Is ‘Democrats Don’t Do Dogma’ The New Fig Leaf?

“When you’re in a hole, stop digging!

I don’t think I’m the only one frustrated (ok, angry) that an increasing number of Democrats, influenced by the pundits/news outlets are calling on President Biden to step aside, or suggesting variations on the theme ‘he should seriously consider doing so.’  I’ll be the first to say it is quite fair to have had a OMG reaction to the debate like I did. However, while watching the pundit reaction I also started thinking about all the President had done in the weeks, months and years prior to those ninety minutes and when he and Jill stopped in at the debate watch party and he spoke I bit I had two thoughts. Where was that Joe Biden during the debate, and second that the debate itself was bad and maybe it was just the ridiculous format and bad prep. The next day he spoke in Raleigh and oh how I wish I’d been able to get over then. Less than ten miles away. He was fine. Right then and there I accepted the debate was an outlier. I knew some folks would freak but assumed others, especially elected Democrats would thing the same thing I did and by Monday would focus on pointing out TRUMP’S performance. And touting the President’s record as well as his plans (vs Trump’s) but instead we got hand wringing.

The President, and with him the Party tripped and fell into a hole during the debate. Instead of climbing out, brushing themselves off and moving forward like the President did lots of Democrats grabbed shovels and started digging the hole deeper. And doing their damndest to drag the President down in there with them as they dug it ever deeper. So they could bury him without a trace.  What then was a question they didn’t seem to want to ask, or if they did one for which they had no answer. So they’ve kept on digging and caused other Democrats near the edge to fall in with them and THOSE Democrats have picked up shovels. When not trying to “kill” the President with their shovels they’ve kept on digging and many of us are sick of their nonsense.

President Biden had a rousing campaign event in the critical state of Michigan. Don’t Go Joe was a chant that popped up from those in attendance. The President himself made it clear he’s staying in and intends to win. Meanwhile, the pearl clutching and backstabbing among Democrats continues.  Pundits, various elected leaders and donors just won’t let go of that one bad night.  While following news yesterday a phrase/theme came up more than once about Democrat’s holding a very public circular firing squad. Those who’ve given GOP Senator Susan Collins a run for her money as the master of ‘Furrowed Brow Concern’ have realized the Let Joe step aside with “dignity” ship has sailed.  They aren’t giving up in their hopes of tossing the President out and conjuring up their “Unicorn” candidate that instead of a horn possesses a ‘Trump slaying Vorpal Sword’ but they need a new cover for their treacherous weakness. It’s along the lines of ‘Democrats don’t do dogma. We are “honest” and don’t “force” people into compliance and expel them for speaking out like Republicans do.’

I’m calling bullshit on this. The goal of the ‘replace President Biden’ crowd still burns within them but they’ve got a problem. They need to justify their actions, and save face because it’s clear President Biden intends to stay in the race and will be nominated next month. (And I believe show the country he’s worthy of and up to a second term and will win in November) Hopes they might have had of a reshuffling of the leadership giving them a chance to move up are they fear potential anchors come their next primary. No, the Party won’t do to them what the GOP did to Liz Cheney, but some of them at least can rightly fear a primary challenge if we do in fact prevail this fall.

Hence the search for some form of political and “moral” cover. A justification for the defections and publicly talking about maybe defecting from supporting the President. Now they’ve turned to saying stuff about not gaslighting the voters, or how “noble” it is to be asking these tough questions.  Don’t forget that many of these same people admit they’ve long held these concerns. But they didn’t have the courage of their “convictions” last year when, if such a discussion might have been had that was the time. No one with the substance to mount their own campaign stepped up to challenge the President starting this time last year. And these spineless Democrats didn’t know anyone who would.

I saw a fascinating and infuriating segment on Stephanie Ruhle’s show on MSNBC. It’s about ten minutes long but I believe worth the time if you didn’t see it. For me the lines fell along one panelist saying the debate (debacle) could have and should have been a two or three day story and Democrats have stupidly kept it going.  And others saying it’s “healthy” to be having this debate and in the end we’ll be united.  And yes, Joyce Vance who I so often admire said Democrats don’t enforce dogma. As I noted earlier it was the first time I’d heard or read that but I vehemently disagree with the notion that those of us calling on the cowards to come round, or at least STFU are being Dogmatic. Or Gaslighting for that matter.

