There goes Michigan

Detroit Free Press: "Michigan poll: Trump's edge takes notable leap in battleground state." - "An exclusive new Free Press poll of likely Michigan voters shows former President Donald Trump has taken a notable 7-percentage-point lead over incumbent President Joe Biden in the state, a result certain to further worry Democrats already pushing for Biden to abandon his reelection bid." 

Guess they ain't friends no more

Red State: "As Biden 'Fumes' at Pelosi and Obama, Here's What May Delay Any Decision About Getting Out."

I thought Joe and Barack were BFFs:

Running on spite

The Times of Israel: "Report: Biden won’t give Netanyahu ‘satisfaction’ of quitting before PM’s trip to DC" - "US president, isolating with COVID-19, is said to be furious with top Democrats for pressure on him to quit following debate flop, but resigned to prospect of pulling out of race."

Very on-brand for Biden.  I still think he won't step down.

Is Biden alive?

The Corner: "It’s Quiet at the Biden Beach House in Rehoboth — Too Quiet."

For a guy who claims he's still running for President, Biden hasn't had a single public appearance since Wednesday although his campaign intern is still tweeting for him.

How do you solve a problem like Kamala?

NY Post: "Kamala Harris proves again she’s not a better candidate than Biden."

The betting money is shifting to Kamala but everybody seems to forget one thing about her: she's terrible.  On the other hand, dropping her from the top spot would be a tacit admission that she was a DEI hire never ready for the Presidency.  Which is it?

Unbelievable

Wall Street Journal: "Trump Gunman Flew Drone Over Rally Site Hours Before Attempted Assassination - Discovery adds to growing list of stunning security lapses that almost led to former president’s killing."

Stunning is right.  Absolute clown show.

A show of endurance

Somebody at Reason liked Trump's speech: "Trump's Acceptance Speech Was Too Long—and Very Effective - He showed he's the boss of the GOP and that Joe Biden and the Democrats need to raise their game."

He put on a hell of a show not in spite of an overly long final soliloquy but because of it. Simply standing on his own two feet for a couple of hours while ranting, raving, joking, and raising his comically small fists was enough to raise the bar for Joe Biden and the Democrats in a way that virtually nobody saw coming even a few months ago.

He didn't even take a sip of water.

Speech is running looonnnngggg

About a half-hour ago, Trump said "I better finish strong" and then he kept on going.  The crowd is flagging as we approach midnight.

Wrap it up, man.

Greatest tag-team ever

The RNC had Hulk Hogan followed up with Rev. Franklin Graham.  What a combo.

Trump speaks tonight

Fox News says that he's completely re-written his speech and will not mention Biden at all.

As for me, I would love it if he opened with: "Friends, Republicans, Countrymen - lend me your ear."

Collapse

The walls are closing in.  Biden is now below 8% in the Presidential betting markets.

Update - 9pm EST: 4.7%.

AYFKM

Every time I think this Trump shooting story can't get any worse, the Secret Service digs a little deeper: "Thomas Matthew Crooks hid rifle in advance of Trump rally sniper attack, Secret Service source says - Would-be Trump assassin hid rifle ahead of deadly rally shooting, source says."

"Should we sweep the area for guns and bombs?"

"Nah, it'll be fine."

Get well soon, Mr. President

Fox News: "Biden tests positive for COVID, White House says - Biden presented Wednesday afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, White House says." 

Great speech

Wow, Vivek Ramaswamy is tearing it up tonight.  Fantastic job!

This is the slowest coup ever

Axios has a scoop!  "Scoop: Biden rebellion resurfaces on Capitol Hill." 

Sure thing, guys.

Extra - Time: "How Operation Ditch Biden Could Start Up Again After the RNC." 

Crimes of omission

Federalist: "MSNBC Admits ‘Morning Joe’ Is Deeply Damaging To The Country."

The Slack discussion prior to pulling the plug must have been wild. 

It's J.D.

Hot Air: "BREAKING: Trump Picks Vance As Running Mate."

It's a good pick, balancing generations on the ticket, and appealing to both blue collar and Rust Belt voters.  I read his book, which was OK, and saw the movie "Hillbilly Elegy" which was bad.

Biden's position on assassination: he's against it

Twitchy: "Biden Delivers Short Statement on 'Not Appropriate' Attempted Assassination of His Political Rival."  No questions were taken before Joe shuffled away.  But thank heaven he clarified his feelings about political violence.

Allegedly, Biden is going to punish us with an Oval Office address tonight and there's only one thing I want to hear from him.  I want him to acknowledge just a soupcon of blame for violent rhetoric.  For example, the day before the Trump shooting, Biden said at a rally: "Americans want a president not a dictator."

This is all part of a long list of rhetoric about the "existential threat to democracy."

Extra - Fox News: "Swing district Dem calls out parties' 'dangerous lies': 'Democracy or authoritarianism' - Lawmaker condemns language painting opponents as 'fascist'."  Good for you, buddy.

The Paper of Record:

Party That Called Trump 'Hitler' For 8 Years Shocked As Someone Tries To Assassinate Him https://t.co/9zTv1SsnMc pic.twitter.com/Wr5BNapizb

— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) July 13, 2024

I saw it happen

Red State: "The Attempt on Donald Trump: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy."

