Letters: Biden could have allowed voters a preview of Harris as president

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U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision, finally, not to seek re-election is likely coming too late to stop Donald Trump.

While Trump is often and justly accused of narcissism, the sheer hubris demonstrated by Biden in consistently asserting he was the best candidate for the Democrats was equally damaging. His close circle is now trying to shape his legacy by spinning this long overdue step as some ultimate expression of patriotism. No, it is not.

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Had Biden truly put his party and his country before his pride and conceit, he would have resigned from the presidency outright months ago, and allowed Kamala Harris to assume the role for the balance of his term. This would have given voters time to adjust to the notion of having her as their president in advance of the election, and would have spared the Democrats the division and rancour that will likely now prove the party’s immediate downfall.

Ian Copnick, Côte-St-Luc

Biden’s withdrawal and Trump’s response a study in contrasts

With his infantile response to Joe Biden’s withdrawal letter, Donald Trump demonstrated once again that he was, is and always will be a despicable human being.

Joel Schwartz, Côte-St-Luc 

State of Biden’s health can’t be swept under the rug

President Joe Biden should never have run again. Initially, he was only supposed to serve one term, to remove Donald Trump from office and then make way for younger people. What is this strange party that was seemingly incapable of finding a replacement for a weakened old man?

I agree with political scientist Marie-Christine Bonzom in Le Devoir: The fourth estate in the United States failed during Biden’s mandate. By remaining silent about his health, it is as if the anti-Trump media wanted to protect Biden in order to facilitate his re-election. I hope lessons will be learned.

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Now, we must quickly make Kamala Harris’s candidacy a reality in order to give her time to make herself known and find a running mate in a swing state.

Whether the new Democratic ticket wins or loses on Nov. 5, I believe Biden should immediately resign and leave the White House. Because the Republicans are not wrong about Biden: He no longer seems to have the capabilities required to fully hold power.

Sylvio Le Blanc, Montreal 

Biden listens, Trump tells

There were two old men in the U.S. election, but now?

One listened to his family, friends and advisers and did what they thought would be for the best. He will be hard to replace, but his deputy shows promise.

One told his family, friends and advisers what he thought would be for the best. He will be easy to replace, but his deputy is just a clone of himself.

There are other comparisons, and surely people can see the difference between these two not just in age, but mainly in character.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

From the comments section:

What a disaster this has become. Regardless of who wins, the U.S.A. is in trouble.
Corby Amano

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Kamala Harris now has the weight of history and the fate of democracy on her shoulders. But I have every confidence she will laugh them off.
Lawrence Chanin

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I’m no fan of Biden, mostly because his so-called control measures are a joke and his standard “America is the greatest everything of all time” makes me want to vomit.

But Trump is a full-time liar. He’s a sexist pig. And a convicted felon. He ignored COVID because he cared more about Wall Street. The environment means nothing to him. Just drill baby drill. He’s a disaster that doesn’t stop.

Trump and control of the House and Senate and Supreme Court = an autocracy.
Habs SkiFan

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I don’t think Trump is the right guy for running a country, but from a damage-control point of view he is better than Harris.
michel deslongchamps

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Extremely difficult decision but, unfortunately, it was the only wise choice available to the Democrats. Let’s now hope they could block Trump’s path to the throne, for he is an evil individual who could upend American and international politics.
Joel Martin

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