No one, from the President on down is saying he didn’t blow it during the debate. NO ONE. No spin. Just from right after admitting he did poorly and left a lot on the table. No one since, including the President himself has tried to claim otherwise. It’s just been a flat-out admission he sucked.  But instead of doing what the President and others have done and then pointing out how Trump spent the debate lying and refusing to answer questions a growing chorus of Democrats from elected ones to donors ignore Trump’s performance, and that fact that VOTERS notices Trump’s performance and didn’t like him either. So, as is virtually always the case with Presidential debates little changed in electoral impact.

The President and those of us standing up supporting him have been open and honest that he had a bad night and it was a bad forum in which to have one. How is that gaslighting? Riddle me THAT all you weak-kneed a-holes as you once again fall onto your fainting couches!  I keep pointing out (as have others) that prior to the debate the President was doing his job and doing it well. When he did make a campaign appearance he was fine. If he hasn’t made many keep in mind all that’s been on his plate, including we’ve learned progress in negotiating a cease fire in Gaza (it should be obvious why much of the negotiations are kept under wraps, dealing with getting aid to Ukraine back on track and preparing to host the 75th anniversary of NATO – the summit was being held in DC.

The President was as impressive as he’s ever been. He even did a surprise campaign stop with the AFL-CIO who was also in town and it was kick-ass. He was doing his job and making public appearances and looking every bit “Presidential.”  Then he had that tour de force press conference which crushed the dreams and hopes of so many journalists there about book deals and maybe even Pulitzers for delivering the coup de grace to the Biden Presidency. Then the even in Michigan last night, where he even let Dark Brandon out for a bit of a romp.

Both before and since the debate the President has been doing his job and doing it better than most Presidents have. He’s been making appearances and with the exception of a quite poor debate performance (many felt he came on stronger towards the end, but by then many had tuned out so they never saw it) he’s been pretty much the same “Uncle Joe” we’ve known for years. A guy with a lifelong stutter that makes gaffes but overall is calm, knowledgeable and if not inspirational in oratory like say President Obama relatable and comfortable. Both in his own skin and is speaking to meeting the needs of the country and preventing the kind of disaster that would ensue if Trump got back in the WH.

Still, the naysayers insist he’s just not there anymore. That he’s ‘lost it’ so my question to all of THEM is “JUST WHO THE F**K IS TRYING TO GASLIGHT WHO?”

No one is saying the President had a “bigly” bad debate. No one is saying he doesn’t make verbal gaffes (as he has for his entire career in politics) and will continue to. What we are saying is he HAS been doing his job and doing it well. And even with the gaffes, or walking more slowly because (like so many people) he got stubborn and didn’t want to deal with one of those “boots” when he broke his foot and it didn’t heal properly he’s fine physically. Hey, I ignored medical advice more than once in my life (many times starting when I was much younger) and now I pay the price of reduced mobility. It’s common as mud and just one more way this President is more like average folks that most.

If ANYONE doubted whether he’s fit mentally, then the NATO Summit and then that press conference when he sometimes cited policy details many of the freaking reporters probably didn’t know it’s clear his mental state is first rate.  Yet the naysayers whisper off the record, and sometimes now publicly the President isn’t up to the job so again I ask who’s trying to gaslight who?

Dogma? Democrats don’t do Dogma? What the hell?  Those of us who trust the evidence of our own eyes and ears and see a President who’s an old guy but still fully capable of doing the job and likely to remain so aren’t “enforcing dogma” but telling you gutless a-holes to if not start helping then at least stop hurting and STFU.  No one is calling for you to be kicked out of the Party. Ok, I’ll be honest – if a good challenger with better judgement that you a-holes have been showing lately primaries you I’ll gladly support them but that’s the proper way to do things. A fair fight.

In the meantime I’ve got a message for your self-righteous “I/We won’t bow down to Dogma” bullshit.   KISS  MY  ASS!

Support the site with a subscription today and see no more ads!

Go Ad-free Now!