June 30, 2024

"For [Biden] to remain the Democratic candidate... would be an act not only of self-delusion but of national endangerment."

"It is entirely possible that the debate will not much change the polls; it is entirely possible that Biden could have a much stronger debate in September; it is not impossible to imagine that Trump will find a way to lose. But, at this point, should Biden engage the country in that level of jeopardy? To step aside and unleash the admittedly complicated process of locating and nominating a more robust and promising ticket seems the more rational course and would be an act of patriotism.... To stay in the race would be pure vanity, uncharacteristic of someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service. To stay in the race, at this post-debate point, would also suggest that it is impossible to imagine a more vital ticket. In fact, Gretchen Whitmer, Raphael Warnock, Josh Shapiro, and Wes Moore are just a few of the office-holders in the Party who could energize Democrats and independents, inspire more younger voters, and beat Trump."

Writes David Remnick, in "The Reckoning of Joe Biden/For the President to insist on remaining the Democratic candidate would be an act not only of self-delusion but of national endangerment" (The New Yorker).

Does trying to "energize" people — at this late stage — about Gretchen Whitmer/Raphael Warnock/Josh Shapiro/Wes Moore seem "more rational" to you? Gretchen Whitmer/Raphael Warnock/Josh Shapiro/Wes Moore did not go through the primary process, interacting with real people across the country and standing up to months of scrutiny, outlasting others. And what would this alternative process — this "admittedly complicated process" — consist of? It seems as though it would resemble the process of picking the VP candidate — similar to the way Kamala Harris was picked 4 years ago. Why would voters be "inspir[ed]" to have such a person foisted on them by the same people who presented Biden as excellent and are now asserting that he's hopelessly decrepit? I know they just want to win, but that's not the stuff of hopes and dreams.

Remnick worries about Biden's "self-delusion," but what about his?

By the way, is it "entirely possible that Biden could have a much stronger debate in September"? Not only is it entirely possible for Biden to have a much stronger debate in September, it's entirely possible that if you calm yourself, clear your head of preconceptions, and cue up last Thursday's debate and watch it again, you will perceive it as a much stronger debate than it seemed on first watch. 

And I will resist putting my time into a little exercise in cynicism, but this sentence is begging for a paraphrase: "To stay in the race would be pure vanity, uncharacteristic of someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service." 

191 comments:

deepelemblues said...

"someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service."

Decent at devoting public service to himself.

Michael said...

Gag me with a spoon.

Leland said...

Democracy no longer seems important to Democrats.

planetgeo said...

I dunno. This suggested "alternative process" doesn't sound very much like democracy. But hey, neither does suppressed or compelled speech, a two-tiered justice system, warrantless surveillance, or a whole lot of other things that Democrats seem to be very fond of. So why are they concerned about"losing our democracy"?

imTay said...

You know Whitmer is connected to the Deep State, not only because the Washington Post, the house organ of the security state, is fully behind her, but that the FBI cooked up a false flag plot "against" her. This seems to be her main qualification, as far as I can see.

Oligonicella said...

"... most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service."

I do not drink the same water as you, Dave.

mindnumbrobot said...

To stay in the race would be pure vanity, uncharacteristic of someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service.

Oh, boloney. I keep hearing this type of characterization and it's nauseating. Biden is, and always has been, an arrogant, corrupt, immoral, perverted, A-hole. Screw him.

Kate said...

The people did vote for a Biden replacement. Harris.

Own your DEI and live what you preach.

imTay said...

Joe Biden says he's not dropping out, and if Joe Biden says it, he can take it to the bank, on his "honor as a Biden."

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

Sometimes the horse drops a huge load in midstream and it's best to change its diaper.

Dave Begley said...

“ uncharacteristic of someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service."

Biden? Decent? The guy who showered with his daughter? The guy who has taken millions in bribes? That Joe Biden?

rehajm said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kate said...

If Harris were competent she'd be stabbing Joe in the back and making the Dems obey. This is her one and only chance to be POTUS.

mindnumbrobot said...

...cue up last Thursday's debate and watch it again, you will perceive it as a much stronger debate than it seemed on first watch.

Speaking of self-delusion.

henge2243 said...

"To stay in the race would be pure vanity, uncharacteristic of someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service. "

Some, not most, view Biden as decent and devoted to public service, rather than the scumbag egomaniac that he is, because of the false portrayals by the same fluffers who told us he was sharper than ever. The gong can't be unrung.

imTay said...

I was listening to Montreal radio yesterday, and the DJ played a song in honor of Joe Biden and his performance at the debate: "The Final Countdown," and then she giggled. This is significant because normally the French Canadians love Joe Biden, but this was the entertainment part, the news division, of course, hewed exactly to the party line of the Democrats, like always. I had to click it off for a while.

rehajm said...

This is a good take though I’m unimpressed with your stronger debate than it seemed rhetoric. Biden has been in the role of president for a while now but if any one believes he’s been acting president for any of that time you are capable of great self delusion. They tried to hold him together until November but a but the own goal with the debate shot that idea down even with Dem supporters. Now they’re stuck. If they do go with the switch they will dispose of all of Ann’s rational thinking in favor of a well coordinated, think tank tested narrative. Something something save democracy seems to be favored atm…

ChuckUnderscore said...

There is zero chance that a second viewing of the debate would improve one's opinion of Joe Biden's performance. Zero.

Michael said...


The BS is so deep in this country you need a helicopter to stay above it all.

narciso said...

I thought that mountain of scat the bridge was bad but you exceeded yourself in a good way

Chest Rockwell said...

"you will perceive it as a much stronger debate than it seemed on first watch."

You did perhaps, I did not.

They weren't even debating, just slinging exaggerations and insults.

Humperdink said...

MSNBC's Scar'Bro three months ago: "Bidən is far beyond cogent. He is better than he has EVER been intellectually, analytically. He is the best ever."

https://twitter.com/i/status/1806652543084220731

doctrev said...

Althouse, I recorded the debate and gleefully watch it when I'm feeling blue. It's a handy device for torturing Democrats, if you can get them to sit still. CNN had every advantage hand-delivered to Biden, and he still humiliated himself in front of 50 million people.

It's not merely that the Rat coalition is lying to itself, it's that the lies are increasingly contradictory. "The Biden Administration has more achievements than Obama, but he is mentally and physically feeble! We owe Joe Biden so much, so he needs to get out and never come back!"

The Biden regime correctly knows their partisans and LLRs will eat any trash they are given, and they know that their New York "donors" will swing if another election isn't stolen. It's an impossible situation, but it is entirely self-inflicted.

narciso said...

That was addressed to remnick who has been lying to us since lenins tomb it seems

AMDG said...

"To stay in the race would be pure vanity, uncharacteristic of someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service."


Joe Biden is not decent.

https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/07/joe-biden-is-an-asshole/

wendybar said...

The whole party is delusional, and nothing will stop Husseins fundamental transformation if they can do anything about it.....

AMDG said...

"To stay in the race would be pure vanity, uncharacteristic of someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service."


Joe Biden is not decent.

https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/07/joe-biden-is-an-asshole/

Breezy said...

great point, Kate @ 7:52 --

"The people did vote for a Biden replacement. Harris."

Drago said...

Does trying to "energize" people — at this late stage — about Gretchen Whitmer/Raphael Warnock/Josh Shapiro/Wes Moore seem "more rational" to you?"

Democratical leadership knows they can shove whatever they want down the throats of their NPC minions without complaint.

Just witness the commentary at Althouse blog by the dems/left/LLR-left.

doctrev said...

