An excellent rendition of what happened and argument for not going off the rails. I’ve been a Democrat all my life, and we seem to have a penchant for hand wringing and hysteria that isn’t helpful. Your calm is steadying and well reasoned. Thank you!
That so- called debate didn’t do a thing for my insomnia. Trump, not unexpectedly, was his usual bag of lies. Substance and policy mean squat to him and by extension his minions. Real- time fact checks and moderators who did little more than cue when to cut mics would certainly have helped viewers who tuned in and who might, for whatever-godforsaken reason, still be considering him. He’s a convicted felon who honestly would have more convictions racked up by now if he hadn’t succeeded in court stacking and dragging out legal decisions.
But Trump aside…..what the hell? Biden’s performance was abysmal. I always cut him slack for the stutter and for a grueling professional pace that ages and wears on EVERY President, plus he has the burden of personal family dramas and tragedies. All of that would choke a horse. But…I’m just gobsmacked by the sheer awfulness of the presentation, the optics, the several gaffes honestly, and yet a couple hours before he was on the street engaging with folks on his arrival and the following day he was full- throated at a live rally. What the hell? Did Biden have a cold? I don’t know. Maybe. If so, I’d advise pulling back on the Benedryl. His make up was also horrid as was his body language. I do agree that he was WAAAAAY over- prepped. His focus, should he go forward, needs to be pared down to something akin to FDR’s Four Freedoms speech. I suggest Freedom from Want (ex. economic points). Freedom from Ignorance (ex. Critical thinking and access to free press). Freedom from Oppression (ex. abortion rights, civil rights, democratic principles vs authoritarian). Freedom from Fear (ex. existential threat of climate change, virtues of immigration, sensible gun laws). Yeah, that’s a lot, but if he doesn’t get a load of stats crammed into his head and can just paint in broader brushstrokes of Protecting Your Freedoms, then let the surrogates do the details.
Just my thoughts. It’s nearly 5 AM and I’m fairly freaked out here.
"Time will [indeed] tell". But there is no time. This wonderful man, who has sustained so much and given so much can give one last time by withdrawing. Already on course to lose and now destined to lose badly at the top and down ballot, handing the R's unified government and the inevitable chaos that will follow, Biden can volitionally save both the nation's stress and ensure his selfless place in America's story by recognizing that it is over for him, step down, release his electors and coast to next January and into history.
"The perfect is [indeed] the enemy of the good", a synonym for compromise, and sticking with Biden, as advocated in this Substack, is an understandable but regrettable reach for perfection. Of the visible D-alternatives only Harris would still lose to Trump--even Newsom might win--but there is no shortage of others.
Such a switch would ensure the campaign is about Trump and we have all seen the figures--nearly three-fourths of the populace don't want either of these assured nominees to be President.
We live in "interesting times" and we need an FDR/Eisenhower/Truman/Kennedy/Reagan/Clinton who can not only assemble excellent counsel and arrive at wise decisions but lead vigorously in both the domestic and international arenas. and that is not Joe Biden. Take a page from Buckley: "Nominate the most conservative [progressive/liberal] that can WIN!"
Barry, thank you for telling it like it is. Now, if you could only have some uninterrupted quality time before the Democratic Party to illustrate the errors of their thinking. Your voice of higher reasoning also needs a more substantial platform across our nation.
I have always said that I would vote for Joe Biden before I would vote for any republican this year and I will still do that. But I am very disappointed in him for running again. When he won in 2020 I assumed, given his age, that he would be a 4-year bridge who would right the ship and show us how government can work for everyone. And he has done that and more. But now, now, he is in danger of losing all of that if he loses to trump. His good work will become little more than an asterisk in history because republicans will undo everything Joe has done. The SCOTUS has already begun that work. I am angry with him for putting democrats in this position. He had one thing to do on Thursday evening and he failed miserably. Now the election is about his age and not about trump’s criminality. Just look at the headlines the day after, the editorials calling for him to drop out. Trump is a convicted felon and told lie after lie after lie. Mike Johnson asked Biden’s cabinet to consider the 25th amendment option 🤦♀️. But, you know, Joe is the danger. Life isn’t fair and politics has never been fair. Can the Democrats pull off a switch now? Who knows, but I wish Joe would let them try. We can’t be any worse off and maybe if we field a younger candidate people will start to pay attention and be excited about voting this year.
I thought he was going to be a one term bridge to the next generation, too, but his historic levels of success earned him the opportunity to run again in my opinion. While the debate was awful, I think the damage done was not fatal, and - surprisingly - did not change many minds. Both candidates stunk up the room, Biden with things tgat can be easily fixed, Trump with things that cannot be fixed because they are at tge core of who he is.
If Biden has many more DEFCON 5, melt down moments like he had at tge debate like the other night, then we need to talk.
