July 18, 2024

"He’s gone from saying, ‘Kamala can’t win,’ to ‘Do you think Kamala can win?' It’s still unclear where he’s going to land but seems to be listening."

Says "one senior Democratic adviser," quoted in "Biden now being ‘receptive’ about possibility of giving up 2024 re-election campaign: new report" (NY Post).

He's got Covid, so maybe that makes him vulnerable. And, yes, I've seen the articles about the dream of making him look strong — like Trump jumping up after getting shot — when/if he recovers from his new bout with the famous virus, e.g., "MSNBC’s Joy Reid compares ‘elderly’ Biden’s potential COVID recovery to Trump dodging an assassination attempt."

And let me add that I look at the polls every day, and I'm seeing Joe consistently outperform Kamala Harris. That must tighten Joe's grip. But you need to visualize the next 3 1/2 months, with both scenarios. Joe has difficulty campaigning. He's quite weak. Those who are polled have easily seen that. But they have not seen Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate. They have to imagine it. If Biden withdraws, and Harris becomes the candidate, and we see her speaking and fighting every day, will the polls show greater support for her? There's very little reason to think so. And that's why Joe isn't just a selfish bastard to hang on.

[W\hether or not she’s the optimal candidate, she’s a politician who would be capable, not only of dramatically outworking Biden, but dramatically outworking Trump. Harris could be doing large numbers of brief, reasonably friendly media appearances where she does what any normal politician could do: deliver crisp, clear versions of Democratic Party talking points about how Trump is a criminal who wants to blow out the deficit with regressive tax cuts and she is a prosecutor who wants to protect abortion rights and make the rich pay their fare share of taxes....

She is a prosecutor, and her opponent is a felon. If handed the nomination, she might screw it up (anyone might)... But the fact is, Harris is more popular than Biden, her polling against Trump is stronger than Biden’s....

Her polling against Trump is stronger than Biden’s? That's not what I've been seeing. But checking the averages at Real Clear Politics, I see Trump up 2.5 percentage points over Biden and only 1.8 over Harris

Maybe Harris would be stronger than Biden. Again, Biden is weak. But, again, Harris has largely been shielded from view and might do worse under scrutiny. I love Yglesias's attempt at boosting Democratic morale with the prospect of "large numbers of brief, reasonably friendly media appearances." Aren't we already sick of Kamala's overly friendly encounters with squishy interviewers? Do something tough and challenging for a change!

AND: "Joe Scarborough backs push for Biden to drop out, says aides keeping him in race for ‘financial’ reasons: ‘Not going to end well’" (NY Post).

“This is not going to end well if it continues to drag out,” Scarborough said during a lengthy spiel on his “Morning Joe” talk show.... “It’s really incumbent on people that are around Joe Biden to step up at this point and help the president and help the man they love and do the right thing,” he said.

123 comments:

Achilles said...

It isn't between Joe and Kamala. Both will lose.

The choice is who will lose fewer senate/congress seats.

That is the choice the flunkies are facing.

The people who actually hold power are making different decisions.

doctrev said...

I always took it as a threat. If they insist on pushing Biden out, we might see Harris/ Hunter 2024.

Leslie Graves said...

Yup.

Breezy said...

The difference in bench strength between the two parties is stark. The Dems love their own individual power too much to adequately ensure anyone can come along to succeed them. They are demonstrating that they don’t give a whit about our country. Selfish bastards, every one of them.

Goetz von Berlichingen said...

The VP? The VP???? Do you mean the black one?

MfG
Goetz von Berlichingen

n.n said...

Biden showers with daughter, Harris leans in on her knees, Trump is shot by a Democratic who identifies as a Republican... we didn't start the fuego, it's always been progressing, since the climate has been changing.

Wince said...

I want to be an "advisor" or "strategist."

Sally327 said...

There are people who are going to vote for Joe Biden regardless of how unfit he is. People who vote party not person, I actually happen to be one of those kinds of voters, when it comes to the general election especially.

That's why the question for them is, who can win? Not who should win? Or if he does win, can he govern? They don't care about that, they just can keep doing what they've been doing when it comes to governing, or not as the case may be.

I don't think Biden should drop out, they really can't scheme an effective alternative before election days without possibly losing as many voters as they could gain. The only exception to that might be Taylor Swift. Who will be 35 by inauguration day 2025. Huge step down in pay for her of course.

Taylor for President!

Levi Starks said...

“Biden has Covid”
“We’re going to give him a week to not say anything stupid”

n.n said...

Do you mean the black one?

Harris is not blackety black. She's certainly not obsidian. She's not even Indian, where the blackest of the black are native.

Amadeus 48 said...

As a Trump supporter, I am somewhat concerned about an anti-Trump relief rally and honeymoon following the announcement of a new Dem nominee...any new Dem nominee including Harris. There really won't be much time to evaluate the qualities of a new nominee. Every good thing can be imagined for someone unknown. The press will be worshipful.

