Biden is no longer fit to be president. Last night’s debate exposed the lies we’ve been told.

[edjr 6,578]

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By Bari Weiss

June 28, 2024

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Rarely are so many lies dispelled in a single moment. Rarely are so many people exposed as liars and sycophants. Last night’s debate was a watershed on both counts.

The debate was not just a catastrophe for President Biden. And boy—oy—was it ever.

But it was more than that. It was a catastrophe for an entire class of experts, journalists, and pundits, who have, since 2020, insisted that Biden was sharp as a tack, on top of his game, basically doing handstands while peppering his staff with tough questions about care for migrant children and aid to Ukraine.

Anyone who committed the sin of using their own eyes on the 46th president was accused, variously, of being Trumpers; MAGA cult members who don’t want American democracy to survive; ageists; or just dummies easily duped by “disinformation,” “misinformation,” “fake news,” and, most recently, “cheapfakes.”

Cast your mind back to February, when Robert Hur, the special counsel appointed by the Department of Justice to look into Biden’s handling of classified documents, came out with his report that included details about Biden’s health, which explained why he would not prosecute the president.

“We have also considered that, at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” Hur wrote. “It would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him—by then a former president well into his eighties—of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.”

Can anyone doubt that characterization after watching Biden’s debate performance? 

Yet Eric Holder told us that Hur’s remarks were “gratuitous.” The former attorney general tweeted: “Had this report been subject to a normal DOJ review these remarks would undoubtedly have been excised.” Dan Pfeiffer, a former Obama adviser, said Hur’s report was a “partisan hit job.” Vice President Kamala Harris argued: “The way that the president’s demeanor in that report was characterized could not be more wrong on the facts, and clearly politically motivated, gratuitous.” The report does not “live in reality,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, stressing that the president was “sharp” and “on top of things.” 

Shall I go on? Okay.

Here was The New York Times last week in an extensive piece headlined: “How Misleading Videos Are Trailing Biden as He Battles Age Doubts.” The story went on to attempt to convince readers that “there is the distorted, online version” of Biden, which is merely “a product of often misleading videos that play into and reinforce voters’ longstanding concerns about his age and abilities.” 

With forensic detail, three Times reporters compared these videos from various angles. “Some of the videos of Mr. Biden circulating during this year’s campaign are clearly manipulated to make him look old and confused,” they wrote, pulling clips that were meant to debunk the idea that he was either. Watch them. See for yourself.

When The Wall Street Journal earlier this month came out with a story for which reporters had interviewed 45 people, soberly laying out concerns about Biden’s age, it was trashed as an “egregious hit job.” Some people called for it to be retracted. 

“Congressional Republicans, foreign leaders, and nonpartisan national-security experts have made clear in their own words that President Biden is a savvy and effective leader who has a deep record of legislative accomplishment,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates told the WSJ. “Now, in 2024, House Republicans are making false claims as a political tactic that flatly contradict previous statements made by themselves and their colleagues.” 

And even in the midst of last night’s dumpster fire, some stalwarts, like the Japanese soldiers who hadn’t realized they’d already lost the war, tried to spin it. 

“Biden has a cold,” a source close to the president told Axios during the debate. Right, that was the trouble. A lack of Tylenol. 

On MSNBC, Joy-Ann Reid suggested that the issue was that he was on the right-hand side of the screen. Yes. That was definitely the problem.

I never understood these reactions. For me, it always seemed easy enough to say: Biden’s 81. He’s fading. Most 81-year-olds do. But it seemed fair to still argue that a faded Biden is better than an all-there Trump. 

As Bill Maher has put it: “I’d vote for Biden’s head in a jar of blue liquid versus Trump.” Or as Sam Harris has said: “Hunter Biden could literally have had the corpses of children in his basement, and I would not have cared.” 

You may disagree with the conclusion, but it’s a coherent argument. It’s not an argument that relies on the denial of reality.

