One House Democrat said he spoke for others in the wake of the president’s stunningly feeble debate performance on Thursday: “The movement to convince Biden to not run is real.”

The House member, an outspoken defender of the president, said that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer should consider “a combined effort” to nudge President Joe Biden out of the race.

Crestfallen by the president’s weak voice, pallid appearance and meandering answers, numerous Democratic officials said Biden’s bet on an early debate to rebut unceasing questions about his age had not only backfired but done damage that may prove irreversible. The president had, in the first 30 minutes of the debate, fully affirmed doubts about his fitness.

A second House Democrat said “reflection is needed” from Biden about the way ahead and indicated the private text threads among lawmakers were even more dire, with some saying outright that the president needed to drop out of the race.

  • Not_mikey@slrpnk.net
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    5 months ago

    Bidens about to go down as one of the worst Democrats in the last century because of his hubris if he doesn’t. His decent domestic agenda will be overshadowed by him ushering in another trump presidency by ignoring all the signs for him to drop out. He didn’t early last year when polls repeatedly showed that people thought he was too old. He didn’t when unnamed democrat was leading him by 10 points. He didn’t when his Gaza policy alienated large chunks of his base. If he doesn’t in the next couple weeks when there will probably be polls coming out showing majority support for him stepping down then he’s gone full head in the sand.

    It’s like RBG all over again, if these people could just get it through there heads to quit while there ahead they could preserve a decent legacy, instead of tarnishing it by leading the way to a regressive order that overturns everything they’ve done.

      • BabyVi@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        If your horse is on death’s door. And you’re crossing a stream. You’d better be prepared to swim.

      • tate@lemmy.sdf.org
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        5 months ago

        You have to, if your horse literally can’t make it across. It may not go well, but you have no choice.

      • lennybird@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        I disagree. I actually think you’d see a boost.

        • Acknowledging age concerns of the electorate = good.

        • Running someone fresh that appeals to this American Idol-esque popularity contest = good.

        • Running someone Republicans don’t have their talking-points fleshed out on = good.

      • mojo_raisin@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        I thought that, but after last night, I wouldn’t let Biden cook in my kitchen without supervision.

      • festus@lemmy.ca
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        5 months ago

        Biden will lose against Trump. Changing candidates this late isn’t ideal but it’s better than guaranteed failure, and it’s better than after the convention if Biden deteroriates from where he’s currently at.

      • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
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        5 months ago

        We can change horses if there’s overwhelming pressure to do it and it’s exceptionally well planned.

        What we absolutely can’t do is nominate someone else against Biden’s wishes and still have him on the ballot as an independent… that’s how you get folks like Woodrow Wilson.

        I, personally, think it’s doubtful that much pressure will materialize, but I’m prepared to be pleasantly surprised.