President Biden’s speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago was delayed until after prime time on Monday night, leaving many to wonder if the Democratic Party is trying to hide their aging leader from the public eye.
The 81-year-old president used a tissue to dry his tears after being introduced on stage by daughter Ashley Biden at about 10:25 p.m. CT. One can’t help but wonder if those tears were for the state of the country under his leadership or simply due to staying up past his usual bedtime.
He went on to deliver about an hour-long address that didn’t conclude until well after midnight on the East Coast. It seems the Democrats have adopted a new strategy: if you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with lateness.
Biden Aide’s Reaction: A Peek Behind the Curtain
“This is awful,” a longtime Biden aide texted Axios. “He literally set up a campaign and handed it over to them – do they have to cut him out of prime time?” It appears even Biden’s own team is questioning the wisdom of keeping the president up past his usual lights-out time.
Convention officials attributed the delay to the energy of the audience throughout the night. Perhaps they confused “energy” with “confusion” as attendees wondered why the main event was pushed so late into the evening.
“Because of the raucous applause interrupting speaker after speaker, we ultimately skipped elements of our program to ensure we could get to President Biden as quickly as possible so that he could speak directly to the American people,” convention officials said in a statement obtained by Axios.
One has to admire the Democrats’ ability to spin a scheduling disaster into a supposed display of enthusiasm. It’s almost as impressive as their ability to spin Biden’s economic policies into something positive for the American people.
Biden’s Speech: A Comedy of Errors
In his keynote speech, Biden attacked Republican nominee and former President Trump on various issues. However, his attempts at criticism were overshadowed by his own verbal stumbles and gaffes.
As is typical for Biden, he mangled his words during a portion of the address regarding the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade:
“As you heard earlier tonight, United States Supreme Court majority wrote the following quote: women are not without electrical, not not allowed, not without electoral, electoral. Or political power. No kidding,” Biden said, as some applauded in support.
It’s hard to tell what’s more concerning: Biden’s inability to articulate his thoughts clearly, or the fact that some in the audience actually applauded this gibberish.
Passing the Torch: Biden’s Attempt at Graceful Exit
Biden also further passed the torch to Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. For a brief moment, Biden appeared to joke that Harris was already president. Given his frequent confusion, one has to wonder if it was really a joke or a momentary lapse in reality.
“Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made before I became, when I became our nominee, and it was the best decision I made my whole career,” Biden said. This statement might be more telling than he realizes, considering the state of the country under their joint leadership.
A Historical Perspective: Democrat Missteps
While Biden attempts to paint a rosy picture of his presidency, it’s worth remembering some of the historical blunders of the Democratic Party:
- Jimmy Carter’s disastrous handling of the Iran hostage crisis and the subsequent failed rescue attempt in 1980.
- Bill Clinton’s impeachment scandal in 1998, which tarnished the office of the presidency.
- Barack Obama’s infamous “If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it” promise, which PolitiFact named the “Lie of the Year” in 2013.
These missteps pale in comparison to the current administration’s handling of inflation, border security, and foreign policy. It seems the Democratic Party has a knack for creating crises and then expecting applause for their attempts to solve them.
Republican Successes: A Stark Contrast
While Democrats struggle to keep their figurehead awake past sundown, it’s worth remembering some of the successes achieved under Republican leadership:
- Ronald Reagan’s economic policies led to one of the longest periods of peacetime prosperity in American history.
- George H.W. Bush’s leadership during the Gulf War demonstrated America’s military prowess and international influence.
- Donald Trump’s pre-pandemic economy saw record-low unemployment rates and significant GDP growth.
These achievements stand in stark contrast to the current state of affairs under Biden’s leadership. Perhaps instead of staying up late to give rambling speeches, Biden should take a page from the Republican playbook and focus on policies that actually benefit the American people.
Conclusion: A Late Night Farce
As Biden concludes his presidency, one can’t help but wonder if his late-night convention speech is a metaphor for his entire term: delayed, confusing, and leaving many Americans wishing they could just go to bed and wake up to better leadership.
While the Democrats continue to showcase their “broad and diverse coalition,” the American people are left to deal with the real-world consequences of their policies. Perhaps it’s time for a change – one that doesn’t require staying up past midnight to witness.
