLA campus — and the Daily Caller’s investigative reporters were on the ground to document it all.

"The Daily Caller’s new documentary, “Anarchy U,” gives a behind the scenes look at the most chaotic campus riot since the 1960s. On April 25, 2024, anti-Israel protesters set up an encampment on the lush campus of UCLA. What happened next makes even the “Summer of Love” look like a walk in the park.

"We document it all: the violence, the building takeovers, the construction and destruction of the encampment and the clashes between protesters, counter-protesters and police. Watch now to see all of the action.

“Anarchy U” is available exclusively to Patriots members. Catch an exclusive first glimpse below."

"First, the Daily Caller uncovered the true cost of the Defund the Police movement in “Lawless.”  Then “Rigged” exposed the issue Democrats fear most: how their political machine managed to secure Joe Biden the presidency in 2020. Now, with “Anarchy U,” investigative reporter Cam Higby infiltrates the UCLA protests, riots and encampments, documenting all of the chaos with hours of original video footage.

"First, we follow Higby as he questions the masked protesters intent on setting up their autonomous zone with the UCLA’s beautiful campus quad. Why are they here? What issues are they fighting for?  Often, they won’t — or can’t — give a straight answer. But they’re sure as hell determined to keep Jewish students from attending class.

"So Higby can only get so far. The flow of people, as well as information, in and out of the encampment is tightly controlled. Barriers block his way, along with security checkpoints. Some of the “security” appears to be just masked protesters. Others seem to be professionals. Who are these people; students, professors, outsider agitators? And how are they able to restrict the freedom of movement on a public campus? How far has the university leadership gone to empower them?" . . .

Dazed and Confused: Biden gives disastrous debate performance of epic proportions ; UPDATED

 Sharyl Attkisson

"Biden was first to call names during the debate, looking at Trump and snarling that Trump is a “loser” and a “sucker.” Biden also cussed several times, and repeatedly referred to Trump as a “whiner.' ”

"Even entering the stage with low expectations, President Joe Biden’s debate performance stands out as arguably the worst presidential debate performance in our time.

"The president frequently appeared confused and befuddled as he stammered and stumbled through answers to the moderator’s questions, lost his place, and attempted snappy comebacks in a voice that was faltering and difficult to hear.

"Early in the debate, Biden froze entirely for approximately ten seconds, rescued by one of the moderators who moved along quickly to the next question without acknowledging the obviously remarkable moment.

"In contrast, former President Donald Trump displayed a focused, controlled, and in-command performance.

"Biden frequently self-corrected his words including from “millions” to “billions,” from “century” to “decade,” and from “millionaries” to “billionaires.” But he often made errors and mistakes without correcting himself, and rambled on incoherently.

"In one particularly difficult exchange, a moderator asked Biden if he supports legal limits on how late in pregnancy a woman should be able to get an abortion. 

"Biden answered: “I supported Roe v Wade, which had three trimesters. First time is between a woman and a doctor. Second time is between a doctor and an extreme situation. A third time is betwen the doctor I mean, between the woman and the state.”

"At times Biden seemed to know what he wanted to express, but had trouble communicating his thoughts. He said “Fentanyl is down,” but was unclear on whether he meant illegal importation, use, deaths, or some other facet. He also said that “We beat Medicare,” leaving the audience to wonder what he was trying to convey." . . .

We just witnessed the end of Joe Biden's presidency (nypost.com)  "Joe Biden’s performance during the debate was embarrassing. "Whenever CNN put him up on the split screen, he had a thousand-yard stare. "He didn’t look old. He looked ancient. He looked empty.

Joe Biden's Blank Stare | Know Your Meme    

CNN Host: Biden Knew ‘Every One of These Questions Was Coming’ and Still Blew the Debate – PJ Media   . . ."Biden took a week off being president for debate prep, and his performance still became the most universally panned in the history of presidential debates. It wasn't even close. Nothing Trump said mattered because the biggest question of the night was whether Biden would prove he was capable of handling the presidency. He clearly failed in that objective.

