As always, President Joe Biden’s “Big Boy” (that’s how press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described it) news conference started late. Thursday’s presser was scheduled for 5:30, but — whoops, sometime Thursday it was pushed back to 6:30.
It actually began at 7:27
This White House has a chronic tardiness problem, which translates to a proficiency problem. Why this acute inability to start events on time?
Is this how Biden thinks he shows solidarity with Black voters, through CPT?
Not CRT. CPT.
Either you know, or you don’t.
Biden’s two-part mission: Make people forget the catastrophic debate. Make Americans believe he is a focused, robust leader.
An F would end the debate as to whether Biden should step aside. Democrats would be cranking up a Richard III solution. An A would stem the rising tide.
Biden stood at a podium flanked by TelePrompTers, knowing style was more important than substance at this high-stakes show.
Here’s my rating on his first solo presser since last November went:
B.
Here’s why: He was fine during the eight minutes he worked off prompter, and rightfully praised NATO’s effectiveness. He closed that segment with three political points: 1) inflation is declining, 2) his efforts to control the border is “working,” and 3) his Mideast cease fire plan is moving forward.
Sorry, not earthshaking.
Then he took questions from 10 reporters, and he worked without prompter and without notes. I noticed him occasionally glancing at cards, which may have listed reporters’ names. The entire event lasted 58 minutes.
He spoke extemporaneously, if with a raspy and froggy voice.
But, his energy was low and he tripped over the occasional word, and made a serious gaffe when he referred to his running mate as “vice president Trump.” (During the NATO summit he introduced Ukrainian President Zelensky as “President Putin,” although he quickly corrected himself.)
He had a tendency to ramble and also to fail to finish sentences.
The good news was that he had command of the facts, particularly on foreign policy.
In this arena, he criticized Israel as being “less than cooperative” on the issue of speeding aid to Gaza. He also referenced trying to bring a “ceasefire” to the region, while not acknowledging a permanent ceasefire would be a victory for Hamas.
He also took a swipe at Donald J. Trump as someone who fills out his golf score before hitting the ball.
There were repeated questions about his ability to continue as a candidate, and as a president.
With a grin he said, “I’m not hearing my European allies saying, ‘Joe, don’t run.’”
There is no question he is still running.
Will the presser end calls for him to step down?
No, but I believe he has slowed them.
Biden was very good in the press conference. He was in command of his facts and was very substantive. He had a good night…..but he has bad nights…..and that will continue as what happens at his age. But the President of the United States cannot have good nights and bad nights….they all must be good and that is why he did not change the narrative tongiht.
Absolutely spot on.
👍
So very correct, Larry.
I would love to be a student in your class if that performance deserved a B. What we know about Biden is that his policies stink. Trump prevented wars. Biden gets us involved in wars he could have prevented. Bidenenomics has not worked . Open borders are destroying this country. And nothing is going to make his brain function better he’s only going to get worse
You are incapable of rending fair judgment of Biden or Trump.
Anyone who thinks Biden did well last night or that he’s able to continue as president are as brain dead as Biden.
Daniel: We get it…Trump-great. Biden – bad. That’s your only message.
It’s the most important message in the country right now. Those of you who don’t get it. Should get in line behind Biden and have your heads examined.
The press conference went well. The media’s (mostly cable news shmooze) jackals will continue to attack him no matter what. Pathetic state of affairs. I’ve stopped watching this bunch of overpaid winers, flunkies, and political-has-been prognosticators. Clearly this is not what Ted Turner envisioned when he founded CNN at the 24r hour format. CNN together with the other networks have engaged in a race to the bottom.
I won’t say I don’t have concerns about his age, but he’s never been the most effective speaker. A few slips of the tongue aside, he did pretty well, especially as they got into foreign policy. If you want insults, entertainment, election denials and insurrection, vote for Trump….If not, and I don’t, I’ll vote for Biden or whomever runs against Trump.
I want peace and prosperity like we had under Trump. Not open borders,high inflation, high interest rates and paying for illegals immigrants and wars like we are doing under Biden . If you had any brains you would vote for Trump
Peace at any price, right? Doesn’t matter if he subverts democracy to do it, because he knows what best…No, thanks…we’ve seen that story play out before.
Subverting democracy. What do you think the democrats are doing . Do you really think Biden is running the country. And that he will be running it if re-elected. His debate was a disaster and so was his interview the other night. The press conference was just as bad. He is constantly screwing up losing his trend of thought and drifting off. What have you been watching. Biden has shown the world that he is not fit to be president and never was.
I’ll give you credit for trying to equate what Trump tried to do with where Biden is now. One of the many areas where you are wrong was that Trump was voted out…Biden has not yet been. Can you even admit that Trump lost the election?
Biden was bad at the debate…unlike MAGA, I can admit a fact, when evident ( See question above) He was better last night…great? No, but he’s 81 and clearly getting older. He has an understanding of the issues Trump simply does not, especially in foreign policy, that’s evident. You might not agree with his take, but you can’t deny that. Anyone voting D understands that Biden might not finish the next 4 years and accepts that it’s an administration and supports those ideas. MAGA is a cult to the man…that’s the difference.
Thinking that inflation was going to be less under Trump if re-elected is ridiculous, considering it’s because of him. Giving out that much money during Covid, it was inevitable.
Ultimately, I’ll take an older, possibly slipping Biden vs a guy so delusional he can’t see he lost an election. I”ll take that over candidate Project 2025.
