Staff Reports
The latest showdown in the circus that is the Democratic Party features none other than former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is desperately attempting to downplay her alleged role in the push for President Biden to take a permanent vacation from the 2024 race. In a recent CBS interview, Pelosi went to great lengths to insist that she wasn’t spearheading a pressure campaign, despite her aides having claimed as much in the past. Apparently, according to Pelosi, she didn’t even pick up the phone to exert any influence on Biden, which is about as believable as the Tooth Fairy swallowing a tooth without a trace.
In a classic twist, Pelosi felt compelled to showcase her undying affection for Biden. She claimed that while she might not officially be in charge of the Democratic caucus anymore, she certainly has love to spare. Still, it seems like love alone won’t help Biden navigate the treacherous waters of his reelection campaign, especially with Pelosi’s Democratic buddies whispering encouragement for him to give it up rather than risk another monumental loss for the party.
“I did not call one person.” Speaker Nancy Pelosi talks with Lesley Stahl about her role in President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the presidential race. https://t.co/BtvgDUKdYf pic.twitter.com/cnJ8ywR5sU
— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) August 3, 2024
Despite her feigned innocence, Pelosi’s comments post-Biden’s debate with Trump revealed that she may have inadvertently opened the floodgates. Many Democrats took her words as an invitation to raise their concerns regarding Biden’s age and mental sharpness. After all, who wouldn’t lend their ears to the wisdom of a former Speaker when she hints, intentionally or not, that it might be time for a change at the top? Almost sounds like a “Permission granted” sign for any Democrat anxious to rock the boat.
Not one to shy away from ambiguity, Pelosi mentioned that it’s ultimately Biden’s call whether to run or not, which is reminiscent of a kid at a birthday party saying it’s up to the birthday boy to blow out the candles. Of course, the President announced he’s running, but who can ignore that gravity of “whatever he decides”? It’s a political riddle that veers straight into the realm of absurdity. If Biden’s decision hinges on the warm fuzzy feelings of his former ally, that doesn’t quite inspire confidence in his judgment.
The grand finale comes courtesy of Pelosi’s interactions with Biden during this so-called pressure campaign, which apparently involved her giving him advice about losing the House. What could be more motivating than a good ol’ fashioned fear-mongering from a party elder? However, it’s hard to imagine how this dialogue played out; does anyone really believe Biden was defensively nodding while shuffling through his notes? Rumor has it, he was far less concerned about his electoral chances and more focused on dodging a tough conversation with Pelosi and perhaps a ringing endorsement from Obama.
Charge it to the usual Democratic theatrics, where the party elite can’t seem to get their story straight, and the blame game is ever afoot. Whether Pelosi is playing it coy or doing a tap dance around the truth, one thing is crystal clear: even the Democrats know they have a problem, and that problem may just be sitting at the Resolute Desk.
