Staff Reports
Once again, President Biden has stepped into the spotlight, this time at the Democratic Convention in Chicago, to bid farewell to a party that appears to have grown increasingly indifferent to his presence. After spending over 50 years in the political arena, one would expect an exit filled with fireworks and grandeur. Instead, it resembled a father handing over the car keys to a teenager who just failed their driving test.
In a speech filled with familiar platitudes, Biden took the opportunity to remind the audience of his so-called accomplishments. He confidently claimed to have revved the engine of America back from the COVID-19 pandemic—a feat that comes with a notable asterisk, as countless businesses never turned their ignition back on. He also listed job creation and lower insulin costs, but when you peer closer, one might wonder whether he was reading from his 2020 campaign script instead.
Biden bids farewell by touting legacy, urging voters to back Harrishttps://t.co/cepaZDWG3n pic.twitter.com/LWSgDwkalA
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 20, 2024
His attempt to paint his legacy as one of progress sounded more like a desperate bid to distract from a disastrous debate against Donald Trump, which left many wondering if he had the stamina to run for office. As the crowd erupted with chants of “Thank you, Joe,” it was tough to ignore the reality that some of those grateful faces might have already begun inching toward the exit by the time his speech reached its midnight conclusion. Just think of it as a massive metaphor: much like his administration, the audience was slowly fading into obscurity.
In an encouraging nod to Vice President Kamala Harris, who would presumably be left holding the bag if Biden was to succeed in his self-promotional agenda, Biden insisted she is the rightful heir to his legacy. The logic here seems to suggest that if one can’t do the job, maybe it’s best to pass the baton to someone who has been in the passenger seat all along. According to Biden, Harris would lead the nation into a future where diversity thrives, and no one is left behind. One could argue that finding nodes of commonality and safety in such a diverse sea is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Biden’s speech didn’t completely overlook the crowd’s mixed feelings, as he acknowledged the “protesters outside” who were apparently not there to enjoy the show. Their message, however muddled, seemed to resonate more with those tuned into the sentiments of the moment rather than the reflections of the speaker. And as he railed against Trump, a typical Democratic pastime, there was a palpable sense of urgency about imparting a legacy he was evidently struggling to defend.
The most shocking surprise of the evening was a heartfelt endorsement from Harris herself, a tactic often reserved for those on the verge of being left without the votes needed to succeed. After all, how much pride can one take in being the understudy if the lead has just stumbled? A quaint farewell, a sprinkle of self-congratulations, and a passing of the torch that might as well come with a “good luck” note attached—Biden’s send-off was anything but a triumphant conclusion to a story he wished would write itself.
