A Party in Turmoil: The Conundrum Surrounding President Biden's Candidacy

As Biden's political fortunes decline, the Democratic Party is exploring options for a potential replacement, signaling a growing crisis within the party.

Jul 22, 2024

Joe Biden gives more hints that he'll seek a second term in 2024 | Fortune

The Facts:

It appears the Democratic Party is facing a significant crisis as President Joe Biden's political fortunes have taken a sharp downturn. The party's establishment, including prominent figures like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have privately conveyed to Biden that it would be better if he stepped down from the race. This stance is driven by concerns that Biden's continued candidacy could jeopardize the party's chances in the November 2024 election.

The Democratic National Committee has delayed a pivotal vote that would have made replacing Biden more difficult, suggesting behind-the-scenes maneuvering by party leaders who have lost faith in Biden's ability to win. This delay in the vote until at least August 1 gives more time for negative polls, Biden's stumbles, and significant defections from the party.

Biden's campaign also faces financial troubles, with the president's close ally and major donor, Jeffrey Katzenberg, reportedly telling Biden that new cash is drying up as donors lose faith in his ability to win. Even Biden's media allies, such as MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, have suggested that it is time for him to step aside.

There are signs that Biden is slowly opening to the idea of stepping aside, with reports indicating that he has discussed Vice President Kamala Harris's path to victory if she were to become the nominee. As Biden himself stated, "If I had some medical condition that emerged, if somebody, if doctors came to me and said you got this problem and that prblem, [he] might be willing [to step aside]."

Notably, even in the 2012 debate with Paul Ryan, Biden appeared more aggressive and confident compared to the 2020 campaign where he seemed more tentative and grasping for words. However, Democrats disregarded these observations because they took them to be insincere, and the political left has become accustomed to insincerity.

It now appears that Biden's strategy of surviving until a virtual roll-call vote in July might not be enough to secure the nomination. Elaine Kamarck, a political scientist at the Brookings Institution and a member of the DNC Rules Committee, commented, "There are work-arounds for all of these things. Monday night at the [Democratic National] Convention is really the drop-dead night."

The only person who can remove Biden from the race is Biden himself. While the president has remained publicly defiant, the challenges he faces are both procedural and political.

The View:

It is truly baffling how the Democratic Party and its media allies have allowed the situation with President Biden to deteriorate to this point. Any halfway observant person could have seen years ago that Biden's mental and physical decline had progressed to the point where he was no longer fit to serve as commander-in-chief. The Democrats' refusal to acknowledge the truth of the Republican criticisms about Biden's mental state has led to the current "unenviable position" they find themselves in. Yet, the party and its supporters chose to ignore the obvious, dismissing concerns about Biden's diminished state as mere partisan attacks. This willful blindness is a testament to the left's tendency to prioritize partisan loyalty over the well-being of the country.

This hesitation to confront the reality of Biden's condition has only served to prolong the party's reluctance to address the issue head-on. Instead of making a straightforward argument that Biden is unfit, Democrats have resorted to procedural and ethical objections, as if they truly believe that the American people cannot see the truth for themselves. It seems, the party's power brokers and media allies have seemingly been more concerned with preserving their own political fortunes than with ensuring the country's stability and security.

It is time for the Democratic Party to confront the reality of Biden's condition, and to put the country's interests above their own. The party's leaders must have the courage to acknowledge the truth and take the necessary steps to ensure that a viable candidate is put forward in 2024. Anything less would be a dereliction of their duty to the American people.

TLDR:

The Democratic Party is facing a significant crisis as President Biden's political fortunes have taken a sharp downturn.
The party's establishment, including prominent figures like Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer, have privately conveyed to Biden that it would be better if he stepped down.
The Democratic National Committee has delayed a pivotal vote that would have made replacing Biden more difficult, suggesting behind-the-scenes maneuvering by party leaders.
Biden's campaign also faces financial troubles, with major donors reportedly losing faith in his ability to win.
Even Biden's media allies have suggested that it is time for him to step aside.
There are signs that Biden is slowly opening to the idea of stepping aside, with reports indicating that he has discussed Vice President Harris's path to victory.
The party's power brokers and media allies have seemingly been more concerned with preserving their own political fortunes than with ensuring the country's stability and security.
The Democratic Party must confront the reality of Biden's condition and put the country's interests above their own.