Kate said...
If Harris were competent she'd be stabbing Joe in the back and making the Dems obey. This is her one and only chance to be POTUS.

6/30/24, 7:56 AM

Kamala Harris enjoys her gig, and she doesn't have to do anything besides proclaim that Biden is the Best That Ever Was. She can do this because there is an excellent chance he will be dead before November.

The Rats are likely giving serious thought to shooting down Air Force One with Biden, Doctor Jill, Harris, and much of their cabinet aboard. Reasonable, but it's a very dangerous escalation. Yet what other choice do they have?

imTay said...

"To stay in the race would be pure vanity, uncharacteristic of someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service. "

Notice that he said that Biden is "viewed" as "decent," etc, not "is". That smell of wood burning, sir, is you becoming faintly aware of your cognitive dissonance. Come on, say it!

"The truth has a bias towards right wing conspiracy theories."

Oso Negro said...

Cognitive dissonance ringing out at Meadehouse! You have been successfully propagandized and you are not yet ready to accept that the leadership of the Democrat party lied their ass off about Biden's competence. Would you loan Thursday Night Joe your car? Trust him to babysit an infant? Live on his own safely? But serve as President of the USA - no problemo, amirite? And be miraculously vivified for a September debate? There are limits to pharmaceutical science. You have been gaslit. And you might want to consider the question - who is REALLY running the country?

samanthasmom said...

A second viewing makes it worse.

Jersey Fled said...

Strangely, Joe continues to resist taking a cognitive test.

Earnest Prole said...

The alternative process, a brokered convention, is how party nominees were selected for most of U.S. history. If you google
for seven seconds you’ll discover “The United States is one of a handful of countries to select candidates through popular vote in a primary election system; most other countries rely on party leaders or party members to select candidates, as was previously the case in the U.S.”

Boomers are so solipsistic.

imTay said...

"The Rats are likely giving serious thought to shooting down Air Force One with Biden, Doctor Jill, Harris, and much of their cabinet aboard."

The Ron Brown option. Never thought of that one. Here is a hint for Jill, make sure Hunter checks to ensure that there is a black box installed before every take off. Oh wait, that won't help, they will just claim not to have found it after the crash, like with Ron Brown. You know, two weeks before Hillary Clinton was on the same plane that somehow lacked, unlike every other plane like it, a black box.

The lies are just incredible. I used to believe this crap. The more you look though, the more obvious they become.

donald said...

If Joe Biden was left alone for 48 hours he would die. Period. Which would be nice.

AMDG said...

And the larger point is ignored. What the debate revealed is not fixable. We cannot have a President that is only functional 6 hours a day. That is untenable.

Biden does not need to quit the campaign, he needs to resign from office.

Crimso said...

"Gretchen Whitmer/Raphael Warnock/Josh Shapiro/Wes Moore did not go through the primary process, interacting with real people across the country and standing up to months of scrutiny"

Neither did Biden.

R C Belaire said...

Take it from a life-long Michigander: Whitmer is an unabashed feminist liberal beholding to the unions and whatever "fad" the DNC cooks up and tells her to eat.

Breezy said...

"Not only is it entirely possible for Biden to have a much stronger debate in September, it's entirely possible that if you calm yourself, clear your head of preconceptions, and cue up last Thursday's debate and watch it again, you will perceive it as a much stronger debate than it seemed on first watch."

Dementia is a slow downhill train. While possible, I don't believe the second debate can be better, even if held between 10 and 4. I also think it's cruel at this point to expect him and to have him do so.

Regarding watching the first again, "much stronger" is a relative term. Would I think it's stronger? Perhaps, but it'd still be a dumpster fire, perhaps a slightly smaller one. What he said is one thing, the way he looked and acted is quite another. Having witnessed dementia first hand, there's no bigger tell than those visuals. This dementia bell can not be un-rung. We require a president who is not mentally compromised.

A10pilot said...

“Not only is it entirely possible for Biden to have a much stronger debate in September, it's entirely possible that if you calm yourself, clear your head of preconceptions, and cue up last Thursday's debate and watch it again, you will perceive it as a much stronger debate than it seemed on first watch.”

As for a “stronger debate in September,” I find that unlikely. The dementia has accelerated over the past several months and I don’t see how it will slow, or even stop, in the next 72 days. I can’t imagine what the prep will be like this time.

On me “perceiv[ing] it as a much stronger debate” if watched a second time, maybe…but I strongly doubt it. It was so shocking it was almost hypnotic in its ability to capture and hold my attention the first time, much like a train wreck or aircraft crash (I have personally witnessed the latter—not pleasant).

Readering said...

I'd bet my money that Biden lasts longer past inauguration day than WH Harrison, Rufus King and FD Roosevelt.

Chris said...

All of these articles are written as if the ONLY choice is a Democrat or else. Forget all of Trumps positives. They're is another choice. The republican ticket. Or even RFK.

BillieBob Thorton said...

Can’t wait for the soon to be released flood of anonymous sources reveling how truly awful Biden is behind the scenes. The destruction of Biden is going to epic.

Levi Starks said...

If, (and that’s a strong if) a majority think he’s decent, and he has the country’s best interest at heart, the fact that he refuses to drop out only proves that he’s not decent, doesn’t have the country’s best interests at heart, or is so far gone as to even the difference. Trump still has the cognitive ability to be prosecuted for any and all offenses committed in any jurisdiction in America.
Biden has already been deemed too decrepit to stand trial.
I feel I need to remind readers of the response to the news of Ronald Reagan Alzheimer’s diagnosis some years after he left office.
And the questions as to his fitness during the last years of his presidency.
And we’ve been daily witnesses of Bidens decline during the last 5 years.
And when I say “we” I mean anyone not in the mainstream media.

rhhardin said...

The actual question engaging everybody is how to keep Trump from winning.

AMDG said...

The winner of this campaign was always going to be the one that successfully made the central issue of the campaign the other guy. It is. Is going to be very difficult to take the spotlight off of Biden.

The one thing that the Democrats do have are Trump’s legal troubles. The conviction on the Bragg case did not move the needle. I would suspect that they believe a harsh sentence would move the needle. Look for Merchen to sentence Trump to some kind of confinement on July 11.

narciso said...

Its the new yawker of course they are not going to acknowledge the orange man except by omission

Joe Bar said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

and yet - the polls have Biden within the margin or error of... winning.

Trump should be stronger. He's not.

Bob Boyd said...

It is entirely possible that the debate will not much change the polls; it is entirely possible that Biden could have a much stronger debate in September; it is not impossible to imagine that Trump will find a way to lose. But, at this point, should Biden engage the country in that level of jeopardy?

So, if Biden managed to win, everything would be okay, but Trump represents extreme national jeopardy?
Why doesn't Biden's mental condition matter outside the context of the election? Because Biden's Presidency is theater?
So, who's really running things that Remnick is so pleased with and doesn't want disturbed?
A shadow government? The 4th branch bureaucrats?

AMDG said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jimmy said...

“Not only is it entirely possible for Biden to have a much stronger debate in September, it's entirely possible that if you calm yourself, clear your head of preconceptions, and cue up last Thursday's debate and watch it again, you will perceive it as a much stronger debate than it seemed on first watch.”
Yes let us normalize the dystopian nightmare-nothing to see here folks, just a head cold, but if you look past the obvious signs of mental decay, he had a couple of good points.
Can we stop with that nonsense? biden has a 50 record of nothing. He has always been a corrupt idiot, who is used by others, to get favors.
This entire sh*t show is on the Dems, and most of the republicans, and the media. Our elite? LOL
The people who are running this nightmare will send Trump to jail. It is the only choice they have now.

