Update (1630ET): And just like that, the Democratic party has gone all-in for Kamala Harris - who did so poorly in the 2020 election that she dropped out before the primaries. Just hours after Biden's campaign manager insisted he wasn't leaving the race.
Just this morning, Biden’s campaign chair said he wasn’t leaving the race. Then Biden suddenly posts a resignation letter with no address to the country. Wreaks of a coup. https://t.co/snB2iu7qeW
— David Sacks (@DavidSacks) July 21, 2024
Oh...
White House aides learned Biden was dropping out by reading 𝕏 https://t.co/9SpfbwcN65
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 21, 2024
Lefties from the Clintons, to the Progressive Caucus, to Trump assassination jokester Reid Hoffman, to Alexander Soros, are now firmly behind Harris.
I’d just like to thank @AlexanderSoros for not keeping everyone in suspense about who the next puppet would be 🙏
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 21, 2024
Now the question turns to who's going to be her VP pick. Newsweek suggests these as top-5 candidates:
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
A rising Democratic star, Josh Shapiro is often floated as a possible running mate for Harris. He governs a major battleground state and could help Harris make inroads among voters in the Keystone State.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper
Roy Cooper's governorship has been a sign of hope for Democrats in the Tar Heel state.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Gretchen Whitmer's name has long been floated as a possible presidential candidate, and a Harris-Whitmer ticket would mark the first all-women ticket in history, which Pitney described as "intriguing."
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
Andy Beshear impressed many Democrats when he won a second term in the conservative state last year.
California Governor Gavin Newsom
Newsom has become one of the most nationally recognizable figures within the Democratic Party.
According to Polymarket, Shapiro is the top contender.
I have zero faith in election integrity at this point.
— Edward Dowd (@DowdEdward) July 21, 2024
The bureaucratic state had to get rid of Joe because selling the steal was not possible.
Gear up for the greatest propaganda campaign ever to sell Harris (or whoever) to the people then election night shenanigans.
It’s…
Harris issued a statement following her endorsement, which reads like Joe isn't about to serve out the rest of his term:
“On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office.
"It is a profound honor to serve as his Vice President, and I am deeply grateful to the President, Dr. Biden, and the entire Biden family. I first came to know President Biden through his son Beau. We were friends from our days working together as Attorneys General of our home states. As we worked together, Beau would tell me stories about his Dad. The kind of father—and the kind of man—he was. And the qualities Beau revered in his father are the same qualities, the same values, I have seen every single day in Joes leadership as President: His honesty and integrity. His big heart and commitment to his faith and his family. And his love of our country and the American people.
"I am honored to have the President's endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda."
In short:
Hawk tuah! pic.twitter.com/cNOOQuixIF
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) July 21, 2024
Of course, if you mention that Harris's career started out underneath Willie Brown, you might get called out by Scary Poppins...
1. Sexualized narratives, claiming Harris “slept her way to the top,” or that she is sexually promiscuous. In 2020 we found that users engaging with this narrative were more likely to engage with other abuse and disinfo. They attempted to undermine her fitness for office (2/) pic.twitter.com/7OOeU83MTF
— Nina Jankowicz (@wiczipedia) July 21, 2024
That said, not so fast Kamala...
In response to Biden's announcement, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison promised a "transparent and orderly" process to choose the party's next nominee.
"The American People owe President Biden an enormous debt of gratitude for the unparalleled progress he has delivered over the last four years — and we will honor that legacy, and the decision that he has made today, through a firm commitment to nominating and electing a Democratic president this November who will carry that torch into the next four years," Harrison said in a statement, adding that the process will follow established rules for the party, and that the delegates "are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people."
"As we move forward to formally select our Party’s nominee, our values as Democrats remain the same — lowering costs, restoring freedom, protecting the rights of all people, and saving our democracy from the threat of dictatorship. We have and will continue to make this case to the American people."
Also...
Obama calling for an open convention. This is Game of Thrones / House of Cards level power games. We love it. How exciting. https://t.co/ehiQmjN2gr
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) July 21, 2024
And a few reactions:
I’ve known Obama since 1995. We both come out of Chicago politics. I know how it works. He’s behind the campaign to dump 15 million Dem primary voters & replace Biden with his choice. Classic Chicago Democrat machine politics. Selection over election. The bosses over the people. pic.twitter.com/5ibvaX9IzP
— Rod Blagojevich (@realBlagojevich) July 21, 2024
This sums up the left perfectly pic.twitter.com/w3OrrNUpzG
— MERICA MEMED (@Mericamemed) July 21, 2024
1. Joe lapses into a coma
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 21, 2024
2. Panicked staff and party honchos forge a announcement by "Joe" that he's dropping out
3. Joe suddenly bolts up from coma, revealing he was faking everything to flush out traitors
4. Vengeful Dark Brandon orders no-mercy purge
5. Wins in landslide pic.twitter.com/kDGgW9W2Sn
* * *
Infowars.com reports: “I’m incredibly proud of my brother,” Frank Biden said.
“Selfishly, I will have him back to enjoy whatever time we have left. He is a genuine hero. Country over self. It sounds corny in our cynical political environment, but neither he nor I are cynical. The goal remains the same: defeat Trump and continue the work Joe has done. My hope is that the party rallies around this heroic act.”
When asked directly whether his brother’s “health and vitality” played a major role in his decision to drop out, Frank Biden answered, “In my humble opinion, absolutely.”
In addition to his obvious cognitive and physical decline, President Biden still has COVID-19.