Emmy-winning sportscaster and journalist Bob Costas, alongside author Caitlin Flanagan, made a compelling case on HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher regarding the Democratic Party’s future and President Joe Biden’s potential candidacy for the 2024 election.
During the discussion, Costas emphasized the need for Biden to recognize the best interests of both his party and the country. He suggested that if Biden’s “hubris” prevented him from stepping aside as the Democratic nominee, the party should take action to replace him. Costas argued that Biden’s presidency was largely a result of being an alternative to Donald Trump, rather than being elected on his own merit.
Costas also pointed out that while Republicans and Fox News may exaggerate Biden’s shortcomings, there is truth to the concerns about his mental acuity, which have been present for years. He stressed the importance of acknowledging these concerns, even if they were uncomfortable or unpopular.
Furthermore, Maher highlighted Biden’s previous statement about seeing himself as a “bridge,” which could be interpreted as implying a single term presidency. He suggested that it might not be too late for the Democratic Party to replace Biden as the nominee, even potentially at the convention or shortly before the election.
Flanagan added that since Biden didn’t face much competition in the primaries, he doesn’t have a significant number of delegates that would prevent the party from considering another candidate.
Costas referenced historical precedents, such as President Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision not to run for another term, which led to other candidates stepping forward. He emphasized that there is still plenty of time for the Democratic Party to make such a decision.
Overall, the conversation underscored the growing concerns within the Democratic Party about Biden’s candidacy and the potential need for a change in leadership to ensure the party’s success in future elections.
COSTAS: But just. Just because the Republicans and Fox News and all the tributaries that come off of that will overstate it, turn a blind out of the fact that Trump, who has always been an unprincipled and reprehensible person, is now a ranting lunatic who has mental gaffes of his own.
So it’s it’s a selective truth, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Right?
And when it comes to Biden, this is like the truth that no one, until very recently wants to say out loud. But my friends will tell you, I’ve been saying it for four years. This is Emperor’s New Clothes stuff.
Joe Biden should have run on a firm promise that he would be a one term president. The only reason he is president is that he’s not Donald Trump. Then the Dems could have gotten a lot of people up in the bullpen, and they could have sorted through those people.
If Biden’s hubris is such that he doesn’t understand the best interests of his party and more important, his country, then he has to be shown the door. Period.
Because if Trump is a threat to democracy, and in many ways he is, so too are the Dems who are in danger of being as feckless as the Republicans have long been shameless. If they’re going to send this guy out there, if Trump is a monster, and in many ways he is, you’re going to send this guy out to slay the dragon? I don’t think so.
MAHER: And by the way, he did not run on a promise. He did not run on a promise not to run again, but he did run on a big hint. He said, I see myself as a bridge.
COSTAS: Right?
MAHER: That’s collapsing.
COSTAS: Yeah.
MAHER: No, but I see myself as a bridge. I read that as one term. Okay. And I guess the question now is, is it too late? And I don’t think it is, because I still think you can do it at the convention. I don’t — and people have said to me, ‘oh, that’s ridiculous they’ll look like’ — they’ll look like nothing. Nobody gives a fuck what you do at the convention.
MAHER: They’d be thrilled if they did it the day before the election. You could switch him out at the convention.
COSTAS: You could.
MAHER: And he could say, well, look, you know, I’ve had a health issue or whatever I want to spend more…
FLANAGAN: he – because he didn’t really have to run much in the primaries. He doesn’t have delegates to give to someone else that the party would come together and say.
MAHER: Well, if a guy says, I can’t run, then you have to do it, then it has to be somebody else, that it’s an open convention. We’ve had open conventions many times.
COSTAS: Different scenario a long time ago. But when Johnson in March, after a close primary with Eugene McCarthy in New Hampshire, when Johnson said, I’m not going to run for another term, then Humphrey stepped up.
MAHER: Yes,.
COSTAS: RFK, a tragedy ensued. He stepped up. There’s plenty of time.
MAHER: Yes. They make it up as they go along anyway, it’s politics.