Just an old country lawyer said...

What annoys me most about the many articles like this one (and haven't we been flooded with them since late Thursday night?) is how surprised the political class seem about Biden's decline, as if it just happened overnight. We've been noticing this for a long time, but they haven't?

AMDG said...

Blogger Breezy said...
"Not only is it entirely possible for Biden to have a much stronger debate in September, it's entirely possible that if you calm yourself, clear your head of preconceptions, and cue up last Thursday's debate and watch it again, you will perceive it as a much stronger debate than it seemed on first watch."

Dementia is a slow downhill train. While possible, I don't believe the second debate can be better, even if held between 10 and 4. I also think it's cruel at this point to expect him and to have him do so.

Regarding watching the first again, "much stronger" is a relative term. Would I think it's stronger? Perhaps, but it'd still be a dumpster fire, perhaps a slightly smaller one. What he said is one thing, the way he looked and acted is quite another. Having witnessed dementia first hand, there's no bigger tell than those visuals. This dementia bell can not be un-rung. We require a president who is not mentally compromised.

6/30/24, 8:19 AM

——————

So true. His performance answering the questions Apis only half the story. The blank look with his mouth open while Trump was speaking is the other half of the story.

It does not get any better from here.

Temujin said...

I love the shock, the surprise our media intellects are showing now that they somehow stumbled onto the fact that Joe Biden is not really there, and that- Shock!- we're not sure who's really running the country today. I must have missed Remnick's column in 2019 when so many of us, particularly Joe Biden's handlers, knew that Joe was not all there.

>In 2019 and through the campaign in 2020, Joe's team regularly put a 'lid' on Joe's public appearances, interviews, or meetings starting at 9:00-9:30 am. This was not a rare thing, but happened many days of the week, sometimes for multiple days at a time, Joe was nowhere to be seen.

>Joe's family was well aware of his increasing dementia and his physical and mental struggles. The media was well aware. And anyone who paid even the slimmest attention could note the daily 'lids' at 9:30 am, while Trump was out doing multiple rallies in one day in front of thousands.

>The media knew all along that Joe had people behind him who would be making the decisions. They approved of it because anyone but Trump.

>Their TDS, and their self-righteous belief that they were 'saving Democracy' allowed Biden to take office, covered for any election shenanigans- of which there seem to have been many. They allowed for this bizarre crew that represents his cabinet and department heads to take control of the direction of this country. And so...the decisions made by this motley crew of activists in positions of power has led to the chaos that now envelopes our cities, our country, and the world. We are in such a worse place today than we were in 2019. It's really quite remarkable the difference.

>And I lay all of this on the media, who is- as a group- suddenly coming out like they just saw Eddard Stark's head cut off. They are shocked- SHOCKED!- that the Emperor has no clothes.

Remnick is the problem. He and his associates in the Kept Press are the problem. They are no longer the Fourth Estate. They are simply part of the working machinations of The State itself. They serve no useful purpose any longer other than destruction.

narciso said...

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2024/06/what_now_that_the_gaslighting_is_over.html

Wince said...

"To stay in the race would be pure vanity, uncharacteristic of someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service."

If you simply go down the entire list of Biden attributes that are "uncharacteristic of someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service," then you will realize that "decent and devoted to public service" perception is a delusion.

GayRepublicanDad said...

Why would Trump ever agree to a second debate? He doesn't need to. He will use the debate footage from Thursday to remind voters of Biden's condition. The only thing that a second debate can accomplish for Trump is allowing the Dem-aligned MSM to double-down on their attacks of him. He gains nothing by standing on the stage again with Biden. In fact, Trump's team should declare as much.

Hari said...

Having already agreed to debate entirely on Biden's terms, Trump will now have zero reason to agree to debate anyone else. Trump will have no incentive to legitimize a replacement candidate.

Koot Katmandu said...

I keep reading it is all in the plan. Biden steps down and anyone but Harris will step in. How the hell can they pull that off? Just bypass a women of color after all the shouting about race and diversity from the left.

Maybe they can convince Harris to step aside but what could they offer her? Do they have some dirt manufactured or real on her?

AMDG said...

Blogger Just an old country lawyer said...
What annoys me most about the many articles like this one (and haven't we been flooded with them since late Thursday night?) is how surprised the political class seem about Biden's decline, as if it just happened overnight. We've been noticing this for a long time, but they haven't?

6/30/24 8:31 AM

——————-

If they tell you they haven’t noticed they are lying. There is a special place in hell for people like Joe Scarborough and the noted plagerist and Whitey Bulger butt boy, Mike Barnicle.

mikee said...

"... it's entirely possible that if you calm yourself, clear your head of preconceptions, and cue up last Thursday's debate and watch it again, you will perceive it as a much stronger debate than it seemed on first watch."

The strength of the debate is not the cause of weeping, wailing, rending of clothes and other acts of despair over Biden. The subject under discussion is the strength of the man. He is a doddering old dementia patient propped up by his wife and handlers. Elder abuse is the subject here, not Party policy.

deepelemblues said...

donald said...
If Joe Biden was left alone for 48 hours he would die. Period. Which would be nice.


I don't know if he would be dead. But the smell would be the same.

Quaestor said...

Althouse writes, "By the way, is it 'entirely possible that Biden could have a much stronger debate in September'"?

Is a debate in September entirely possible? If Biden can't get past 200 by any reasonable, non-massive-voter-fraud means, why should Trump agree to a second debate? The first debate was conceived and minutely engineered by CNN and the Biden White House as a means to kill Trump's candidacy before the GOP convention. All the shills were winking and sniggering in delight at The Donald's acceptance of obviously unfair rules and stipulations, at what they claimed was Trump's arrogance and exhibitionism leading him into a fatal trap. Come September it will be Trump's easy cruise to victory versus the Democrat's hysterical desperation. I predict Trump will refuse unless his campaign gets to make the rules, such as neutral third-party drug and cognitive tests with openly published results, moderators picked from NewsMax and the Washington Examiner, etc.

chickelit said...

Koot Katmandu said...I keep reading it is all in the plan. Biden steps down and anyone but Harris will step in. How the hell can they pull that off? Just bypass a women of color after all the shouting about race and diversity from the left.

Stuff like that happens in China (leaders are installed). Why not here? Depends on the their confidence in fraud.

chickelit said...

I mean, we never had political persecutions like we do now. Such things are common elsewhere.

Steve said...

Our long national gaslighting is over. I do find it ironic that the folks that turned on Biden the hardest were the most willing participants in that gaslighting.

I think in order the most likely Dem Nominees are:

Biden>Kamala>Obama>Clinton>Newsom

No moderate uniter is coming out of the democratic nominating process. The floor fight is going to be delicious. No one likes Kamala and she is sure loser in the general election. Obama would have all sorts of resources, particularly Barack on the campaign trail, but really has no individual accomplishments that qualify her for the Presidency. Hilary probably has the bulk of the SuperDelegates but I don't think that is enough, and she already lost once to Trump. No one outside of Sacramento likes Newsom, and there are damned few that like him there.

My money is that Biden stays the course as the least bad option. A generic "Not Trump" may poll well but once you put a face to "Not Trump" that advantage diminishes sharply.

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

I hate to be a party pooper but everyone needs to stop focusing on the election and think about NOW. Where are the calls for Biden to resign the Office of President? He's clearly not fit. Where is the initiative to invoke the 25th Amendment? The election should be the last of our worries at this point. God knows who's running the country. Probably Jill and a bunch of interns with input from B. Hussein Obama. None of them were elected by the people. This is not what the Founders envisioned.

