Staff Reports
Not much excitement is brewing in the political arena tonight, as President Joe Biden is making his fans wait. As the clock inches closer to midnight on the East Coast, one can’t help but wonder if he’ll manage to stay awake long enough to deliver his speech, considering he’s reportedly been trying to wrap up his evening activities well before the witching hour. After a parade of Democratic figures, including Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, all eyes are on Biden. Unfortunately, that spotlight might flicker out before he even gets near it.
Biden’s delay tonight raises eyebrows, especially after his recent admission that he doesn’t fare well with evening engagements. His performance in the June debate was so clunky that he announced he would scale back late-night appearances to sneak in some beauty sleep. One might think that a president proposing to govern gracefully should be awake enough to address the nation without worrying about his bedtime routine. Apparently not—the leader of the free world will find himself speaking when sensible folks are already drifting off into dreamland.
One longtime Biden aide texts: “This is awful. He literally set up a campaign and handed it over to them—do they have to cut him out of prime time?" https://t.co/2PyoKkxrzL
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) August 20, 2024
This speech was supposed to be the grand moment for Biden, a shining opportunity to showcase his vitality and plans. Instead, it risks landing in the “must-avoid” time slot—a not-so-lively time when even the biggest political junkies may decide to call it a night. While most people tune in for the heavy hitters of conventions, it appears the ratings for Biden’s address could be less than stellar, especially if many viewers are off counting sheep instead of listening to his latest strategies.
The circumstances surrounding Biden’s delayed appearance almost feel like cruel political irony. After how Democrats seemed to handcuff him into continuing his campaign by threatening the invocation of the 25th Amendment, giving a eulogy for his own political journey tonight without all the limelight feels particularly grim. One could imagine Biden wondering how it all came to this, being ushered into a bizarre form of political retirement while his own party shifts him to the back of the line.
As the Democrats continue to keep Biden on the sidelines, it becomes increasingly clear that they are losing confidence in him at a staggering pace. The late-evening schedule certainly doesn’t scream enthusiasm. It practically shouts, “We need to rush this guy along before the audience furthers their disinterest.” With all of the political blunders before him, it might be a challenge to find a way to gift-wrap this late-night address as anything but an afterthought on the convention’s agenda. Perhaps it’s a fitting end to an administration that has struggled to stay awake at the wheel.
