I watched this discussion this morning. Anand has articulated what I think a lot of people are feeling. It is hard to imagine that the Joe Biden we all have seen for the past 6 months has The Fight in him that we need in this moment. I don’t want to see this get ugly. I think Joe Biden has been a much better president than most people expected he would be. I would love to see this transition happen gracefully for him and his family. His story of public service is unmatched imo.
I may have left this already. I am just so ANGRY. Mostly with the Democrats. I know attention spans are limited, memory more so but is it too hard to go back to 2020 when the general consensus was Biden would be an interim/transitional President. Wouldn't that have been the time for Democrats to organize (pretend to be Republicans) find good candidates, support them. Did they do that? Of course not. They dropped the ball. They have no one to blame but themselves if Trump wins in November. Yes, I'm a Democrat. Preached that at the time. But, hey, I'm a 91 year old female. No one listens to me.
Well, we know that President Biden called in to Morning Joe, so, hopefully, either he or his advisors watch the program. More importantly, if they do watch, will they heed Anand's wise words? Or, will they ignore, ignore, ignore.....
This 82 year old World War II orphan is frightened for the prospect of another Trump presidency. My father PFC Oscar Duncan died February 1945 in Belgium thinking he was saving democracy. Your insightful and bold summation gives me hope. Surely someone in President Biden's orbit will read it to him. If he will take the "flight" path; his legacy as a fine long serving statesman will be preserved. Otherwise, he will be remembered as a stubborn old narcissistic who lost our democracy.
When Anand talks about Biden having to 'show' he comes back, Biden is not the only one that needs to prove something. For this entire term, Harris has (yet) to prove she can expand beyond her comfort levels of talking abortion and social justice. Harris has to show a demonstrable growth in presentation, delivery and public persona. Whether Biden stays or goes, Harris needs to prove herself (VP or Prez). This week, I await Harris talking international Issues. Biden team needs to give Harris opportunities to be visible during NATO meetings. Someone among D leadership should have realized that whatever the outcome of Biden on the ticket, Harris will be on the ticket. We need to showcase Harris. No time better than the present for Harris to fight.
So, it might be helpful if we step back to have a look at this situation from a policy perspective vs. a personnel perspective; from a Project 2025 vs. Democracy perspective. Most voters think both candidates are too old. Both are negatively affected by their age, and the race is neck and neck whoever are the Democratic candidates. However, a majority of voters, once everyone learns of, and understands, Project 2025 (one has to believe, since it is so outlandishly authoritarian and Talibanesque), they will vote Democratic up and down the ballot.
So, what say we consider the candidates as merely standard bearers? Let someone younger, who - and, I hear this from many people - hasn't been branded and believed to be truly "evil" in the eyes of Trumpers, or "way too old," by Independents and Demicrats, carry the mantle of democracy into 2025.
Good analysis but the moment has passed that Joe Biden (and his family) can step aside with dignity. He has clearly rejected stepping aside --a form of his calcified thinking and in his Stephanopoulous interview he is DENIAL, DENAIL, DENIAL. Not even entertaining what the data is showing, his "faith in the American voter" is simply wishful thinking.
And about AOC, I think she is support JB because he is easier to bully for her far left agenda. Can't see her pushing around Newsom, Shapiro, Whitmer, etc.
Loved your essay, love this MJ appearance. I believe THE key to making this all work is to make Harris a full partner in this campaign and presidency, both in appearance and fact. Make it clear that whenever the handing over of the reins from Joe to Kamala happens, whether before the election or anytime after in Biden's next term, it will be a smooth transition, known and supported in advance by as close to unanimity in the party as we can get.
I watched this discussion this morning. Anand has articulated what I think a lot of people are feeling. It is hard to imagine that the Joe Biden we all have seen for the past 6 months has The Fight in him that we need in this moment. I don’t want to see this get ugly. I think Joe Biden has been a much better president than most people expected he would be. I would love to see this transition happen gracefully for him and his family. His story of public service is unmatched imo.