Biden and Trump have track records. A new nominee can be anointed as better than Biden, better than Trump, better than Obama! The sky's the limit!

John henry said...

If not tonight, an hour or so before our once and future president speaks, he will be the candidate in November

If still alive.

Official nomination is today and tomorrow to meet Ohio and Alabama deadlines

John Henry

n.n said...

"Biden has Covid”

What a covidience. He must be a vaxxxer, an anti-Kennedy masker.

Amadeus 48 said...

If we elect a last-minute switcheroo, we will deserve what we get.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

The "Sequencing" has begun.

The phase out of old Crook Mob Joe - to Kamala is in full swing.

"SEQUENCING"

Gunner said...

If Joe steps down, why should anyone who isn't a Democratic Party stooge trust them about whatever they say about Kamala's good qualities? They are on record as lying for Joe until they got caught!

Wince said...

I'd much prefer Kamala v. George "the Animal" Streele.

"Neither one of them is playing with a full deck anyway."

BUMBLE BEE said...

Such an original tactic. Here's Navarro.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2024/07/17/massive-cheers-applause-and-chants-of-fight-fight-fight-greet-peter-navarro-at-the-rnc-convention/

It's Thunderdome.

mindnumbrobot said...

The worst part of that Joy Reid clip isn't comparing surviving an assassination attempt to having COVID--that's just typical Joe Reid stupidity. The worst part is she slips in the conspiracy that Trump was "given 9 seconds" for a photo op.

John henry said...

What "black" vp, goetz?

Do you mean the DEI indian/Canadian/Jamaican/us/light-skinned vp?

That "black" vp?

I'd like to see kamala and jd side by side. I don't know which has lighter tone skin but it would be close.

John Henry

Ann Althouse said...

So this is the latest conspiracy theory? Biden doesn't really have covid?

n.n said...

Kamala kan kan, Hillary does it in the water closet, Biden bowels for District of Columbia.

rhhardin said...

She'd be not only the first woman president, but the first whore, at least in the US. There was Evita Peron before.

Dogma and Pony Show said...

The Dump Biden people may face a new problem now: Trump's current momentum could scare off potential replacement candidates. Thus, they could dump Biden (which is undemocratic, underscores the competency hoax, and also raises the uncomfortable question of whether he needs to resign as president), diss Harris (which will certainly anger some people), and then end up with some no-name sacrificial lamb who has no chance against Trump anyway.

They waited too long to do this. Biden needed to announce a year ago that he wasn't running and that, despite his regard for Kamala, there should be an open primary to select a 2024 nominee. As it is, there's complete chaos and all the dems can think to do is create more chaos.

n.n said...

the DEI indian/Canadian/Jamaican/us/light-skinned vp

Diversity! Five colors, classes in one. Vote NOW. Supplies are limited.

who-knew said...

Just an anecdote but a good friend of mine who is as tied into the Wisconsin Democratic party as you can be when you live in Ashland says (just last night) to get ready for President Harrison. I think that it's no coincidence that Slow Joe said he'd quit if the doctors discovered something wrong and then pulled off the campaign trail with covid. In the next day or two I expect an announcement that while treating him for covid they discovered this new affliction that requires poor old Joe to give up his dream of saving the country from literally Hitler for a second time.

CJinPA said...

Aren't we already sick of Kamala's overly friendly encounters with squishy interviewers?

Maybe, but we're not the typical voter.

As a Trump voter, I am apprehensive about a possible Harris candidacy. (Or worse, President Harris' election campaign.) Most voters only know that she is VP for Biden, and he's not popular, so she must be weak too. All that goes out the window if she's the candidate.

Think of what the multi-billion media industry did to elect Obama and triple it in the Age of Trump, where media don't feel the need to even feign impartiality. She's only 1.5%-2% behind Trump now? She'll be Rosa Parks/Mother Theresa/Joan of Arc by November.

Don't go, Joe.

narciso said...

Trump has survived covid an assasination attempt at least one bogus trial

Kamala has not been in our face for four years come on now

Michael K said...

Harris campaigning is going to be a revelation for a lot of people. Wait until she starts to explain inflation or Ukraine. We've seen a few previews but the genuine article is going to be amazing.

RebeccaH said...

I can't see VP Horse Laugh beating the image of Donald Trump jumping up after he was shot, pumping his fist and telling his supporters to "Fight!"

n.n said...

the first woman president, but the first whore

The first indigenous front hole h/t Levine et al.

The first [black] hole h/t NAACP.

The first progressive meme in Diversity politics.

planetgeo said...

Ah yes, suddenly COVID - the Democrats' universal prescription for electile dysfunction.

Jay Manifold said...

