Could Someone Tell Me Why One Bad Debate is Worse Than Being a Convicted Felon?

Following last night's debate between President Biden and defeated, former President Donald Trump, I drew this conclusion:

If one bad night for Biden counts for more with a plurality of American voters than a lifetime of dishonesty and criminal behavior on the part of Trump, then we will get the President we deserve.

Today, there is a huge clamor for President Biden to drop out of the race.  

After Trump was convicted of 34 felonies did anyone call upon him to step aside as the Republican nominee?

No one.

So, could someone please explain to me why one bad debate is worse than being a convicted felon?

Because in calling for Biden to step aside we're basically being told that none of his achievements matter over the past three and a half years matter be it the vaccine rollout, infrastructure legislation, Medicare negotiating drug prices, student loan relief, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act and the short-lived Child Tax Credit. 

The best that I can explain is that we have no standards of behavior and that style triumphs over substance. 

We also have no sense of history. It was 40 years ago that President Reagan botched his first debate against Walter Mondale. Reagan, of course, went on to win 49 out of 50 states.

Of course, I'm painfully aware the political conditions in 2024 are nothing like they were in 1984. No presidential candidate this year is going to win 49 out of 50 states.

But I wish those who were calling upon President Biden to step aside would stop to think. In calling upon, President Biden to step aside they are blindly assuming that his successor would automatically defeat Trump. This is not a given. Indeed, Trump would have an incredible head start against a new opponent. Trump would probably tell his new opponent, "It looks like they're gonna replace you, too."

I wish people would slow down, take a step back, regroup, remember there is one more debate. Biden did best Trump in two debates in 2020 and can get back up from this one. Reagan managed to rebound against Mondale in his second debate. For the sake of democracy, President Biden deserves another chance. 

After all, how many chances has Trump been given?