mtutiger

I think what frustrates me is that, unlike some others, the real questions *do* remain about Biden IMO. And they are likely to remain until November happens, for better or worse... I differ with some others on that, and whether him even staying in is the right thing to do. I honestly do not know, and continue to go back and forth on it. But the zeal that we are seeing from the WH Press Corps not only isn't necessary with the story as it exists today (ie. one can believe that Biden is too old and not up to this without baselessly making any sort of diagnoses), but when they **** it up on something like this, it undermines their credibility. To the extent that the style of reporting is motivated on their part by a desire to effectuate a different outcome (vis a vis the Dem nomination), their **** ups only make it harder.

I doubt this will stop the conspiracy theorists in the WH Press Corps lol

He ain't wrong

Ideologically Biden comes from a different wing than Bernie or Liz, but the same people coming at Biden right now are the same ones who generally have always come at their wing.

Lost in the frenzy is the fact that Biden just signed legistlation related to Parkinson's research. It would not surprise me if a Parkinson's doctor who has been on the WH Medical team over multiple administrations were involved or consulted on said legislation.

On this score, despite the self-righteousness of a lot of the "Biden must drop out" crowd, I don't think they are helping. Even though they think they are. Today on X dot com, they are currently debating about "the elites" being responsible for Biden still being in it, despite the fact that may of the loudest commentators (the Matt Yglesias's and Bulwark types) *are* elites themselves and have written extensively on this subject for months. It's just inane. The biggest issue is the sense that, even if he steps aside, what then? You look at the Bill Kristol types (not even a Democrat lol) who have made their entire identity into this subject over the course of the last few weeks, and when they discuss the possibility of him actually stepping aside, they launch into fantasies about a firehouse, last second primary among delegates in Chicago, as if that's the answer to everything. As if that purportedly respects the actually will of the voters. I still don't know what's going to happen here, but my overall takeaway is that a lot of people have done a great job in showing their *** throughout all of this. I just hope, whether it's Biden or Harris (and yes, it will be one or the other), they can somehow unify. That's the biggest casualty in all of this.

Not saying I agree with it totally, but the idea is that Trump and the media have a "Sam and Ralph" relationship where they are enemies but, ultimately, are in a mutually beneficial relationship where Trump gets attention and to run against them and where media entities drive consumers to their product. It is worth noting that news media, across all platforms, has seen precipitous declines in ratings and clicks over the last four years.... without a doubt, they will gain numbers if Trump gets back into the White House. I honestly the situation goes beyond this, though, in the sense that the media and Biden have never had a great relationship either (the whole NYT interview in 2020 and the fame gained by the elevator attendant afterward is case in point of the dynamic there).

I don't love how casually it's being thrown around either. I hope it doesn't create or accentuate stigmas around the subject.

These guys are starting to get a little over their skis

To your point, Project 2025.... it has gained a lot of steam in the zeitgeist, and that is in spite of a media that can hardly be bothered to mention it.

My revelation on this happened before this fiasco broke out, but it's the fact that so many of these guys (most of them based in New York or Washington) feel they are explainers for everything going on in "Middle America"... when you actually read these publications and you actually *live* in Middle America and it doesn't line up with what you are seeing day to day, it's hard not to ask questions as to the utility of the reporting. It's independent to the larger questions about Biden's candidacy, but most of these guys don't have any special insight as to what's going on in the field IMO

Yet another thing that got lost in the coverage of the debate, given that the pundits apparently can't walk and chew gum at the same time, is the Trump "truth" about Project 2025, backing away from it. They saw the comments from Heritage coming out, they are seeing it break through. When you have Presidential allies talking about a second revolution that will be bloodless "unless the left allows it to be", aren't you gonna ask some questions about that? Put it on A1, above the fold? Something? Anything? It's just a total failure on their part.... the inability to compartmentalize and cover actual substance is a dereliction of duty. At this point, the only question is whether it's intentional or not.

I've gone back and forth on whether it would be right for him to step aside or not, and if he did would support Kamala 100% without question. However, seeing the likes of both Nate Silver and Alex Thompson (yesterday) suggest that the same people calling for Biden to step aside in the media would turn questions on her about his age (and being "complicit" or whatever) is really revealing... and it really pisses me off. I honestly don't know the correct answer on this one, but one thing is clear: I would not be looking to media figures for guidance on this at all.

I drove from IL to Upstate NY and back over the past week and saw very little campaign paraphernalia of any kind. On cars or in front of houses. Energy wise, it just isn't 2016 or 2020 anywhere I go. Although there's time for that to change.

Incredible...

There are legitimate questions that came out of that debate as to whether Biden is up to this regardless, that isn't totally on the media. But the feeding frenzy at the expense of any other story in this campaign (such as, ya know, his opponent) is hard to miss. And the way I'm which many of these guys are blurring the lines between reporting and advocacy (ie. Alex Thompson of Axios, Astead Herndon of NYT the most obvious offenders), I just can't ignore it. And people wonder why the media has lost so much trust... Biden is in trouble and much of it is his own doing, but the media isn't helping their own trust issues with the American public right now IMO

Regardless of where you fall on this question, this whole thread is worth reading

Liz Truss said the same thing... Till she didnt

The NYT poll dropped. Trump gained two points over their last one. It's gonna take a little bit longer, but I think it's gonna end up happening myself. Whether it's fair or not is an open question, but they cannot win if this distraction continues

The self-flagellation is a bit too on-the-nose. I think one can be skeptical of Biden continuing this campaign or even feel deceived while recognizing how gross the coverage of this has been. Lee's comment applies in particular here: These guys seem either incapable or (worse) uninterested in considering the whole context. And I will not let them off the hook for that

Not related to the Parkinson's comment, but Alex Thompson and Axios' coverage of this is another good example of how this episode has brought the worst out of the media. He's always had sour grapes toward Biden and had a book deal about Biden canceled... Not exactly an objective source, but we are supposed to treat him like one despite this and his obvious editorializing on his Twitter acct There's a larger discussion to be had about how Twitter and social media has done a lot of damage to the institution of journalism... It makes it a lot easier to question objectivity for sure

Setting aside the other candidates because that won't happen regardless, the Olivia Nuzzi types (purposefully or otherwise) always seem to miss that there is some risk that Harris could potentially recenter issues of age and health on Trump. We are currently, fairly or not, having these question about Biden at age 81. Yet Trump, should he win, will actually be older at this point in his next term. That's a legitimate issue that is impossible to exploit at this point.

This is all fine and dandy with me, but this is about the general voting public. The median voter. Winning this election isn't you and me, it's about putting the best foot forward for those voters (along with keeping the base motivated). And on this front, this has been a losing campaign to date in my view. Something needs to change... Whether it's through Biden quelling these fears or stepping aside and letting Harris take the baton

I also think the reactions suggest that, as many said in the aftermath of the debate, the risk wasn't so much Trump gain votes/share versus the fear that Biden would lose support to third parties (or by people staying home) I truly believe a majority of Americans do not want Trump to become President again, regardless of what the polls say or them showing Trump with a larger share than Biden at least. But they fear Biden's age and his ability to hold over the next four years. I think he's been a better President than many have given him credit for, but it's a fear that will never be alleviated: father time comes for us all. The way these past few days have played out doesn't suggest to me that the dynamic is going to change. The NC appearance was a start, but no interviews, no TV, a strong but brief statement on yesterday's ugly SCOTUS statement. Just doesn't inspire confidence at all that he can fix this.