Amid private conversations, it’s been discovered that former President Biden is grappling with remorse over his untimely exit from this year’s presidential race. Some insiders suggest Biden continues to nurse the belief that he could have triumphed over now-President Trump, had he not been displaced from the race by his own political kin. Biden’s colleagues and a few close associates have been privately circulating that the ex-president should’ve resisted the pressure to withdraw. The decision, they believe, cost him a consecutive term in power.
Despite his rich political experience, the septuagenarian Democrat bowed to the weight of his party’s elite. His concession to step down in July resulted from a cocktail of dwindling popularity in the polls coupled with a disjointed debate performance. In these sessions, his erratic responses and verbal fumbles became apparent evidences of his decline. The top-billing candidate of the Democrats replaced by none other than Vice President Kamala Harris, whose defeat by Trump signaled a second venture for Trump in the White House.
As many ruminate over the causes of this defeat, whispers emerge that Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker, may have led the campaign to coax the President into stepping down. The underlying sense of apprehension among Democrats in both the House and Senate was that Biden’s continuing participation might destabilize their bid for reelection. In private confmunications during September, Biden revealed his conviction that he would have prevailed over Trump.
A wave of Democrates lay the blame for Harris’ loss at Biden’s doorstep. Their argument hinges on the belief that Biden’s delayed withdrawal from the race played a significant role in the outcome. When he declared his presidency, Biden represented himself as a transitional figure whose reign would symbolize the shift toward a new generation of leadership. The political cycle, however, moves at the brisk pace of four years, while Biden’s political thought process seems to linger in decades.
Of late, the former president has reluctantly acknowledged a number of his blunders during his time in office. He has confessed to his debate missteps and his failure to secure visible credit for his pandemic relief measures. As per critics, his administration woefully underperformed in encouraging American citizens during the COVID-19 crisis.
Rumors are swirling about Biden’s regrets over his selection of Merrick Garland as attorney general. According to reports by esteemed news outlet, The Washington Post, Biden’s private confessions suggest dissatisfaction with Garland, who he deems was excessively zealous in prosecuting charges against his son, Hunter. Moreover, the former president’s impatience with Garland’s perceived slow pace in prosecuting charges associated with the Jan. 6 riots hints at a troubled relationship.
Strangely enough, Biden seems to have misconstrued the nature of the attorney general’s role. It’s not a position meant to be leveraged for personal tasks or advancing politics. One may argue that his regret suggests a profound misunderstanding of the justice system, and a desire to use it for his interests. This also raises questions over the selection process: if Garland’s decisiveness was perceived as a negative, what did he expect from his ideal candidate?
The bigger question here is, why did Biden decide to choose Garland in the first place? Did he not know his stance, his veracity in dispensing the rule of law? Or did he assume that Garland would turn a blind eye to his family affairs? These questions linger, casting a pall of mismanagement and ill-informed decision making over Biden’s presidency.
As we dig deeper into Biden’s withdrawal from the race, it casts an apparent indictment on the Democratic Party establishment. In their bid to secure their seats, they directed an 82-year-old seasoned politician to drop out of the race due to disheartening performances. Could they not see this coming from the start? It’s evident that their strategic thought lacks long-term vision and careful consideration.
In the eventual fallout, not only was the presidency lost to Trump; when Harris stepped into the spotlight, she was met with the same fate. The party’s turmoil and discord were then plainly showcased, giving a clear impression of an uncertain future. Mainstream Democrats are critical of Biden’s late decision to bow out, viewing it as the final blow to an already shaky campaign.
Notably, Biden’s confidence in his ability to overcome Trump, while valiant, paints a contrasting picture of the man who stumbled through debates and struggled to articulate his thoughts. This high level of self-assuredness juxtaposed against his reality makes one wonder whether Biden was genuinely aware of his declining capabilities, or if he was living in a state of denial?
Furthermore, Biden’s promised role as a ‘transitional president’ seems more like an ill-thought marketing ploy than a well-founded strategy. His suggestively solo term was meant to usher in a new generational rule; instead, it has only served to heighten political instability, rendering his pledge as nothing more than a hollow promise.