Forget about whether or not Biden should be the candidate. I'm wondering if he should continue as President. I don't think he's up to the job. He should absolutely have a cognitive test. Merrick Garland should release the Robert Hur tapes. Let everyone hear what was said, and how he said it. After all, by now, those interviews were done almost a year ago. Let the American public determine what they're hearing. Regarding his campaign appearances and the George Stephanopolous interview--big deal. He's reading off a teleprompter at campaign stops, and the televised interview might be edited. Cheap fake in reverse.
He won't step aside. The best we can hope for is for Biden to release his delegates and let the Democrats fight it out at the convention. If I were a voting Democrat, I'd be pissed. It isn't like this Biden stuff is a revelation--staff, family, insiders, all knew about his deteriorating condition and still lied about it. If he had done the noble thing--the LBJ thing--and bowed out before the primaries started, at least Democrats could have had a discussion and examined their weak bench and coughed up someone to run against Trump. BTW--this might have changed the trajectory of the Republican race as well. For months, this race has slowly, inexorably been moving toward a rematch, which no one wanted. As a double-hater, I place myself in that camp. Trump presented himself as the only candidate who could beat Biden, just as Biden says he's the only one who could best Trump. Neither statement is true. These are two stubborn, myopic politicians jousting.
I'll say one thing--for a political junkie like me, this is gold. History is being made right before our eyes. Will we have a "Madame President"? Lord, I'd love one, but not Kamala. She is absolutely and completely incapable of being the leader of the free world. Miss Word Salad has only a 36% approval rating, compared to Joe's 39%. Still, she does poll better against Trump, probably because Joe is shedding support like a sinking ship. I just heard the even Nate Silver is saying that Biden should step aside--now. https://www.mediaite.com/politics/nate-silver-says-biden-should-resign-the-presidency-after-watching-incoherent-comments-to-george-stephanopoulos/
Hi Sharon. I agree that he should resign. It would be the cleanest way to clear the deck and avoid a gi-normous war at the convention. And I think you've hit on a great new term: the "reverse cheap fake." I think we also have a failure of journalism here, though to be fair the NY Times has been reporting on Biden's fragility for the last several months, and of course the Wall Street Journal as well. Biden supporters attacked both papers. Biden is now trailing in polls most of the key swing states he needs to win. I'm not sure what explains Harris' low numbers. She is a typical cynical politician and yes, she isn't a great public speaker, but that could describe at least half of Washington. I have half a mind to sit this one out, though I assume sanity will ultimately prevail. :-)
The further I reflect on this situation, especially in light of Biden's defiance during the Stephanopoulus interview, the more convinced I am that the President should have a complete neurological examination--and not by the WH physician. For all we know, he might be covering up for Biden as well. After all, this makes him look incompetent as well.
If the argument is that Trump should have his day in court and the American people should know his legal status before the election, so too should we know the mental condition of the guy who's not only running the country now, but wants to for the next four years. (I would put that in CAPS, but that's a bit shouty). How can voters make a truly informed decision if we don't know what's going on with Biden? If it were your Dad, your father-in-law, your Grandpa, you'd want to know.
I agree about the failure of journalism--well, most of it, anyway. I get the NY Post digitally (it's free) and they've been barking about Biden for months and years. My poor Dad had a form of neurological disease called lewy body dementia, and you just have to believe me when I tell you that I see the same sorts of physical presentations in Biden that my dad exhibited after he had been diagnosed. It took several years for him to succumb to the ravages of the disease, but it's relentless.
This is a mess. The Democrats have really created one hell of a problem for themselves. Full disclosure: not that I care. I'm not a registered Democrat. I just like watching the show.
Yes, I was going to say many of the symptoms Biden exhibits remind me of my mother-in-law after she got Parkinson's. The slowing cognitive functions, the shuffling gait, the empty, slacked-jawed stare. It was kind of spooky to see Old Joe on that stage. That's what makes this story so compelling. Everyone has seen an aging relative start to lose it. At some point, you have to take away their keys to the car. Collectively, I think we have reached that point with the current president. The Democratic Party needs to take away his keys because he could hurt himself and -- perhaps more importantly -- others.
Biden should hold off until he wins the nomination and then quit so he could create a ticket that would win. For example, what about Sherod Brown or some conservative Dem as Prexy and Gretchen Widmer (?) as VP. If it goes to convention, Kamila will win along with a gender/identity correct VP and Trump wins. Let Trump keep bashing Biden, then pull a trick on him. It'd be a welcome, sensible ticket.
If a Democratic nominee withdraws after the convention, the party rules are clearer. If the nominee resigns, dies or is otherwise unable to run for president, the DNC — conferring with Democratic leadership in Congress and the Democratic Governors Association — fills the vacancy. But withdrawing from the race after the convention could pose different challenges. For starters, Democrats could bump up against ballot access deadlines similar to the one in Ohio that prompted the party to plan to nominate Biden virtually before the convention, although Ohio lawmakers subsequently moved their deadline. Also, a postconvention withdrawal would leave any new nominee very little time to organize a campaign, while allowing the hand-wringing over Biden to drag on for another two months.
Thanks Bob. I was not aware of the rules as presented in your second paragraph. That would also be cleaner than an open convention. I if were a Democrat, however, I would fear that bypassing Harris, the first black woman elected on a national ticket, would fracture the party. But we'll never know until it happens.
I absolutely never thought that when I was voting for Anyone But Trump in 2020, that that candidate would be running for reelection. It's only the MAGA cult being as awful as it is that keeps me being a Democrat.
Biden running for a second term is a bad idea on so many levels. Ironically the MAGA cult you referenced could be empowered because of an enfeebled old man clinging to his throne.
