f**k Ezra Klein, and the WMDs Hillary email NY Times

[JohnSJ]

"In an audio essay, New York Times columnist Ezra Klein called on President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential election, a stunning reversal of confidence from a journalist who was, until now, supportive and satisfied with the president’s term. Klein applauded Biden’s many policy successes and his ability to keep his party united, unlike the fractured GOP, but ultimately concludes that Biden no longer has the energy to mount a winning campaign that can defeat Donald Trump. “Retirement can be, often is, a trauma. But losing to Donald Trump would be far worse,” Klein said, citing Biden’s low approval ratings and poor polling. Democrats instead need a candidate who can aggressively campaign against Trump, he argued, and there are a ton of stars in the party now, governors and legislators alike, who could become its next champion. But the first step is convincing Biden that he needs to step down, finish his term in a strong place, and prioritize “his country over his ambitions,” Klein wrote."

https://www.thedailybeast.com/ezra-klein-urges-biden-to-drop-out-before-its-too-late

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/opinion/ezra-klein-biden-audio-essay.html

I think what Mr. Klein should be concerned about is why a rapist, bigot, insurrectionist, liar, conman etc. has as much support as he does? A good part of that reason I venture is the constant unfair negative coverage President Biden gets from much of the illustrious news media.

In the article Mr. Klein starts off what a "good president" Biden has been, and how even he, Mr. Klein, was proven wrong in 2020 by President Biden winning.

Then Mr. Klein proceeds to dismantle President Biden, starting with the Hur report why he isn't up to the job by incorrectly calling Sisi the president of Mexico.

He proceeds to cite poll after poll why Biden should drop out, and argues that his lackluster speeches, his avoidance of interviews compared to other presidents.

Klein then argues that people being worried about Biden's age is not a "media invention", ignoring the fact that when the media keeps bringing up Biden is "too old" for over a year from their pundits that they constantly weave into their news reporting, what do they expect the polls will say when they ask, "do you think Biden is too old"?

It isn't just a chicken egg scenario, the media either intentionally or unintentionally does influence opinion.

Then Mr. Klein starts going into Biden's gaffes, comparing the mistake of RBG for not stepping down earlier, using that as an argument why Biden should not run for a second term. Of course he ignores the FACT, that it was the republican cult that blocked Obama's Supreme Court appointment, and the voters not coming out in enough numbers to vote for Hillary, thanks in no small part to the constant negative coverage of media outlets, such as the NY Times, concluding with their mischaracterization of Comey's letter to the republicans in Congress 11 days before the election, and allowing republican talking points, (LIES), to incorrectly report that the "email case" had been reopened. That was a lie, and not ONE media outlet corrected that misinformation, and when Comey came out late Friday, the weekend before the election, and said there was no additional information in the laptop to warrant a reopening of the email investigation, it was hardly mentioned as a byline.

Then Klein suggests that "after Biden decides not to run", the new candidate will be decided at the Democratic convention. Yeah, that worked real well in 2016 when there was a candidate who actually had the most delegates, and there shouldn't have been a problem, and it completely ignores the divisions that would result from selecting a candidate during a convention, then through the primary process.

Any candidate coming out of that convention would have a little less than 3 months to get ready for the general election against trump. That would require first uniting the party, then uniting the country.

Democrats, including those on the left, middle, and right have more common sense than Ezra Klein, then wishing to gamble on a convention to determine our candidate.

With President Biden we have a known person who has actually done the impossible, united both the left and moderates within the party, and unlike Klein's grim assessment, Biden's poll numbers can only go up, especially if he gets out there more and makes himself more accessible, which is the one positive point that I agree with Klein on.

Having the convention choose the candidate would be an invitation to disaster I believe.

[grumpyduck]

1. Another PoS trying to

justify his existence.

[John1956PA]

2. Thank you for the well articulated OP. n/t

[hlthe2b]

3. Hmm. Not surprised it is Ezra Klein...

Enough said.

[Bettie]

4. Yeah, he can fuck right

off.

[BootinUp]

5. While Klein makes interesting reading, observations , he is no great political strategist

So please weigh his advice with that in mind.

[JohnSJ]

7. The most absurd suggestion I believe he makes was choosing the

replacement candidate at the convention

If that isn’t a gamble, I don’t know what is. That would even be a less Democratic process because it effectively nullifies the current primaries

[Freethinker65]

6. Unless there is a newly diagnosed life threatening medical condition, absolutely not.

Biden has the stamina to keep up with Trump. What these assholes never mention is that Trump's number one job right now is campaigning (well, that and appearing at court to defend his criminal behaviors). Biden's primary job right now is being President of the United States. If Biden held media circus rallies repeating stump speeches instead of doing his official duties, he would be called out for being negligent!

The Democratic Party needs to highlight how Biden is working every day doing his job for the American people. Highlight Biden's schedule- how much is blocked out for "executive time"? How many long weekends playing golf?

[JohnSJ]

8. I agree. I do think it would serve Biden well to make himself

more visibile through press conferences and interviews, and suspect that will happen.

And VP Harris is there to take over if the situation presents itself.

[dsc]

9. the total delusion

that removing Harris via convention and replacing her with a white male such as Cooper wouldn't cause black women to be furious is quite something.

[dalton99a]

10. Fucking idiotic

[Flatrat]

11. Maybe Ezra wasnt paying attention.

Polls are easily manipulated and spun and not to be trusted.

And I guess its hard to keep coming up with new columns.

[JohnSJ]

12. I am sure that would make the South Carolina voters who overwhelmingly voted for

Biden happy with a back room deal at the Convention