Ed do you agree that the 7 minute thing (if true) is egregious? If you don't believe this very specific claim that's fine, no real way to falsify that.
If it's not true, NYT could easily refute it by saying when they sent the request and when they published.
If it's not bad, they could say it's normal.
Instead, they try to cover it up.
For an article about an anonymous person's claims about what Biden is thinking, as if it's an urgent fact.
This is actually a perfectly reasonable thing for him to say. “I need to show people that I have it or I need to get out of the way, and I want to stay in so I have to show them.” I’d be annoyed if he *didn’t* think that. Now go show them.
If that debate was a wake up call that he needs to publicly demonstrate he’s capable of doing the job, and he *can* demonstrate that, then so much the better. But he needs to do it and if he can’t then my position on Biden staying in changes.
The WH has denied it. But, it’s no secret at all that this has been the #1 issue at the AG Sulzberger Times for going on two years now. Is scandalous journalistic malpractice.
So basically "We cannot afford to have any more big public fuckups"
Which uh, true? But also like, there were several big public good performances in the days immediately after the debate so, shrug on all of that?
NYT gotta NYT, I guess?
Bottom line is this messaging and puke in should have been preempted with a solid plan created by competent advisors long before the debate. The issues have been the issues since jump.
"Ally" means it was a nobody. Biden doesn't disclose this to a nobody even if he is thinking it. Which also squares with it being someone who ran to the press.
This is why I think he's going to drop out.
All of the media companies trying to burry him, donors are panicking, and party elders are asking him to take cognitive tests on TV.
This will continue through Nov., and he doesn't command enough loyalty and/or fear to bring people back into line.
He's been a great president on domestic policy, and foreign policy (excluding the middle east).
But you can't win when large parts of the party and donor class are agitating against you, creating a drumbeat of negative stories about your biggest weakness (perceived to be too old) on a daily basis.