“Telling people they didn't see what they saw is not the way to respond to this.” That was Democratic operative Ben Rhodes’ reaction last night to the debate. The trouble is that’s precisely what the strategy has been for many, many months. 

There were notable exceptions. Ezra Klein published a huge piece in The New York Times in February making the case that Biden should step down for the good of the country. James Carville’s been telling the truth, too. 

When Rep. Dean Phillips entered the Democratic presidential primary last year, his entire campaign was based on the observation that Biden was too old for the job. I reached Phillips via text and asked him if he wanted to comment, in light of the debate, on how the Democratic establishment had treated him given that he had the guts to say the quiet part out loud. “Gandhi said to speak only when it improves upon the silence,” he texted back.

But last night, many of the very people who say they are shocked—shocked!—by Biden’s showing were exactly the people who were covering for him. 

Here was Ed Krassenstein reacting to a video of Joe Biden tripping up the stairs in October of 2023: “Once again, people are pretending to be frightened over the fact that Joe Biden stumbled going up stairs at age 80. I literally stumble going up the stairs at least twice a week. I even fell down my spiral staircase a couple weeks ago. I’m 41 years old, workout daily, and actually use the stair-stepper at the gym 5 days a week. Should I be concerned?”

Here was Krassenstein last night: “Joe Biden has trouble speaking.”

Here was MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow in early February saying Biden is fit for the presidency because he can ride a bike. 

Here was Maddow last night, admitting Biden had a “weak” voice and “halting delivery.”

Here was The View co-host Ana Navarro-Cárdenas in September of last year: “Joe Biden is old, but he ain’t dying any time soon. I don’t know if you guys saw him this weekend. He was at the G20. One moment I turned on the TV, he was in India, and then I turned on the TV, he was in Vietnam. Then I turned on the TV, he was giving a press conference, and then at the end of being up for, like, 24 hours working in a completely different part of the world, he said, ‘You know what? I got to go to bedʼ while Republicans were all pouncing on the fact that the man who had been up for 38 hours had to—I had to go to bed just watching him on TV.”

Here was Navarro-Cárdenas’s reaction to Biden’s post-debate speech, where he appeared to be slightly more coherent: “Where the hell was this Joe Biden?”

Those around the president—Jill Biden, certainly, but also all those savvy staffers—should have encouraged Biden to bow out gracefully after his first term. Because what happened last night was heartbreaking. It debased Biden as a man. It was also alarming—the person we saw onstage is our commander in chief. He holds the nuclear football. It wasn’t just Americans who watched his performance last night.

The Democrats talk a lot about “saving democracy.” But if you truly believe democracy is on the line in a race against Trump, the solution is as straightforward as it was before the debate clock started last night on CNN: Replace Biden. The Democratic Convention doesn’t begin until August 19. Biden still has time to pull an LBJ. 

As for the rest of us? Tonight was like a flash going off. So much—and so many—revealed. 

 

This is what is not being said enough. The fact so many lied about beenhidden. So many people have hurt this country, yet none will be punished for their lies.

[bostonlager 2,664]

He had a cold and a tummy ache. Give him a break. 

[MDC 7,164]

Neither of these 2 are fit. One should be put out to pasture and the other should be locked up.

[Tree of Knowledge 1,728]

Hur was certainly vindicated last night.  

[RLLD 4,147]

30 minutes ago, edjr said:

This is what is not being said enough. The fact so many lied about beenhidden. So many people have hurt this country, yet none will be punished for their lies.

The media lying to us to help the Democrats into power is the norm now

[Hardcore troubadour 14,987]

Gutterboy and the left media have been telling us for a year that it’s Trump with the cognitive decline, not Biden.  You would think they would take a seat for a bit.  

[edjr 6,578]

23 minutes ago, MDC said:

Neither of these 2 are fit. One should be put out to pasture and the other should be locked up.

wait. which one is currently the president?  

[HellToupee 1,607]

We are definitely in 25th amendment territory 

[Voltaire 5,205]

Well I for one believe Joe Biden is fit to be president.