Forget about whether or not Biden should be the candidate. I'm wondering if he should continue as President. I don't think he's up to the job. He should absolutely have a cognitive test. Merrick Garland should release the Robert Hur tapes. Let everyone hear what was said, and how he said it. After all, by now, those interviews were done almost a year ago. Let the American public determine what they're hearing. Regarding his campaign appearances and the George Stephanopolous interview--big deal. He's reading off a teleprompter at campaign stops, and the televised interview might be edited. Cheap fake in reverse.
He won't step aside. The best we can hope for is for Biden to release his delegates and let the Democrats fight it out at the convention. If I were a voting Democrat, I'd be pissed. It isn't like this Biden stuff is a revelation--staff, family, insiders, all knew about his deteriorating condition and still lied about it. If he had done the noble thing--the LBJ thing--and bowed out before the primaries started, at least Democrats could have had a discussion and examined their weak bench and coughed up someone to run against Trump. BTW--this might have changed the trajectory of the Republican race as well. For months, this race has slowly, inexorably been moving toward a rematch, which no one wanted. As a double-hater, I place myself in that camp. Trump presented himself as the only candidate who could beat Biden, just as Biden says he's the only one who could best Trump. Neither statement is true. These are two stubborn, myopic politicians jousting.
I'll say one thing--for a political junkie like me, this is gold. History is being made right before our eyes. Will we have a "Madame President"? Lord, I'd love one, but not Kamala. She is absolutely and completely incapable of being the leader of the free world. Miss Word Salad has only a 36% approval rating, compared to Joe's 39%. Still, she does poll better against Trump, probably because Joe is shedding support like a sinking ship. I just heard the even Nate Silver is saying that Biden should step aside--now. https://www.mediaite.com/politics/nate-silver-says-biden-should-resign-the-presidency-after-watching-incoherent-comments-to-george-stephanopoulos/
Just....yikes.
Hi Sharon. I agree that he should resign. It would be the cleanest way to clear the deck and avoid a gi-normous war at the convention. And I think you've hit on a great new term: the "reverse cheap fake." I think we also have a failure of journalism here, though to be fair the NY Times has been reporting on Biden's fragility for the last several months, and of course the Wall Street Journal as well. Biden supporters attacked both papers. Biden is now trailing in polls most of the key swing states he needs to win. I'm not sure what explains Harris' low numbers. She is a typical cynical politician and yes, she isn't a great public speaker, but that could describe at least half of Washington. I have half a mind to sit this one out, though I assume sanity will ultimately prevail. :-)
The further I reflect on this situation, especially in light of Biden's defiance during the Stephanopoulus interview, the more convinced I am that the President should have a complete neurological examination--and not by the WH physician. For all we know, he might be covering up for Biden as well. After all, this makes him look incompetent as well.
If the argument is that Trump should have his day in court and the American people should know his legal status before the election, so too should we know the mental condition of the guy who's not only running the country now, but wants to for the next four years. (I would put that in CAPS, but that's a bit shouty). How can voters make a truly informed decision if we don't know what's going on with Biden? If it were your Dad, your father-in-law, your Grandpa, you'd want to know.
I agree about the failure of journalism--well, most of it, anyway. I get the NY Post digitally (it's free) and they've been barking about Biden for months and years. My poor Dad had a form of neurological disease called lewy body dementia, and you just have to believe me when I tell you that I see the same sorts of physical presentations in Biden that my dad exhibited after he had been diagnosed. It took several years for him to succumb to the ravages of the disease, but it's relentless.
This is a mess. The Democrats have really created one hell of a problem for themselves. Full disclosure: not that I care. I'm not a registered Democrat. I just like watching the show.
Yes, I was going to say many of the symptoms Biden exhibits remind me of my mother-in-law after she got Parkinson's. The slowing cognitive functions, the shuffling gait, the empty, slacked-jawed stare. It was kind of spooky to see Old Joe on that stage. That's what makes this story so compelling. Everyone has seen an aging relative start to lose it. At some point, you have to take away their keys to the car. Collectively, I think we have reached that point with the current president. The Democratic Party needs to take away his keys because he could hurt himself and -- perhaps more importantly -- others.
Biden should hold off until he wins the nomination and then quit so he could create a ticket that would win. For example, what about Sherod Brown or some conservative Dem as Prexy and Gretchen Widmer (?) as VP. If it goes to convention, Kamila will win along with a gender/identity correct VP and Trump wins. Let Trump keep bashing Biden, then pull a trick on him. It'd be a welcome, sensible ticket.
If a Democratic nominee withdraws after the convention, the party rules are clearer. If the nominee resigns, dies or is otherwise unable to run for president, the DNC — conferring with Democratic leadership in Congress and the Democratic Governors Association — fills the vacancy. But withdrawing from the race after the convention could pose different challenges. For starters, Democrats could bump up against ballot access deadlines similar to the one in Ohio that prompted the party to plan to nominate Biden virtually before the convention, although Ohio lawmakers subsequently moved their deadline. Also, a postconvention withdrawal would leave any new nominee very little time to organize a campaign, while allowing the hand-wringing over Biden to drag on for another two months.
Thanks Bob. I was not aware of the rules as presented in your second paragraph. That would also be cleaner than an open convention. I if were a Democrat, however, I would fear that bypassing Harris, the first black woman elected on a national ticket, would fracture the party. But we'll never know until it happens.
I absolutely never thought that when I was voting for Anyone But Trump in 2020, that that candidate would be running for reelection. It's only the MAGA cult being as awful as it is that keeps me being a Democrat.
Biden running for a second term is a bad idea on so many levels. Ironically the MAGA cult you referenced could be empowered because of an enfeebled old man clinging to his throne.