I’m pretty convinced it was a one off explained by other things than supposed “infirmity” and is not likely to happen again in any venue.
I certainly understand what you are saying though. I think I’ve just seen too many “bad nights” that candidates walked away from and successfully regrouped over the years to think that this one is going to be the campaign’s decisive, defining moment or that it was a self inflicted fatal blow. It wasn’t, in my view.
I hope it is a one off. And, yes, President Biden had a remarkable first term. But he is 81 years old showing worrying signs of mental and physical decline. There will certainly be better moments and today’s reaction to what that awful court did today and Friday was one of them. Many people will never be able to unsee the evening of the debate, but I would encourage them to vote for democracy if you can’t bring yourself to vote for President Biden. Vote for the Biden/Harris ticket to protect our country from people who want to destroy it. I will vote for Joe Biden’s corpse if that is what I have to do to save democracy and protect the future of all of our grandchildren.
Not a time to panic, I agree. But neither is it time to follow a great leader over the cliff due to his own blindness to the optics/reality (take your pick). I have called Republicans “lemmings “ for years now. Democrats need not join those ranks! Those with influence need to get real and convince our President to choose a successor candidate. Now!
I was struck by the panic and Van Jones crying on air along with the NY Times BS. After a few days to cool down and the time think of the great things that Biden has already accomplished. I want us to pack the court after we get control of the House and Senate.
So, my advice is to say, "Fuck It. Pick up your sword and keep pushing forward."
Thank you, Barry, for these words of wisdom including factual observations about what one debate might have and might not have done. It is annoying to listen to major news outlets continue the “should Biden drop out?” conversation every day, without comparable analysis of the convicted felon’s inadequacies.
This makes sense: “I guarantee you the files of lies on whoever even might remotely be considered a possible replacement for Biden were likely completed months ago.”
Always look to you for sensible commentary. Thank you.
Today the President meets with Governors. This is his chance to move decisively and lead....lead by indicating what team should take the reins. He is clearly finished as a candidate. I’m no political analyst, but can feel it in my bones as a citizen. Trump must be defeated and Biden is not the one who can do so. If the Democratic Party would just get in gear, it has plenty of time to win. But this good honorable patriotic President must first act. This mess is far worse than Watergate. A coverup of cognitive functioning cannot stand. Each hour that passes makes this worse.
An excellent rendition of what happened and argument for not going off the rails. I’ve been a Democrat all my life, and we seem to have a penchant for hand wringing and hysteria that isn’t helpful. Your calm is steadying and well reasoned. Thank you!
Thank you, Virginia!
That so- called debate didn’t do a thing for my insomnia. Trump, not unexpectedly, was his usual bag of lies. Substance and policy mean squat to him and by extension his minions. Real- time fact checks and moderators who did little more than cue when to cut mics would certainly have helped viewers who tuned in and who might, for whatever-godforsaken reason, still be considering him. He’s a convicted felon who honestly would have more convictions racked up by now if he hadn’t succeeded in court stacking and dragging out legal decisions.
But Trump aside…..what the hell? Biden’s performance was abysmal. I always cut him slack for the stutter and for a grueling professional pace that ages and wears on EVERY President, plus he has the burden of personal family dramas and tragedies. All of that would choke a horse. But…I’m just gobsmacked by the sheer awfulness of the presentation, the optics, the several gaffes honestly, and yet a couple hours before he was on the street engaging with folks on his arrival and the following day he was full- throated at a live rally. What the hell? Did Biden have a cold? I don’t know. Maybe. If so, I’d advise pulling back on the Benedryl. His make up was also horrid as was his body language. I do agree that he was WAAAAAY over- prepped. His focus, should he go forward, needs to be pared down to something akin to FDR’s Four Freedoms speech. I suggest Freedom from Want (ex. economic points). Freedom from Ignorance (ex. Critical thinking and access to free press). Freedom from Oppression (ex. abortion rights, civil rights, democratic principles vs authoritarian). Freedom from Fear (ex. existential threat of climate change, virtues of immigration, sensible gun laws). Yeah, that’s a lot, but if he doesn’t get a load of stats crammed into his head and can just paint in broader brushstrokes of Protecting Your Freedoms, then let the surrogates do the details.
Just my thoughts. It’s nearly 5 AM and I’m fairly freaked out here.
"Time will [indeed] tell". But there is no time. This wonderful man, who has sustained so much and given so much can give one last time by withdrawing. Already on course to lose and now destined to lose badly at the top and down ballot, handing the R's unified government and the inevitable chaos that will follow, Biden can volitionally save both the nation's stress and ensure his selfless place in America's story by recognizing that it is over for him, step down, release his electors and coast to next January and into history.
"The perfect is [indeed] the enemy of the good", a synonym for compromise, and sticking with Biden, as advocated in this Substack, is an understandable but regrettable reach for perfection. Of the visible D-alternatives only Harris would still lose to Trump--even Newsom might win--but there is no shortage of others.
