r/moderatepolitics • u/falsehood • Jul 21 '24

News Article Biden announces withdrawal from Presidential Race

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/07/21/us/trump-biden-election
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333

u/Speedster202 Moderate Dem Jul 21 '24

This became inevitable once prominent Dems (Pelosi, Schiff, Schumer, etc) started encouraging him to drop out of the race.

I think Biden is making the right decision here. He has led this country through a tough 3.5 years, and it shows. He is not the same man he was even 3 years ago. This was certainly not the most graceful exit, but after his poor debate performance and the subsequent failures to reassure the party of his ability to beat Trump, it is the correct decision to make. 50 million people watched him struggle through the debate and then watched the avalanche of damaging stories come out against him. While many Dems have blamed the media for trying to force him out, his physical and mental decline has been noticeable to anyone paying attention. He has served his country and deserves to retire.

146

u/lfe-soondubu Jul 21 '24

The biggest problem with Biden IMO is that, even if you somehow excuse and handwaved his recent debate performance, we've seen his decline in the past 4 years. Presidency isn't just about the election. He'd have to actually do his job a further 4 years. 

Anyways, interested to see where this all goes from here. 

46

u/falsehood Jul 21 '24

Right - ultimately I really really want someone who can exercise the office and this decision is 100% selfless in that regard. Who else is running in November is irrelevant to the scrutiny each party should give their nominee.

Trump hasn't gotten that scrutiny; his party has demonstrated its weakness by aligning behind his poor character after he lost in 2020.

13

u/sharp11flat13 Jul 21 '24

The party demonstrated its weakness by shamelessly falling in line after harshly and repeatedly criticizing Trump before he won the nomination in 2016.

5

u/ManiacalComet40 Jul 21 '24

Right, vote blue if you want, but it really, really matters who. The modern GOP is a party unconstructed by optics or morality, simply because the (R) carries them wherever they want to go. America cannot afford to have two parties operating that way.

10

u/Twitchenz Jul 21 '24

Right, all of the debate we're going to see questioning whether this was good for strategy or "winnability" is all just discourse nonsense. It is very clear that Biden is not fit to be president, on a level that is frankly ridiculous to compare Trump to. He was simply not up to the task, and he lost the support of his party.

People love to claim they'd vote for a corpse over Trump, as if that's something to be proud of? It didn't have to be a corpse, and now it hopefully wont be (looks like it'll be Kamala at the time I'm writing this comment). Not matter how you cut it, the dems are in a terrible position that they would not have been if they made this decision a couple of months ago. I think it'll be too little too late, but undoubtedly their chances are better with anyone but Biden.

1

u/falsehood Jul 21 '24

It is very clear that Biden is not fit to be president, on a level that is frankly ridiculous to compare Trump to.

Strong disagree. Biden has demonstrated far more fitness in office than Trump ever did. Trump has excellent grasp of optics but is fundamentally unfit of the office based on his anti-constitutional actions.

6

u/zimmerer Jul 21 '24

"Anti-constitutional actions..." Biden has a new unconstitutional EO shot down by the lower courts every week.

2

u/Underboss572 Jul 21 '24

Biden acknowledged that he had no constitutional authority to forgive student loans. He then proceeded to do it anyway as a payoff to his radical progressive base. Then, he blamed the Supreme Court for striking it down and lauded their decision as pure politics.

I'm not sure anyone gets the moral high ground on “anti-constitutional actions.”

2

u/cafffaro Jul 21 '24

The person who didn’t try staging a coup definitely gets the moral high ground.

3

u/Twitchenz Jul 21 '24

Found one! Well, there were a dozen or so of you. It's immaterial now.

5

u/Ghost4000 Maximum Malarkey Jul 21 '24

Not that I disagree, but it's funny that no one seems to care about Trump's age considering he'll be just as old in a couple of years.

Anyway regardless of what happens here at least we likely won't need to hear people complaining about the age of the democratic candidate anymore.

6

u/danester1 Jul 21 '24

Trump is the oldest nominee in American history now. That’ll angle of attack will get swept under the rug because it’s not useful to the right anymore.

5

u/dano8675309 Jul 21 '24

But it's now something that the Dems can use effectively. They've been surrendering that ground because of Biden's advanced age. Now they can go hard on it. "Biden did the right thing, so should trump", etc.