I understand no one wants train wreck Kamala anywhere near the Oval Office, but at least she's awake and knows what day it is.

BUMBLE BEE said...

But, But, 81 million votes!

jaydub said...

The media/pundits/editorialists still defending Biden's candidacy are just pissing on your leg and telling you it's raining. They have to consider the American people to be so stupid and gullible that they can be gaslit while simultaneously watching the president self-destruct on a split-screen. As for the democrat political class, they have a very strong economic and personal incentive to prop up an obviously incapacitated president in order to keep their jobs. Absolutely none of them have an ounce of patriotism or concern for the country or the safety of its citizens. Anyone who listens to or enables these grifters of partisan political expediency is no more worthy of respect than those who have propped him up for the last year or two.

Obviously, the administration staff has zero concern for democracy because we haven't lived in one at the federal level for some time, and the WH lackies have not only been fine with it, but also actively enabled it. We have either been governed by an unnamed dictator (Jill? Obama?) or an unelected junta (the WH staff?) which was installed by the administration much the same as in any banana republic. Even if the democrats can find a way to replace Biden at this late date, why should anyone support any candidate who has been selected by these same duplicitous political hacks? To paraphrase Michelle Obama: for the first time I am really embarrassed for my country. I'm done with the democrat party for all time.

Trump is not my favorite republican, but at least he is proven to be competent and has gone through a democratic process to get there. Those who continually call Trump a liar and a threat to democracy should be called out to explain how the lie that our government has been for the last year or so has been acceptable to them.

Achilles said...

Like most Journalists David Remnick believes he is and above average thinker.

He is not.

He works for the New Yorker! Very prestigious!

He is a moron and so is the rest of our political class on average.

Trump is hated by the political class the most because he is smarter than they are and he makes them all look bad.

Tofu King said...

I have never heard of Shapiro Warnock or Lord. I'm not quite an independent, and generally vote R, but always willing to give non-idealogues a listen.

mikee said...

I am also amused that the debate is of any interest to Democrats at all. The winner in November will be the candidate with the stronger ground campaign to create/collect/count the universal mail in ballots, selectively for their candidate, than the other side can create/collect/count for their candidate. Are the Dems also worried about that all of a sudden, suspecting or realizing that they cannot repeat their 2020 universal mail in ballot harvesting success?

Remember that GWBush was able to win election only because a group of Republican House staffers & activists violently crashed a behind-locked-doors attempt at an unaudited, unwitnessed recount of suspect ballots in Miani-Dade, Florida, forcing that one count and then others to be done under public scrutiny. Insurrection, indeed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooks_Brothers_riot

Democrats don't change their playbook of manipulating vote counts by both legal and illegal means. Getting every vote from an adult care facility with 24 patients via absentee ballots and a paid vote harvester is no big thing, unless it is done hundreds or thousands of times. Dems do that. Repubs better do that, too, and also do every other means of grabbing votes via mail in ballots, or they will lose bigly in November.

robother said...

As someone remarked yesterday, why are Democrats flailing around with Michele Obama and Whitmer or even Harris? The only woman with experience of actually running the country is obviously Dr. Jill.

William said...

Whatever is going on with Joe Biden is not going to improve over the course of the next four years. He's in bad shape, and he's going to be in worse shape. He wants to be President because he's stubborn and deluded. He's not going to read some piece by Remnick or Dowd and say, "Gosh, I never thought of that. I guess I'll bow out". Maybe the people around him can force him out, but it's not a decision he will come to voluntarily....He still stands a good chance of winning. The Dems would elect a yellow dog with rabies, mange, and worms over Trump.

Gerda Sprinchorn said...

Rewatching the debate might make you focus more on the words and more able to parse out what Biden meant, but that's not the issue. The issue is physical frailty. Biden's walk down the stage stair after the debate is pretty dispositive on that point.

Achilles said...

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

and yet - the polls have Biden within the margin or error of... winning.

Trump should be stronger. He's not.


Nevertrumpers have to pretend that Trump is not the most popular presidential candidate in history. 75 million votes. Probably more like 79 million.

None of your 60 million vote losers like Desantis could beat Biden even now. They wouldn't even have to cheat that much.

You people are just as delusional as the Biden supporters.

Breezy said...

Trump should consider declining the September debate for humanitarian reasons. It’s not a good look for him to participate in any further unveiling of Biden at this point. If someone else steps in, he should debate them.

pacwest said...

Dementia patient with his finger on the nuclear button? No problem.
Dementia patient who can't retain power? Defcon 5!

Isn't this what it boils down to?

gilbar said...

by the end of the first day of the convention.. possibly on TV

does ANYONE really think that the DNC isn't up to this? (wouldn't stoop to this?)

Gerda Sprinchorn said...

I predict that Trump will refuse to do a second debate because it would be "too cruel".

Trump didn't look good in the first debate so a second one won't help him.

RMc said...

By the way, is it "entirely possible that Biden could have a much stronger debate in September"?

It's entirely possible I could win the lottery, so, yes.

Bob Boyd said...

Don't worry about Joe. It's just a stutter.
He beat it once, but like Trump, it came back. Joe will beat both again.

gilbar said...

pacwest said...
Dementia patient with his finger on the nuclear button? No problem.

I'm Pretty Sure, General Smiley has informed the Chinese that he has disconnected Biden's button

narciso said...

Not even if you ran it backwards

donald said...

Maybe they can convince Harris to step aside but what could they offer her? Do they have some dirt manufactured or real on her? Embrace the power of “and”.

donald said...

Ya know, Trump is my favorite Republican ever. I mean have ya SEEN the other guys in action? Outside of Rand Paul, and a few members of congress I wouldn’t piss in any of them if they were on fire. Exactly none of them outside that small number are any different than the monsters in the democrat party.

Donald Trump to me is Henry Jackson and Zell Miller. If I had to settle for that, I’d be pretty happy. I know I was last time.

William said...

Towards the end, FDR was pretty much out of it. He couldn't recognize members of his Cabinet and would fall asleep in meetings. Nonetheless, he won re-election handily....The collusion of the press is not some new thing. I read somewhere that there is only one extant photo of FDR sitting in a wheelchair....It's pretty good deal to have the press and Hollywood behind you. Hardly anyone in America blamed him for the continuation of the Depression. Northern Blacks and Southern Segregationists were solidly behind him. Even today, people blame racist Americans for the internment of the Japanese and not FDR. FDR was responsible for Social Security and not their internment......We can bitch about this, but it remains a fact. It's much easier to govern when you have the media on your side. I don't think the media is particularly enamored with Joe Biden, but they have a special loathing for Donald Trump. They'll do what they can to pull him over.....Footnote: Wendell Wilkie, FDR's vital and energetic opponent, died before FDR. I don't think Trump will succumb to dementia, but there's a guy that radiates massive coronary.

William said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

There is zero chance that a second viewing of the debate would improve one's opinion of Joe Biden's performance. Zero.


I’m starting to wonder if Althouse’s excellent and intuitive abilities to analyze verbal language is offset by an equal and opposite inability to comprehend body language. It doesn’t really matter what Joe was saying, although a yuge percent of it was hooey and gibberish, so much as it matters how he does it. Even four years ago he was a vigorous aggressive debater, quick with facts and full of sarcasm. He had slowed a step or two but was recognizable as the Joe we’ve known for a long time.