I may have left this already. I am just so ANGRY. Mostly with the Democrats. I know attention spans are limited, memory more so but is it too hard to go back to 2020 when the general consensus was Biden would be an interim/transitional President. Wouldn't that have been the time for Democrats to organize (pretend to be Republicans) find good candidates, support them. Did they do that? Of course not. They dropped the ball. They have no one to blame but themselves if Trump wins in November. Yes, I'm a Democrat. Preached that at the time. But, hey, I'm a 91 year old female. No one listens to me.
Such a sound summation of the situation. The question is does it reach the Oval Office and Biden’s advisers.
Well, we know that President Biden called in to Morning Joe, so, hopefully, either he or his advisors watch the program. More importantly, if they do watch, will they heed Anand's wise words? Or, will they ignore, ignore, ignore.....
And the choice that we are seeing....clearly...is "freeze."
As Anand put it, the catastrophic one.
I agree. I think that’s why so many people are reacting negatively.
I agree with Anand a hundred percent. Can only hope that the president is offered this perspective to give him courage to make the right decision.
This 82 year old World War II orphan is frightened for the prospect of another Trump presidency. My father PFC Oscar Duncan died February 1945 in Belgium thinking he was saving democracy. Your insightful and bold summation gives me hope. Surely someone in President Biden's orbit will read it to him. If he will take the "flight" path; his legacy as a fine long serving statesman will be preserved. Otherwise, he will be remembered as a stubborn old narcissistic who lost our democracy.
When Anand talks about Biden having to 'show' he comes back, Biden is not the only one that needs to prove something. For this entire term, Harris has (yet) to prove she can expand beyond her comfort levels of talking abortion and social justice. Harris has to show a demonstrable growth in presentation, delivery and public persona. Whether Biden stays or goes, Harris needs to prove herself (VP or Prez). This week, I await Harris talking international Issues. Biden team needs to give Harris opportunities to be visible during NATO meetings. Someone among D leadership should have realized that whatever the outcome of Biden on the ticket, Harris will be on the ticket. We need to showcase Harris. No time better than the present for Harris to fight.
Anand, You are brilliant and this challenging topic is so concisely presented. I hope you can get this to the White House and the Democrats.
Actually, Nancy Pelosi did NOT suggest Biden should reconsider.
https://x.com/elliskkim/status/1811046928563491036
Anand nailed it. We are all conflicted.
So, it might be helpful if we step back to have a look at this situation from a policy perspective vs. a personnel perspective; from a Project 2025 vs. Democracy perspective. Most voters think both candidates are too old. Both are negatively affected by their age, and the race is neck and neck whoever are the Democratic candidates. However, a majority of voters, once everyone learns of, and understands, Project 2025 (one has to believe, since it is so outlandishly authoritarian and Talibanesque), they will vote Democratic up and down the ballot.
So, what say we consider the candidates as merely standard bearers? Let someone younger, who - and, I hear this from many people - hasn't been branded and believed to be truly "evil" in the eyes of Trumpers, or "way too old," by Independents and Demicrats, carry the mantle of democracy into 2025.
Good analysis but the moment has passed that Joe Biden (and his family) can step aside with dignity. He has clearly rejected stepping aside --a form of his calcified thinking and in his Stephanopoulous interview he is DENIAL, DENAIL, DENIAL. Not even entertaining what the data is showing, his "faith in the American voter" is simply wishful thinking.
And about AOC, I think she is support JB because he is easier to bully for her far left agenda. Can't see her pushing around Newsom, Shapiro, Whitmer, etc.
Loved your essay, love this MJ appearance. I believe THE key to making this all work is to make Harris a full partner in this campaign and presidency, both in appearance and fact. Make it clear that whenever the handing over of the reins from Joe to Kamala happens, whether before the election or anytime after in Biden's next term, it will be a smooth transition, known and supported in advance by as close to unanimity in the party as we can get.