Staff Reports
Democrats are heading back to the swamp in Washington, D.C., on Monday, grappling with the political hangover from President Joe Biden’s hapless debate performance. The fallout has been so severe that murmurs within the party about Biden stepping aside are getting louder by the day. As Republicans rightly hammer Biden’s cognitive abilities and advanced age, the Democrats are caught in a precarious balancing act between defending their leader and facing mutiny within their ranks.
This week is shaping up to be a real nail-biter for the Dems. Think of it as the political equivalent of trying to herd cats while dodging a barrage of tomatoes. Biden, the Democratic Party’s octogenarian figurehead, needs to prove he’s still got the chops to lead after his dithery debate against former President Trump. Last week’s disappointing chit-chat with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos only fanned the flames of doubt. Now, another round of public and press engagements, starting with hosting NATO leaders, stands as Biden’s Hail Mary pass to restore faith in his leadership.
The whispers of dissent aren’t just coming from fringe leftists. Heavy hitters in the Democratic camp, including some who enjoy anonymity in Congress most of the time, are now calling for Papa Joe to step down. The likes of Reps. Jerry Nadler, Adam Smith, Mark Takano, and Joe Morelle aired grievances on a Sunday conference call, indicating that Biden’s hold on the party has never been shakier. They’ll likely ratchet up the pressure during the House Democrats’ weekly love-fest behind closed doors on Tuesday.
Even Sen. Mark Warner wanted to speed up the coup, looking to gather Democrats to nudge Biden out the door pronto. By Sunday night, the whispers had morphed into loud discussions as more lawmakers like Reps. Lloyd Doggett, Raul Grijalva, and Seth Moulton openly called for Biden’s exit strategy. With wobbly support from the likes of Rep. Jim Clyburn, who is now hedging his bets on Kamala Harris, the Democratic ship looks more like the Titanic avoiding icebergs.
Let’s face it, this isn’t the first time Biden’s struggled to keep his party from becoming a circus. Yet, the current turmoil comes straight from doubts about his own viability as a candidate. Can Sleepy Joe bounce back and convince the American people he’s the best candidate to combat Trump, or will the Democrats have to find another puppet? Even Nancy Pelosi can’t sugarcoat it, acknowledging voter concerns about their standard-bearer’s health.
Democrats return to Capitol Hill for ‘vital week’ to decide Biden’s future https://t.co/ltr25mL29B
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) July 8, 2024
Despite Biden’s defiant insistence that he’s going nowhere without divine intervention, cracks in his throne have turned into gaping chasms. With each passing day, the Democrats shuffle closer to a decision: stand by their wobbly warrior or seek a new champion in the uphill battle against Trump. Welcome back to Washington, Democrats, where the circus never leaves town.