This performance was light years from that and much closer to the Joe of late wenwho shakes hands with invisible people, wanders the stage unable to find his way back after 30 seconds of remarks and most of the time stands slack-jawed and vacant eyed. Mind you we didn’t even see the extent of his disability. Every time he stared off to his left away from Trump and then turned like he was going to walk away the cameras would quickly cut to the moderators (as i predicted Wednesday). Twice we to a commercial break after which Joe was back staring at the camera and not blinking.

So go ahead and rewatch it but bring a stopwatch and compare the slack-jawed husk of a president to a normal Joe Biden who used to blink more than 4 times a minute and closed his mouth periodically.

Chuck said...

A sensible post, Althouse. I actually think David Remnick is deserving of a lot more than your polite, thoughtful criticism.

He reminds me why I am not and never have been a Democrat.

“You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might wish for.” (The late great Donald Rumsfeld.)

Iman said...

The best the Dems can expect from that sorry bench is a bad case of splinters.

Wince said...

Not only is it entirely possible for Biden to have a much stronger debate in September, it's entirely possible... you will perceive it as a much stronger debate than it seemed on first watch.


"Sh'yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt."

Bob Boyd said...

There is no Prog reality. Only a narrative.
Once in a while they lose control of the narrative, but that isn't reality penetrating. That's just the opposition's narrative. The answer is never to adjust their thinking, it's always and only to regain control of the narrative.

Quaestor said...

Poll aggregator's findings...

Iman said...

“entirely possible” but highly improbable.

Teh Man is toast.

Iman said...

Unfit for marmalade…

Iman said...

No joke.

Iman said...

I really mean it.

FleetUSA said...

As usual Begley and Temujin nail the problem

Quaestor said...

There is no Prog reality. Only a narrative.

I object to narrative in this context. It's the enemy's language and should be avoided. When honest people use it, it's out of habit, just as decent Germans lazily used Aryan. The word obscures evil intentions and impairs upright morals. It is the word media talkers employ to obfuscate lies and propaganda. Therefore, let's not give in to "fashionable" language and use the blunt instrument of truth for a change.

cfkane1701 said...

Each time our host engages in her "cruel neutrality," I'm reminded of the old saying that it's easier to fool someone than convince them they've been fooled.

Ann Althouse said...

"Althouse, I recorded the debate and gleefully watch it when I'm feeling blue...."

No need to have made a recording. You can watch the whole thing on YouTube, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqG96G8YdcE

Sometimes I like to rewatch things like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FAOfsuwIKQ

Drago said...

Quaestor: "All the shills were winking and sniggering in delight at The Donald's acceptance of obviously unfair rules and stipulations, at what they claimed was Trump's arrogance and exhibitionism leading him into a fatal trap."

All the republican Usual Suspects on this very blog were saying that very thing.

Because of course they were.

dbp said...

To stay in the race would be pure vanity, entirely characteristic of someone who has never demonstrated decency or devotion to public service.

Paul said...

"To stay in the race would be pure vanity, uncharacteristic of someone whom most have come to view as decent and devoted to public service."

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely!!

Jill and Joe are corrupt to the bone. JILL LOVES POWER... got that? And she runs Joe... and won't give it up (besides if they do Hunter defiantly goes to prison.)

Iman said...

It's impossible
Tell a Democrat not to lie
It's just impossible
It's impossible
Ask a baby not to cry
It's just impossible

Skeptical Voter said...

There wasn't much of the democratic process involved in the selection of Joe Biden by his party in 2020. They were terrified that Bernie Sanders would win the nomination--and would then get blown out in the general election by the Bad Orange Man. So the party leadership selected Joe and told him to stay in his basement. They'd take care of getting him the votes in November. And they did--by hook or crook.

So now that Joe is revealed as not having much in the way of mental clothing (not that he ever did) why can't the Dim's ruling cabal repeat the process and select somebody else? Voters and primaries be damned!

EdwdLny said...

So, let's establish some facts, Joe Biden is and has been for at least 50 years an ignorant pompous pig. Any suggestions of his "decency" are unmitigated bull shit. For 4 years it's been said that Biden is a competent experienced politician perfectly poised to be president. We have also been told, by political "experts" and "experienced" politicians and functionaries that Hunter's laptop was Russian disinformation, covid was naturally occurring, the covid "vaccine" was safe and effective, Joe Biden hasn't taken money from our enemies etc, etc, etc. All of it was conspiracy theories and disinformation. Until it wasn't and isn't. Biden has been cognitively challenged since before the election. And the left lied about and denied it. The mfm covered for him and them. There are many,many people and organizations that deserve punishment for those lies. No slaps on the wrist rubbish either. The country does not deserve to be punished further by the installation of another turd like Biden. Nor any idiot who participated in this treasonous operation. And treason is an accurate description of what happened.

Achilles said...

Tofu King said...

I have never heard of Shapiro Warnock or Lord. I'm not quite an independent, and generally vote R, but always willing to give non-idealogues a listen.

Curious what you define as a "non-ideologue."

Does this include Trump?

Drago said...

AMDG: "The one thing that the Democrats do have are Trump’s legal troubles. The conviction on the Bragg case did not move the needle. I would suspect that they believe a harsh sentence would move the needle. Look for Merchen to sentence Trump to some kind of confinement on July 11."

Hope springs eternal for the Wannabe DeSantis Online Influencers as they cheer on the GOPe/dem/LLR-dem lawfare tactics.

Drago said...

Chuck: "He reminds me why I am not and never have been a Democrat."

LOLxInfinity...and beyond!

Ladies and gentlemen (democraticals and LLR-democraticals, I am excluding you from that greeting given you dont know what a "woman" is), more mendacious and pre-self-refuted and hilarious words have never before been offered up on Althouse Blog.

I am still laughing...and it is good to laugh.

John henry said...

someone whom many have come to erroneously view as decent and devoted to public service."

FIFY

John Henry

mindnumbrobot said...

Team Trump shouldn't agree to a second debate, claiming it would be elder abuse. However, they will consider it if Justice releases the Hur interview, because that would clearly match the transcript and show that Biden simply had a bad debate night.

friscoda said...

Kate said "If Harris were competent she'd be stabbing Joe in the back and making the Dems obey. This is her one and only chance to be POTUS."

I disagree. Her best chance is for Biden to be re-elected. He can't last 4 years, maybe not even 1 year and there is always that very handy 25th A. The only thing that would be in her way would be DOCTOR Jill Biden.

AMDG said...

Blogger Drago said...
AMDG: "The one thing that the Democrats do have are Trump’s legal troubles. The conviction on the Bragg case did not move the needle. I would suspect that they believe a harsh sentence would move the needle. Look for Merchen to sentence Trump to some kind of confinement on July 11."

Hope springs eternal for the Wannabe DeSantis Online Influencers as they cheer on the GOPe/dem/LLR-dem lawfare tactics.

6/30/24, 9:58 AM

—————-x

As usual your go to response to anything (insert “GOPe”, “LLR”, etc. here) says nothing of value about the issue but reveals much about yourself, and none of that is good. You are tedious and add nothing to the discussion. Let’s see if you can post anything that does not involve the conspiracy that Republicans and Democrats are in a conspiracy to get Trump. Your idiotic rants have gone from tedium to self parody.

Here is a clue. If you have to make an argument by claiming to know what someday else’s motives or thoughts are you not adding anything to the discussion.

I think the entire Bragg trial was a farce.

I think it would be highly detrimental to the nation for Trump to be jailed or confined.

I merely suggested that given the shock to the political system that Biden’s debate performance caused that the Democrats are going to have to do something drastic to put the focus back on Trump.

Drago said...

Wannabe DeSantis Online Influencer AMDG: "Let’s see if you can post anything that does not involve the conspiracy that Republicans and Democrats are in a conspiracy to get Trump."