Such a switch would ensure the campaign is about Trump and we have all seen the figures--nearly three-fourths of the populace don't want either of these assured nominees to be President.
We live in "interesting times" and we need an FDR/Eisenhower/Truman/Kennedy/Reagan/Clinton who can not only assemble excellent counsel and arrive at wise decisions but lead vigorously in both the domestic and international arenas. and that is not Joe Biden. Take a page from Buckley: "Nominate the most conservative [progressive/liberal] that can WIN!"
Barry, thank you for telling it like it is. Now, if you could only have some uninterrupted quality time before the Democratic Party to illustrate the errors of their thinking. Your voice of higher reasoning also needs a more substantial platform across our nation.
I have always said that I would vote for Joe Biden before I would vote for any republican this year and I will still do that. But I am very disappointed in him for running again. When he won in 2020 I assumed, given his age, that he would be a 4-year bridge who would right the ship and show us how government can work for everyone. And he has done that and more. But now, now, he is in danger of losing all of that if he loses to trump. His good work will become little more than an asterisk in history because republicans will undo everything Joe has done. The SCOTUS has already begun that work. I am angry with him for putting democrats in this position. He had one thing to do on Thursday evening and he failed miserably. Now the election is about his age and not about trump’s criminality. Just look at the headlines the day after, the editorials calling for him to drop out. Trump is a convicted felon and told lie after lie after lie. Mike Johnson asked Biden’s cabinet to consider the 25th amendment option 🤦♀️. But, you know, Joe is the danger. Life isn’t fair and politics has never been fair. Can the Democrats pull off a switch now? Who knows, but I wish Joe would let them try. We can’t be any worse off and maybe if we field a younger candidate people will start to pay attention and be excited about voting this year.
I thought he was going to be a one term bridge to the next generation, too, but his historic levels of success earned him the opportunity to run again in my opinion. While the debate was awful, I think the damage done was not fatal, and - surprisingly - did not change many minds. Both candidates stunk up the room, Biden with things tgat can be easily fixed, Trump with things that cannot be fixed because they are at tge core of who he is.
If Biden has many more DEFCON 5, melt down moments like he had at tge debate like the other night, then we need to talk.
I’m pretty convinced it was a one off explained by other things than supposed “infirmity” and is not likely to happen again in any venue.
I certainly understand what you are saying though. I think I’ve just seen too many “bad nights” that candidates walked away from and successfully regrouped over the years to think that this one is going to be the campaign’s decisive, defining moment or that it was a self inflicted fatal blow. It wasn’t, in my view.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I hope it is a one off. And, yes, President Biden had a remarkable first term. But he is 81 years old showing worrying signs of mental and physical decline. There will certainly be better moments and today’s reaction to what that awful court did today and Friday was one of them. Many people will never be able to unsee the evening of the debate, but I would encourage them to vote for democracy if you can’t bring yourself to vote for President Biden. Vote for the Biden/Harris ticket to protect our country from people who want to destroy it. I will vote for Joe Biden’s corpse if that is what I have to do to save democracy and protect the future of all of our grandchildren.
Not a time to panic, I agree. But neither is it time to follow a great leader over the cliff due to his own blindness to the optics/reality (take your pick). I have called Republicans “lemmings “ for years now. Democrats need not join those ranks! Those with influence need to get real and convince our President to choose a successor candidate. Now!
Barry, you have said it all! So good to hear your reasoned and experienced voice at this critical juncture of history. Thank you.
Thank you Cheryl. Much appreciated.
I was struck by the panic and Van Jones crying on air along with the NY Times BS. After a few days to cool down and the time think of the great things that Biden has already accomplished. I want us to pack the court after we get control of the House and Senate.
So, my advice is to say, "Fuck It. Pick up your sword and keep pushing forward."
And I may stop listening to Pod Save America.
I agree. The debate convinced me of the urgent importance of re-electing Joe Biden.
Thank you, Barry, for these words of wisdom including factual observations about what one debate might have and might not have done. It is annoying to listen to major news outlets continue the “should Biden drop out?” conversation every day, without comparable analysis of the convicted felon’s inadequacies.
This makes sense: “I guarantee you the files of lies on whoever even might remotely be considered a possible replacement for Biden were likely completed months ago.”
Always look to you for sensible commentary. Thank you.
Today the President meets with Governors. This is his chance to move decisively and lead....lead by indicating what team should take the reins. He is clearly finished as a candidate. I’m no political analyst, but can feel it in my bones as a citizen. Trump must be defeated and Biden is not the one who can do so. If the Democratic Party would just get in gear, it has plenty of time to win. But this good honorable patriotic President must first act. This mess is far worse than Watergate. A coverup of cognitive functioning cannot stand. Each hour that passes makes this worse.