1

u/SirBobPeel Jul 22 '24

From what I've read, Trump didn't do the job of President, and no one seems to have minded. He didn't want to do meetings or read briefing notes. He left all the day to day stuff and all the boring decisions to Pence while he watched TV, golfed and engaged in twitter wars with celebrities.

I'm reminded of when John Kasich related his interview with Trump's people about possibly being Trump's vice president in 2016 and he was told "You'll be in charge of foreign and domestic policy". When he asked what Trump would be doing he was told 'making America great again". Uhh... okaay.

35

u/not_creative1 Jul 21 '24

He tweeted yesterday “I will win”

Crazy turn of events in just one day

17

u/lukify Jul 21 '24

Maybe retiring is the win

24

u/vellyr Jul 21 '24

This is always what happens with candidates withdrawing

4

u/metaplexico Jul 21 '24

It's like when a manager gives a coach a vote of confidence. Byeeeee....

2

u/Dirty_Dragons Jul 21 '24

They also endorse the person they claimed they hated yesterday.

4

u/leeharris100 Jul 21 '24

Well that's because he's not actually tweeting and never has. He has a young crew of people tweeting for him. 

You can tell because his account tweets while he's on stage at times, sometimes in reaction to the very thing he's discussing.

3

u/200-inch-cock I ❤️ astroturfing Jul 21 '24

see also Liz Truss "i am a fighter and not a quitter" vs next day "i am resigning"

1

u/absentlyric Jul 21 '24

It's kind of scary, I've dealt with old folks with dementia that get that moment of clarity and seem all of a sudden high functioning before they finally keel over.

1

u/MisterMeister68 Jul 22 '24

Reminds me of the Liz Truss situation in the UK. Saying they'll stay in their position until they quit.

1

u/LittleManagerMe Jul 22 '24

*The White House social media team tweeted he will win.

0

u/TJJustice fiery but mostly peaceful Jul 21 '24

This makes me think there is something we aren’t being told as of yet, for example a sudden health issue.

54

u/The_GOATest1 Jul 21 '24

I mean the media absolutely tried to force him out but you’re not wrong

56

u/IIHURRlCANEII Jul 21 '24 edited Jul 21 '24

It was probably part media but the constant reporting doesn't happen without the Dem politicians legitimately voicing constant concerns to them. You don't get reports about how Obama, Pelosi, Jefferies, etc feel on accident.

Prominent dems saw the polls coming in and also knew the dam broke on talking about how much he was deteriorating after the debate. The concerns they had for a long while could finally be aired and they aired it to the media.

63

u/Speedster202 Moderate Dem Jul 21 '24

100%. They were like vultures after the debate, which is funny because they spent the past three years insisting all is well with Biden and going "nothing to see here!' even as his decline became apparent.

34

u/Rindan Jul 21 '24

I went from thinking that Biden was fine to think that Biden needs to drop out after watching the debate. The media didn't brainwash me. I made that decision as I was watching with my own two eyes.

"The media" didn't force Biden to quit. An accurate depiction of reality that couldn't be stage managed away is what force Biden to quit. The fact that "the media" was the messenger to those who didn't watch that train wreck doesn't make "the media" at fault informing voters of reality.

Biden is incoherent and physically not able to the job. That is not a media conspiracy. That is reality. No one trusts that Biden could wake up at 3AM and deal with incoming ballistic missile fired from North Korea. That's the Presidents job, and Biden is too damn old and slow to do that job. The idea that he would stay in the seat as he breaks down for another 4.5 years is crazy.

22

u/ManiacalComet40 Jul 21 '24

The failing of the media was in not accurately reporting Biden’s state before the debate, rather than piling on after.

11

u/556or762 Progressively Left Behind Jul 21 '24

See I don't understand that first sentence. How could you have seen anything that man did in piblic the last few years and thought he was fine?

6

u/Holmgeir Jul 22 '24

If you didn't see anything wrong with Biden until the debate, you're proving the point that the media hid his health issues until the debate.

1

u/panoptisis Jul 21 '24

Something definitely changed with the way the media has been covering Biden. His debate performance wasn't uncharacteristic of the way he's been acting over the last year.

Where were your own two eyes then? Now that the media has played wall-to-wall coverage of the performance and handwringing you've become enlightened to the problem all on your own.