I also believe that men can be women, that Sasquatch is real, and that Amy Schumer is funny.

[Hardcore troubadour 14,987]

Pretty soon the claws will be out for Dr. Jill.  It actually started before the debate, with stories how Big Mike isn’t doing much for the campaign because she doesn’t like how the Doctor treated Hunters ex, a good friend of hers. 

[TimHauck 2,633]

15 minutes ago, HellToupee said:

We are definitely in 25th amendment territory 

There’s 4 months til the election. I liken it to a guy at a job who has announced he’s retiring and was already mailing it in anyway.

I probably don’t need to remind you that righties should want to keep him in there. He’s Trump’s best chance of winning.

[RLLD 4,147]

23 minutes ago, HellToupee said:

We are definitely in 25th amendment territory 

And have been for some time.  

We can now welcome the ideologues who can no longer ignore what the rest of us have been explaining for over a year now..... but to invoke the 25th would mean some denigration to their power...and Democrats would rather the place burn to the ground than give up power....

[Hardcore troubadour 14,987]

25th won’t work.  It’s Kamala in that scenario.  Biden has to do this on his own and she has to get out of the way. This is complicated without the Bidens agreeing.  

[edjr 6,578]

22 minutes ago, Voltaire said:

Well I for one believe Joe Biden is fit to be president.

I also believe that men can be women, that Sasquatch is real, and that Amy Schumer is funny.

 

[RLLD 4,147]

2 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

25th won’t work.  It’s Kamala in that scenario.  Biden has to do this on his own and she has to get out of the way. This is complicated without the Bidens agreeing.  

Another reason they would likely avoid it.....she is horrid....would be far worse than perhaps Biden himself....

[Tree of Knowledge 1,728]

3 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

25th won’t work.  It’s Kamala in that scenario.  Biden has to do this on his own and she has to get out of the way. This is complicated without the Bidens agreeing.  

Dr. Jill will take a big check to go away.  You can probably bribe Mamala with some young c0ck and Ambassador to Jamaica job. 

[Voltaire 5,205]

I agree with gutterboy and Karine Jean Pierre that Biden has no mental decline. I'm glad that should an emergency happen, that Biden chose such a beloved, competent DEI intersectional diversity hire for VP. She's been doing such outstanding work as border czar.

[edjr 6,578]

38 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

Gutterboy and the left media have been telling us for a year that it’s Trump with the cognitive decline, not Biden.  You would think they would take a seat for a bit.  

and the left says faux gnus brain washes the people who watch.

[Baker Boy 1,691]

Joe Biden was not fit to be president in 2020.

[Strike 5,260]

1 hour ago, MDC said:

Neither of these 2 are fit. One should be put out to pasture and the other should be locked up.

Yeah but it's the same one and he's currently the President of our country.

[MDC 7,164]

8 minutes ago, Strike said:

Yeah but it's the same one and he's currently the President of our country.

If you think either of those 2 are POTUS material I don’t know what to tell you.  

[lod001 1,344]

Joe biden is fine. He had an off night. He needs to be the nominee and given another shot at a debate.

[lod001 1,344]

Joetard Scarborough praising biden's mental acuity 3 months ago is plastered across X. Joe's at the top of his game. Never been better. Elon is laughing at him.

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1806699977034420304

[Strike 5,260]

Just now, MDC said:

If you think either of those 2 are POTUS material I don’t know what to tell you.  

I hate Trump personally and didn't vote for him in 2016 but have no issue with the job he did as President.  Would have loved to see where we would be right now if we'd had 8 continuous years of his policies, which I mostly agreed with. 

[lod001 1,344]

Interesting if true. Looks like its Joe or no one in some states.

https://x.com/charliekirk11/status/1806720078920241396

[RLLD 4,147]

4 minutes ago, lod001 said:

Joetard Scarborough praising biden's mental acuity 3 months ago is plastered across X. Joe's at the top of his game. Never been better. Elon is laughing at him.

