Joe Biden is not running for president, Kamala Harris is, and she must defeat Donald Trump. We can talk around the drama of Sunday, but it all comes down to that.
Thank you for your view of the matter, which seems very sound. President Biden was drummed out of his candidacy for re-election by an unfair and underhanded media frenzy.
Slander and innuendo can destroy anyone or anything. (The media may even have destroyed its last shreds of public trust in the “blast zone” of its own impropriety.)
But here we are, and thank heaven that President Biden still actually has his wits about him, because he will need them to navigate the almost impossible position where these events land him.
He must continue to govern with his firm, steady, patient and persistent hand, using all his humane good judgment. He must support Vice President Harris as she must support him, but they have been working together the whole time.
I agree Harris is the natural successor to Biden because the Biden-Harris ticket did garner 14 million primary votes, after all.
I cannot say I am happy about how these events transpired, but I agree heartily with your assessment: here we are, let’s get on with it — keep the Republic, restore the rule of law. Thank you again.
Oh, please. I am always against mindless, undemocratic hero worship. Even when it’s not MAGA doing it.
But let’s get to what really bugs you about my comments: what are people going to do if the Democrats win, which is hardly a foregone conclusion, but there’s a national 1/6?
I have no idea how that relates to, let alone supports, your comments. Regardless, instead of being so sure what others are thinking and why, and being condescending about it, perhaps you would be better to just do your own thing and move on.
“I have supported this guy at $75/month for a year—through a genocide.”
I don’t intend to try and lecture here, or convince anyone of anything. I simply want to try and really bring your sincere awareness to what the implication of that statement is. American presidents have stopped Israel’s military actions in the past, including Reagan. You may try and argue Biden can’t stop them, but given the broad and novel powers we have seen recent presidents exploit, for better and worse, he has a duty to stop them. If you do believe a genocide is happening, and you’re correct to believe that, it is your burden to consider what giving $75 a month to someone facilitating that genocide means to you. I am not trying to influence anyone’s voting or actions, I just want them to think…
I've heard that Harris is tougher on the Gaza War than Biden has been. If true, it would be hard to accuse her of antisemitism with a Jewish husband, and given Doug Emhoff's constant fight against antisemitism. One hopes the focus can turn to what the Israeli GOVERNMENT is doing without accusations that it somehow represents and denigrates all Jews.
Since the other option is identical if not worse on the issue, and since the far right will kill any chance of getting off carbon, among other things, which will destroy the possibility of decent organized human existence, it wasn’t a hard call. Sad but true.
I'm much more excited about voting for Harris in the upcoming election than I was about voting for Biden. I was always going to vote and always for a Democrat, because the alternative is just too awful to contemplate. I just hope the Republicans don't try to cheat through frivolous lawsuits, given the current make-up of the Supreme Court :(
Matt Stoller says that defaulting to the obvious choice rather than forming a circular firing squad when time is a major factor shows that Democrats do not exercise "independent judgement."
What this shows, rather, is that Matt Stoller is thinking like a Flat Earther: "I'm an independent thinker, all the rest are sheep."
I became a Kamala Harris fan after watching her questioning Brett Kavanaugh at his Supreme Court hearing. She is one smart cookie!
I am proud to call President Biden my President. He turned out to be the right person at the right time to take on the mess that the prior President left behind. I was behind him 100%, but I respect his decision to step down. Kamala Harris & her choice for Vice President have my vote.
Thank you Chris Geidner for the work you do to keep us informed about the workings of the Court, & thank you for sharing your thoughts with us today.
FYI, Chris, the push alert from your Substack is how I learned of Biden’s resignation. I know this isn’t your usual beat, but I remain very glad to have you out there doing the work and offering your insights!
Any thoughts on who she will pick for VP? I know a few had vetted recently including my Gov Andy Beshear. He is awesome, a Dem gov in a deep red state. Was hoping he would run against Paul when his Senate term ends. Either way I think he has a bigger future in politics and the party
I think Harris, not being endorsed or asked to be a part of a debate of one or more contenders, muddies the already murky water, and would really anger a block of the electorate for several reasons.
Biden was right to wait until after the RNC convention to actually announce this decision. I love Joe Biden, but all those years he's had, and the last 3.5 of doubted and not expected success, most likely would not have translated into a victory even though Trump is below bottom feeder status as is his SCOTUS picks that anger me to an end I didn't know I had as a laywoman.