First of all I never said Trump won the election. It always helps when you tell the truth that way the person your debating doesn’t think your an asshole. We had low inflation under Trump and his foreign policy was far superior to Bidens. Peace was breaking out all over the world especially the Middle East. Look at the state of the world today since Biden became president. Look how our country has deteriorated because of his incompetence. You don’t see it because your full of hate for a man who did a lot of good things for this country. Yet you will vote for someone who has hurt everyone.
A protest out of hand? Why were they in DC? It was “stolen” from him. Stop…it’s an embarrassing counter . George Floyd wasn’t President of the United States. Peaceful….lol……you guys crack me up. Devoted to party, not country. Stop changing the argument with vote ID. And for the record, no violent protest is Ok, but I would expect a POTUS to think of the Republic first. He’s happy to rule over ash as long as he’s not a “loser”. It’s hilarious and sad.
Ok…you know he lost the election and yet it doesn’t bother you than he tried to subvert transfer of power on 1/6? Politics aside, that should bother everyone….I’m fiscally conservative and socially liberal…I don’t hate all of Trump policies and I don’t hate him, but I see he’s just not a serious person. You can’t see the stolen election nonsense and what it’s done to this country?
I heard his speech that day and I read it again online he said to go peacefully. It was a protest that got out of hand. Just like the many protests they said were peaceful that got out of hand during the George Floyd riots which caused much more harm to the country. If you don’t want to hear about stolen elections have the democrats vote for voter ID. The majority of the people on both sides want it but them democrats won’t pass it.
Ignore Daniel. He is deluded and there is no way to discuss anything with him.
People who know right and wrong and have common sense and are not manipulated by the media understand my message. You are untruthful and uninformed and you prove it in your posts.
Playing the hits…it’s the media…it’s never him. It’s a cult.
Definitely. It is a cult, which is why it is pointless to discuss anything with him. Only a deprogrammer would help.
Compare the records of both men. It’s a no brainer. If you have a brain.
I look at the fact that one of them tried to subvert democracy. That’s the no brainer. You just don’t care that he tried.
It’s funny you always talks about the times, instead the policies. Luckily, most of the stuff he wanted didn’t happen. If he wins this time, it is much more likely he can accomplish what he wants.
Why aren’t you touting his great plans like:
–Gutting the merit-based civil service to turn the federal government into a political patronage operation like the big city machines of the past, in other words “the spoils system” that was eliminated by Congress in 1883 by the Pendleton Act, because of the rampant corruption and incompetence of the bureaucracy. [Talk about turning us into a banana republic!]
–Extending instead of letting lapse, tax cuts for folks making over $400,000 a year. Why is that good unless you are intent on ballooning the deficit (like Trump did, raising it more it more in 4 years than the last 12 years of presidencies combined)?
–Devaluing the US Dollar to make us more “competitive” (WSJ reported that folks are selling off US Treasuries as a Trump win looks more likely)
–10% across the board import tariffs, raising consumer prices and manufacturing costs, while disrupting the supply chains only recently recovering from COVID–along with the probability of retaliatory tariffs from other countries (16 Nobel-prize winning economists have said that Trump’s policies will reignite inflation, bigtime)
–Union-busting through re-appointing anti-union activists to the National Labor Relations Board (Anybody else remember Trump saying in the 2016 primary debates that “Wages are too high”?) This is one of the reasons he wants to devalue the dollar–shrink paychecks. He does want to run the country like a business–pay the lowest wages you can, while charging the highest price you can. As Trump admtted, ” I don’t care about you, I just want your vote.”
–Repealing the ACA and its ban on denying insurance to those with pre-existing conditions.
–Revenge political prosecutions. Here’s what I don’t get: if “political prosecutions” are so awful, wouldn’t it make sense to pledge not to engage in the practice, instead of promising its wide-spread use? Instead, Trump is saying, “What they are doing is bad, and I’m going to be even worse!” It doesn’t compute.
–Instead of being the leader of the free world, he wants to play our allies off against each other, rather than standing up to Russia–and by extension China, Iran and North Korea. Absent US security guarantees, we will see nuclear proliferation, e.g. South Korea, Japan and Australia, not to mention all the European countries who don’t have ’em–only France and the UK have nukes. Trump’s already said he wants to withdraw forces in South Korea.
–That doesn’t even touch on stuff in Project 2025, written by Trump staffers, advisors and political allies, that Trump realizes is so politically toxic he said that it had nothing to do with him. What a joke. These are the guys he’s going to hire or rehire. There’s nobody else in the room.
Explain to us all how great Project 2025 really is! Or, at least list the Trump policies that you think (and why) will lower inflation (already much lower), reduce interest rates (they are coming down in the fall), increase real wages and employment, and reduce the deficit. ‘Course you will be arguing against Nobel prize-winning economists, so make sure your arguments make sense.
Compare the records! How many times do I have to say it.Biden made things worse. Trump made things better. How. Dumb can you be. It’s so obvious.
Stu — Great post! Actually, I’m commenting about a different post, but the comments on that one are closed and I couldn’t find an email link on your Contact page (you might want to check that, actually).
I’m very interested in your research into bike lanes and Complete Streets in Philly and elsewhere. I’m deeply involved in those issues here in Los Angeles, and am working on a book manuscript on the subject. Might you have some time to talk at some point? My name is Chris LeGras. I’m a writer and freelance journalist, and also a recovering lawyer. You can reach me at [email protected]. Thanks!
A Guarantee for President Joe Biden to be reelected is to go on an Ice Cream tour. Travel to all the Ice Cream stores and cafes throughout the country and win votes with the dessert voters.
I’m afraid he’d hand out govertment jobs to Dairy Queens. 😄