LOL

See: Russia Collusion and Hoax Dossier re: McCain, McConnell, Ryan, Burr etc.

Case closed.

AMDG said...

I noticed yesterday that many of the people who were flipping out (see David Axelrod) on Thursday night and Friday during the day have come around to the talking point that Biden will be the nominee.

I also noticed that it has been announced that Biden is meeting with his family today to discuss his future.

Could it be that the shift in tone among the panickers is a way to let Joe now out gracefully on his terms?

The one downside is that if this is the case then it will be Kamala because I din’t see her stepping aside.

This is too bad. We would be deprived of the Trump/Newsome debate on what is more debased: banging a pornstar or banging your best friend’s wife? In that debate Trump comes out considerably less sleazy.

AMDG said...

Blogger Drago said...
Wannabe DeSantis Online Influencer AMDG: "Let’s see if you can post anything that does not involve the conspiracy that Republicans and Democrats are in a conspiracy to get Trump."

LOL

See: Russia Collusion and Hoax Dossier re: McCain, McConnell, Ryan, Burr etc.

Case closed.

6/30/24, 10:18 AM

—————

From your list only McCain was involved. He was petty and it was personal to him.

The idea that the others were involved is delusional.

There are plenty of people who are against Trump but believe that the effort to get him was wrong and that being appalled by the effort to get him does not mean that he should be President. You can’t seem to get that through your skull.

michaele said...

Forgive me if this has already been said in the comments.The lightbulb just turned on and I feel a need to point out that there was a person who campaigned in the primary process and got the second most Democrat votes to Biden. That is Nikki Haley. She's more of a tested national candidate than Gretchen Whitmer or the 3 men.

robother said...

Temujin is right that the press is no longer functioning as an independent Fourth Estate. However, there is another group to which Democrat and Establishment Republicans are fully accountable: the Billionaire donors. I imagine that precinct is being heard from this weekend. He who pays the piper.... "Goodbye, joe, we gotta go."

Achilles said...

AMDG said...

This is too bad. We would be deprived of the Trump/Newsome debate on what is more debased: banging a pornstar or banging your best friend’s wife? In that debate Trump comes out considerably less sleazy.

The only people who think Trump had sex with Stormy at this point are Democrats.

Ann doesn't even believe it anymore.

A porn star was so traumatized by sex she "Blacked Out."

Desantis supporters are just delusional people. You would have to be to think Desantis has a better chance to win in November than Trump.

John henry said...

Many of us in high school had to read the short story The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.

Written in 1947 it tells the story of a small town in New England that selects by lottery a person to be stoned to death to assure a good harvest.

In the story the lottery occurs on June 27th.

a couple weeks ago I saw a comment or an article or something mentioning that the date of the lottery was the same as the date of the debate. They wondered if it was a coincidence.

Reading all the hindsight about the debate it strikes me that we could take the analogy even deeper Maybe Thursday night was our lottery. We selected a person to be stoned to death.

Figuratively, of course.

Who picked June 27 for the debate and why that day in particular?

"There are no coincidences in politics" - FDR

John Henry

Achilles said...

AMDG said...

From your list only McCain was involved. He was petty and it was personal to him.

The idea that the others were involved is delusional.



Who was involved in blocking Trump from building the wall?

Who was involved in writing the 2017 House/Senate budget?

Desantis and hundreds of other DC republicans were involved in both of those.

John henry said...

Congratulations, Brandon. You are the lucky winner

John Henry

Drago said...

AMDG: "From your list only McCain was involved. He was petty and it was personal to him."

BS

McConnell and Ryan (and Burr, amongst others) were intimately involved.

Ryan had the hoax dossier in his grubby little mitts in 2016 and then NEVER shared it with Devin Nunes. Worse, Ryan kneecapped Nunes with that BS ethics "investigation" after Nunes got a heads up where some key info was kept (a scif near the White House) AND Ryan made sure to NOT approve any relevant subpoenas so investigators couldn't leverage witnesses.

McConnell, along with Ryan, alloeed Comey?/Brennan/Clapper to deliver separate intel briefings to different members of the Gang of 8, effectively ensuring Nunes was kept in the dark. Worse, McConnell allowed Burr, the supposed Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) to effectively cede control to the loathsome Mark Warner.

I could go on, but whats the point when speaking with dems or GOPe suckups?

Drago said...

AMDG: "From your list only McCain was involved. He was petty and it was personal to him."

BS

McConnell and Ryan (and Burr, amongst others) were intimately involved.

Ryan had the hoax dossier in his grubby little mitts in 2016 and then NEVER shared it with Devin Nunes. Worse, Ryan kneecapped Nunes with that BS ethics "investigation" after Nunes got a heads up where some key info was kept (a scif near the White House) AND Ryan made sure to NOT approve any relevant subpoenas so investigators couldn't leverage witnesses.

McConnell, along with Ryan, allowed Comey/Brennan/Clapper to deliver separate intel briefings to different members of the Gang of 8, effectively ensuring Nunes was kept in the dark. Worse, McConnell allowed Burr, the supposed Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) to effectively cede control to the loathsome Mark Warner.

I could go on, but whats the point when speaking with dems or GOPe suckups?

John henry said...

"This is the most stressful debate I’ve ever watched and my parent was a nominee against Obama"

Twix by Meghan McCain

I saw that and it stopped me dead in my tracks.

"my parent"? Which one, your mom or your dad?

Why not say which?

John Henry

Iman said...

The Fourth Estate band broke up and reformed as the Fifth Column.

Now their latest on Replay Records… “Shake Your Fist at the Clouds”

Drago said...

Listening to AMDG speak about the GOPe re: Trump is precisely analogous to listening or reading 90's era east coast establishment republicans pretending to have supported Reagan.

John henry said...

Devin Nunez being forced out of congress worked out pretty well for him.

He's made a lot of money with truth social

John Henry

Drago said...

"GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger and a longtime aide to Speaker Paul D. Ryan each were given an early look at the final report added to the infamous “Steele dossier,” court documents in a lawsuit against BuzzFeed News show.

Christopher Steele, the former British intelligence agent who compiled the unsubstantiated research booklet in 2016 about Donald Trump’s connections to Russia before he became president, gave the report to Kinzinger and Jonathan Burks, Ryan’s longtime chief of staff, after he completed it on Dec. 13, 2016, according to the court memo."


https://rollcall.com/2018/12/20/paul-ryan-aide-rep-adam-kinzinger-received-steele-dossier-early-court-documents-show/

Original Mike said...

""It is entirely possible that the debate will not much change the polls;"

Think about what that says about your fellow citizens.

Drago said...

The entire Russia Collusion/Dossier hoaxes would have been IMPOSSIBLE for the dems to carry forward without the active cooperation of a legion of GOPe-ers.

I'll bet the demd didnt even have to solicit support from the GOPe side of the aisle. The GOPe-ers were happy volunteers.

Mike of Snoqualmie said...

The DNC rigged the nomination process for Joe; they wouldn't give RFKJR the time of day, let alone a ballot entry. They're stuck with Joey the clonker Biden for president. Own it.

Bruce Hayden said...

“The Rats are likely giving serious thought to shooting down Air Force One with Biden, Doctor Jill, Harris, and much of their cabinet aboard. Reasonable, but it's a very dangerous escalation. Yet what other choice do they have?”

Except that the President and VP never, ever, fly together. Or even ride in the same car together. Last time they flew together was probably when Kennedy and Johnson flew back from Dallas together.

Drago said...

Mike: "They're stuck with Joey the clonker Biden for president."