Keep in mind that the deck was heavily stacked in Biden's favor. He had not only taken a week off for debate prep but the debate setting and rules were based on his demands. He didn't want an audience, he wanted microphones muted when it wasn't the candidate's turn, and he wanted the debates hosted by far-left media outlets.

And, according to CNN's Erin Burnett, he may have gotten the questions in advance.

"He goes through six days of preparation at Camp David," Burnett observed. "And they know the rules.” "It was more than a week," Chris Wallace pointed out." . . . The footage speaks for itself.

00000

A System Run By Illiterate Imbeciles

 Matt Walsh (dailywire.com)

"We’re now all very familiar with the catastrophe that is Fulton County, Georgia’s attempt to prosecute Donald Trump on RICO charges."

"One of the benefits of our whole federal system, at least in theory, is that it provides some insulation from bad government. If your state is being run into the ground by incompetent politicians, then you can just move to another state. And if a local politician is doing a terrible job, then at least he’s not wrecking the rest of the country. The damage is contained. 

"That’s the idea, anyway. And there are about a million reasons why that’s not true anymore. Exhibit A is the series of ongoing and deeply embarrassing disasters that are unfolding at the moment in Atlanta, Georgia and its surrounding metro area. There’s no other way to say this: Because the principles of federalism are no longer really operative, Atlanta’s dysfunction poses a direct threat to the entire country. You can’t get away from it simply by fleeing the state of Georgia. It’s all encompassing.

H/T John Uhrig

"We’re now all very familiar with the catastrophe that is Fulton County, Georgia’s attempt to prosecute Donald Trump on RICO charges. The lead prosecutor, Fani Willis, saw the trial as an opportunity to promote her boyfriend and shower him with taxpayer money, then she apparently lied about it to the court. She also tried to play the sassy woman when she testified about this conflict of interest, which somehow managed to lower public confidence in her office even further. That’s all well-documented.

"On top of that, just this week, former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler asked why Fulton County officials are reportedly attempting to destroy 2020 election ballots before they can be inspected."

No Haven for Hamas

 Matthew Continetti (freebeacon.com)

"Enough with the ceasefires. Put the plans back in the briefcase, Mr. Secretary. Let Israel win."

"Secretary of State Antony Blinken's eighth trip to the Middle East since the terrorist atrocities of October 7, 2023, has gone about as well as the previous seven. That is to say: Not well at all.

"Blinken went to the region to pressure Israel and Hamas into accepting President Biden's latest ceasefire proposal for the war in Gaza. Biden released the plan on May 31. It would proceed in three stages.

"First, there would be a six-week truce during which Hamas would release some hostages in exchange for terrorists held in Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would withdraw from Gaza's population centers, and Americans would supply more humanitarian aid for Gaza's Palestinians. The second phase would involve negotiations over full IDF withdrawal from Gaza and the release of the remaining captives. In the third phase, the "international community" would rebuild Gaza, a non-Hamas government would come to power, Saudi Arabia and Israel would make peace, and the oceans would turn into pink lemonade.

"I'm kidding about the lemonade.

"Still, there is something absurd about the offer in general. It rests on the assumption that Hamas is a legitimate negotiating partner with an interest in ending the war. Such an assumption is worse than false. It is insane. And Blinken knows it.

"Hamas isn't a state worthy of recognition. It's a terrorist entity governing a population through fear, terror, and zealotry. Which is why Americans deal not with Hamas but with Hamas's intermediaries in Egypt and Qatar. We still have some scruples, after all. And if a terror organization does not deserve our direct contact, then it does not deserve our rescue.

"Nor is Hamas interested in bringing the Gaza war to a close. As the secretary of state was engaged in another round of shuffle diplomacy, desultorily flying from capital to capital with nothing to show for it, the Wall Street Journal published a blockbuster story confirming what some of us already knew: Hamas's psychopathic terror leader, Yahya Sinwar, follows Vladimir Lenin's dictum of "the worse, the better." The greater the number of Palestinian casualties, the greater the devastation to Gaza's infrastructure, the further isolated the Jewish state becomes, and the more anti-Semitism intensifies around the globe." . . .