They’re going to have ballot-access issues in at least a few states even if they try a switch this week. In another month it will be noticeably worse, and after early September it’s a practical impossibility. An election with no Democratic slate of electors in a double-digit number of states will be attacked as illegitimate. I note that Lincoln was not on the ballot in much of the South in 1860.

narciso said...

Theyve tried to make her happen like disney star wars its not gonna

Yancey Ward said...

I have read, don't know how true it is, that the Biden controlled DNC is looking to get the delegate vote done electronically by the end of this month so that there is no chance of an open revolt in the voting in Chicago. Getting Biden out of the public eye probably helps this effort. It also allows them to blame COVID for all Biden's gaffes the last 3 weeks.

Did he really test positive for COVID? I put the odds 50/50.

tommyesq said...

"wants to blow out the deficit"

Do the dems really want to run on who is better for the deficit?

retail lawyer said...

Being a Democrat prosecutor is not something to highlight in this era. And what happens when the Dem voters realize she's married to a Jew? And descended from a slave owner! Takes the luster out of BIPOC one would hope.

planetgeo said...

And I can't wait to hear Joy Reid exclaiming how Kamala heroically overcoming a yeast infection is exactly like Trump surviving an assassination.

Iman said...

Biden looks and sounds like he is, at most, a few weeks away from hospice.

His death from Covid would be a blessing for him.

narciso said...

Abc has it as a tie siena and wallstreet journal have a 6 points advantage for trump

Yancey Ward said...

I guess I have to remind people that Harris ran a campaign for the nomination in 2020 that had more money than anyone and more media support than anyone going into the end of 2019 and didn't even make it to Iowa. Elizabeth Warren would make a better candidate than Harris.

n.n said...

Harris, Harris, Harris is a clitorist cant garnered by genderists who dream of a transition act.

AZ Bob said...

Democrats should push for a Harris-Vance debate ASAP. It would answer their questions about Harris. An early debate answered questions about Biden, didn't it?

Sally327 said...

So this is the latest conspiracy theory? Biden doesn't really have covid?

I think it's seems credible, that theory, because of the way he was acting shortly before the announcement, doing a meet and greet at some restaurant in Las Vegas and touching people and then not being masked after the announcement. He didn't act like someone with Covid on his mind.

If the Democrats have a plan, could it involve someone we haven't heard about? Who is the most popular Democrat politician in the country today, I have no idea. They all seem like pod people to me.

CJinPA said...

Harris campaigning is going to be a revelation for a lot of people. Wait until she starts to explain inflation or Ukraine.

She only needs to last 3 months, tops. She will never utter an unscripted word. And her VP writers will not be allowed near a teleprompter keyboard.

Enigma said...

@Althouse: So this is the latest conspiracy theory? Biden doesn't really have covid?

Forget the conspiracy, it's DARK COMEDY either way. He spent years masking up on Zoom calls, bullying people, getting people fired, shaming people, sparking airplane riots, and taking 8,000 boosters, etc. Then...oops...

If he's very sick then was that all useless? If it's not a big deal then what was all that COVID stuff for in 2021 and 2022?

n.n said...

His death from Covid would be a blessing for him.

One less "burden" for Democrazis.

Achilles said...

BUMBLE BEE said...

Such an original tactic. Here's Navarro.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2024/07/17/massive-cheers-applause-and-chants-of-fight-fight-fight-greet-peter-navarro-at-the-rnc-convention/

It's Thunderdome.


Democrats have known this for a long time.

Now a critical mass of voters have figured out they are in an arena with a vicious and violent Leviathan.

WisRich said...

Ann Althouse said...
So this is the latest conspiracy theory? Biden doesn't really have covid?
------

I watched him get off AF1 and then try to climb into his limo. I can buy he as Covid.

who-knew said...

Althouse said "So this is the latest conspiracy theory? Biden doesn't really have covid?" Yes, I believe you are right about that. And I'm buying into it. After the BET interview, they manufactured an excuse to keep him out of sight while they manufacture an excuse to boot him off the ticket. They can't admit that it's the dementia, so they'll have to create another reason and covid alone isn't dire enough to shut him down.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

What I've seen matches Althouse's impression: Joe so far has been consistently stronger than Kamala, even though she's getting the glowing reports suddenly about how great she would. I think that's wishcasting by reporters.

However, the other day I posited this current tug of war as the DNC irresistible force vs Joe the immovable president and I see no evidence of his stance softening. To the contrary. The behind the scenes leaks confirm that he was hugely disappointed to be shunted aside for Hillary! in 2016 and wishes he had not stayed out of that race. He was pissed that Obama again tried to keep him out of the 2020 race, and Joe believes his own press clippings that it was him, his personality and not the "extraordinary measures" used (!!) that defeated Donald Trump. He did it. He did it by defying conventional wisdom, the DNC and the advice of Obama.

