Staff Reports
President Joe Biden is gearing up to take the stage in Chicago as the Democratic National Convention kicks off, but it seems the spotlight may not be shining as brightly on him as he had wished. Delegates are set to gather, probably whispering sweet nothings about their official party platform, which, for some reason, is written with Biden as the nominee. Perhaps they’re trying to will him back into relevance, or maybe this is just an elaborate exercise in wishful thinking.
The president and the First Lady will be leaving the White House in style—open press and all—boarding Air Force One like it’s a Hollywood premiere. Yet, one can’t help but wonder if this gala is a little more “Brady Bunch” than “Game of Thrones.” After all, this is a man who a month ago was ceremoniously ejected from the 2024 presidential race by his own party. Now, he’s doing his best to look like he’s in charge again, even if “in charge” means giving a keynote address where the audience might double as a group therapy session for disillusioned party members.
Biden brings out his creepy whisper before Karine Jean-Pierre desperately interjects to end the press conference pic.twitter.com/aYRle8535N
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 12, 2024
Biden’s triumphant return to the limelight comes after a very public—and very sad—exit from the race, which he bravely attempted to spin as his own strategic decision. He had insisted just weeks prior that he could defeat former President Donald Trump and dismissed the idea of withdrawal like a fly swatter at a picnic. Those words carry an amusingly hollow ring now as he prepares to speak at a convention that’s clearly looking towards the future while attempting to bury the past.
One wonders how the mood in the room will be—will it be a warm embrace, or will the delegates be busy cornering the nearest exit, hoping to avoid a tap dance number with the president’s “creepy whisper” routine? Just recently, Biden had to deal with the fallout of a press conference where his whispers almost sounded like desperate pleading, prompting both chuckles and concern from the audience. It’s hard to imagine a more desperate bid for attention, yet here he is, microphone in hand, hoping the echo of his past bravado can drown out the discontent brewing among party members.
In an ironic twist, the former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, has reportedly gone radio silent on Biden since her own behind-the-scenes machinations helped hasten his departure from the race. It’s the political version of a bad breakup, complete with the awkwardness of having to share the same party stage. Countless political dramas are destined to unfold in Chicago, with one central question echoing above all—can Biden really hold on to any semblance of support amidst what’s proving to be a rather tumultuous election cycle?
Biden may be looking to make a splash in the Windy City, but so far, it feels more like they’re preparing for a polite round of golf rather than a booming political rally. As the Democratic delegates gather, one can almost feel the cringe-worthy spectacle beginning to unfold, where they must vote for a candidate who’s already lost the confidence of half his party. Hold onto your hats, it’s bound to be a show of epic proportions filled with irony, awkwardness, and maybe a few heartfelt attempts to recapture that lost spark.
