r/politics • u/wsj The Wall Street Journal • 4d ago

I oversee the WSJ’s Washington bureau. Ask me anything about last night’s debate, where things stand with the 2024 election and what could happen next. AMA-Finished

President Biden’s halting performance during last night’s debate with Donald Trump left the Democratic Party in turmoil. You can watch my video report on the debate and read our coverage on how party officials are now trying to sort through the president’s prospects. 

We want to hear from you. What questions do you have coming out of the debate? 

What questions do you have about the election in general? 

I’m Damian Paletta, The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Coverage Chief, overseeing our political reporting. Ask me anything.

All stories linked here are free to read.

proof: https://imgur.com/a/hBBD6vt

Edit, 3:00pm ET: I'm wrapping up now, but wanted to say a big thanks to everyone for jumping in and asking so many great questions. Sorry I couldn't answer them all! We'll continue to write about the fallout from the debate as well as all other aspects of this unprecedented election, and I hope you'll keep up with our reporting. Thanks, again.

35 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • link
  • reddit
  • reddit

55% Upvoted

1.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

179

u/Revolant742 4d ago

How feasible is it really, at this stage, for Biden to be replaced with a new candidate for president?

89

u/wsj The Wall Street Journal 4d ago

I would say it is feasible, yes. Is it likely, no? But last night wasn’t likely either. Democrats will have to decide fairly quickly what to do. If they are going to replace Biden, he’ll essentially have to step aside. It would take a tremendous effort to rapidly unify the Democratic party behind a single candidate at this stage and not have the party splinter into numerous camps, but they might not have a choice. They’ll know in the coming days how much damage occurred during the debate. If fundraising dries up quickly, they’ve got a big problem. So far it doesn’t appear that happened, but time will tell.

37

u/NumeralJoker 4d ago

I'd like to point out that Biden is already on the campaign path and already back to his more normal level of speaking.

I don't love what happened last night, but there's a lot of time to get back on track and less than 24 hours after it happened, it seems to not be his new norm.

90

u/9159 4d ago

It wasn’t just his voice or how he was speaking though. He was fumbling the most simple talking points. Basically anyone else in the Democratic Party would have done a better job. Objectively, removing his age and stuttering, he did an incredible poor job - and then came out and said he did an amazing job… he’s supposed to rise above Trumps level of delusion. Not sink to match it.

36

u/ButtEatingContest 4d ago edited 4d ago

Yeah he should have brutalized Trump. It was a rare situation where Trump was lured out of his safety bubble and actually would have to confront somebody - anybody - who wasn't MAGA, and the media would be obliged to cover it. Then Biden dropped the ball bigly.

Biden might have gotten away with being a little fragile if he landed more hits and didn't say stupid stuff about "beating Medicare" and rambling on about golf. Not a good look.

Biden's inability to handle this easy set-up seriously brings into question his ability to run the country, and to deal with many of the serious foreign policy issues that are going on right now. Not to mention handling MAGA's attempts to steal the next election, which won't be that much of an issue if Trump genuinely wins.

24

u/Illtakeaquietlife 4d ago

Seriously. The bickering about golf was infuriating. All he had to say was "I'm the president of the United States. I don't have time to play golf, you absolute felon".

14

u/NoHoHan 4d ago

Yeah, that was incredible. Trump voluntarily highlighted something that everyone hates about his presidency-- the massive amount of time he spent playing golf instead of working. And instead of pouncing on that, like any rational person would do, Biden decided to go with "I play golf too and I'm better than you at it!" What the actual fuck, man...

2

u/Diamondphalanges756 4d ago

Or...I don't want to play golf on Ivana's grave.

1

u/Supreme12 3d ago

If he said that he would be taking shots at Obama and other former presidents, though.

7

u/Entertainment-720 4d ago

This is exactly the point I've been trying to make to people.

We knew he was old and has a stutter, that's not news to anyone. The most alarming part of last night was how poorly he did tactically. He simply cannot react quickly or think on his feet at all anymore. He opened himself up for easy dunks countless times and showed zero ability to steer the conversation to his administration's strengths.

Sure, Trump wasn't answering the questions but strategy-wise that was a smart plan in this debate format whether we like it or not. Steer the conversation to your talking points and avoid your weaknesses.

For any fence sitters who (somehow) don't believe Trump is a threat to democracy, last night they saw one man who lied a lot but spoke to his strengths with conviction vs a man who looked wholly unable to handle the most difficult job in the world right now, let alone for the next 4 years.

