Staff Reports
President Biden recently engaged in a verbal showdown that could only be described as a comedy of errors, all while trying to push his plan to overhaul the Supreme Court. The fun began when he decided to play verbal ping-pong regarding House Speaker Mike Johnson’s proposed rebuttal to the president’s court reform suggestions. Johnson, firmly grounded in reality, declared that Biden’s ideas would be “dead on arrival” in the House, a phrase that might as well be stamped on the White House door given Biden’s track record.
While Biden was in Austin, Texas, preparing to grandstand over his judicial ambitions, a reporter tried to untangle the mess of Biden’s thought process. In a moment reminiscent of a sitcom, Biden took Johnson’s comments literally and turned them into a bizarre insult. The president’s reply was essentially a tongue-twister in political discourse: “That’s what he is.” Even as chaos reigned in the White House, it became apparent that the president, at 81 years old and seemingly without a coherent response, could conjure some of the most nonsensical phrases this side of a Shakespearean comedy.
Biden says Speaker Johnson is ‘dead on arrival’ in confusing exchange with reporterhttps://t.co/R1YDWc1KN3 pic.twitter.com/gl4liO8ELL
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) July 30, 2024
One can almost hear the collective head-scratching of reporters as they pieced together Biden’s comments. Was he referring to Johnson’s physical state, his intelligence, or simply the likelihood of his proposals breaching the hallowed halls of the Capitol? Even after a much-needed clarification attempt later, which was likely intended to mask confusion with political jargon, Biden asserted with great conviction that Johnson’s “thinking” was “dead on arrival” too. It appears this administration is praying that its ideas don’t follow suit.
For Johnson, the absurdity of the exchange was not wasted. He promptly reminded everyone of Biden’s own muddled communication skills by sharing a clip from a recent debate. Former President Trump, in a moment everyone can appreciate, illustrated the bewilderment many feel when listening to Biden, suggesting that even the president might not have a clue what he’s saying. At this point, Biden’s gift for creating confusion has become the stuff of legend, and it’s amusing to watch politicians on both sides do their best to keep straight faces.
Amid this drama, Biden reiterated his intention to push Congress for significant changes to the Supreme Court. His ideas included imposing term limits and enforcing a code of ethics on Supreme Court justices, dreams that read more like a child’s wish-list than a legislative agenda. With his reelection campaign on shaky ground after concerns about his mental sharpness, Biden endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 race, as if shifting gears could somehow rescue the sinking ship of his presidency. Political observers will undoubtedly remain glued to their screens, popcorn in hand, waiting to see how this theatrical saga plays out in Congress.
