Joe Biden got dog walked by Donald Trump last Thursday night, and the panic that has ensued is nothing short of delicious. It’s a meltdown that’s ongoing because, for years, Democratic donors and base voters were told they were going to cruise to reelection. Donald Trump is the best-case scenario for us. It was the day's message until it became a reality, with Trump wiping the floor with Biden. After Thursday night’s debate, there is no doubt that Democratic voters somehow feel run astray and bamboozled by the president’s aides. This election has become the political poop cruise for the Democratic Party.
You know the story: the Carnival Triumph in 2013 suffered an engine fire, leading to no electricity, air conditioning, overflowing toilets, encampments on the deck, and finally, defecation in hazardous waste bags. It was dubbed the poop cruise. There was no escaping the stench and misery as this ship was adrift for days. That’s where Democratic voters are today.
They boarded a ship that Biden aides said was going to beat Trump handily because the president can tell the truth—which is a lie—fights for working Americans—by crushing them with high inflation—and will protect abortion rights—which isn’t even on the radar for most Americans. The top three issues of this cycle are the economy, inflation, and immigration—Trump leads Biden handily on all three. Even on this loaded question about who would defend democracy, Trump has overtaken the president. The issues that Biden hoped to use to smear Trump—political violence, January 6, and democracy—aren’t even on the radar.
The president’s team is quickly learning that you need a guy to do the job. Delivering a speech isn’t problem-solving or posting it on social media. Biden has an appalling quality of thinking that’s leading and governing. It’s not. Why hasn’t he changed? During the debate, we saw why the nation has been in a state of torpor for three years: Biden is mentally fried. After the slaughter on CNN, the leaks were many and catastrophic, with White House aides telling Axios that Biden is only semi-cogent during a six-hour window between 10 am and 4 pm. After that, Drool McCool takes over.
The days of wine and roses are over. It’s now Icarus’ nightmare, as Biden aides have been busted for hiding, deflecting, and obscuring the many times other staffers and officials have inquired about the president’s mental health. For 18 months, these issues were raised, only to be dismissed as overreactions. During an event in which Biden needed to have a strong showing, the debate, he failed miserably in accomplishing probably the most crucial aspect of this showdown: showing the electorate he could do the job without showing his age.
“Watch me.” Remember that robust remark when first questioned about his mental capacity when Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report was released? We did, sir. We saw the Titanic, the Andrea Doria, and the Hindenburg—a mess.
The Democratic base boarded this 2024 cruise ship, thinking reelection was assured. Now, everyone is pooping all over the deck after that debate performance, with high levels of anger, frustration, and anxiety permeating throughout the vessel. The only other question is how these voters, who proclaim to be the most educated and intelligent in the country, missed what everyone else saw in Biden. Did they believe what White House aides were shoveling out of loyalty? Or did they genuinely believe that Joe was healthy enough despite the former’s quasi-retreat deeper into 1600? There was no Super Bowl interview, fewer media interviews, and even fewer press conferences.
The signs were there. The polling was evident. They chose to ignore it due to their arrogance and entitlement that they deserve to win every election and legislative fight. That’s not how any of this works. They caught Icarus syndrome, and this whole operation is crashing, destined to splinter upon impact.
Is this recoverable?
In theory, yes. It’s only July, but Biden can’t de-age. He’s also dealing with voter deficits and defections among key voter groups. A lot of work needs to be done, and the Left needs someone with political skill, youth, and intelligence to mend the Democrats’ many fractures. Biden doesn’t have any qualities required to mount a comeback. The speculation and calls for Biden to drop out were accurate and loud but unrealistic at this point of the election cycle.
The Democrats are stuck on the poop cruise, unable to escape Drool McCool’s semi-vegetative presidency.