So if he continues to be his own best adviser, continues to ignore the naysayers, continues to lie about Trump that he will prevail again and show all those idiots. Like hell "he's mulling it over." That's the NYT trying to influence him, but the more they try the more it solidifies his "us against the world" mentality. He's started railing against "party elites" as mush as he rails against Trump. He's repeatedly reached out to what he thinks is his base, black voters.

They will need a Deus ex machina to change the script that has been written. Joe is not going anywhere, not voluntarily.

AlbertAnonymous said...

Bullshit. This is wishful thinking.

More likely he’s gone from saying “Kamala can’t win” to “she, um… er…. Look the idea that, well, um ……. Anyway.”

mindnumbrobot said...

RebeccaH said...
I can't see VP Horse Laugh beating the image of Donald Trump jumping up after he was shot...

Never underestimate the Democrats, media, and Deep State working in conjunction. On a certain level, who the Democrat candidate is is almost irrelevant.

Eva Marie said...

Speaking purely as an unbiased bystander: Run Joe Run!

n.n said...

Vitamin D deficiency is a primary indicator of Covidian progress. Get that man to a southern beach, and make it warm. Stat! Oh, and don't forget the red meat for healthy cholesterol building blocks.

Jamie said...

And I can't wait to hear Joy Reid exclaiming how Kamala heroically overcoming a yeast infection is exactly like Trump surviving an assassination.

Thank the gods I had already finished the day's coffee before I got to this comment! I really don't want to have to have my carpet cleaned right now.

mindnumbrobot said...

Ann Althouse said...
So this is the latest conspiracy theory? Biden doesn't really have covid?

I believe it. It's going around (yes, I have family members that actually still test themselves with every sniffle).

rrsafety said...

It will be Harris/Shapiro.
That will put PA in the Democrat corner.
Then all attention shifts MI and WI and AZ and NV (assuming the GOP doesn't eff up Georgia again).
It will be a wild finish.
What does Shapiro do for the Dems in Dearborn, Michigan?

planetgeo said...

Sally327: "Who is the most popular Democrat politician in the country today, I have no idea. They all seem like pod people to me."

They remind me more of all those people in the famous Apple Macintosh commercial watching a Big Brother-like figure preach about "the unification of thought" until Trump comes running up the aisle and launches a sledgehammer through the screen.

Breezy said...

Joe and others -are- selfish bastards for not ensuring a viable bench of strong and effective candidates to succeed them. That he’s in the position he’s in is because he doesn’t think anyone else can beat Trump. (And because Jill is a witch, of course.) Why else ask for a new poll re Kamala?

Curious George said...

”Scarborough said during a lengthy spiel on his “Morning Joe” talk show.... “It’s really incumbent on people that are around Joe Biden to step up at this point and help the president and help the man they love and do the right thing,"

The only one that loves Joe Biden is Joe Biden. No one else. Not Jill. Not Hunter. Not his brother. Daughter. No one.

Jamie said...

Ann Althouse said...
So this is the latest conspiracy theory? Biden doesn't really have covid?
------

I watched him get off AF1 and then try to climb into his limo. I can buy he as Covid.


I saw that too, as well as video of Biden getting into his SUV. He looks utterly exhausted. Through the window, he takes a very deep, weary breath. A Secret Service agent fastens his seat belt for him.

Against his having COVID: no coughing at all that I've seen.

For it: the patent exhaustion.

Either way, he looks terrible. I almost said "the poor man," and indeed I do have sympathy for him because his feebleness even before this bout of COVID has rendered him pathetic to me, but the fact that he was always a nasty piece of work tempers my pity.

Achilles said...

Ann Althouse said...

So this is the latest conspiracy theory? Biden doesn't really have covid?

Ooh ohh! A game! Since we don't know the answer lets form two competing hypotheses!

1. Biden actually caught COVID. The Biden Regime is being honest and transparent.

2. The Biden Regime has a pattern of lying. There was a major event in the political space that virtually guarantees his loss in November. He just told a reporter he will quit if he has a medical issue. They needed an excuse to get him out of the race that amounts to more than "we know he is going to lose."

Alright, lets gather observations and evidence and support our theories!

robother said...

Joe's Delaware basement is his COVID bat cave, his power spot. That's where he wins elections. It's his Shrodinger's box: the cat could be alive and well or brain dead; no one really knows. The existential uncertainty allows Democrats and Scarborough MSM types to project their "best version of Biden yet" fantasies onto Joe, with no contradictory data from actual appearances. Sort of like what they're doing with Kamala now.

traditionalguy said...

Biden is an exposed Bribed liar with few working brain cells all completely under Destroy America First orders coming from someone in the Intelligence Community that gave us the 51 professional assurances that Putin crafted the Hunter Biden evidence trove. Laffin’ Cammie is that criminal’s wing woman.

But it is Hitler against the Dem’s huge 3:00AM fake vote count operation.We will see.



But

Narayanan said...

