We don't come here today to make light of the debate and dismiss the very real concerns Biden's performance heightens. Rather, we offer some ballast, and a handful of suggestions for the Democratic Party, mostly things that are so obvious that their current absence calls into question the competence of the party's campaign apparatus.
Over at Bluesky, veteran journalist Radley Balko said this today, "Biden is too old. But he has surrounded himself with competent people and has had a conventional first term. Trump is authoritarian but inept. He has surrounded himself with people who he hopes will make him more effective at authoritarianism. Neither is ideal. But these are not similar problems."
And over at my phone, veteran Gheorghie Rob Russell said this to DJ-barrister-shoehorse-ladies man Z, "The campaign needs to lean hard on the uber-competence of his staff and agency leadership. The Biden Administration has quietly done a whole lot of good shit. The problem is the 'quietly' part. Good governance is rarely sexy."
In those two statements, we find a recommendation, if the Nervous Nellies in centrist Dem leadership can find it in themselves to stir up the appropriate level of righteous anger. Democrats and anyone who understands the peril that another Trump presidency would visit must do three things:
- Follow the advice of the the multi-hyphenate zman, who said to me: "Just hammer the felony conviction, the insurrection, hang Mike Pence, Covid, the civil rape conviction, and "you cheated on all three wives, why should the American people trust you?""
- Shout from the rooftops and every street corner the positive things that the Administration has done, from reducing college debt to lowering prescription drug prices to dramatically increasing the availability of renewable energy to supporting the UAW's successful action and labor more broadly, to advancing LGBTQ+ rights in a number of meaningful ways, among other things.
- Insist every American watch this segment from John Oliver and the Last Week Tonight team, which puts into stark relief the things that Trump's authoritarian fuckwhistles want to accomplish in a second administration:
I get the instinct to fear the worst. The consequences of another Trump presidency are disconcerting for all compassionate people. I have a trans kid and two children born female. Under the world Republicans want, their rights will be eroded and they'll be second-class citizens. That's fucking infuriating. And our friends in the media/entertainment complex will continue not to serve their audience because a horserace is good for ratings and repeatedly pointing out Trump's obvious and disqualifying flaws doesn't sell advertising.
But there's a long way to go, and time for Democrats to get their shit together. If last night was brutal, at the very least let's hope it serves as a wake up call.
If not, I'll be over here in the corner silently wetting myself, and/or rewatching this Jon Stewart rant on a loop.
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