By Dr. David Matsanga in Africa
On Thursday June 27, 2024 I watched the full debate of the American Presidential contenders. I tell you it was messy. Many years ago, I missed out on a job because I lost my temper.
It was one of those awful I’m-hour interviews with workshops, team tasks and worst of all, a three-course dinner bang in the middle. I didn’t scream or get abusive, but I did let my frustration get the better of me about something or other.
Given my strong scores in earlier rounds, all I needed to do was a smile, exude an air of calm and the gig was mine. I couldn’t do it. That is what Biden and Trump did when they appeared on TV for the debate.
I was thinking about this experience as I woke up to the news that Joe Biden effectively set his podium alight at the first US presidential election debate. Biden, 81, also had only one job.
This is to demonstrate to the American people, particularly those living in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia and Arizona, that he is not too old to be president. The stakes were somewhat higher but the outcome was the same: he couldn’t do it.
I failed that interview I referred to in the opening paragraph not because I didn’t understand the assignment, but because of who I was. I was young and yet to hone a neutral tone and listening eyes. I used temper to reason with those on the panel. They failed me.
History will be written that Biden is old man, and while he managed to mask it in previous debates and various State of the Union addresses, he couldn’t on this occasion. Sometimes we fail, even if we only have one job. That is what happened to Joe Biden – he let down his supporters because of temper. Hate for trump brought him down.
The truth must sink. I am a conflict resolution expert and a political risk strategist. I always tell people not fall in the net of temper. In African politics if you fall in the network of temper and hate you invite a bad situation.
You must calm down a bad situation and do what is called “a fatigue evaluation” that will deliver you out of the hole you have dug. Biden fell to the trap of a known criminal called Trump
Another truth is that for what it’s worth, Donald Trump is a convicted felon who incited an insurrection in the US Capitol to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. From tariffs to alliances, his policies would further undermine the global rules-based order.
The pure bold talk from me is that anybody who talks of democracy of the USA annoys Socrates in the grave – As an African scholar I don’t believe that there is democracy in USA on African NGOs that went to school compounds not classrooms can believe that .
The type of democracy of 250 years in America that takes one inside the holes instead of removing us out our holes as Africans is dangerous democracy. African young generations must not look at USA democracy as a benchmark for a better world. We must look at the new type of democracy that fits Africa.
On the side of Trump -He is frequently unintelligible. His Supreme Court nominees have overturned the constitutional right to abortion. He has overseen vast conflicts of interests with regards to the presidency and his businesses. He has been found liable for sexual abuse. In other words, there are worse things in the world than appearing old on television.
I say this from the bottom of my heart, I still believe the Americans will vote him even when he is in jail. But, given the widely understood threat of a second Trump presidency, shouldn’t that incentivise the Democratic Party to nominate the best possible candidate? They instead named Joe Biden a failure of foreign policy.
I tell you and I can go on record that I don’t like Hillary Clinton on politics of Africa as a Pan African. She killed and helped bomb Libya but she told Americans what would happen if they chose a wrong Democratic candidate.
The warning signs were there when Hillary Clinton ran but at least in 2016, few thought Trump could actually win. The same complacency is around this time.
I always balance my articles to allow my young students across the world to understand the international relations. To be clear, Biden has been a successful legislator, from passing the historic Inflation Reduction Act to the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, while overseeing a booming economy. But very weak on domestic levels.
One must remove that while corralling the West in the defence of Ukraine he brought defeat home. Yet all this would be seriously, perhaps fatally undermined if his legacy were ultimately a Trump re-run.
There is a notion that Biden might not be the candidate in November seems otherworldly. The steps required to reach such a destination are many and fraught with danger. First, Biden himself would have to voluntarily relinquish the nomination.
Then, Vice President Kamala Harris, even less popular than Biden, would have to be persuaded not to run. So those who love Democratic Party restrain your tears
The debate in USA and the events in Africa have also provided a fascinating insight into the mindset of humans, which in this particular bun fight I would have to self-identify as one.
There had been so much pushback from reporting most notably from the Wall Street Journal, that Biden was “showing signs of slipping”. Suddenly, in the space of a 90-minute debate of the USA like in my failure to get the job because there is a direction that says -practically everyone in the world seem to agree that there is a problem with USA democracy.
I conclude by saying when I lost my job because of anger I learnt how to mediate and negotiate for others without TEMPER – For America or USA as it is commonly known to come back and lead the world again in their CRUSADE OF DEMOCRACY – They must ADOPT my THEORY OF REDEMPTION STRATEGY- if not done then there is Democracy .
Lastly the only good thing that might came out of the anger loaded debate of USA – Biden is LIABILITY and if it gets him not to run… otherwise, it was a BAD day for Democratic Party and the African Allies of Democratic Party.
Keep this article for reference
The writer is a Pan Africanist based in London, Political scientist & International Relations expert, studied conflict Resolution, a member of Royal African Society (RAS) Founder /Chairman Pan African Forum (UK)Ltd @MatsangaDr