Run Forrest Joe Biden Run!>>

Goetz von Berlichingen said...

"wants to blow out the deficit"

Hmmmmmm. Perhaps Kamala is the right person for the job. She's got the experience.

MfG
Goetz von Berlichingen

James K said...

It's not about the point differentials between Biden and Harris vs Trump. They see Biden as almost sure to lose. Harris would be a "Hail Mary" pass--a low chance of success, but higher than sticking with the almost certain failure of Joe.

Charlie said...

Let's see if she can be, unburdened by what has been.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

[W\hether or not she’s the optimal candidate, she’s a politician who would be capable, not only of dramatically outworking Biden, but dramatically outworking Trump.

Trump worked his SS team so hard that they had to all take the day off while Trump was campaigning Saturday.

Harris is the loser who's so lazy that she never does the prep work her staff sets up for her, then attacks her staff when she fails for lack of prep work (thus leading the the ~80% staff turnover).
Sure, she's going to "outwork" Trump.

Harris could be doing large numbers of brief, reasonably friendly media appearances where she does what any normal politician could do: deliver crisp, clear versions of Democratic Party talking points

When in her life has she ever actually done that?

about how Trump is a criminal who wants to blow out the deficit with regressive tax cuts and she is a prosecutor who wants to protect abortion rights and make the rich pay their fare share of taxes....

HAHAHAHAHAHA

1: She's a prosecutor who put a lot of black males in jail for things the Democrat Party now claims aren't big deals, and shouldn't be punished. Oh, that's going to work really well
2: "wants to blow out the deficit". You mean like the Dems did with their "inflation reduction act"?
If we were spending at 2019 levels, we'd have a balanced budget right now. The deficit is completely the fault of the Democrats and their big spending
3: Trump is the guy who the Democrats set up to be assassinated. Assuming they didn't just set up the whole assassination. Sorry, but "Trump is a felon" is DOA

But the fact is, Harris is more popular than Biden, her polling against Trump is stronger than Biden’s....
Her polling against Trump is stronger than Biden’s? That's not what I've been seeing. But checking the averages at Real Clear Politics, I see Trump up 2.5 percentage points over Biden and only 1.8 over Harris.


All of Harris' "strength" is the fact that people haven't had to see or hear her. It will go away the second she becomes the nominee

wishfulthinking said...

Which networks were livestreaming the Trump rally in Butler, PA? I am asking because I don't know. People are questioning networks that tradionally don't livestream Trump's rallys and yet were doing so last Saturday.

Achilles said...

Jamie said...

Against his having COVID: no coughing at all that I've seen.

And the regime just lies about everything even when they don't seem to need to.

For it: the patent exhaustion.

This is a symptom of depression as well.

It is also a symptom of not being on drugs and then not being on drugs.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

Goetz von Berlichingen said...
"wants to blow out the deficit"

Hmmmmmm. Perhaps Kamala is the right person for the job. She's got the experience.



Good catch, GvB

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Democrats should push for a Harris-Vance debate ASAP.

Oh they did already and Trump's response was hilarious. "We don't know who the VP is going to be yet and it wouldn't be fair to Newsome or Whitmer to schedule one yet."

rastajenk said...

I thought the Parkinson's discussion last week would act as the ticket out of the race, without resigning the office. Now I get the feeling that that would take too much time, best to get him out now regardless of the individual health condition.

Narayanan said...

but the first whore
================
was she not 'monogamous' with Willie?

Kate said...

The hard Left believes that colonialist white men need to voluntarily step aside so that PoC, who've been kept out of power by the system, can assume their place. And here's Biden. The DNC could shame him in 2 seconds into resigning if they wanted.

Let Harris have her 4 months of being the first woman POTUS. Let her run for 2024 without the VP baggage. Someone who truly believed in the Left's principles would get out of her way.

Instead, they'll let him say that blacks "know where his heart is", talking the talk instead of walking it.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

Reality check time: The only chance the Democrats have of winning is running a candidate who is intelligent, articulate, and who can make sane arguments for Democrat politics, not just attack Trump.

"If we make this about Trump, we win" died when Re Tardy Oswald pulled the trigger from the roof that teh Biden SS invited him to shoot Trump from.

It would not longer have worked if he killed Trump, and it certainly won't work post The Picture.

The problem for the Democrats is that it's not possible to make sane and intelligent arguments for their polices.

"To the Democrats, I'm not a mother, I'm a chest-feeding bleeder with a bonus hole."

You can side with the insane, or you can side with normal Americans. The Democrats, at every juncture, have chosen to side with the insane, the terrorists, the criminals, all AGAINST the rest of us.

It's not a winning platform

RCOCEAN II said...

To me this story means only one thing: The publishers/editors of the MSM have decided Biden must go. So, we get all these anonymous sourced articles. And I don't like it. Its just propaganda. if it doesn't have a name attached it didn't happen.