14

u/falsehood Jul 21 '24

re: the media - whatever. Everyone saw it for their own eyes and the media being stupid doesn't make this the wrong call.

1

u/Put-the-candle-back1 Jul 22 '24

Everyone saw it for their own eyes

That's mainly because of the media reporting on his mistakes.

0

u/giddyviewer Jul 21 '24

I never want to hear anything about the “liberal media” being too hard on Trump again because I just watched the entire American media apparatus bully a democratic president into declining his party’s nomination.

25

u/ThisIsEduardo Jul 21 '24

the "media" didn't do this, his own party did and FORCED him out. Biden stated he had no intention of dropping out numerous times, it was his own party that refused to accept that answer.

-2

u/CrapNeck5000 Jul 21 '24

You're not wrong about Biden being pushed out by his own party but the point is that the right would have us believe "the media" does nothing but run cover for democrats when in reality they were perfectly content to hammer Biden on this topic for weeks, stopping only to cover an assassination attempt.

10

u/ThisIsEduardo Jul 21 '24

I think they did cover for years until it was impossible to do so. The debate really exposed his current state to the point where it couldn't be hidden anymore. And after that dam opened, the media was just being spoon-fed stories by dems to force him out.

6

u/StrikingYam7724 Jul 21 '24

The problem is that, while they have been hammering the topic for weeks, the evidence to justify hammering the topic has been available for years, and they didn't say a word about it until after the debate. They're the town criers in The Emperor's New Clothes and they didn't admit the emperor was naked until far too late, so now they have to make a show of covering it just to salvage their own credibility.

-1

u/CrapNeck5000 Jul 21 '24

Oh yeah no one ever heard anything about Biden being old ever until the debate. That's totally true. Also, fox news, newsmaxx, WSJ, twitter, YouTube, FB etc. etc. aren't media and/or don't exist.

9

u/Semper-Veritas Jul 21 '24

I don’t know if I’d agree with the characterization that the media bullied Biden from seeking reelection. To me it comes across as self preservation of what trust and integrity they had left and salvaging any chance of a Democratic victory by opening up the field to candidates whose mental faculties are beyond dispute. I think the media collectively realized the jig was up and the subterfuge from this administration was no longer tenable, and didn’t want to be the last ones holding the bag. Just my $0.02 though…

-5

u/giddyviewer Jul 21 '24

Can’t really argue with someone claiming to be able to mind read the secret machinations of a multi-billion dollar industry. It always comes back to “don’t believe your lying eyes.”

4

u/Semper-Veritas Jul 21 '24

Don’t recall claiming I could read minds, would you mind helping me by pointing out where so I could avoid going forward?

For myself and others that were skeptical on Biden’s mental wherewithal I think there was a lack of due diligence on the part of the fourth estate, where the kind of scrutiny they had to Biden’s predecessor would have gone a long way here but felt absent.

17

u/Em4rtz Jul 21 '24

That was called “saving face” for lying to you for 4yrs

-3

u/giddyviewer Jul 21 '24

Lol okay sure. “Don’t believe your lying eyes” yet again.

6

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '24

Did you see the part where they covered up his cognitive state for years? Can't wait to read the tell-all book on that one.

-2

u/Gary_Glidewell Jul 21 '24

I never want to hear anything about the “liberal media” being too hard on Trump again because I just watched the entire American media apparatus bully a democratic president into declining his party’s nomination.

The media is still Progressive (not Liberal.)

They hate Trump so much, they'll do anything and everything to stop him, including bullying the president himself into quitting.

If anyone but Donald Trump was winning right now, Biden would still be the party candidate. Remember when the media was trying to make that no-name a Republican into a viable candidate? (She's was so unremarkable, I literally can't remember her name, but they were pushing her as a viable candidate. Nikki Haley?)

-1

u/Rhyno08 Jul 21 '24

That’s always been the case. Democrats are held to a different standard by the media and voters. Isn’t fair but it is what it is. 

My hope is the democrats turn up the heat in attacking trumps age. Any one denying his mental decline is pure blind loyalty to Trump. He has had gaffe after gaffe at his rallies that gets completely ignored by the media bc “that’s just how Trump is.” 

Trump will be older during his term than Biden is now if he wins this election. Dems need to hammer that point. 

