After Biden’s disastrous performance in the recent presidential debate, the question has become whether he should be replaced as the Democratic candidate. Should he be or not be the standard bearer? During the past several days calls for him to step down have reached a crescendo, put forth by pundits and politicians, potential voters and much of mainstream media, including the editorial board of the New York Times.
LIke many of you, I have been puzzled as to the best path forward. Like many of you, I vacillate, leaning one way and then the other. Clearly the stakes are too high not to elect a Democrat. Another Trump presidency might destroy or irreparably damage the Republic; the former president has said as much himself, spouting doggerel that might very well qualify as his “mein kampf.”
Prior to the debate I really thought that President Biden would win reelection. Given his halting performance, however, I’m not so sure now, but, more importantly, I question his ability to carry forward after November. And, I am intrigued by the prospect of putting forth a younger person who might help bring the nation together and end the political quagmire. There is still time for the national convention to reclaim its historical role of selecting the party’s candidate.
Either way, it is a roll of the dice. Staying with a candidate who might not be up to the task could lead to disaster at the polls; switching horses now could provoke dissension and dysfunction and split the party. Ideally, it would be best for the President and the nation for him to serve one term; he would go out a hero who saved the Union in 2020 and passed the torch to a new generation of leaders.
Yesterday, Alan Lichtman, the history professor at American University who successfully predicted 9 of the 10 last presidents, warned that it is nonsense to drop Biden now. As he put it, those saying Biden is too old to carry on are not medical doctors.
No, but I fear they might not shy away from practicing medicine without a license.