Biden would be a fool to drop out. All these people will get back on Team Biden if he can hang on till the virtual roll call in early August.

Dave Begley said...

Biden getting Covid, allegedly, is just a cover story for him to drop out. Doctor's orders!

The bribe must be close to getting paid.

Goetz von Berlichingen said...

Thanks Greg!

My dad, RIP, played liar's dice with Willie Brown and others at John's Grill in SF a few times a week. He once told me about meeting Kamala when Willie brought her along. He said that her job was to be the "head person on Willie's staff".

On my honor as a von Berlichingen!

MfG
Goetz von Berlichingen


Tofu King said...

The great thing about Kamala, is that she sees "what can be, unburdened by what has been". So she's got that going for her.

Aggie said...

My prediction: Biden is done. As soon as he said 'I'll rely on my doctor's advice' on continuing his campaign, and followed up the next day with 'I've got COVID', he was done, acknowledging it. He is on the glidepath now.

Mark said...

There's going to be a lot of distasteful commentary about Harris for the media to make hay with. Republicans are going to have to find a way for women to vote for the side that says stuff like this 'She'd be not only the first woman president, but the first whore, at least in the US.'

Good luck scrubbing all such statements out of the last 5 years of posts. I have no doubt some House members have comments on the record much the same.

JAORE said...

I am coming from the position that Jill has not (yet?) decided she will quit.

I see three stages in the COVID proclamation:
1. Biden is exhausted. Completely spent trying to do a normal amount of outreach. COVID may play a part, but the old guy cannot do it. (And what a loss to the US Men's Olympic gymnastic team - or was that so two weeks ago.) They HAD to get him some rest.

2. Biden gets cover for the rest by hiding in his basement. Won't work as well as 2020, but it does buy him time. When every outing includes angry outbursts, violent comments about Trump, time away from the spotlight is vital. It also limits contact from panicked party members hounding him to drop out.

3. I gets him closer to the "virtual convention voting). Note the party puppet masters are trying to stretch out the timeline. But if Biden can use the basement cave to gain another week or two, prying him loose may be even harder.

As a sub point the Biden questioning if Kamala could win is interesting. It signals the D's better not dare to skip her. It makes them ponder how well she'd look on the campaign trail, etc. (Bhwahahaha)

I'm having a really good week. But not as good as the Republicans.

Leland said...

That's a pretty low bar set "dramatically outperforming Biden".

Working 9 to 5 is outperforming Biden.

Gerda Sprinchorn said...

Here's a pretty objective answer to the question of whether Harris has a better chance against Trump than Biden:

https://electionbettingodds.com/ElectabilityDEM.html

Note that if Harris is the nominee, the race is still close to a tossup.

Lee Moore said...

On Althouse's "conspiracy" point I think Achilles and JAORE have, between them, covered all the bases.

1. He actually has COVID

2. He's just pretending, as the first move in an elegant, choreographed, face saving withdrawal

3. He's just pretending, to buy himself some much needed nap time

I don't know which is true. But I do know that 2 or 3 cannot be ruled out by reference to Biden's long standing determination to be straight with the American people. History suggests that betting against him, or his minders, telling the truth is where the smart money goes.

If I had to bet, I'd bet on 3. Which is not to say that he won't drop out - I expect him to - but I think Jill is still waiting for an adequate offer, which obviously hasn't been forthcoming yet.

2 seems to me the least likely. If it's all choreographed, then hoo boy, they're doing a good job of disguising it.

Oso Negro said...

If Biden is too sick and too old to run, why does he get to finish his term in office?

Greg the Class Traitor said...

arayanan said...
but the first whore
================
was she not 'monogamous' with Willie?


She sold sex for political power. Being monogamous while you're screwing a married man doesn't make you less of a whore

Greg the Class Traitor said...

Oso Negro said...
If Biden is too sick and too old to run, why does he get to finish his term in office?

He doesn't. Which is why Dr Jill isn't willing to let him stop running

Steve said...

I know a lot of Democrats that roll their eyes at Biden.
I know a few Democrats that deeply support Biden.

Literally every Democrat I know rolls their eyes about Kamala. Her results in the Dem primaries gives you a good idea of how popular she is.

I think they are down to looking for a candidate that will not cause a massive loss in the house and senate. WVa, Montana, Arizona, Ohio, and maybe even Michigan are now in play.

Fred Drinkwater said...

You have to admire (or vomit at) the way Yglesias says

"large numbers of brief, reasonably friendly media appearances"

as if, of course, that's how candidate / media encounters work.

But, of course, that IS how Dem candidate / media encounters work.

It's the informational equivalent of a marketing video of a CEO, produced by the company PR team.

