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LAST UPDATE | 10 Jul 2024
DEMOCRATIC PARTY VETERAN Nancy Pelosi has said that time is running out for US President Joe Biden to make a final decision on his reelection bid, but stressed the call was his to make.
Despite Biden insisting he is staying in the race, Pelosi – the former speaker of the House of Representatives and an influential voice in the party – suggested the president still could step aside amid a Democratic divide over his candidacy.
“It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run,” she told MSNBC.
“We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because the time is running short.”
Pelosi stopped short of advocating either way on the Biden question.
“I want him to do whatever he decides to do, and that’s the way it is,” she said. “Whatever he decides, we go with.”
Actor George Clooney has weighed into the debate about Biden’s staying in the race with an opinion piece in the New York Times today, in which he argued the incumbent should drop out.
“We are not going to win in November with this president,” said the Ocean’s Eleven star.
Clooney, a longtime Democratic supporter and fundraiser, wrote:
“I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he’s won many of the battles he’s faced.
“But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe “big F-ing deal” Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate.
“Was he tired? Yes. A cold? Maybe. But our party leaders need to stop telling us that 51 million people didn’t see what we just saw.”
Biden, 81, has corralled much-needed support from some top Democrats, but several elected members of the party have publicly expressed concerns about his mental fitness after his disastrous debate performance last month against Republican challenger and former president Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump is on track, I think, to win this election. And maybe win it by a landslide and take with it the Senate and the House,” Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet tells me in a very newsy interview. “I think we could lose the whole thing and it’s staggering to me.” pic.twitter.com/k0M97PntVA
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 10, 2024
Seven House Democrats have openly called on Biden to not seek reelection. A handful of senators have also expressed concerns.
Yesterday, Colorado’s Michael Bennet became the first Senate Democrat to publicly turn on the president, saying Biden would lose if he stayed on the ballot – and perhaps cause congressional Democrats to lose as well.
“Donald Trump is on track, I think, to win this election, and maybe win it by a landslide and take with it the Senate and the House,” Bennet told CNN, adding he believes the White House “has done nothing” to demonstrate they have a plan to win in November.
CNN’s Dana Bash reported yesterday that senators Bennet, Sherrod Brown and Jon Tester told colleagues at a Democratic caucus lunch that they did not believe that Biden can win the election.
With concerns over Biden’s ability to keep his campaign on track, all eyes will be on the President’s press conference at the NATO summit in Washington tomorrow, where he will have to respond to questions from reporters.
Since the debate against Trump, Biden has appeared at campaign events and has done one media interview with Democrat-friendly TV network MSNBC.
Biden insisted that only “the Lord almighty” could persuade him to drop out of the race.
In that interview, Biden was asked how he would feel if he stayed in race but ultimately failed to defeat Trump, who he has characterised as a threat to democracy.
“I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the good as job as I know I can do, that’s what this is about,” the president replied, a comment that hardly set Democratic voters’ minds at ease.
George Stephanopoulos, the journalist who interviewed Biden, has since been caught saying he doesn’t believe Biden can continue to serve as president.
“I don’t think he can serve four more years,” Stephanopoulos said, in what he later described as a candid moment.
“The George Stephanopoulos interview only reinforced what we saw the week before,” Clooney said in his opinion piece.
Biden also called into MSNBC’s Morning Joe programme to say he was “not going anywhere”.
Biden insisted he still had the support of the Democratic Party.
“I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t absolutely believe that I’m the best candidate to beat Donald Trump in 2024,” he said.
With reporting from AFP
Didnt see much of Harris lately.Is there an election coming up or something.
@Willie Marty: No its just that when they are under the cosh for whatever latest scandal they’ve caused they always send a Minister from a different portfolio out to explain, or if a female minister is on the news she is always flanked by two male colleagues.
@Liz Dunning: We really need a rest from Fianna Fail especially Skearon, people are sick of the same faces, the perpetual scandals, enough is enough.
@Liz Dunning: I knew it wouldnt be long before the FFG cult followers would be on the case.
