I’m very aware this opinion won’t go down well, so to preface with a couple lawyerly disclaimers:
(1) I am a staunch progressive who voted for Biden in 2020, Hillary in 2016, Obama twice, etc. I will vote for whomever is the Democratic candidate for president in 2024.
(2) I like Joe Biden, and think he was the only candidate who could beat Trump in 2020.
(3) I have no strong feelings about Kamala Harris one way or the other, but would (per (1) above) vote for her if she was the Democratic nominee.
That being said: Ruth Bader Ginsberg was (justifiably) proud of her incredible lifetime of achievements. She cast many votes that made the US a better (or at the very least, less worse) place than it could be. But she held on too long, and did not resign when she should have — with disastrous consequences for the nation. The arch-conservative she was replaced with will harm the US for decades. Her pride has consequences. Joe Biden’s pride will have consequences — even worse ones.
Joe Biden is deteriorating, and it is getting obvious. He is not trusted to sit for long interviews (otherwise, why not do CBS at the Super Bowl)? He couldn’t even get through his rebuttal impromptu speech without stating that the president of Egypt is the president of Mexico.
But you know what? This is a utilitarian stance. This isn’t about morals, or the right thing to do, or what is “fair”. If I thought for one second that Joe Biden (in his current state) had a BETTER chance to defeat Trump than a Kamala Harris that takes over now, I’d fight to the death to keep him in the race (even if his problems were much, much worse). But the problems are going to get worse, and he simply will not make it — in any condition where he can be shown to the public AT ALL — until voting begins. Our one chance — our only chance — is for resignation now, and giving Kamala enough time to run her own race. I don’t think she has as much of a chance to beat Trump as a healthy Biden, but that’s not on offer — we have to play the odds based on what we have on the table.
To address a few of the obvious ripostes:
(a) “Joe Biden has done a lot of good! It’s not fair to ask him to resign!” Yes, 100% agree — but not relevant. Does Biden have the best chance — in his current state — of winning now?
(b) “Trump has obvious mental issues! The media is hypocritical in their focus! That isn’t fair!” Yes, 100% agree — but not relevant. Petulant tweets make Trump SEEM more energetic to the disengaged middle, and that is all that will matter this fall.
Does Biden have the best chance — in his current state — of winning now?
(c) “The prosecutor took editorial potshots when he shouldn’t have! That isn’t fair!” Yes, 100% agree — but not relevant. Does Biden have the best chance — in his current state — of winning now?
(d) “Republicans are bad and have done bad things! They have double standards!” Yes, 100% agree — but not relevant. Does Biden have the best chance — in his current state — of winning now?
(e) “[INSERT HERE — any other argument that isn’t strictly about election odds in November]”. Yes, I (probably, if you are a progressive) 100% agree — but not relevant. Does Biden have the best chance — in his current state — of winning now?
We are left with only bad choices, and — for the sake of the survival of our damn democracy — need to take the least-worst one. He should make a grand speech this week, be justly applauded for what he has done, and bow out.
