Opinion: Winning a debate doesn't guarantee winning an election with many factors at play

In the eyes of many political observers and voters, serious questions over President Biden’s mental sharpness and physical limitations going forward are of epic consequence to America in this election year.

But “many” doesn’t take in all of the populace of this country. Many others say there are other overriding factors in play as the country chooses a leader for the next four years.

One of these obvious factors is the legal trouble still facing former President Trump, already carrying a 34-count felony conviction into the general election. He faces a sentencing phase on July 11 for the crimes of falsifying business records in connection with the $130,000 “hush money” payment to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election.

From all accounts, the New York judge in that case will likely not include jail time in his sentencing of Trump. After all, the crimes were not of the violent variety. I’m sure it troubled the judge that he was often called “corrupt” by Trump during the trial and that Trump railed about the judge’s daughter’s political connections.

Most analysts predict Trump will be sentenced to some form of community service for his crimes. If Trump indeed is elected in November, the act of serving as president should fulfill that sentence. No matter what it is, Trump will appeal, so it is possible, although unlikely, for the verdicts to ultimately be overturned.

The U.S. Supreme Court on July 1 ruled immunity from prosecution would be granted to Trump from certain charges for “official acts” related to the Jan 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. In the case, Trump faces three counts of conspiracy and one of obstruction. However, once “official acts” are defined by the federal courts system, things could change.

As stated, Trump was asking that a former president be given total immunity from prosecution for what he called “official acts” upon leaving office. I found it hard to believe that Trump could win such an argument, but the ruling was an obvious victory for the former president. It must be noted that he appointed three of the current nine justices on a Supreme Court that leans to the conservative view.

It is surprising that this is the first time in American history that such a decision was before the high court, considering the legal jams some other of the nation’s leaders have faced.

Said the Washington-based Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics: “If the Supreme Court grants Donald Trump’s request for total immunity, that would place him and the United States virtually alone among our democratic peers on the international stage. Indeed, many countries have prosecuted their former heads of state for corruption and other crimes. That is one key element that differentiates presidents from kings, and democracies from autocracies.”

Two renowned legal authorities, one a former federal judge and the other a Harvard law professor, both said on Sunday morning, June 30, news shows that federal prosecutor Jack Smith should charge ahead with his trial of Trump in the Jan. 6 case — no matter the ruling. It was unknown immediately how such a decision would mesh with the ruling issued July 1 on the presidential immunity question.

As for the debate, Biden’s performance was extremely poor, perhaps matching only the similarly poor debate by President Ronald Reagan when seeking reelection in 1984. He won reelection despite it.

Although there was consensus because of Biden’s stumble that Trump easily won the debate, the former president told myriad alleged untruths during the 90 minutes, reported the Associated Press.

Winning a debate isn’t exactly tantamount to winning an election.

— Mac Gordon, a McComb native, is a retired newspaperman. He can be reached at macmarygordon@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: November presidential election won't solely be determined by debate