Dear Biden outers, as we careen towards the end of your mini rebellion, I have a thought for you to consider. Maybe our nominee, Joe Biden, has been less than stellar in the debate, interviews, etc not because he is suffering from cognitive decline and so is not a ticking time bomb where things will inexorably get worse but instead is a career politician who stopped doing interviews, press conferences, and other unscripted public appearances (out of excessive caution from aides trying to manage the impression of a clearly aging President) and just needs to shake off some rust.
I get it. Joe Biden is old. He looks old, he sounds old. The debate performance was a disaster. Even though I love the man, I have reluctantly become comfortable with the idea that he might need to step down to allow another nominee (mostly likely Kamala) to step up and take his place.
But, that is not happening. Joe holds the cards and, it appears, is going to be voted in as the nominee before August 7. I know you believe that this means we are, therefore, headed to certain disaster. But, it might not.
People, including older people, are incredible. They come back from strokes and worse to do public speaking etc. Joe Biden is, fortunately, not having to come back from anything so severe. He’s regularly in the public and leading high stakes and high stress meetings. There is no reason why he can’t actually get better at doing interviews, press conferences, and other events as he does more and more of them. We are witnessing an older candidate learn how to do this, again, with his current limitations on the fly. I would argue that — if you watch his Lester Holt interview, his NATO press conference — that you can see improvements (although things could get better). There is the possiblity that Joe surprises you (and all of us).
So, think about it, stay positive and — whenever you are ready (now, post nomination) — embrace what is possible and leave the toxic behind and let’s go beat Donald Trump and MAGA.
Don’t surrender Dorothy. We need you.