Disapproval is very different from potential voters wanting someone else (a specific other candidate, not a generic candidate). He thought he could convince voters that he was still the best option.
He realized he was wrong. Maybe if State of the Union Biden showed up to the debate things would be different. But we’ll never know.
I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future all merited a second term, but nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy, and that includes personal ambition.
He still thinks he’s perfectly capable of being an excellent president. But the voters disagree, and he’s stepping down to give us the best chance of stopping Trump.
I’m sure you don’t like his answer, but that’s his answer.
Yeah, he won’t openly say how his entire inner circle kept yelling at him “FOR FUCKS SAKE JOE STEP DOWN WE’RE FUCKING LOSING THIS!” before the election.
The story behind it is that he was finally shown how terrible his numbers really were in swing states. Apparently, they looked very bad and were trending even further down.
The story also goes that the reality of the situation had largely been hidden from him by his closest confidants up to that point. Add in all the party and public pressure, and it really doesn’t seem too far fetched that he was finally forced to face up to the bleak outlook of his chances going forward.
If by “they” you mean the news, then I’ve noticed a change. Insofar as actual human people and their opinions in my city, they’ve been static. Progressives sighing and regressives screeching. How have the human people in your city changed their opinions?
I don’t know how people don’t get this. It’s utterly transparent, they didn’t make any secret of it. Their megadonors pulled donations, pelosi went and had a secret chat that was probably along the lines of “i have spoken to the oligarchs that fund us, if you insist on running your war chest will be paltry and the rest of the party will suffer in kind. Congressional races, local elections, etc will all be vastly underfunded because you decided to stay in the race. They are holding the bag and they want you out.” and then a few days later he announces he’s out after they coordinate things. Maybe he had a day or two where he had a pipe dream moment thinking he could grassroots fund it like Bernie and someone shot him back down to earth
The specifics of their conversation are secret so that’s conjecture of course but the fact that the dnc’s large donors pulled their donations until he dropped out and that pelosi spoke to him about that fact are not. And then she gets spun as some “boss dealmaker” when really she’s just the mouthpiece of the elite ruling class, sending a message that their money dries up if they don’t get their way. Some deal making that is
Note: I think it’s worth it if it ends up stopping the actual fascists from seizing power.
But I very much expect Biden’s plan to increase taxes on the 1% to be either heavily neutered or quietly scrapped when Harris gets in office. And that sucks.
The people spoke loudly about what they wanted. I’m glad he listened
They’ve been saying the same thing for 3 years. This doesn’t make sense without some sort of realization or external pressure.
Disapproval is very different from potential voters wanting someone else (a specific other candidate, not a generic candidate). He thought he could convince voters that he was still the best option.
He realized he was wrong. Maybe if State of the Union Biden showed up to the debate things would be different. But we’ll never know.
Maype he watched a recording of the debate and realized everyone on stage was too old to be running for president?
Maybe? Selfishly, I still wish he’d offered complete candor to sate my curiosity. Maybe in his memoirs.
He did offer complete candor.
He still thinks he’s perfectly capable of being an excellent president. But the voters disagree, and he’s stepping down to give us the best chance of stopping Trump.
I’m sure you don’t like his answer, but that’s his answer.
Even if he had, you still wouldn’t know if he had.
Yeah, he won’t openly say how his entire inner circle kept yelling at him “FOR FUCKS SAKE JOE STEP DOWN WE’RE FUCKING LOSING THIS!” before the election.
The story behind it is that he was finally shown how terrible his numbers really were in swing states. Apparently, they looked very bad and were trending even further down.
The story also goes that the reality of the situation had largely been hidden from him by his closest confidants up to that point. Add in all the party and public pressure, and it really doesn’t seem too far fetched that he was finally forced to face up to the bleak outlook of his chances going forward.
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…you haven’t felt anything change in the past month? They absolutely haven’t been saying these things for 3 years.
If by “they” you mean the news, then I’ve noticed a change. Insofar as actual human people and their opinions in my city, they’ve been static. Progressives sighing and regressives screeching. How have the human people in your city changed their opinions?
The people with money decided they didn’t like him. That’s what changed.
I don’t know how people don’t get this. It’s utterly transparent, they didn’t make any secret of it. Their megadonors pulled donations, pelosi went and had a secret chat that was probably along the lines of “i have spoken to the oligarchs that fund us, if you insist on running your war chest will be paltry and the rest of the party will suffer in kind. Congressional races, local elections, etc will all be vastly underfunded because you decided to stay in the race. They are holding the bag and they want you out.” and then a few days later he announces he’s out after they coordinate things. Maybe he had a day or two where he had a pipe dream moment thinking he could grassroots fund it like Bernie and someone shot him back down to earth
The specifics of their conversation are secret so that’s conjecture of course but the fact that the dnc’s large donors pulled their donations until he dropped out and that pelosi spoke to him about that fact are not. And then she gets spun as some “boss dealmaker” when really she’s just the mouthpiece of the elite ruling class, sending a message that their money dries up if they don’t get their way. Some deal making that is
I agree.
Note: I think it’s worth it if it ends up stopping the actual fascists from seizing power.
But I very much expect Biden’s plan to increase taxes on the 1% to be either heavily neutered or quietly scrapped when Harris gets in office. And that sucks.