(AP Photo/Matt Kelly, File)
“This is so simple,” I told my MAGA friend. “The Democrats just nominate Gretchen Whitmer for president and she picks Mitt Romney or Liz Cheney or someone like that for vice president and that's it.”
“You’re right,” my MAGA friend said before popping the balloon, “but no one gets into politics because they’re smart.”
So… he’s probably not wrong.
And there is zero chance that this dream will come true.
But when it comes to President Joe Biden, Democrats certainly seem to be in a bind.
The debate was a disaster, but the interview on Friday night wasn't much better either. George Stephanopoulos asked Biden, “Did you watch the debate afterwards?” to which Biden replied, “I don't think I did.”
Stephanopoulos wasn't asking, “Do you remember seeing a woman in a purple Tom McCann dress trying on wedge sandals at Christiana Mall in September 1975?” he was asking if she saw herself on TV.
It wasn't a serious question — there were only two answers: yes or no — but it proved to be an insurmountable mountain for Biden.
Watching the interview last week, two things were very clear to me. One, Biden is not in charge. He clearly has senior figures behind him, including his wife and son, encouraging him to continue the campaign. They are clearly telling him that Biden is the best chance to beat Trump. I think Biden actually believes this.
What else is clear? There is zero chance that Biden will miraculously become younger and more agile in the next four months or so. And I don't use that term lightly. The debate was a disaster, but imagine how disastrous it would be if he performed similarly in the September debate.
Listen, there is a growing public sentiment on the left calling for a replacement for Biden. I hope so, for the sake of democracy and for the excitement it would generate. I think the biggest mistake would be to make Vice President Kamala Harris the nominee. I think the Democrats should let the fights in the streets and the negotiations behind closed doors go the old-fashioned way and head to their convention without a nominee.
And for the sake of democracy, if that's really what we want here, nominate Governor Whitmer of Michigan, who can carry the very important battleground states, and put an old-fashioned, non-MAGA Republican (trying hard not to say “Chris Christie” here) as your running mate. That way the Democrats won't lose the far left. Where will they go? And you'll have a whole bunch of people ready to hold their noses and vote for Trump.
What fun and exciting times we live in!
Here's my prediction: Biden will drop out, Harris will be the nominee, and either Whitmer or Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro will be the running mate.
Fasten your seat belt (bleep). You're in trouble.