@Liz Dunning: They seem to drag out Harris when the likes of Martin and Varadkar and other ministers run for cover. His ministerial record is a disaster…It’s his helpless took that they hope will appeal to people.
@Mr Inbetween: yeah senators on tv instead of a TD, says a lot about them.
@Liz Dunning: most of the FFG government usually hide out there with every scandel going on….the caves full id say
@Liz Dunning: why is he always sticking his nose into other departments ? Must be no work to do in higher Education
@Willie Marty: Lately, Simon Harris has been developing apprenticeships to the extent that over 20,000 are now learning & earning. Access to the 60+ options is now part of CAO, which reduces some stress on students & families.
@D Farrell: is that not his job. ????as minister for higher Education.
I wonder what croney friend fo Fianna gael it will be?
Another job for one of the lads or ladies or inbetweeners !! Was it advertised?
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Didn’t see it. Flog it anyway. I’d apply.
It’s NOT going to work! Trust has bolted and Ain’t coming back!!! Scrap the TV Tax! Time for Subscription!!! Enough IS Enough!!!
@Liz Dunning: @Liz Dunning: Better scrap it altogether, Liz.
We weren’t put in this planet to support a mouthpiece for FFG.
Nor to keep Golden Boys and Girls in the manner to which they have become accustomed.
If it must be kept, then make it subscription.
And make it live within its means.
The rest of us have to.
By the way, which of the party’s expense accounts do you fall under?
@Liz Dunning: I have never heard anyone actually define what public service broadcasting is. Their explanation would be probably something like the shambles that is the referendum. None of them seem to be able to get a proper handle on explaining it.
Pretty sure the definition of PSB is not the likes of ‘Fair City or Dancing etc.’
@Liz Dunning: Do you know what the So called State broadcaster is showing today apart from Repeats? Hitler..A Life in pictures! I mean WTAF??? You want it, YOU pay for it!!
DEFUND RTE!
In the interest of transparency how much taxpayer money is the chair of the board compensated and how much of an expense account would they have?
@Ron Collins: On the news today, the figure of €30000 was mentioned.
RTE is not a public service broadcaster.
Didn’t the government have a few foreign people over to lecture to us about our security and NATO.
It was held in 4 counties and without attending, the only way to see or hear was the internet. If like the government told us it was very important, why didn’t our Public Service Broadcaster air it ?
The unholy troika of fianna gael, the Catholic church and RTE!
@Liz Dunning: @Liz Dunning: That’d be why they tried to give control of that new hospital down Vincent’s way into the control of the Church?
Despite the repeated outcries.
You should work for the russians, Liz.
Or US Republicans.
You have the same acquaintance with the truth.
@Michael o connor: yeah, it will be far better under Sharia Fein
@Ultimate Warrior: well the Sinaloa Gaels don’t seem to be making a go of it!
@Liz Dunning: You mean like the sweetheart deal made by FF and the religious orders concerning the crimes committed by the Church. The Church and their political wing in FFG have not gone away.
Harris we hope you do this crountry a big favor and step down .
Is the rumour that it will be Paul Reid tru?
@Padraig O’Brien: Why not that chap that messed up Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and DCC?
@Padraig O’Brien: ya. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil!
If Paul Reid gets the RTE Chair gig. Cronyism at its worst.
RTE and this Government is the new , Duffy’s Circus . Clowns the lot of them!!
Just read the Tayto Park article… It’s definitely worth a read…. unfortunately, comments are closed.
Let’s not forget those that insulted and abused those of us calling for RTE to be defunded the last few years. Hypocrites now calling for it
A national broadcaster is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, I welcome this development wholeheartedly
@Ultimate Warrior: Bahhhaa haha ha haha. You’re Funny!!!
@Ultimate Warrior: You mean, like TASS?
PSB does this include the journal,another part of the propaganda machine
Well done Journal,as usual closing comments on GENOCIDE.
Can anyone honestly look at the headlines these days and tell me we aren’t fkd?
Simon (18 previous covids) Harris. A great educated man.
Poison chalice.
Wonder which FFG mate is owed a dig out or thank you for services rendered lol. They are going to be a stalking horse.
have your say