Staff Reports
Bernie Sanders, the perennial socialist Santa Claus, is sticking by his pal Joe Biden, even as their so-called “progressive” buddies start showing their true colors. Sanders, who once charmed the far-left by challenging establishment Democrats like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, has now cozied up to the very establishment he claimed to despise. Alongside the “Squad” and radical darlings like AOC, Sanders is resisting pressure for Biden to step aside, despite a performance that looked more like an audition for a nursing home than a presidential debate.
This bizarre alliance between the self-styled progressive Sanders and the centrist-portrayed Biden is nothing short of comical. Just a month ago, Sanders and his cronies were busy hammering Biden over his Middle East policies. Now, they’re trying to shepherd him toward policies that they claim will help the working class. It’s a little like trying to teach a goldfish to walk on land. Biden’s chances of successfully implementing radical economic changes are about as high as Sanders’ chances of finding capitalism under his Christmas tree.
Washington Examiner: Bernie Sanders sticks with Biden as progressives start to bail https://t.co/BwmzrxQG9y
— Ian Hansen 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHansenFeed) July 11, 2024
Sanders’ attempt to rally support for Biden is half-hearted at best. When questioned about Biden’s candidacy, Sanders could barely muster a lukewarm endorsement, pointing out, rather passively, that Biden is the nominee “as he understands it.” It’s a stark contrast to some progressives who are openly shopping for a new candidate. One of Sanders’ own Vermont colleagues, Sen. Peter Welch, became the first Democrat in the Senate to tell Biden to hit the road. Several members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have followed suit.
Even the chairwoman of the Progressive Caucus, Pramila Jayapal, has admitted that there are real conversations happening about Biden’s viability. It’s a critique that resonates especially loudly after Biden’s disastrous debate appearance where he seemed to forget which century he was in. A growing faction within the Democrats is calling for Biden to step away from the teleprompter and show some genuine, unscripted moments. This might be a long shot for a man who seems more comfortable reading prepared lines than answering spontaneous questions.
As Biden careens towards his next public appearance, worries about his age and competency loom like storm clouds. The upcoming press conference about NATO will be another test, but if his previous performances are any indication, it’s going to be a tough sell. Even Sanders, who is no spring chicken himself at 82, has had to dodge questions about Biden’s age, preferring to scold those who treat elections like “beauty contests.” Problem is, this ain’t about looks; it’s about function, and many are questioning if there’s anybody home in the Biden residence.
Meanwhile, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is busy telling fellow Democrats to keep their freak-outs under wraps. She might want to take a look at the mirror before she makes such statements, considering the public spectacle the far-left faction often turns political deliberations into. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, another progressive who once had presidential aspirations, is also singing Biden’s praises, calling him an “excellent president.” The irony that these are some of the very people who called him out during the 2020 primaries isn’t lost on anyone paying attention.
The elephant in the room here isn’t just Biden’s slipping grip on swing states or his growing unpopularity. It’s the reality that even Democrats in solid blue states are growing uneasy. Biden’s top advisers are prepping for a meeting with Senate Democrats to argue that the President is still in the fight, albeit within the dubious “margin of error.” Keeping this snowballing rebellion in check will be quite the mountain to climb for Sleepy Joe.