Hmmmmm.

The dem leadership (because their voters are quite literally utterly irrelevant) are not constrained in any step they wish to take. They have more than enough judges at more than enough levels to approve any actions they take at anytime for any reason in executing their Torricelli maneuvers.

Dem leadership is only moderately limited by the internal leadership factional struggles which we are partially witnessing now.

Drago said...

AMDG: "The idea that the others were involved is delusional."

Oh, there are delusional posters at Althouse blog alright....

Yancey Ward said...

"Gretchen Whitmer/Raphael Warnock/Josh Shapiro/Wes Moore did not go through the primary process, interacting with real people across the country and standing up to months of scrutiny"

Well, at a fundamental level Biden was chosen in the same non-democratic method in the 2020 primaries. Had the DNC not arranged to have every candidate but Bernie Sanders and Bernie Sanders' main drag on his vote totals, Elizabeth Warren, drop out and endorse Biden just before South Carolina, Biden wouldn't have even won the nomination in 2020. And one can argue that Clinton was the beneficiary of a similar level of rigging in 2016.

JAORE said...

Remember the famous question?

It's 3 am. Who do you want to answer the red phone?

Today I'd expect a recording of "The President is not available right now. Please call back between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. Have a good day".

Yancey Ward said...

And, no, a second viewing doesn't make Biden look better. I listened to the debate while doing something else that requires a lot of focus- I thought Biden did better than he really did the first time through, and mainly because I tuned out the "answers" after about 30 seconds- this was me missing Biden drifting off into la la land almost every single time. When I read the transcript, I realized what I had missed- that second "viewing" doesn't help Biden at all.

TreeJoe said...

If his performance showed he was inadequate to be the democratic candidate, why is the Democratic party acting as if he's up to being President the next 7 months.

If the party is serious, they'll work to remove him NOW. Not for November - NOW.

If they don't work to remove him NOW, they are saying that Biden's fine to be President and they should keep him on the ticket.

Stop trying to have it both ways. It's an either/or choice.

..........

Also, the talk of Biden coming off the ticket is a vote of non-confidence by the Democratic party in Kamala Harris. She's been in the role 3.5 years and the entire party is basically signaling "No way is she ready to be President."

So the current Democratic party stance appears to be:

1. Our President is unfit to be or run for President, and,
2. Our celebrated VP is unfit to be President or run for President

This is a classic case of Republicans have a shot at winning because of how bad their opponents are, rather than how good they are as a party.

Rix said...

If the Democrats can't or won't replace Biden, perhaps they could gain some traction by replacing Harris. Independents and even some Democrats might feel better voting for Biden if he had a more likable, competent VP who could step into the office when Biden inevitably leaves the presidency, by whatever means.

Yancey Ward said...

"and yet - the polls have Biden within the margin or error of... winning.

Trump should be stronger. He's not."


While I would caution about using polls, I will again point out that Trump is running almost 10%+ (margins) ahead what he was running in the exact same polls at the exact same time in 2020's election cycle. Biden can't win if these numbers reflect the outcome the same way it did in 2020- if the numbers right now reflect the outcome in a similar way they did in 2020's final results then Biden will lose states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania by more than 5%-well beyond the margin of fraud, and will lose states like Nevada, Virginia, Colorado, and maybe even New Mexico and New Jersey. The Democrat candidate needs to be leading the national polling by at least 5% to win the Electoral College against Trump. Another GOP candidate can be defeated by even Biden with just a 1% national vote win or less because that Blue Wall is real without Trump on the ticket.

Drago said...

The desperation of the democraticals/LLR-democraticals was certainly in evidence this morning during Nancy Pelosi's incredibly slurred responses during a CNN interview where she claimed medical experts are asserting its Trump that has dementia.

Not a good look.

RCOCEAN II said...

Joe Biden would be a fool to drop out at this point. The nervous nellies in the MSM will calm down. THis will blow over by next week.

BTW, do all these MSM people communicate via email? They all march in lockstep and turn on a time. Its spookey.

narciso said...

Its the journolist /rizotto tray expansion

Original Mike said...

You really need to watch the debate to properly assess it. Joe's facial expressions are part of the diagnosis.

Milo Minderbinder said...

Jill Biden apparently is now a factor respecting use of our nuclear codes. If democrats put country ahead of party and power, the cabinet will invoke the 25th Amendment and let November's chips fall where they may. They made their bed by installing DEI Harris, and now they must sleep in it.

I continue to think Obama doesn't care who's at the top of their ticket, only that the Clyburn vote-harvesting machinery remains operable. If polls suggest Biden's dragging down their Congressional candidates, Obama can if he wishes direct Blinken and Garland to instigate a cabinet coup.

Ralph L said...

The blank look with his mouth open while Trump was speaking is the other half of the story.

That was Biden concentrating on what his earpiece was saying.

Ampersand said...

Do we all remember the LOTR character Grima, aka Wormtongue, Saruman's mole in the court of Theoden, who manipulated the demented Theoden?
Remnick is one of the hundreds of Wormtongues who have been manipulating our demented Biden/Theoden.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

The real problem for our country is that our enemies are under no obligation to accept being gaslit by the American media in their efforts to protect Democrats for domestic political purposes. Biden has appeared to be weak, feeble and probably suffering from dementia for some time. An improved future performance won’t change that impression with the likes of Putin and Xi. Unfortunately that die has been cast and the damage will be compounded each day he remains in office.

Ampersand said...

The debate should have done more than just eliminate Biden from the race. It should have delegitimized the MSM pundit class that foisted Biden upon us and repeatedly claimed that we were gullible consumers of cheap fakes.
Until the public fully understands the cascade of hoaxes to which they have been subjected, this will remain a close contest. And Remnick, Dowd, Kristof, etc. will continue to exert undeserved power.

gilbar said...

pundits talking to the DNC: "Replace Biden!"
DNC: "With WHO?"
pundits talking to the DNC: "with ANYONE!"
DNC*: "That's the problem. We Can't replace him with 'Anyone'; we'd have to replace him with SOMEONE"

DNC*(paraphrasing The Greatest Republican President)

MadTownGuy said...

Saith Remnick:

"In fact, Gretchen Whitmer, Raphael Warnock, Josh Shapiro, and Wes Moore are just a few of the office-holders in the Party who could energize Democrats and independents, inspire more younger voters, and beat Trump."

I'm assembling the oppo research starting now. I got a jump on Newsom's info. Not worried about Harris. The memes write themselves.

loudogblog said...

"By the way, is it "entirely possible that Biden could have a much stronger debate in September"?"

People who are suffering from age related dementia have good days and bad days. It's just bad luck on Biden's part that the debate took place on one of his bad days. So it is possible that he could perform better in a future debate.

The problem is that, as the dementia progresses, the bad days become more frequent and the dementia becomes more pronounced.

Old and slow said...

On X there is broad and enthusiastic support for Biden. They're blaming the moderators for Biden's decrepitude. I can't tell if they are serious or pretending.

Milwaukie guy said...

If Biden resigns or is 25th'd, Harris is president until Jan 20, which is a pretty good consolation prize. A VP is not on the primary ticket. Whoever is chosen at the Dem convention is free to name their own VP.

Bob Boyd said...

Great Replacement karma for Open Borders Biden.

John henry said...

It's just bad luck on Biden's part that the debate took place on one of his bad days.

How do you know this was a bad day?

It could just as likely have been a really, really, good day for him.

John Henry

donald said...

How bout don’t keep going to war for corporate interests and bribe paybacks Chuck, you gaping vagina piece of shit.

