I haven’t written about the Joe Biden debate aftermath because (1) this is a blog about Vermont politics and (2) I have no earthly idea what’s really going on, and neither do you.
But U.S. Sen. Peter Welch has now weighed in, taking to the opinion pages of the Washington Post to become the first Democratic senator to call for Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign. So (1) the story is fair game for a #vtpoli blog and (2) I have thoughts.
First of which is, it’s absolutely uncharacteristic for Welch to be the first soldier over the parapet and into No Man’s Land. Welch is a cautious consensus-builder, best known in the House for being a loyal member of Nancy Pelosi’s team and for his diligent efforts to find common ground with rural Republicans. I don’t remember a single time when Welch was out in front of any issue, let alone the political hot potato of the season.
And that makes me think he has solid grounds for this decision. Welch is never, ever one to go off half cocked.
My initial thought after the debate was “What’s the big deal? It was a bad night.” The speculation that began immediately seemed to be a product of the overheated Beltway ecosystem and the desperation of the political media for a big hot story. But as time has gone on, more anecdotes of a diminished Biden have emerged and Team Biden’s response to the situation has been a day late and a dollar short. There is more reason to worry now than there was on June 28.
Reason to worry, and nowhere near enough actual information for me to make a rational decision. Replacing Biden on the ticket would be a monumental risk. I’m old enough to remember the Tom Eagleton fiasco, which was the final nail in George McGovern’s political coffin. And Eagleton was only McGovern’s choice for the vice presidential nomination, not a sitting president who went unchallenged in the primaries.
So here’s Welch making the big call. He is as well connected as anyone in Congress. I respect his judgment, and I have to take seriously his uncharacteristic willingness to go out on this particular limb.
On the other hand. in an interview with VTDigger, Welch said his decision “really reflects what I’ve been hearing from Vermonters,” and added that “It’s not the elites. It’s everyday people.”
I’m sorry, but no. No, no, no, no, no. Don’t give me that Voice Of The People bullshit. Vermonters have no idea what’s going on in the highest circles of power. We have no way to balance the anecdotes of a meandering, sunsetting Biden and the confident claims that there’s nothing to see here, please move along. What I want Welch to say is “Based on my own observations and my discussions with people close to the President, I believe it’s time he steps aside.”
In a situation like this, Welch is better positioned than any of his constituents. He should use his own judgment and have the confidence to tell us so.
Also, if the Democrats are going to replace Biden, it had better be a well thought-out, coordinated effort that involves as many voices as possible. It can’t be a mad scramble to figger something out on the fly. That’s a recipe for, well, Eagleton-level disaster. I don’t want Welch out here taking the temperature of Real Folks at the Farmers’ Market or Dan & Whit’s (outside which he is pictured above from a 2022 campaign ad). I want him inside the Beltway, using his collaborative skills to help put together a plan — whether it’s replacing Biden or lining up solidly behind him. Because again, I don’t know which path is best, and neither do you.
Penultimate thought. If Biden is to be replaced, the only option is Vice President Kamala Harris. If she were shoved aside in favor of Gavin Newsom or J.B. Pritzker or my home state’s Gretchen Whitmer or some other white politician, it might just be the final insult for the Democratic Party’s longsuffering Black base. Plus, opening up the field would only cause more division in the party, and we don’t need that right now. We need a plan, and we need unity in Democratic circles behind the plan. Whatever it is.
Final thought. Peter Welch is only four years younger than Joe Biden. He seems in robust health for a man of 77, but if he goes running for re-election in 2028 when he’ll be the same age as Biden is now, I hope he’ll open the books on his health status and I really hope he’ll be willing to accept the advice he’s now giving Biden. After this, he will have no business overstaying his welcome.
The Vermont Political Observer. 
Because he is such a loyal partisan, I can’t help but wonder if he volunteered to play this role. If the chatter is accurate (ie what folks are saying off the record), there is legitimate concern within the beltway about Biden’s capacity to do what’s required over the next few months. Sen. Welch is in a pretty safe position to be the messenger. And I imagine he’s hearing from a lot of Vermonters (who aren’t hard core Dem partisans) who are extremely unhappy with the choices on offer. He knows that this election will not be decided by the few million folks who voted in the pro forma primary.
I have to agree with you about the unlikelihood of Peter Welch being in the avant garde here. He has done well by his constituents, been regularly available for local conversations throughout the state when home from DC. But I doubt the folks at home have bombarded him with informed comment.
So yes, I too hope he has some inside dope on the situation. And is growing short.
Petie boy is a draft dodging coward. A liar, con artist and is as deranged as his buddy Biden. Never should have been elected, too stupid to do anything else but spread lies. A legend only in his simple short bus mind
I’m just letting this through as an example of the kind of shit that lands in this Comment section from time to time. Person hiding behind an anonymous email account accusing someone else of being a coward, and staying juuuuust this side of calling him “retarded.” Brilliant.
This isn’t the first time that the weasel Welch has stepped out to attack his political “friends”.
