The Problem with Biden/Democrats and Trump/Republicans

It’s been a difficult week for me.

In the week since the presidential debate and Biden’s subsequent pushback, I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not Biden should drop out of the race.

The New York Times editorial board and several of their columnists (Thomas L. Friedman, Paul Krugman, Michelle Goldberg) have come out in favor of Biden dropping out. So have several senators and congressmen (including New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler). The Times isn’t a radical, left-wing newspaper and these senators and congressmen aren’t radical, left-wing politicians.

All are in agreement that Biden has done a great job as president and is a decent, respectable man.

That’s not the issue.

The issue is who can beat Trump. And Biden has been struggling in the polls since the get-go and it’s only gotten worse since the debate.

Of course, no Republican has said anything about Trump’s lies, his own erratic behavior, his multiple indictments (and convictions) or the fact that he tried to overturn a free and fair election. There’s absolutely a double standard here.

But in the television age, you need to be able to speak on television. It doesn’t matter how smart or experienced you are.

I’m glad Biden has somewhat overcome his childhood stutter, but that’s not good enough.

My takeaway from the debate is that lies told forcefully are more effective than the truth told weakly.

And I hate to admit it, but Trump is a creature of television, a reality TV star with a sixth sense for going after people’s weaknesses.

Personally, I think Gavin Newsom would wipe the floor with Trump. He’s extremely articulate and 20 years younger. And I would pick Gretchen Whitmer, who would also wipe the floor with Trump, as his running mate.

I know it’s late in the game. I’m not sure what Democrats should do.

I just don’t want us to make the same mistake with Biden as we did in 2016 when Democrats anointed Hillary Clinton, who was further ahead in the polls than Biden is now but had similar issues.

And I’m feeling an awful sense of deja vu.