Staff Reports
The Democratic ship appears to be sinking, and the rats are jumping off at an alarming rate. On Wednesday, Rep. Earl Blumenauer became the ninth House Democrat to throw their former leader under the bus, urging President Biden to step aside. Blumenauer praised Biden’s time in office but suggested that maintaining his candidacy might be more about boosting his ego than safeguarding democracy.
Blumenauer, who’s managed to cling to his seat since 1996, stated that although the final decision rests with Biden and his wife, he and some of his peers have reached a tough conclusion: Biden should not run for re-election. According to him, it’s not just painful for Democrats to acknowledge, but they would all benefit if the president graciously bowed out and organized a transition on his terms.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer becomes ninth House Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from racehttps://t.co/Ccu4l5glwc pic.twitter.com/rluv3SPJL8
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) July 11, 2024
The calls for Biden’s exit from the 2024 race didn’t stop with Blumenauer. Rep. Pat Ryan from New York also chimed in, pointing out that Biden is no longer the best bet to beat Trump in the upcoming election. He even offered a smorgasbord of Democratic contenders who might be better suited for the job, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Governors Gretchen Whitmer, Wes Moore, and Josh Shapiro.
Apparently, Blumenauer isn’t interested in suggesting replacements. Instead, he thinks Biden should focus the rest of his presidency on pressing issues like the climate crisis and rebuilding America. This vision seems awfully optimistic, given the missed opportunities and lackluster accomplishments on those fronts thus far.
And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen: even Democrats are starting to admit that maybe, just maybe, four more years of Biden isn’t a fantastic idea. One can only imagine what colorful cast of characters they will put forward next, as the party scrambles to find someone—anyone—who can unite their fractured bases and pose a legitimate challenge in the general election. The clock is ticking, and the infighting within the Democratic ranks is just getting started. Popcorn, anyone?
