The Politics Thread

[Maxim]

I am watching the press conference and sobbing. This is a horror movie. They are all attacking him and trying to make him stumble. Witch-hunt. I can't believe what I'm seeing and hearing. 

[JaneAusten]

I actually think he's doing fine.  Outside of referring to VP Harris as VP Trump lol. Other than that he's been spot on. Of course they are looking for fault, so the daggers will be out regardless.

[Soapsuds]

I think everyone unfortunately noticed. 

He still doesn't complete his thoughts on occasion and pivots to something else.

[Maxim]

They are all basically saying to him - You should leave. LEAVE!  It's a blood bath. It's shocking. I don't see ANYTHING good tonight. I am crying for this man. I've had enough. I have to stop watching. This is TOO MUCH.

[DRW50]

This being hours after "President Putin" didn't help. He's done this for a while, and I don't think it's a cognitive issue, but many will notice it much more after the last few weeks. A relative of mine who is a big supporter of his texted afterward about how weak his voice was and about the VP Trump line.

I still don't think he's going to stop running, but with donations drying up and so many in the party calling for him to go, he and the party are now severely hobbled if nothing changes. I don't think there's any going back or just hoping Trump will screw up again.

[Juliajms2]

That was an incredibly unfortunate slip, along with saying V.P. Trump instead of Harris. These are the kind of mistakes make for good (meaning horrible) soundbites. I have slips of the tongue quite often as well and I feel pretty confident I don't have dementia, although on days like today I feel about ready for the Good Lord to take me.

I agree with you that Biden doesn't deserve this. He is every good thing that Trump isn't. Of course he has done things I don't agree with during his life long career, but he is a good man.

[Vee]

That started very weak and bad IMO, and got much stronger as he went. Even jackals like Nazi fangurl Nuzzi and grinning manque Brian Stelter admit he did well, which is an indication of the immediate media reaction - they were, to my shock, mostly appeased. Which I didn't expect.

I don't think losing the donors, etc. is a foregone conclusion. I think what comes next and how the WH handles it is critical. They need to keep putting him out there, early and often, to calm this kind of intra-party bedwetting strife. And he needs to not start weak - he needs to be where he was for most of that conference.

Edited July 12, 2024 by Vee

[DRW50]

Donations have been down sharply - they can recover, but I worry how much has been set in stone in ways he just can't turn around. The optics have been against him for a while in ways that mean even when he performs well it doesn't get as much attention as a slip or stumble. 

There's no one else who will perform better than Biden, so I think he will stay, but I'm unsure about how many who have now vocally dumped him will go back or if they will just triage and try to save down ballot seats (aside from those who want the whole party to crash for acceleration or "to teach them a lesson").

The one positive in all this is people are finally seeing how worthless Jon Stewart and that whole preening circuit is. 

[Vee]

If he wins, and I absolutely think he can and was on track to before this and can recoup, one of the nicer bonuses (along with saving democracy as we know it) will be grinding this into the media's faces like never before. Their palpable disappointment re: 2022 (and the 2020 primaries) will be nothing by comparison.

The fact that they've been relatively cowed by this presser into admitting yeah, he still knows the job is big. I was not expecting it to make that much of an impact.

Edited July 12, 2024 by Vee

[Juliajms2]

 

Edited July 12, 2024 by Juliajms2

[DramatistDreamer]

I didn’t get to see this PC but skimming through the headlines, most are not really negative. Even the NYT, which said he had slips but showed strength on foreign policy. And it seems like they are finally acknowledging the existence of Project 2025. Also, try as they might, the media can no longer ignore the very callous sentiments expressed toward NATO by Trump, which are the worst ones yet.

[DramatistDreamer]

This woman laid out a very handy guide on Project 2025. To anyone who may not be aware or who only has a vague idea, this might be helpful to them.

 

 

[Maxim]

The media is having a burn day today... every major site I open it's the Putin gaffe and etc. Please someone share something positive!? Maybe I am not following the right media! I need to read something positive and not that disgusting narrative. 

[Maxim]

Here are just... the headlines of some of the most major media sources that are on the front pages right now.

 

• Associated Press - "Key takeaways from Biden’s news conference: Insistence on staying in the race and flubbed names"
• Reuters - "Biden fails to quiet calls to step aside in 2024 race"
• CNN - "See moment Biden mistakenly calls Zelensky ‘President Putin’"
• BBC - "Biden stands defiant on critical night - but gaffes mar fightback"
• CBS - "Biden fields questions about fitness to run for president in 2024" - THE MOST positive so far.
• Guardian - "Nato summit - Biden introduces Zelenskiy as ‘President Putin’"
• The New York Times - "Biden Digs In as Democratic Fears Deepen"
• ABC News -"Democrats worry Biden press conference leaves them in 'purgatory'"

 

It's not good in terms of media coverage. Not good at all. And I haven't even posted the most negative ones. Tried to find the most neutral or positive. 

 

[marceline]

No they haven't.