Wall Street Journal commentator Peggy Noonan, a “Never Trump” writer, issued an urgent appeal for President Joe Biden to stand down from reelection, calling it the party’s sole chance to stop former President Donald Trump.
In brutal and stark terms, she systematically dismantled Democratic leaders loyal to Biden’s candidacy. She called the Biden campaign doomed, citing the president’s awful polling.
“Bookmakers give him a nearly 70% chance of losing,” Noonan said. She compared Biden clinging to his position to that of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s refusal to resign under former President Barack Obama.
“If Mr. Biden steps aside he is a hero to his party forever,” she said. “If he stays and loses, he’s Ruth Bader Biden. They’ll never forgive him.”
She urged intervention among Democrats like the Republican Congressional leaders confronting Nixon ahead of his resignation in 1974: “Has anyone had The Talk with him, his family and staff? All the odds laid out, the arguments made, a plea spoken? Has anyone been frank, candid, tough?”
Noonan also dismissed claims it is too late for change, citing Lyndon Johnson shocking his party by refusing reelection in 1968. She said the resulting chaos in the party is illogical when Trump’s constant media domination harms Democrats daily.
She said Vice President Kamala Harris could be the replacement for the elderly president.
Noonan pulled no punches on the historic choice Biden faces, and asked if any of his liberal allies have confronted him with hard truths.
“The family won’t go for it. They aren’t the arbiters of American history; the White House isn’t their candy store.”
In essence, the “Never Trump” former speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan issued a drastic call for intervention to save Democrats from putting Trump back in office.
Will they listen? And would it even matter?
The Horn editorial team