Staff Reports
It seems that Joe Biden has mastered the art of political theatre by throwing his sidekick, Vice President Kamala Harris, under the proverbial bus no fewer than four times recently. As if the vice president’s position wasn’t already precarious enough, it appears she now has to contend with her boss as he appears to be distancing himself from her like a coach choosing to bench a player who keeps fumbling the ball.
Following Hurricane Milton’s disastrous impact on Florida, Harris decided to take a swing at Governor Ron DeSantis. She accused him of playing politics from his perch in Tallahassee and labeled him “utterly irresponsible” and “selfish” for his refusal to pick up her calls. Yet, in a plot twist that would leave even the best soap opera writers reeling, Biden had a completely different take. He praised DeSantis’s cooperation and thanked him for his efforts, leaving Harris to make her barbed comments seemingly all alone.
So Biden 'Hates' Kamala As Much As He 'Hates' Trump https://t.co/Lg7nwQsg1i
Looks that way— pat (@patgill69033215) October 11, 2024
Biden’s choice of words raised eyebrows, especially when he implied that DeSantis was gracious and appreciative of federal support. It’s almost as though he was subtly reminding Harris that she isn’t the star of this particular show. This latest episode is just part of what seems to be a concerted effort by Biden to reclaim the narrative or perhaps to keep Harris quiet while he handles the heavy lifting—or whatever it is he interprets as “leading.”
Moreover, Biden’s apparent competitive spirit came to the fore during Harris’s first major event. It seems like the president decided to hold a press conference to ensure all eyes were on him. Given their history, this move shapes up like a classic sibling rivalry, with Biden trying to make sure that everyone remembers who wears the pants in this administration. Meanwhile, he’s freelancing some serious complaints about Harris not adequately singing his praises, as if he needs validation from his second-in-command.
The trumpeting of former President Donald Trump adds another layer to this unfolding soap opera. He jovially claimed that Biden harbors a raging disdain for Harris, suggesting that the president somehow looks good when compared to his running mate. There’s a tantalizing subplot that hints at not only a qualitative comparison but also a budding rivalry between these two Democrats. It turns out that Harris’s attempts to distance herself from Biden’s policies have been less than successful, especially when Biden insists on directly tying her to his administration’s scoreboard. The chaos of this tangled political relationship has left many wondering how much more Biden and Harris can take before they both decide to take a long vacation—one way or another.