0

u/Plinythemelder 3d ago

Yep. Anyone else doesn't drop the ball that hard, including Hillary (but to those dem staffers out there, don't you fucking dare think this is a sign to try Hillary again).

11

u/winnie_the_slayer 4d ago

There is a very frustrating amount of gaslighting coming out of the Biden campaign.

"The economy is super great! the 60% of you who are really struggling are just imagining things and need to look at these cooked statistics!"

"Biden did great last night! not sure what you were watching, but he really hit Trump hard with that alley cat line!"

"Biden is totally spry and high energy in meetings, even though his public appearances don't show that at all!"

"If we just talk about how great our policies are, people will love us and vote for us!"

etc. etc.

2

u/Plinythemelder 3d ago

Bro I know. I know a bunch of it is Russian/Indian bots, but like 2016 there's a bunch of legit frustration about the dems absolute ineptitude. And pretending things are hunky dory when they just OBVIOUSLY aren't is having the opposite effect they are hoping. Because dem voters are ever so slightly smarter than the right. For the right you can piss on there face and tell them it's raining. For the dems, the voters are just a little too educated for that. You at least need the courtesy to give them an umbrella before you piss on them.

1

u/lex99 America 3d ago

I also think comments I don’t like came from bots.

4

u/NoHoHan 4d ago

It's mind blowing.

3

u/[deleted] 4d ago

This.

10

u/ActualModerateHusker 4d ago

He did admit today he doesn't debate or speak as well as he used to. Honestly Biden being honest about his current state might be the best thing he can do now beyond dropping out. Even I almost feel sorry for him despite how deeply disappointed I am with the Democratic party for elevating him in 2020

5

u/9159 4d ago

He was great in 2020 and is a great one term president. He should take the win and bow out - that was the obvious choice that people were expecting. I hardly think people were expecting to see a 86 year old president as Biden will be at the end of his term.

2

u/NoHoHan 4d ago

He was not a great candidate in 2020. He has been a good president.

3

u/Trust_Me_Im_a_Panda 4d ago

He also wasn't a great debater in 2020. The dude has suffered from a stutter his entire life. A good man, a good politician, and a good president, yes. A good public speaker? No, never.

3

u/NoHoHan 4d ago

Watch his debates in 2008 and 2012. Like a completely different person.

3

u/Trust_Me_Im_a_Panda 4d ago

Oh for sure. But still not a great public speaker. I’m not saying last night was business as usual, it was NOT good. But he’s never been a great orator. Makes me long for Obama again, honestly. Say what you will about his policies, he’s an amazing public speaker.

1

u/ActualModerateHusker 3d ago

Honestly Bernie is a great public speaker as well. If the goal is a terrific debate appearance I'd go with Bernie over a lot of the others mentioned who often come off in a more elitist fashion than Sanders.

With how far right Republicans have gone just in the last 5 years it is hard to argue Sanders would cause a Dem exodus. But easy to argue he would best motivate the voters whose turnout tends to fluctuate the most. Younglings

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Extension-Ebb-5203 3d ago

He could also come out and say his number one agenda is to push for a law that people older than 74 can not hold public office. President. Senator. SCOTUS. Etc.

Why are we letting politicians stay in office till they die of old age/ natural causes?

1

u/elmorose 3d ago

He has a neurological problem, likely Parkinsonian. It is honestly disgusting abuse to call it normal aging and not get Joe the treatment he needs. Bernie is the same age and is coherent without a teleprompter, only marginally different from 2016.

2

u/ChronoLink99 Canada 4d ago

He wasn't great last night. But that link above shows he's bounced back. Seems like just an off-night, but very poorly timed!

0

u/PeyoteCanada 4d ago

Biden was nervous. He'll be better late this year in the other debates IMO.

10

u/SimplyAStranger 4d ago

Nervous? I'm sorry, but the Comander in Chief isn't a position where you can afford to crumble under pressure. Getting flustered at a layup of a debate is not ok. We need better candidates.

15

u/9159 4d ago

There is no chance Trump bothers to turn up to another debate now. He doesn’t have to - the damage is done.

No way Trump gives Biden a second chance.

1

u/Eligius_MS 4d ago

Lot depends on the immunity ruling for that. And Trump’s fragile ego.

0

u/ScepticalReciptical 4d ago

On the other hand that was such a slam dunk win for Trump he might feel more emboldened to just run it back and walk all over Biden again.