By Dave Andrusko
Here’s the beginning of a column written by The Hill’s Brett Samuels about a column composed by David Ignatius, the ultimate Washington Insider, in which Ignatius calls on President Biden not to run again begins:
A top Washington Post columnist has joined the fray of pundits calling on President Biden to step aside and not seek reelection.
Let look at his argument closely.
Ignatius argues that while “In sum, he has been a successful and effective president,” then comes the proverbial “but”:
“But I don’t think Biden and Vice President Harris should run for reelection. It’s painful to say that, given my admiration for much of what they have accomplished. But if he and Harris campaign together in 2024, I think Biden risks undoing his greatest achievement — which was stopping Trump.”
Much of what Ignatius, who covers foreign affairs for the Washington Post, does not touch on abortion and/or assisted suicide. Except his conclusion that “What I admire most about President Biden is that in a polarized nation, he has governed from the center out, as he promised in his victory speech” does.
Our single-issue focus means that much of what Ignatius, who covers foreign affairs for the Washington Post, does not touch on abortion and/or assisted suicide. Except his conclusion that “What I admire most about President Biden is that in a polarized nation, he has governed from the center out, as he promised in his victory speech.”
One could debate that conclusion on a dozen different issues but no one—no one—could maintain that he’s been a centrist on abortion—at least not with a straight face. As pro-life champion Rep. Chris Smith has said, “By his words and deeds, President Biden is the ‘Abortion President.’”
Ignatius painfully recognizes that President Biden has two fatal “liabilities” in his bid for a second term.
The first is obvious:
He would be 82 when he began a second term. According to a recent Associated Press-NORC poll, 77 percent of the public, including 69 percent of Democrats, think he’s too old to be effective for four more years. Biden’s age isn’t just a Fox News trope; it’s been the subject of dinner-table conversations across America this summer.
The second is a corollary of the first.
Because of their concerns about Biden’s age, voters would sensibly focus on his presumptive running mate, Harris. She is less popular than Biden, with a 39.5 percent approval rating, according to polling website FiveThirtyEight. Harris has many laudable qualities, but the simple fact is that she has failed to gain traction in the country or even within her own party.
“Biden has never been good at saying no,” Ignatius tells us. He cites three examples which were egregious mistakes on his part but which Ignatius minimizes. He adds
Biden has another chance to say no — to himself, this time — by withdrawing from the 2024 race. It might not be in character for Biden, but it would be a wise choice for the country.
We’ll see if this column sets off another—and even larger— “fray of pundits” calling for Biden not to seek a second term.