GFY, Matt.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

Gerda Sprinchorn said...
Here's a pretty objective answer to the question of whether Harris has a better chance against Trump than Biden:

https://electionbettingodds.com/ElectabilityDEM.html

Note that if Harris is the nominee, the race is still close to a tossup.


Not Clea what you're seeing. What I'm seeing is Harris at 41%. Which is not a "tossup" in any real world

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Good luck scrubbing all such statements out of the last 5 years of posts.

Hmmm. Is "Hitler" better or worse than "whore"? Asking for a friend.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

Kate said...
The hard Left believes that colonialist white men need to voluntarily step aside so that PoC, who've been kept out of power by the system, can assume their place. And here's Biden. The DNC could shame him in 2 seconds into resigning if they wanted.

No, they can't.

1: He has no shame
2: He's not in charge, "Dr" Jill is
3: "Dr" Jill has even less shame that Joe does
4: She LOVES being the one running the President. She LOVES being "First Lady".
5: She hates Harris for calling out Joe as a racist for opposing forced bussing in the 70s, during the 2020 debates


It's not going to be easy, it's not going to be cheap, to get "Dr" Jill to let go of what she has right now

JK Brown said...

Biden is down with the "virus". So now is the time for his running mate, Kamala, to hit the campaign trail hard. Dutifully as the VP candidate, but if she were to do well, then....

Will we see Kamala step up or are they just going to let things hang?

John henry said...

If Brandon drops out it will be another data point in my theory of the vice presidency.

Nixon and Brandon both former vp's elected after hiatus. Both resigning unable to complete their elected term.

0 for 2

Sitting vp's elected to oval

2 (van b and Bush) for about 10 (since 1812)

JAORE said...

"There's going to be a lot of distasteful commentary about Harris for the media to make hay with. Republicans are going to have to find a way for women to vote for the side that says stuff like this 'She'd be not only the first woman president, but the first whore, at least in the US.'"

Sure Mark. And the tape of her calling Biden a racist that tried to block bussing minorities to good schools. And she smoked dope (listening to Tupac - feh) while imprisoning young black men in California for smoking dope.

RMc said...

But they have not seen Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate.

They did, but they might’ve blinked and missed it.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

rrsafety said...
It will be Harris/Shapiro.
...
What does Shapiro do for the Dems in Dearborn, Michigan?


I would love for the Dems to put a pro-Israel Jew on their ballot.

What's that does to them in Dearborn? It kills them.

JD is going to beat any Dem VP in a debate. Harris is a babbling moron, whose debate performance will be at best one step above Joe's.

Fetterman has been backing Joe so hard core at least in part because Harris is solidly in the Palestinian camp.

So I'd love to see Harris / Shapiro. It would be quite entertaining. But I dont' believe the Dems will enjoy it

Tacitus said...

The Ring has been tossed into the Fire, and after a brief lag....

"But the Nazgul turned and fled, and vanished into Mordor's shadows, hearing a sudden terrible call out of the Dark Tower; and even at that moment all the hosts of Mordor trembled, doubt clutched their hearts, their laughter failed, their hands shook and their limbs were loosed. The Power that drove them on and filled them with hate and fury was wavering, its will was removed from them; and now looking in the eyes of their enemies they saw a deadly light and were afraid."

Tacitus

JAORE said...

" I have no doubt some House members have comments on the record much the same."

Sure Mark. And let's hang every nutty/distasteful comment by the Squad or other loonies congress critters of the left on Kamala.

I bet you were horrified at the damage to the left by the ignorant, untrue Russian prostitute pee-pee rumor. Or the BS about 2025 (NOT endorsed by the R party).

I'd take that trade.

Tofu King said...

I think Joe (Jill) asking insiders "do you think Kamala can win?", is not backing down. It's a stark reminder that the answer is no. But there is no viable third option.

Bryant said...

where she does what any normal politician could do: deliver crisp, clear versions of Democratic Party talking points

Have you ever heard anything crisp or clear come out of Kamala's mouth?

Christopher B said...

As far as conspiracy, I suspect Biden tested positive for COVID but that has little to do with how long he's going to need to 'recuperate' from the symptoms.

CJinPA said...
Harris campaigning is going to be a revelation for a lot of people. Wait until she starts to explain inflation or Ukraine.

She only needs to last 3 months, tops. She will never utter an unscripted word. And her VP writers will not be allowed near a teleprompter keyboard.


Over the last four years she's shown plenty of ability to screw up even scripted utterances.

Kate said...

@Greg the Class Traitor -- haha! Yes, I forgot about Dr. Jill.

Goetz von Berlichingen said...

Mark said: "'She'd be not only the first woman president, but the first whore, at least in the US'. Good luck scrubbing all such statements out of the last 5 years of posts."

Mark seems to have a problem recognizing and accepting facts. He also seems to think people who state facts are ashamed of doing so.

There may be nicer terms than 'whore' to describe a woman who sleeps her way up the ladder. "Ambitious" is one suggestion... but that descriptor obfuscates by omission.

