New York Times: 'Many Democratic lawmakers' are concerned by Biden's leadership, feel U.S. is 'falling apart' | Fox News
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A New York Times report revealed Saturday that many Democratic Party officials have little faith that President Biden can keep his party afloat amid mounting crises.
The piece also implied that the Jan. 6 Committee is Biden's last chance before the midterm elections to persuade swing voters who are more fixated on inflation.
According to reporters Reid Epstein and Jennifer Medina, "many Democratic lawmakers and party officials are venting their frustrations with President Biden's struggle to advance the bulk of his agenda, doubting his ability to rescue the party from a predicted midterm trouncing and increasingly viewing him as an anchor that should be cut loose in 2024."
Biden has been polling poorly, and there are reports that he and his White House staff are frustrated with the obstacles in front of him, including increasingly negative media coverage.
President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party face a daunting challenge to hold onto control of Congress in the fall. ((AP Photo/Susan Walsh))
The report cited "nearly 50 Democratic officials" and "disappointed voters" who are "alarmed about Republicans' rising strength and extraordinarily pessimistic about an immediate path forward" under the Biden administration.
There is "low enthusiasm" from Biden's base and worry from party officials about the president's "leadership, his age and his capability to take the fight to former President Donald J. Trump a second time," the Times wrote. It quoted Steve Simeonidis, a Democratic National Committee member from Florida, who said, "To say our country was on the right track would flagrantly depart from reality," and urged him to announce he wouldn't run again shortly after the midterms.
The piece also depicted the Jan. 6 Committee hearing as "perhaps the last, best chance before the midterms to break through with persuadable swing voters who have been more focused on inflation and gas prices."
Otherwise, all that Biden has - after "repeated failures of his administration to pass big-ticket legislation on signature Democratic issues" and "halting efforts to use the bully pulpit of the White House to move public opinion" - is "sagging approval ratings and a party that, as much as anything, seems to feel sorry for him."
Epstein and Medina acknowledged that Democrats have been "struggling to explain away a series of calamities for the party" including, "inflation rates unseen in four decades, surging gas prices, a lingering pandemic, a spate of mass shootings, a Supreme Court poised to end the federal right to an abortion."
Record inflation continues to bedevil the Biden White House. (istock)
The report alleged that "nearly all the Democrats interviewed" have a "deep concern about his political viability," and stated they're uncomfortable with his gaffes. "They have watched as Biden has repeatedly rattled global diplomats with unexpected remarks that were later walked back by his White House staff, and as he has sat for fewer interviews than any of his recent predecessors."
Obama chief strategist David Axelrod told the paper that "Biden doesn't get the credit he deserves" for some of his successes, including navigating the pandemic, uniting NATO against Russia, "and restoring decency and decorum to the White House." However, he admitted, "the president would be closer to 90 than 80 at the end of a second term, and that would be a major issue."
Polling shows Biden is at a low point with Democratic voters, with one Associated Press poll showing him at just 73 percent approval with them.
Epstein and Medina rounded out the report with quotes from various party members expressing doubt about Biden's future. Texas state representative Jasmine Crockett stated, "Democrats are like, 'What the hell is going on?' Our country is completely falling apart. And so I think we're lacking in the excitement."
Former DNC chair Howard Dean implied Biden hasn't achieved enough of what he has promised. "We need to have specific examples of how we're dealing with things; it can't just be pie-in-the-sky and kumbaya," he said.
The New York Times reported on Saturday that many Democratic Party leaders are not comfortable with the future of their party with President Biden in the lead.
The report concluded with a quote from DNC member Sheila Huggins, a lawyer from North Carolina: "Democrats need fresh, bold leadership for the 2024 presidential race. That can't be Biden."
Gabriel Hays is an associate editor at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter at @gabrieljhays.
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He hides from reporters, and when he does actually let someone interview him it by a sycophantic talk show host and he still can't help but embarrass himself.
He's not fit to be President. Even having the greatest life insurance policy in history as VP doesn't justify leaving someone so befuddled and incoherent in office.
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He did have a nice game of softball catch with Mr Man show.
I watched it. It was quaint.
The rats will start heading en masse for the scuppers as the sinking of their ship accelerates.