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1806699977034420304

Ans Scarborough deserved to be mocked.  His tirades and smug  BS earn him mockery. he is either inept or corrupt.  

[RLLD 4,147]

1 minute ago, lod001 said:

Interesting if true. Looks like its Joe or no one in some states.

https://x.com/charliekirk11/status/1806720078920241396

DO NOT.....underestimate Democrats and their willingness to forsake their "stances" in the pursuit of power.....I assure you, they will sell their children to hold on to power....these little impediments are mere bumps in the road when you have a group of people fabricating prosecutions to jail their political opponent....

[Hardcore troubadour 14,987]

7 minutes ago, lod001 said:

Joetard Scarborough praising biden's mental acuity 3 months ago is plastered across X. Joe's at the top of his game. Never been better. Elon is laughing at him.

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1806699977034420304

Joe Gutterboy

[weepaws 3,158]

Fit to be president of the USA, I don’t see any candidate that’s fit for the title, both of them are to old.  

Neither one of them is free of wrong doing, both should be facing jail time.  

Fit neither one.  

Thanks 

[MDC 7,164]

3 minutes ago, Strike said:

I hate Trump personally and didn't vote for him in 2016 but have no issue with the job he did as President.  Would have loved to see where we would be right now if we'd had 8 continuous years of his policies, which I mostly agreed with. 

I think most of what happened on Trump’s watch was the situation he inherited good and bad - booming economy when he came into office and Covid while he was there. He didn’t do a whole lot you wouldn’t have gotten from any Republican POTUS, tax cuts and deregulation, whoopie.

I’ve voted 3rd party for the last 2 cycles and will again this year. If these 2 are the best we’ve got the system is broken.

[Mark Davis 344]

18 minutes ago, Strike said:

I hate Trump personally and didn't vote for him in 2016 but have no issue with the job he did as President.  Would have loved to see where we would be right now if we'd had 8 continuous years of his policies, which I mostly agreed with. 

Same. I voted for Gary Johnson in ‘16 but Trump in ‘20

[lod001 1,344]

This one's good. Tiedrich is a retard. Good to see him losing it.

https://x.com/DefiantLs/status/1806717521849962547

[cmh6476 1,012]

maybe but he's my preference over Kamala.

[Strike 5,260]

3 minutes ago, Mark Davis said:

Same. I voted for Gary Johnson in ‘16 but Trump in ‘20

Those were my votes as well.

[GutterBoy 2,898]

17 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

Joe Gutterboy

Alright enough with the sh1t.  I never said Biden didn't decline, he obviously did prior to last night.  Trump has too and last night didn't dispel any of it.  Shut your mouth.

[Strike 5,260]

1 minute ago, GutterBoy said:

Alright enough with the sh1t.  I never said Biden didn't decline, he obviously did prior to last night.  Trump has too and last night didn't dispel any of it.  Shut your mouth.

Trump looked fine last night.  Your hero looked like Brad Pitt's character late in the Benjamin Button movie.

[Hardcore troubadour 14,987]

Just now, GutterBoy said:

Alright enough with the sh1t.  I never said Biden didn't decline, he obviously did prior to last night.  Trump has too and last night didn't dispel any of it.  Shut your mouth.

Ok. Just maybe don’t listen to guys in trucks and gay 18 year olds on the DNC payroll for your news. And that Filipkowski moron. Ooof.  

[GutterBoy 2,898]

Just now, Hardcore troubadour said:

Ok. Just maybe don’t listen to guys in trucks and gay 18 year olds on the DNC payroll for your news. And that Filipkowski moron. Ooof.  

tuckercarlsonsayswhat

[cmh6476 1,012]

yeah Trump was at least lucid.  He might have been lying through his teeth or you may not like what he said, but at least he could answer questions (if he wanted to) and was coherent.

[Hawkeye21 2,382]

Neither of those old men should even be considered an option to be President in the next election.  It's so frustrating that our nation is too stupid to vote in other people.