Staff Reports
Karine Jean-Pierre has taken to the podium once again, armed with her usual mix of talking points and the determination of a high school debate champion whose team is about to lose. Her latest performance came at a press briefing just as President Joe Biden returned from his much-needed retreat in Delaware, where it’s safe to assume he spent time contemplating his next move in what seems to be an increasingly convoluted electoral strategy.
The timing of this presser couldn’t be more suspect. Scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT, it feels like a classic case of the administration trying to put a shiny spin on the old, rusty bicycle that is the Biden presidency. Just a month after Biden made headlines for dropping out of the presidential race, one must wonder what the White House has up its sleeve for the upcoming Democratic National Convention. Rumor has it that he plans to address the convention, but given the tumult of recent months, the speech might resemble a last-minute school project cobbled together with caffeine and sheer panic.
.@PressSec is asked if President Biden will at some point be giving a solo press conference:
"He will hold a solo press conference… Not this week" pic.twitter.com/8pXqX5785E
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 22, 2021
This convention, which would be a spectacle to behold if it were not so painfully predictable, is bound to serve up the usual buffet of doublespeak, nostalgic calls for unity, and the obligatory guilt trip about the Democratic Party’s alleged moral superiority. Meanwhile, some party insiders must be cringing at the thought of showcasing a president who supposedly abandoned ship when the waves got too choppy. Certainly, the Democrats have many reasons to look for a liferaft, and perhaps the convention is their last-ditch attempt to convince voters that everything is coming up roses.
Jean-Pierre’s role in this unfolding circus will likely be equal parts entertainer and juggler, as she navigates a slew of predictable questions. Will she have to further explain a gaffe made by Biden in Delaware? Is she ready to deflect inquiries about the dismal approval ratings that seem to threaten a storm cloud over their party’s prospects? Only time will tell, but given her track record, one can expect a performance filled with a healthy dose of misdirection, some stammering, and maybe a touch of humor that falls flat.
While the press briefing approaches, the American people can only watch in anticipation. What will be the highlight of Jean-Pierre’s latest act? Will it be the attempt to reframe failure as success, or perhaps the rebranding of political flops as strategic triumphs? Whatever it is, one thing is certain: watching this ongoing saga unfold is more entertaining than any reality TV show currently airing. The only question that remains is how much longer viewers will stick around for this show before changing the channel to something less cringeworthy.