It would be best for the nation if the D party set its sights on a superior candidate. It has been my hope (albeit with pessimism) that the D party will NOT seek to nominate Biden or Harris. My hope for the GOP is that they get a clue and once and for all eliminate the Trump parasite and rally behind someone who is at least a halfway decent human being.
My dream candidate for PotUS would be an individual who genuinely seeks:
How much of a disappointment should I expect from the actual nominees for 2024?
Unfortunately I think we need to expect to be disappointed in 24. Lets face it the best and brightest are not the ones who rise in the political world, it's the ones who are best connected. I don't see anybody on the Dem side who would make a quality candidate IMO and I'm afraid that the Rep side will nominate Trump again. While I'm not sure that Trump can win at the national level, a very large portion of the American voter will vote based on kitchen table issues, ie those issues that directly impact them such as inflation, gas prices, crime, etc. If Biden does run for re-election in 24 or Harris gets the nod I have a very hard time seeing either of them as winning based on the past 18 months.
Either way you look at this, it appears this far out that once again we will have to hold our nose when making a selection.
The Dems are going to have to come up with a dignified and charismatic leader type of person...like a JFK or Reagan. Young, vigorous, brilliant, articulate, realistic, pragmatic, and moderate. Someone who can measure up to DeSantis and Haley.
DeSantis is the farthest thing from a moderate and Nikki Haley is a shapeshifter.
You better pray Trump doesnt run because he would squash both of them like bugs.
That's your opinion, but time will prove you wrong
Either one would beat whoever the Dems put up
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How could you possibly know that without knowing the D candidates? That is a purely partisan comment.
Of course it is. It's called an opinion.
Then we agree that you could not possibly know the Rs will beat the Ds and that your opinion is based on pure partisanship.
If we get the recession we are racing towards; then it isn't going to take an IQ super genius to predict Republicans will win mid terms; and then the White House in 2024.
Ask Republicans how being saddled with a recession that occurred towards the end of Bush Jr's second term affects the voting public. Bush Jr was wrongly blamed for the housing market crash. He tried to warn Congress; but they were in the back pocket of Freddy and Fanny (both of which were cooking their books). Bush Jr didn't have the political, or media clout, after the Iraq disaster to sway the public.
People vote with their wallets. Obama couldn't have asked for a better scenario in winning his first term election.
Clearly. When the economy sucks the party in power typically loses power. So IF that occurs, I agree.
The Democrats have two problems going in to 2024:
(1) the lack of a plan B
(2) no plan A
An independent view from afar - although he's been faced wtih the perfect storm that was not his making, along with an opposing party that has been blocking some positive things he's tried to present (not even to mention Manchin), I have to agree with the assessment here, and I, too, see no adequate Democrat replacement for 2024, and save for some unexpected miraculous gift from heaven I can also see a power change coming up in the midterms.
The shame is, from my perspective, that Biden has actually been a good or even excellent president from a policy perspective.
What he has managed to do with a non-majority in the senate is impressive. The way he handled his left flank, by giving them time and space to at least try to pass their agenda was a brilliant move. These crises aren't of his making and he has handled most of them well Except inflation, but he is in an awful lot of company when it comes to underestimating its durability in the economy. Even now there is not a lot of agreement among economists as to how fast interest rates should be raised or whether that will even get at the root of the problem.
Which leaves us with ageism.
I am probably not the only one to notice that there is quite a bit of ageism coming from Millennials directed at Boomers these days.
He looks and sounds his age on TV but the content of his words is usually effectively communicating his agenda and priorities.
So half his problem in the polls is probably AOC and her generation having a pout because they obviously are all prodigies at running the world if only their parents would give them a go at the wheel.
"The piece also depicted the Jan. 6 Committee hearing as "perhaps the last, best chance before the midterms to break through with persuadable swing voters who have been more focused on inflation and gas prices."
The focus on our real problems is not going away. People want to be entertained during prime time...not subjected to pathetic political posturing
"...and urged him to announce he wouldn't run again shortly after the midterms."
Even that strategy won't help - fractured dems tearing each other's clothes off to face, yea him. I'm not thrilled either.
They can run like the wind from him but those that supported his f’ed up policies cannot run from that