Never was Joe Biden the 2020 dream. He promised electability and familiarity, which turned out to be good enough for a plurality of Democratic voters in the early primaries. But now that every other Democratic contender has dropped out and dutifully lined up behind the presumptive nominee, that choice might be sitting less comfortably. Biden occasionally moves past gaffes into total incoherence, raising questions about his mental fitness. Worst of all, evidence for a sexual assault allegation against him begins to mount.
Add that to pandemic-induced uncertainty about when and how the Democratic National Convention will be held and it's fair to ask: Is Biden definitely the nominee? Right-wing commentators like Glenn Beck and Tucker Carlson as well as former Bernie Sanders Press Secretary Briahna Joy Gray have speculated Biden will be replaced on the ticket, but how could that happen? Is there a path to nominating someone else?
Before the convention, which is currently rescheduled for August, the answer is probably no. Suspended primary elections have already raised concerns about abrogation of transparent, democratic processes — as have elections that weren't suspended. While Democratic delegates will understand the need to modify normal convention procedure to avoid spreading COVID-19, their understanding won't be unlimited. Sweeping changes to the nominating process would be suspect, and if the process continues as anticipated, Biden will very likely be selected as the nominee on the first ballot.
So far, Biden has 1,406 of 1,991 delegates needed to win that initial vote, and those are delegates pledged (by strong custom, though not law) to Biden by primary and caucus results. Between now and August, there will be 22 more primaries whose outcomes will pledge another 1,368 delegates. Biden has no remaining challengers campaigning against him and needs fewer than half those delegates to win the first ballot. Unless the Democratic Party, wildly improbably, tosses its entire rule book out the window, Biden will take the nomination at the convention in a single vote.
Ah, but what then? In the waning days of the Sanders campaign, I argued endorsements from superdelegates — prominent Democratic leaders and elected officials — showed party bosses had decided Biden was their guy. I don't expect to see those endorsements disappear, not publicly. But is the party leadership's commitment to Biden as solid as it once was?
Suppose, plausibly, it is not. Suppose they don't want to run a historically elderly candidate amid a pandemic that is deadliest for the elderly? Suppose Tara Reade's assault accusation and Biden's tendency to misspeak even from the low-pressure, high-preparation environment of his own basement further fuel the "two senile sex offenders" narrative of this election? Suppose enthusiasm continues to grow for running New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), whom one poll found 56 percent of Democrats would prefer to Biden as their nominee? (Cuomo says he won't do it, but that could be an obligatory performance of deference to a party elder.) Full Story - Bonnie Kristian - The Week
How the DNC will replace Joe Biden as their nominee
The poor guy just isn't cut out for this stuff anymore.
Former Vice President Joe Biden is the presumed nominee for the Democrats. But is he going to get replaced? Our sources suggested this was being considered less than two weeks ago with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as their new preferred choice. Here’s how it can (and probably will) happen.
There are two ways to get Biden out of the way. The less likely way is to keep him as the nominee but give him a Vice President who can then replace him after he’s inaugurated, assuming he wins. Actor James Woods has often said he believes Hillary Clinton will be the Vice Presidential choice and then she’ll replace Biden if they win. Full Story - JD Rucker - NOQ Report
Will Hillary be Biden’s VP?
What’s funnier than Trump beating Hillary? Trump beating Hillary twice
Far be it from Cockburn to compare a former secretary of state to a venereal disease, but perhaps Fox News guest Anna Paulina was onto something in 2018 when she was blacklisted for saying Hillary Clinton is ‘like herpes’ because she ‘won’t go away’. Less than two years later Hillary is indeed back in the spotlight and endorsing Joe Biden for the presidency.
Hillary’s endorsement couldn’t come at a worse time for Biden. The announcement that Biden would be hosting a ‘Virtual Women’s Town Hall’ came just hours after the Intercept reported new evidence that seemed to corroborate the account of Tara Reade, the former Senate staffer accusing Biden of sexual assault. Reporters immediately noted the tone-deafness of the timing. The optics became even worse when Hillary announced she would be joining Biden as a special guest, as she’s near infamous for publicly shaming her husband’s female accusers.
Hillary endorsed Biden during the livestream, speaking to his personal character with the cringe-inducing line, ‘I’ve seen him up close and personal now for many years.’ Cockburn couldn’t help but think that Hillary seemed to be angling for a power grab of her own. She was dressed sharply in a feminine turquoise blouse and blazer with matching earrings, plus a pop of bright pink lipstick, looking healthier than she had in years. It was a stark contrast next to Biden, who mumbled, looked down at the floor, and scratched his own face throughout the event.
.......... With Biden out, the Democratic National Committee, a group of around 350 which is "composed of the chairs and vice-chairs of each state Democratic Party Committee and over 200 members elected by Democrats in all 57 states and the territories," would vote to select a new nominee. Full Story - Cockburn - Spectator
Democrats want to drop Joe Biden for Andrew Cuomo, poll finds
A majority of Democrats want to nominate New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for president instead of Joe Biden, according to poll results shared exclusively with The Post.
A majority of Democrats want to nominate New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for president instead of Joe Biden, according to poll results shared exclusively with The Post.
The national poll found 56 percent of Democrats prefer Cuomo, with 44 percent wanting to stick with presumptive nominee Biden — a 12-point margin well outside the 4.8 percent margin of error for the Democratic sample. Full Story - Steven Nelson - NY Post
Bernie aide urges Biden to drop out after damning accuser video surfaces
Bernie Sanders supporters slam Democrats for ignoring sexual-assault allegations against Biden
Bin Laden plotted killing Obama so the 'totally unprepared' Biden would succeed him
What does it say about Joe Biden's leadership that Osama bin Laden thought it would be best to have him at the helm of the U.S.
Joe Biden has always billed his decades-long stretch in the swamp as "experience." His presidential election team has put him out as the steady hand, the familiar reassuring standard-bearer of business as usual, the competent guy who can handle a crisis.
So what does it say about Joe Biden's vaunted leadership in a crisis that a creature as vile as Osama bin Laden thought it would serve his interests best to have him at the helm of the U.S. as a sure way of creating chaos instead of Barack Obama? Read More