30 June—Today marks the 90^th anniversary of the infamous Night of the Long Knives (der Nacht der langen Messer), the purge in Nazi Germany in which Adolf Hitler (remember him?) ordered a series of extrajudicial—i.e., legally unwarranted—executions—i.e., murders—for purely political purposes.

Simply put, Hitler used the despicable toadies and resources he could absolutely trust (like Göring and Himmler and the SS and Gestapo) to rub out those his paranoia had doubts about (especially best bud Ernst Röhm and his Brownshirts).

Of course, Adolf Hitler can’t be compared to Donald Trump. Hitler was shorter and less obese, liked dogs, and dressed better. But now that we’re on Trump, has the big bully in his 78 disgraceful, narcissistic, corrupt years ever admitted that he screwed up? (His mindless followers will insist that he never has screwed up, to be sure, but we know they’re blind to reality.)

Well, Joe Biden admitted he screwed up after his pathetic performance Thursday night. He couldn’t very well sweep it under the carpet in the circumstance, but it showed that he’s a better person and more of a man than Donald Trump could ever be.

But panicky calls for Biden to drop out of the presidential race keep coming. The liberal Atlanta Journal-Constitution just echoed The liberal New York Times, for instance. And yesterday even El Liberalissimo, a long-time Biden admirer, despite confidence that “if elected he would assemble a top team of advisors and perform well,” opines that “for the good of the country Biden must drop out, and the Dems must permit a new candidate to emerge.”

Why? Sure, as Joe Biden himself noted the other night, he’s not a young man and doesn’t talk as smoothly or debate as well as he used to.” But considering the good of the country Biden must run. Because in practical, realistic political terms he’s the only person who stands any chance at all of defeating Trump in November.

Biden did it four years ago, of course—against the odds. And, then as now, his advanced years were among his negatives. But he did it. He beat Trump. (Despite what Trump and his followers claim, of course, even though they really know better.) On the other hand, who—regardless of party—stands any chance at all of defeating Trump in November?

Certainly not Bobby Kennedy Jr., for instance. Since appearance and performance mean so much—too much—Bobby’s a loser from the start. Because through no fault of his own, he has a weak, raspy voice. It’s caused by spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological condition. But who cares? Putting aside his platform, Bobby sounds awful. And that’s what counts these days. (But Abraham Lincoln is said to have had a very high-pitched, unmasculine voice.)

So do the Democrats have even one serious replacement for Joe Biden? Don’t even think about Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton in a UPS uniform.

On the other hand, rather than the Dems dumping Biden, the GOP should dump Trump. Yesterday, a brilliant, pointed, lengthy editorial in the liberal Philadelphia Inquirer, under the banner head “To serve his country, Donald Trump should leave the race,” said, inter alia (in italics, with quotation marks and ellipses omitted; and apologies to The Inquirer for the extensive quoting):

President Joe Biden’s debate performance was a disaster. In fact, the debate about the debate is misplaced. The only person who should withdraw from the race is Trump.

Trump, 78, has been on the political stage for eight years marked by chaos, corruption, and incivility. Why go back to that?

To build himself up, Trump constantly tears the country down.

Trump told more than 30 lies during the debate to go with the more than 30,000 mistruths told during his four years as president. He dodged the CNN moderators’ questions, took no responsibility for his actions, and blamed others, mainly Biden, for everything that is wrong in the world.

The debate served as a reminder of what another four years of Trump would look like. More lies, grievance, narcissism, and hate. Supporters say they like Trump because he says whatever he thinks. But he mainly spews raw sewage.

Trump attacks the military. He denigrates the Justice Department and judges. He belittles the FBI and the CIA. He picks fights with allies and cozies up to dictators.

As president, Trump didn’t read the daily intelligence briefs. He continued to use his personal cell phone, allowing Chinese spies to listen to his calls. During one Oval Office meeting, Trump shared highly classified intelligence with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador.

Trump’s term did plenty of damage and had few accomplishments. The much-hyped wall didn’t get built. Giant tax cuts made the rich richer, while fueling massive deficits for others to pay for years.

The West Wing was in constant chaos and infighting.

Many Trump appointees exited under a cloud of corruption, grifting and ethical scandals. Trump’s children made millions off the White House. His dilettante son-in-law got $2 billion from the Saudi government for his fledgling investment firm even though he never managed money before.

Now, Trump is a convicted felon who is staring at three more criminal indictments. He is running for president to stay out of prison.

If anything, Trump doesn’t deserve to be on the presidential debate stage. Why even give him a platform?

We cannot be serious about letting such a crooked clown back in the White House.

Yes, Biden had a horrible night. He’s 81 and not as sharp as he used to be. But Biden on his worst day remains lightyears better than Trump on his best.

There was only one person at the debate who does not deserve to be running for president. The sooner Trump exits the stage, the better off the country will be.

Say that again: The sooner Trump exits the stage, the better off the country will be.