Staff Reports
President Joe Biden finds himself in a rather peculiar predicament, staring down the end of his political career, a sight familiar from nearly a decade ago when he was eclipsed by Hillary Clinton, appointed as the future of the Democratic Party by none other than Barack Obama. That choice turned out to be monumental in a way they never anticipated, as her defeat at the hands of Donald Trump left the Democratic leadership swallowing a hefty dose of humble pie.
Now, Biden has come to grips with the reality of his standing as he contemplates a rematch against Trump. After realizing the likelihood of victory under his leadership is about as promising as a snowstorm in July, he has graciously decided to step aside and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place on the ticket. This unexpected altruism, reminiscent of a father handing over the car keys to his teenage daughter, was surely something he felt he was robbed of back in 2016.
Gone are the days of Biden campaigning actively. Instead, he is left twiddling his thumbs, marking down days to November 5th, not counting down to another hopeful election run but rather anticipating his exiting from office on January 20, 2025. Normally, presidents enjoy their lame-duck periods, relishing the absence of election pressure and the opportunity to let loose. But for Biden, it’s a tighter squeeze, with just over five months to go, and not the luxury of years like most of his predecessors.
While many past presidents have had ample time to show just how little they can get done during their lame-duck phase, Biden is facing a monumental uphill battle. He is only the fourth president in modern history opting out of reelection, and with a divided Congress, his wishlist—like new regulations on the Supreme Court and stricter gun control—might as well be written on a napkin and tossed in the trash. The GOP House has no incentive to entertain his grand ideas, ensuring that Biden’s to-do list will likely remain untouched until a new administration takes hold.
The irony is palpable; Biden has visions of reforming the Supreme Court and aggressively pursuing gun regulation while his chances of any of it materializing stand at a firm zero. Political experts suggest he might find a better chance at finding lost car keys than getting House Republicans to collaborate on his grand schemes. Even Biden’s acknowledgement that he is the first president in decades to speak of a nation at peace might be overshadowed by international issues he can’t realistically impact, such as the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.
As the November elections loom, Biden’s presence will likely need to tread lightly. Harris appears eager to establish her own identity, distancing herself from his oft-stumbling legacy. Under Biden’s shadow, she’s caught between supporting him and forging her path, striving to break free from an administration that many would argue is fading faster than a cheap paint job in the sun. The Democratic Party seems increasingly wary of Biden taking the stage, knowing his verbal slips could accidentally send more voters flinging themselves into the awaiting arms of Republican candidates.
Biden has over five months to make this last stretch memorable, but with his track record, even that seems like a dubious endeavor. At best, he might just glide into obscurity, leaving behind more unfinished business than a high school student on the last day of class, checking out before B’s can turn into A’s. If this is the grand finale of Biden’s political saga, it’s shaping up to be a slow fade, leaving many to wonder if the Democratic Party will manage to survive the turbulence that follows.