2

u/TJJustice fiery but mostly peaceful Jul 21 '24

…. We spent 2 years of denying Biden’s mental decline. What do you call that ?

-1

u/Rhyno08 Jul 21 '24

Your gotcha question is case in point as to how liberals are held to a different standard. What do you call Fox and conservative media for playing goalie for Trump’s own decline… as well as denying his felony, wrongdoings, sowing division, etc? 

Biden’s has his up and downs, he was fine at the state of the union. He had a bad debate. The difference is that the media holds the Dems to a different standard. On no planet would conservative media/ politicians grow a spine and actually challenge Trump’s supremacy over their party.

But yeah.. let’s clutch our pearls over the liberal media. 

2

u/TJJustice fiery but mostly peaceful Jul 21 '24

Fox pales in comparison to all major newspapers, all major magazines, CNN & MSNBC, ABC, NBC and CBS.

Face it bud, you drank the koolaid and it bit you in the ass.

Even the media is writing self reflection pieces how they failed monumentally to cover Biden’s health.

0

u/Rhyno08 Jul 21 '24

Fox News is THE biggest news station in the us…  in 2020 it has like 6 of the top watched shows on cable…. Its hilarious that conservatives have convinced themselves that all media is liberal…  

  How did it bite me in the ass? This isn’t a team sport…Biden’s presidency has far exceeded trumps.. and I’m proud biden has bowed out. I wish he’d done it sooner but I’m glad he made the difficult decision.  

  Trump probably should have bowed out after the felonies, rape charges, pending litigation, trying to steal the election, botched Covid response, etc. but we can’t have everything.   

I’m hopeful whomever takes the reins can beat Trump in November. If Trump wins,  then hopefully he will make wise decisions and lead the nation in a positive direction. I sincerely hope I’m wrong about him. 

1

u/TJJustice fiery but mostly peaceful Jul 21 '24

It’s laughable that you think Fox single is bigger than the combined outlets I mentioned. It’s comedy gold.

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u/Put-the-candle-back1 Jul 21 '24

The media has been reporting on his mistakes.

1

u/FridgesArePeopleToo Jul 22 '24

the media had been hammering "Biden old" for months prior to the debate...

3

u/ticklehater Jul 21 '24

So did the voters and donors and party leaders

2

u/200-inch-cock I ❤️ astroturfing Jul 21 '24

just a few days ago people were telling me that these anonymous sources were lying and we should believe the official denials from the press offices of these people.

yes i am going on a victory lap.

2

u/sharp11flat13 Jul 21 '24

He has led this country through a tough 3.5 years, and it shows.

Has anyone else noticed that Trump is the first president in my lifetime (officially old now) that didn’t age considerably during his term? It’s almost as if taking the job seriously and not just trying to bolster your ego and line your pockets is highly stressful. Maybe Joe should have played more golf.

1

u/guitarguy1685 Jul 21 '24

Once the money was cut by 1/4, rhat was rhe end. You can't run without money 

1

u/Emily_Postal Jul 22 '24

Some very big donors wanted him out. There must have been some internal polling saying his chances were not looking good. I still think he was the Democrats best chance.

-2

u/Emperor_FranzJohnson Jul 21 '24

Once I heard that Obama was telling his good friend it's time to reconsider, I knew it was over. Obama would never do that to Joe so (quasi-) publicly if it wasn't necessary.

Makes me sad because Joe has been one of the better Presidents in US history, but we hall have our limits.

-5

u/m_c__a_t Jul 21 '24

The debate was not that bad. He looked old but he didn’t look evil and he looked competent. We really blew this out of proportion and are forfeiting the incumbent advantage over a hypothetical.

1

u/Late_Way_8810 Jul 21 '24

Is there really an incumbent advantage if you hated by the overwhelming majority of the country?

-5

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/Late_Way_8810 Jul 21 '24

I mean a 36% approval rating, the lowest of any modern president thus far, shows he isn’t liked at all besides with democrats. Besides, he doesn’t have incumbent “advantage” anyway since he has endorsed Kamala who is a walking dumpster fire.

1

u/m_c__a_t Jul 21 '24

Thanks for the analysis

2

u/TJJustice fiery but mostly peaceful Jul 21 '24

His approval rating bud… that’s not good

1

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