It would be difficult not to get caught up with the public bloodletting of President Biden since his disastrous performance during the first presidential debate. That is unless you live under a rock. It has been playing out to a relentless drum beat led by the media, outspoken Democrats and the cautiously gleeful Republican opposition. I’ve tried to stand back and not pile on by watching Wimbledon pretty much nonstop. It hasn’t worked really, so here’s what I’ve come to think.
The hard truth is that the damage to Biden and the Democrats has already been done no matter what course of action is taken to correct things. In the Navy if the ship was compromised we went to “damage control” and sallied forth. That’s all the Democrats can do, but they better do it sooner rather too late. And Biden and his handlers are not helping at this point.
Congressman James Clyburn, the senior sage from South Carolina, who helped boost Biden to the nomination in 2020, suggested a plan that seems both reasonable and fair to me. Clyburn has been a top ally of the President and a good friend, but he has reservations about the viability of his candidacy going forward since the debate.
His suggestion hinges on Biden stepping down and then holding a “mini-primary” to determine who would be the most viable candidate to take on Trump in November. This would include Vice President Harris and other candidates vying for the 700 uncommitted delegates at the convention. Biden has already won 3,894 delegates won in the primaries to date. Why not?
Again, the hard truth is that Biden, at this point, has become a political Humpty Dumpty who can’t be put back together. I can’t see it getting any better and you can bet that Trump and the MAGA crowd will use Biden’s shortcomings to their advantage effectively in the upcoming campaign. The damage has been done.
My feeling is that the Democrats must pick a new candidate, one who is younger, vigorous and articulate to go forward, as a representative of a new generation unburdened by past policies. This would do much to weaken the Republican demonizing of the present administration and give them pause as to how to proceed. If Vice President Harris turns out to be the candidate, she can effectively run on the Biden-Harris record which has been a decent one, despite the naysayers
Whatever happens, if Biden does the right thing by stepping down he will be remembered for saving us from Trump in 2020 and preserve his legacy as a political icon. I’m betting that with Biden gone and the choice between Trump and “whoever,” the American people’s “better angels” will persevere in 2024.
This is a reasonable progression in my humble opinion!