Welch joined his radical right wing buddies in their take down of the national level group ACORN about 15 years ago. You do remember ACORN, don’t you? They’re the group that was trying to empower the politically disempowered by getting them registered to vote and then to the voting booth.
And every thing Welch said he was basing his assistance to the anti-democratic GOP was verifiable bullshit even at the time (all one had to do was watch the videos).
To this day, Welch says he did the right thing – just like today. Attack those things that really can make a difference in order to assist the radical right wing vile violent racist bigoted authoritarian GOP.
And no, the weasel Welch doesn’t know what he’s doing. The only reason he’s in office is the same comfortable white liberals who keep the useless and obstructionist Scott in office.
Re: “My initial thought after the debate was “What’s the big deal? It was a bad night.” The speculation that began immediately seemed to be a product of the overheated Beltway ecosystem and the desperation of the political media for a big hot story. But as time has gone on, more anecdotes of a diminished Biden have emerged and Team Biden’s response to the situation has been a day late and a dollar short. There is more reason to worry now than there was on June 28.”
Mr. Walters: You’ve hit the nail on its head. But the conflict you’re experiencing is not based on ‘the emergence’ of examples showing a diminished Joe Biden. Those examples have been in plain sight for anyone who has cared to look for a long time now. The problem you have is how to reconcile the fact that so many people have been lying to you. People like Peter Welch are lying to you.
As you now recognize, Welch’s decision in this regard is being disingenuously expressed as a reflection of what he’s been hearing from Vermonters. This is hog wash. Either Peter Welch is still lying to you, or he’s dumber than a post… or both.
My advice to you at this juncture is to not get lost in the weeds of what Welch and the other democrats should do. Chaos has one distinctive attribute. The possibilities are infinite.
What I hope you now understand is that this presidential race is not about Biden, or Trump for that matter. Trump just happens to be the bull in the China shop. If Trump’s only attribute is exposing the corruption in what many of us have been characterizing as ‘the deep state’ for years now, electing Trump will be worth whatever distaste (real or imagined) you may have for the man.
Might Trump become the leader of another ‘deep state’? Not a chance. We’re on to the political corruption that’s been manifesting since Woodrow Wilson had a stroke more than 100 years ago. Eisenhower warned us of the military/industrial complex in 1960. And yes, I’m old enough to remember Eisenhower.
Keep in mind Chuck Schumer’s warning to Trump eight years ago. “Let me tell you: You take on the intelligence community — they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you.”
Mr. Walters: As I’ve been trying to explain to my friends and business associates for years now – we’re being gamed by ‘good cop’/’bad cop’ false dichotomies. These are NOT conspiracy theories. At some point you will see, that if it walks like a duck… well, you get the idea.
I don’t care what bullshit any of the “Biden must withdraw” assholes are pushing. Bunch of fucking cowards and backstabbers who have not put forth a single realistic candidate or accelerated funding/ state by state fieldwork infrastructure plan. (Majority of President Biden’s campaign funds are contractor spoken for and will not transfer.) If they a Democratic party member, primary the shithead for basic stupidity.
The media is failing their “non-biased” profession and this country while mad dog, convicted felon, rapist trump is talking concentration camps on day 1 and the Supreme Court said that is okay with them.
I would have said the same thing via Welch’s contact page, but it a data mining operation for shithead Welch.
Seriously fuck that guy.
Anyone who isn’t terrified of trump with nuclear weapons, again, after watching one of his performances is a fool.
Watch President Biden at the recent NATO conference and any of trumps rallies and tell me who is presidential.
If the media actually was unbiased and not trying to play king maker behind some bullshit narrative building, we wouldn’t be in this mess so deep.
Recent polls out of Wisconsin, Democrats still favor President Biden by 20% over Newsom who is smart enough not to mouth off about running. Vice president Harris is third. Still think Biden should drop out? Democratic convention starts August 22nd, you really think it possible to replace President Biden by then?
he reason why Heinrich, Welch, Brown, and Tester called on Biden to drop out isn’t because they doubt he can’t perform the job of President well any more. Their main goal with their statements is to get their donations from the millionaires and billionaires. As NYT pointed out and was reposted by New Republic, the mega donors want their candidates to call on Biden to drop out before they get their money and all four of the senators are up for reelection.“If you don’t publicly call for Biden to step aside, you are not getting a dime from me,” said Tom Strickler, the founder of Hollywood talent agency WME, to New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich’s team last Thursday. Strickler said he had been planning to financially support seven of the most vulnerable Democratic senators, but would not be doing so because they still backed Biden’s candidacy. “It’s a message that I’ve encouraged my friends to send as well,” Strickler said. “If you back Biden, you will lose our support. Over and out”
so President Biden reportedly withdrawing…
You assholes happy? You probably just handed the presidency, the House and the Senate to the republican party.
i am not stupid. I never voting for a single republican but the media and the rich donors played…
Fuck it I don’t have the words.
Any Democratic not voting Harris as the most and only realistic candidate you are probably a racist misogynistic individual without the honesty to admit it.