The presidential debate that played out on TV screens on Thursday night was a sad spectacle for America, and for the world. The shining city on a hill of freedom and democracy is looking tattered and rundown. Both presidential candidates are older than any previous holder of the office. Joe Biden appeared frail and sometimes confused, losing his train of thought mid-answer. Donald Trump lied repeatedly and evinced the complete absence of a moral compass. For the Democratic party, and all those who fear Trump represents an existential threat to the American republic, Biden’s halting performance is cause for despair.
周四晚上在电视屏幕上上演的总统辩论是美国乃至全世界的悲哀。这座自由与民主的光辉之城正显得破败不堪。两位总统候选人的年龄都超过了以往任何一位总统。乔•拜登(Joe Biden)显得体弱多病，有时思维混乱，答非所问。唐纳德•特朗普(Donald Trump)屡次撒谎，完全没有道德底线。对于民主党和所有担心特朗普对美国共和制构成生存威胁的人来说，拜登的蹩脚表现令人绝望。