Staff Reports
Biden’s disappearing act is enough to make Houdini blush. The current president seems to have taken his re-election decision – or rather lack thereof – as a cue to put himself on an extended vacation. It seems that the only thing more absent than his campaign is his presence in the public arena. With less public face time than a shy introvert at a family reunion, Biden’s political career is now resembling a Potemkin village situation: all show, no substance.
Political enthusiasts could once count on the usually packed public schedule of the president. Still, recent updates from Roll Call suggest there are fewer appearances than a decent movie in a film theater these days. The last gasp of Biden’s public engagements happened on August 1, where he could be seen cheerily meeting with American hostages freed from Russia – with all the zeal of a mannequin on a summer day. This long-awaited photo-op had about as much sincerity as a three-dollar bill, proving once more that even a grave situation can’t animate a leader as much as a bucket of ice water could.
Where’s the real Joe Biden? pic.twitter.com/C1ccqNxmWn
— 🇺🇸MidwestBadAss🇺🇸 (@Punchy_Playz) August 3, 2024
Delving a little deeper, it’s evident that Biden’s idea of a vigorous work schedule involves pleasant chauffeured rides and making the obligatory trip to Austin to honor the legacy of the Civil Rights Act. Alas, giving a speech, flying back to Washington, and then promptly returning home to nap hardly qualifies as an exciting travel itinerary for a leader during a global crisis. The man’s social calendar reads more like that of a retiree checking the weather for bingo night rather than that of an active president tackling pressing national or international issues.
Biden’s recent public appearances seem astoundingly staged, reminiscent of an old Hollywood film where the lead actor gets propped up just to fulfill contractual obligations. After announcing his exit from the race, he promptly transformed what could have been a robust final months in office into a hazy, nostalgic reel of past glories mixed with mediocre media blather. Besides issuing a speech via the Oval Office that mere mortals may suspect was pre-recorded, his public engagement has plummeted faster than a lead balloon.
Meanwhile, while the possible next leader of the free world is off gallivanting about and focusing on her own campaign, the void left by Biden’s absence raises an unsettling question: who really is running the show? With the world teetering on the brink of chaos, the leadership vacuum in Washington smells worse than last week’s tuna casserole, and the lackadaisical efforts of leaders pretending to be in control only add to the uncertainty.
Thus, it seems abundantly clear that Joe Biden is lost, both in terms of his campaign ambitions and his leadership role. Americans are left wondering who is really in charge and what the future holds when the president can’t seem to find his way out of his living room, much less into the public square. In times of trial, a leader must rise and meet challenges head-on. Instead, we are left with the inexplicable absence of action, a far cry from what the country needs at this critical juncture.