Anyway, I wanted to comment, as I subscribe, and read most everything here, yet I don't comment, that of the names I'm hearing for a VP pick are all good but one stands out to me. I'm more than impressed with Mark Kelly and would see him as a choice that would be remarkable in stunning ways. Especially against a direct opposite ticket, even in a more normal environment, that would add crucial aspects to the ticket.
I hope the VP pick will be written about, here. I value your insight and the media is junk so independent writers are what independent thinkers like to read/hear from. Stay tuned, I will.
I know isn't the point, but that picture of Harris and Biden looks like one of the opening credit scenes from Law & Order or a similar program.
Anyway, I really hope that Biden doesn't lose sight of reforming SCOTUS (which he is apparently considering now), and that Harris picks up that particular baton.
The main reason I think Harris’ numbers are where they are is because she's been a target for Republicans for four years. Any "new" person would be in the same place in a week. It's a highly divided country. She's young, smart, sane. Way more to the right than I would like, but, hey—I’ve been funding Biden at $75/month for a year, and through a genocide.
She might still lose. *Anyone* might still lose.
Beyond that, winning the election is merely step one. Step two is facing down the national 1/6 that will follow a Democratic victory. Let's not forget that.
My expectation is the Democrats will fold in the face of that. "Stability" über alles! Using the power vested in the executive to beat down a national uprising—presuming the military would follow your orders? Doubtful.
Thanks, Chris. I think Biden has been transformative and now I’m for Harris 100%.
Thank you for your view of the matter, which seems very sound. President Biden was drummed out of his candidacy for re-election by an unfair and underhanded media frenzy.
Slander and innuendo can destroy anyone or anything. (The media may even have destroyed its last shreds of public trust in the “blast zone” of its own impropriety.)
But here we are, and thank heaven that President Biden still actually has his wits about him, because he will need them to navigate the almost impossible position where these events land him.
He must continue to govern with his firm, steady, patient and persistent hand, using all his humane good judgment. He must support Vice President Harris as she must support him, but they have been working together the whole time.
I agree Harris is the natural successor to Biden because the Biden-Harris ticket did garner 14 million primary votes, after all.
I cannot say I am happy about how these events transpired, but I agree heartily with your assessment: here we are, let’s get on with it — keep the Republic, restore the rule of law. Thank you again.
He can’t speak. Wtf? Media frenzy? He. Can’t. Speak.
Blue MAGA has gotta get over it.
6 days ago at the NAACP National Convention, pretty sure he was speaking and quite well at that.
https://www.youtube.com/live/Trjg_xnPA8M?t=714
The morning after that debate Biden was at the rally NC and spoke
https://www.youtube.com/live/HYghfyxtZnc?t=510
So when you say "he can't speak" of course you don't mean literally, but also he generally speaks well.
If any candidate you didn’t support had a debate (and subsequent prompter-free interviews) like Biden did, what would your reaction be?
I have supported this guy at $75/month for a year—through a genocide. Thought the mental acuity was overdone; saw the debate; changed my mind.
It’s not hard!
Stop telling people things are “not hard,” Doug. It’s condescending and unnecessary. He dropped out; take the W and move on.
Oh, please. I am always against mindless, undemocratic hero worship. Even when it’s not MAGA doing it.
But let’s get to what really bugs you about my comments: what are people going to do if the Democrats win, which is hardly a foregone conclusion, but there’s a national 1/6?
I have no idea how that relates to, let alone supports, your comments. Regardless, instead of being so sure what others are thinking and why, and being condescending about it, perhaps you would be better to just do your own thing and move on.
“I have supported this guy at $75/month for a year—through a genocide.”
I don’t intend to try and lecture here, or convince anyone of anything. I simply want to try and really bring your sincere awareness to what the implication of that statement is. American presidents have stopped Israel’s military actions in the past, including Reagan. You may try and argue Biden can’t stop them, but given the broad and novel powers we have seen recent presidents exploit, for better and worse, he has a duty to stop them. If you do believe a genocide is happening, and you’re correct to believe that, it is your burden to consider what giving $75 a month to someone facilitating that genocide means to you. I am not trying to influence anyone’s voting or actions, I just want them to think…
I've heard that Harris is tougher on the Gaza War than Biden has been. If true, it would be hard to accuse her of antisemitism with a Jewish husband, and given Doug Emhoff's constant fight against antisemitism. One hopes the focus can turn to what the Israeli GOVERNMENT is doing without accusations that it somehow represents and denigrates all Jews.