James K said...

Independents and even some Democrats might feel better voting for Biden if he had a more likable, competent VP who could step into the office when Biden inevitably leaves the presidency, by whatever means.

And who exactly might that be? The names that have been floated about as replacements are laughable. Governor Brylcream? Witchmer? I'm coming up empty.

JAORE said...

Biden. Too senile to go to trial. Too senile to debate. Too embarrassing to hear his deposition. Hunky Dorey to remain POTUS for AT LEAST 7 months.....

Free the Hur Report audio!

Aggie said...

I would just point out that it's not insurmountably hard for Biden to win the second debate if his opponent is in jail.

Leland said...

Sometimes I like to rewatch things like this:

Now that is a video that picks me up.

Aggie said...

.....and I have a feeling that Kamala would accept guidance from l'Ă©minence grise at least as politely as Jill does.

Rix said...

You and I may not like any of them, but anyone would be better than Harris. I just think she's more expendable. No democrats I know like her.

Readering said...

I don't understand all the blame on the press and establishment for gaslighting. The polls have shown a decisive majority believing Biden not fit to run again for months and months. Certainly my view, and I voted against him in CA primary. Press and establishment didn't deceive (at least not successfully). I am very critical of establishment for its inaction in face of bloody obvious. But yes I will still vote against Trump come what may, and I blame Republican establishment for that being the choice.

Breezy said...

If Kamala picks a VP, it won’t be anyone with a higher favorability rating than she has..

tolkein said...

Do the commentators have a reliable track record? If not, then they're not reliable. They'll be as trustworthy as 'experts'.
Reading them reminds me of reading Devil Land by Clare Jackson (England from 1588-1688).
She very generously quotes contemporary experts and commentators on foreign policy, domestic policy. And they're so sure and so wrong. Gloriously so, often.
Assume that contemporary experts will be wrong, because they don't know and they are quoted because their beliefs are in line with those quoting them.

Amadeus 48 said...

To paraphrase Remnick, if Biden stays in, he’ll become the fungus of the century.

Achilles said...

Readering said...

I don't understand all the blame on the press and establishment for gaslighting. The polls have shown a decisive majority believing Biden not fit to run again for months and months. Certainly my view, and I voted against him in CA primary. Press and establishment didn't deceive (at least not successfully). I am very critical of establishment for its inaction in face of bloody obvious. But yes I will still vote against Trump come what may, and I blame Republican establishment for that being the choice.


This is why Democrats will never care what their voters think or what their policies do.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

By the way, is it "entirely possible that Biden could have a much stronger debate in September"?

No, it isn't. Dementia is progressive, it will be far worse in 3 months. They would have to hold it at noon, EST, for Biden to have a chance.

Not only is it entirely possible for Biden to have a much stronger debate in September, it's entirely possible that if you calm yourself, clear your head of preconceptions, and cue up last Thursday's debate and watch it again, you will perceive it as a much stronger debate than it seemed on first watch.

Only if you lie to yourself. The guy is so utterly suffering from dementia that, if he weren't such a total scum-bag, I'd actually feel sorry for him

Greg the Class Traitor said...

Yeah, let's all re-watch the debate:

https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1806557731244986521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1806557731244986521%7Ctwgr%5Eefd1fef071a7043860ff9095fecc41dfbea2130c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.battleswarmblog.com%2F

Ralph L said...

I am very critical of [Dem] establishment for its inaction in face of bloody obvious.

Yet you will continue to vote to keep them in power. No punishment for the guilty! Expect more of the same.

Milwaukie guy said...

Kamala name a VP? The Dem convention would still have to select her as their presidential candidate. Only Biden can select his vice president subject to a vote from the convention.
With Biden gone, all the Biden-pledged delegates get to wheel and deal. 25th!

The calculation is all about down ticket. Would more democrats stay home if Newsom was the candidate? Kamala? A player to be named later? Remember, 86% of Americans say Biden is too old and nearly 50 million voters just got to see Biden for 30 to 90 minutes straight, no cheap fake. Votes can be harvested for Newsom as much as Biden.

The Dems need some hope and change and I think Michelle could be convinced to run as VP on the ticket, since as Garner said, "It's not worth a bucket of warm spit." It can be mostly a no-show machine job, if necessary, with only parties and bullshit.

Last tag!

David O said...

Not only is it entirely possible for Biden to have a much stronger debate in September...

Um, sure, yeah, of course.

Because everyone knows that dementia patients just get better each and every day. Their very best years are ahead of them! By January of 2029, Biden will no doubt be recruited for the job of chief scientist at the Large Hedron Collider.

Craig Mc said...

Unspoken: It's also entirely possible for Biden to have a much worse debate in September.

Sorry host, but he was beyond appalling in the just had debate.

Mason G said...

I am very critical of establishment for its inaction in face of bloody obvious.

Internet meme:

Crying Karen:

Our Democrat president is destroying my country.
I'm done.
Next time, I'm voting for a different Democrat.

JAORE said...

So if, and I think he will, Biden stays in. How do you handle him between now and November to overcome the dementia issue?

No real public exposure? 15 second spots with multiple cuts? No one will buy that crap. Appearances open to 2 to 3 questions from already selected reporters with answers at hand. Chance the minefield of really facing reporters?

Can the D's really think they can hide Joe away AND overcome the debate fiasco?

Readering said...

It's a binary choice folks, not a referendum. Why couldn't GOP create a choice for those outside cult of MAGA? I imagine many voted for FDR in '44 suspecting he was at death's door. (But at least he upgraded his veep.)

Drago said...

Readering: "It's a binary choice folks, not a referendum. Why couldn't GOP create a choice for those outside cult of MAGA?"

The republicans had a non-rigged primary. That was the choice.

As a democratical, having a non-rigged primary confuses and befuddles you since your party rigs your primaries and you guys adore that and would never think to complain or send your vote elsewhere to send a message.

I hope this short "explainer" helps you come to grips with reality.

Chuck said...

I'll sleep easier tonight, knowing that the Althouse blog has such deep and genuine concern for what is best for Joe Biden and his political legacy.

Drago said...

LLR-democratical Chuck: "I'll sleep easier tonight, knowing that the Althouse blog has such deep and genuine concern for what is best for Joe Biden and his political legacy."

More Americans will sleep less easier tonight as the gaslighting lies of the dems/LLR-dems continue to collapse one after the other and exposes just how corrupted US institutions have become under the dems/LLR-dems with our global adversaries fully aware of what a moronic farce the dems/LLR-dems have created at the leadership level in DC.

Readering said...

Drago: maybe not rigged, but the GOP establishment lined up behind Trump. Will regret it however November turns out. Fingers crossed it's a good vp nominee.

Drago said...

Readering: "Drago: maybe not rigged, but the GOP establishment lined up behind Trump"

LOL

You are some kind of stupid. Truly. Breathtakingly so.

Not in 2016. Not in 2020. Not in 2024.

Rusty said...

Bernie is rested and ready.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

Readering: "Drago: maybe not rigged, but the GOP establishment lined up behind Trump"

Seriously?
The Democrat lined up behind Trump, with their corrupt lawfare.
The pushed a lot of GOP voters to support Trump, as the only way they could see to fight back against the Democrats corruption of the rule of law.

You scumbags wanted Trump. Well, you got him. Just like in 2016. Congratulations, I wish you all the misery int he world

Jim at said...

Why couldn't GOP create a choice for those outside cult of MAGA?

75 million (11 million more than in 2016) votes is a pretty big 'cult' wouldn't you say?

But keep on insulting those 75 million. I'm sure it'll work this time.