Staff Reports
The Democratic National Convention has kicked off in Chicago, and President Joe Biden took center stage for what many suggest might be a dramatic farewell to his own political career. As Biden delivered the keynote address, he clung to a now thoroughly discredited claim regarding former President Donald Trump, leading some observers to suggest he might as well have donned a black suit and carried a eulogy script.
Political consultant Scott Jennings shared insights that painted a vivid picture of Biden’s predicament. He noted that the president’s tormented presence should not be viewed as a graceful exit but more like a reluctant farewell, dragged out of the spotlight after over five decades of service to a party that seemingly forgot him. Jennings observed that Biden’s departure was not merely a matter of age, but rather the result of a string of failures in foreign and domestic policy — think Afghanistan, immigration, and that pesky inflation.
.@ScottJenningsKY: "Biden is known in his career as being one of the best eulogy givers at funerals and now they're making him come and give his own eulogy at this convention…. he was bullied of this race after 52 years of service to the Democratic Party. And it wasn‘t all… pic.twitter.com/GHMnUEdJUq
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) August 20, 2024
Some might argue Biden wasn’t just conceding to age but was, in fact, being shown the door by an electorate that had begun to sour on him like last week’s leftovers. Jennings argued that the Democratic narrative surrounding Biden’s departure is more fantasy than fact. He described the scene as a sad theatrical performance where the party pretends Biden’s exit was noble, rather than acknowledging that it was as messy as a toddler’s finger painting.
Even The Economist, typically no bastion of conservative thought, echoed this sentiment, proclaiming that Biden’s speech felt less like an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and more like a painfully delivered self-eulogy. Instead of rallying the troops, Biden seemed more focused on reminiscing about past “accomplishments,” thus missing the moment to bolster his successor. One could say he spent more time patting himself on the back than ushering in a new era.
As for the tone, it could best be described as one brewed from a potent mix of frustration and desperation. While Biden touted what he termed “extraordinary progress,” observers noted the tense undertones and anger permeating his address. It appears Biden is channelling his inner curmudgeon while the rest of the Democratic Party attempts to put a polished spin on what has become a rather unpolished farewell tour. It’s almost as if Biden is stuck on his own version of a dirge, unable to shift to a more optimistic key.