Since the other option is identical if not worse on the issue, and since the far right will kill any chance of getting off carbon, among other things, which will destroy the possibility of decent organized human existence, it wasn’t a hard call. Sad but true.
I'm much more excited about voting for Harris in the upcoming election than I was about voting for Biden. I was always going to vote and always for a Democrat, because the alternative is just too awful to contemplate. I just hope the Republicans don't try to cheat through frivolous lawsuits, given the current make-up of the Supreme Court :(
Matt Stoller says that defaulting to the obvious choice rather than forming a circular firing squad when time is a major factor shows that Democrats do not exercise "independent judgement."
What this shows, rather, is that Matt Stoller is thinking like a Flat Earther: "I'm an independent thinker, all the rest are sheep."
What an eloquent statement on why we must unite around Harris! Thank you
A prosecutor's skill set ought to be quite useful against these Republicans. And I think she knows that.
I became a Kamala Harris fan after watching her questioning Brett Kavanaugh at his Supreme Court hearing. She is one smart cookie!
I am proud to call President Biden my President. He turned out to be the right person at the right time to take on the mess that the prior President left behind. I was behind him 100%, but I respect his decision to step down. Kamala Harris & her choice for Vice President have my vote.
Thank you Chris Geidner for the work you do to keep us informed about the workings of the Court, & thank you for sharing your thoughts with us today.
You are such a good writer, and such a trustworthy source. Thank you.
FYI, Chris, the push alert from your Substack is how I learned of Biden’s resignation. I know this isn’t your usual beat, but I remain very glad to have you out there doing the work and offering your insights!
Not resignation! But, yes, I'm glad to hear that you learned of this important news from Law Dork.
Haha, was typing too fast, but you know what I meant!
yes! thank you!! it felt quite comforting having it be you! i appreciate your writings 😊
Same here!
Thank you Chris for this
empowering assessment.
All the way with Kamala a
Harris!
Any thoughts on who she will pick for VP? I know a few had vetted recently including my Gov Andy Beshear. He is awesome, a Dem gov in a deep red state. Was hoping he would run against Paul when his Senate term ends. Either way I think he has a bigger future in politics and the party
I think Harris, not being endorsed or asked to be a part of a debate of one or more contenders, muddies the already murky water, and would really anger a block of the electorate for several reasons.
Biden was right to wait until after the RNC convention to actually announce this decision. I love Joe Biden, but all those years he's had, and the last 3.5 of doubted and not expected success, most likely would not have translated into a victory even though Trump is below bottom feeder status as is his SCOTUS picks that anger me to an end I didn't know I had as a laywoman.
Anyway, I wanted to comment, as I subscribe, and read most everything here, yet I don't comment, that of the names I'm hearing for a VP pick are all good but one stands out to me. I'm more than impressed with Mark Kelly and would see him as a choice that would be remarkable in stunning ways. Especially against a direct opposite ticket, even in a more normal environment, that would add crucial aspects to the ticket.
I hope the VP pick will be written about, here. I value your insight and the media is junk so independent writers are what independent thinkers like to read/hear from. Stay tuned, I will.
I know isn't the point, but that picture of Harris and Biden looks like one of the opening credit scenes from Law & Order or a similar program.
Anyway, I really hope that Biden doesn't lose sight of reforming SCOTUS (which he is apparently considering now), and that Harris picks up that particular baton.
You’ve been wonderfully supportive through this entire stressed out few weeks, Chris. Thank you so very much.
The main reason I think Harris’ numbers are where they are is because she's been a target for Republicans for four years. Any "new" person would be in the same place in a week. It's a highly divided country. She's young, smart, sane. Way more to the right than I would like, but, hey—I’ve been funding Biden at $75/month for a year, and through a genocide.
She might still lose. *Anyone* might still lose.
Beyond that, winning the election is merely step one. Step two is facing down the national 1/6 that will follow a Democratic victory. Let's not forget that.
My expectation is the Democrats will fold in the face of that. "Stability" über alles! Using the power vested in the executive to beat down a national uprising—presuming the military would follow your orders? Doubtful.
Who would be your first choice to succeed Biden?
Almost the entire point of this post is about *not* being drawn into this debate so, no, I am not being drawn into this debate.