It’s been 1 1/2 weeks since the Trump vs. Biden debate-from-hell, and the media’s still focused obsessively on President Biden’s shaky performance, but NOT on the fact that Trump lied constantly and expressed extreme, bizarre views on pretty much ever issue. That should tell you everything you need to know about the media – not that they’re covering the Biden angle of this, since that’s MOST DEFINITELY a significant news story, but that they aren’t even making a pretense of being balanced, let alone fair. Instead, it’s a feeding frenzy against Biden, with barely a mention of Trump’s dangerous Project 2025 and the possibility that our very democracy could come to an end in a few months.
Now, having said all that, there ARE serious questions about how best to defeat Trump: a) stick with Biden and do everything we can to make sure he wins, including emphasizing the dangers of Trump PLUS the tremendous accomplishments of the Biden administration, and taking the emphasis OFF of Biden’s weaknesses, intra-Democratic divisions, etc.; b) urging Biden to drop out of the race, in favor of VP Kamala Harris, and taking our chances with a new ticket for the fall; c) other options?
Unlike the fall-in-line, top-down, authoritarian Republican Party, of course, Democrats are a messy “big tent” with lots of different ideas and no real way to “herd” the various “cats” in that “big tent.” Which can be a good thing AND a bad thing, simultaneously. So what we’re seeing now is a messy situation, in which numerous Democratic elected officials, donors, etc. are being quoted – often anonymously, sometimes on the record – as having doubts about Biden’s abilities to win the election. Over the weekend, for instance, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) talked on CNN about his unhappiness with Biden’s debate performance, his affection for and loyalty to Biden, but also his overriding/urgent goal of making sure we defeat Trump and save our democracy.
Also, yesterday, Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08) was quoted by Punchbowl News as supposedly saying that Biden’s “very fragile,” “has trouble putting two sentences together,” and even that Beyer’s “perfect world” would be where Biden “steps aside now, let[s] Kamala run as the incumbent, which I think makes her even stronger.” So that’s really striking if those are accurate quotes (still haven’t heard audio or seen a transcript of the entire call). As of this morning, Beyer’s office hasn’t specifically addressed the alleged quotes, but he HAS issued a statement saying, “I support the Biden-Harris ticket and look forward to helping defeat Donald Trump in November.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Warner’s planned “huddle” with other Democratic U.S. Senators to discuss where they’re at with regard to the Biden campaign appears to be postponed or canceled. We’ll see, but presumably the feelings of anxiety among these Senators haven’t disappeared overnight.
Finally, check out the following letter sent by President Biden to “my fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill,” as well as video of Biden’s call in to “Morning Joe” a little while ago, in which Biden asserts that he is NOT dropping out of the race, arguing that he’s beaten Trump before and will do so again, making the case that “it’s time to come together, move forward as a unified party,” etc. Personally, I don’t find constant repetition of the mantra that he has beaten Trump previously, has a list of major accomplishments in his administration, and simply had a “bad night” in the debate, to address the main cause of concern among many Democrats (myself included), which is maximizing our chances of beating (preferably CRUSHING) Trump in November. How about you? Are you “ridin’ with Biden,” not sure where you’re at right now, or feeling like we need to make a change (to Kamala Harris or someone else)?
P.S. Also note that State Sen. Louise Lucas over the weekend weighed in strongly in support of President Biden, writing: “I’m riding with Biden, just like every other damn Democrat I’ve talked to. Get the hell off Twitter (I know that means a lot coming from me) and get the hell off your phone. Let’s get to work to save our democracy!!”
“I haven’t lost. I beat him last time. I’ll beat him this time.”
— President Biden defends his campaign on Morning Joe amid calls to drop out pic.twitter.com/aQ3lyntUOX
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) July 8, 2024
‘The bottom line here is we’re not going anywhere. I’m not going anywhere’. –@potus while calling in to Morning Joe pic.twitter.com/5FVyX5JU4a
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) July 8, 2024
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