I'm pretty sure that plenty of women can recognize whorish behavior when they see it and not take personal offense when others see it too.

Mark strikes me as a prissy scold. I hope that's working out for him.

MfG
Goetz von Berlichingen





Christopher B said...

Mark said...
There's going to be a lot of distasteful commentary about Harris for the media to make hay with. Republicans are going to have to find a way for women to vote for the side that says stuff like this 'She'd be not only the first woman president, but the first whore, at least in the US.'


Hillary tried running that play against Trump in 2016, and it didn't work, even with the Access Hollywood tapes, Trump being well known as a playboy, and with him having absolutely no political experience.

PM said...

Let 'er buck. Kinda looking fwd to every answer beginning with a laugh.

Goetz von Berlichingen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dave Begley said...

The MSNBC lineup of hosts are all unhinged: Joe, Mika, Joy, Hayes, Maddow and Larry.

Scott M said...

Would love to see JDV debate Harris. She doesn't even belong in the same venue with him, debate-chops-wise, let alone up on the stage with him.

loudogblog said...

Amadeus 48 said...

"Biden and Trump have track records. A new nominee can be anointed as better than Biden, better than Trump, better than Obama! The sky's the limit!"

I tend to think that the smartest move for the Democrats would be to pick a blank slate, who is good looking and well spoken, to replace Biden. Someone without any baggage that can instantly become the next "savior of the world" in the media. They don't even need any political experience. After all, Trump had no political experience before he was elected.

I also think that they'll want to keep Harris as VP to prevent Democrats from rebelling because they felt that Harris was slighted.

loudogblog said...

Ann Althouse said...
"So this is the latest conspiracy theory? Biden doesn't really have covid?"

Of course he has Covid. He hasn't been wearing his magic mask enough.

loudogblog said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
JaimeRoberto said...

There's plenty of whores in politics. Some have even made it to the presidency. She would be far from the first.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

The argument that Kamala Harris would have a better chance of winning is not a very good one to get Joe Biden to drop out. Think of all the party nominees who were sure losers. It’s not sufficiently connected to the argument that Joe Biden is not up to being President for another 4 years. After the 1803 electoral college rule change to make the VP a running mate rather than a runner up, there have only been three sitting Vice Presidents who have gotten elected President, Martin Van Buren, Calvin Coolidge, and George H.W. Bush.

The better argument if one is trying to convince Joe: Kamala has about as good a chance of winning as you, and would be able to serve the full 4 year term.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

https://redstate.com/bonchie/2024/07/18/bidens-handlers-just-threw-obama-schumer-and-pelosi-under-the-bus-and-then-backed-over-them-n2177074

Defiant Biden Handlers Just Threw Obama, Schumer, and Pelosi Under the Bus and Then Backed Over Them

“Can we all just remember for a minute that these same people who are trying to push Joe Biden out are the same people who literally gave us all Donald Trump? In 2015, Obama, Pelosi, Schumer pushed Biden aside in favor of Hillary; they were wrong then and they are wrong now,” the source told NBC News.


I dont' believe that "Dr" Jill is willing to give up being 1st Lady 1 second before she has to.

And I believe she and all the other Biden hangers on expect that Joe dropping out of the race means Joe booted from the White House and VP Harris becoming President Harris.

"Dr" Jill has 6 more months of riding around in Presidential motorcades, and on Air Force One, and she's not going to give that up

Former Illinois resident said...

Watch the video of Kamala as key-note speaker at the annual convention of her former sorority. The dais behind her is filled with two rows of sturdy well-dressed black women watching Kamala with undisguised disdain and dismissal. Wonder whether party-operatives have watched the video. Reportedly Kamala polls badly amongst both black women, and black men, for different reasons. She has no gravitas, no statesman-like comportment, no dignity. She reminds me of the perfume ladies at Saks or Neimans, spritzing the shoppers with her heavily-scented cologne.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

Former Illinois resident said...
Watch the video of Kamala as key-note speaker at the annual convention of her former sorority. The dais behind her is filled with two rows of sturdy well-dressed black women watching Kamala with undisguised disdain and dismissal. Wonder whether party-operatives have watched the video.

It doesn't matter. They are allowed to disdain her. You, and "white males", are not.

Look, if the Dems want to kick her to the side and replace Joe with some other "white (fe)male" candidate, I'm all for it.

Because I think the shit-show that will follow will utterly crush the Dems for 2024.

IMO, when the Dems decided last year not to have a real Primary, the committed themselves to Joe, or Kamala. And committed to defeat.

It's too late for them to successfully change their minds now

Marc in Eugene said...

I'd like another opportunity to vote against Mrs Clinton.

Dr.Bunkypotatohead said...

I don't think they will even let Joe introduce his replacement at the upcoming DNC convention.
He'd just fuck it up.