I just wanted to mention that I was watching Trump's rally live when it all went down.  There was about a 15-second span where I thought he was dead.

The Left's rhetoric incites violence

I wrote this back in December 2023: "The Washington Post calls for Trump's assassination."  

Totally called it.

Assassination attempt on Trump

He is "safe" according to the Secret Service but early reports are that a shooter with a rifle somehow got shots off and Trump was hustled off stage with a bloodied ear.

A witness on BBC said the shooter had his head blown off.  This is all very preliminary.

Biden, four days ago: "So, we're done talking about the debate, it's time to put Trump in a bullseye." 

Update via TMZ: "4:21 PM PT -- A source who has spoken with a member of the Secret Service tells TMZ, Trump was not hit by a bullet. Rather, a bullet hit his teleprompter and the glass struck him by the ear."

Update - Statement from the White House.

By the way, this appears to be a stunning failure by the Secret Service.

Update - "5:07 PM PT -- The Associated Press reports the shooting is officially being investigated by as an assassination attempt on ex-President Trump. The would-be assassin has yet to be identified, but is confirmed to be dead." 

This is the guy I saw on BBC saying he saw the whole thing:

this BBC interview with a guy outside the security perimeter who claims he saw the shooter before he fired is absolutely wild pic.twitter.com/vJpKZTxSAe

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 13, 2024

Update - Live blog from Red State with more updates. 

Update - Trump released a statement on Truth Social that stated he was shot in the ear with a bullet.

Update - Map from the NY Post:

Somebody said when the President is in town, all the hotels hundreds of yards around the POTUS hotel need to keep their curtains closed at all times.  Yet the Secret Service didn't check out a line-of-fire building about a football field away.

Final update - Give this photographer the Pulitzer right now:

Listen to Bernie!

NY Times: "Bernie Sanders: Joe Biden for President"

Enough! Mr. Biden may not be the ideal candidate, but he will be the candidate and should be the candidate. And with an effective campaign that speaks to the needs of working families, he will not only defeat Mr. Trump but beat him badly. It’s time for Democrats to stop the bickering and nit-picking.

I agree with Bernie: Democrats should rally around their commander-in-chief.

The opinion on Biden's fate is really bifurcated.  There are some commentators (like Bill Maher) who are absolutely convinced that Joe will be forced out while others (like me) just as firmly believe he will not.  What complicates the Democrats' coup is that Biden's press conference wasn't that bad and some recent polls actually show Biden tied or even ahead of Trump.  If you were Jill or Hunter, you would definitely be pushing that NPR poll under Joe's eyes and urging him to keep fighting.

The Washington Post joins the chorus

Washington Post: "Biden remains in denial. He needs to come to grips with reality." - "The time has come for the president’s allies to have a candid conversation with him."

Mr. Biden denies he is in political trouble and rejects negative polling results. We suspect Democratic fortunes would improve with a new national ticket.

Looks like the "Democracy dies in darkness" crowd doesn't believe in democracy for Joe.

August 9th

NY Post: "Bill Maher says Biden is ‘toast’, predicts date he will drop out of presidential race: ‘Walls will keep crumbling’" 

IIRC the reason why Biden needs to drop out now is that there are filing deadlines for each individual state and the switcheroo needs to get going.

Extra - High-school graduate Chuck Todd: "Chuck Todd stresses extreme urgency if Dems to jettison Joe: ‘They’ve got to do it this weekend’." 

I just want to save this for posterity

This clip aged worse than milk in a sauna pic.twitter.com/5bVHxKjGQe

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 11, 2024

Your Friday funny

Townhall: "Biden's Call With Hispanic Lawmakers Goes Off the Rails."

According to reports, Dementia Joe showed up an hour late, the Hispanic lawmakers who were known to be adversarial to Biden were not allowed to ask questions, but when one suggested that Biden step down the call was abruptly cut short.

Biden said he had time for one more question. But the host — Rep. Linda T. Sánchez — ended the meeting anyway.

Still, Levin managed to get the last word. Soon after the call, the San Diego-area congressman became the 19th congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the race.

*chef's kiss*

Biden's Waterloo

I think tonight we'll see the end of Biden's presidency.  The media is wicked pissed that they've been misled by this White House and they're also embarrassed by their own bias.

A red-hot press corps — which feels ignored, used and deceived — will get its first true unfiltered crack at grilling President Biden, the most media-sheltered president of modern times. "The dogs are loose," a Biden adviser told us.

The White House press corps was flat-out lied to by Karine Jean-Pierre the other day and you can bet that every single question Biden gets tonight will be about his brain and "Where's Jackie?" moments.  Then he'll get annoyed the press isn't asking him about NATO and it will just spiral into a shouting match.

Rumor is there are Democrats waiting in the wings for this press conference so they can use it as the rationale to call for Biden to step aside.  That will happen no matter how he performs.

Update - Well, honestly, Biden didn't do as terribly as I expected.  That means he's going to hang in the race and nobody is going to shove him aside.

Dem source on Biden’s performance at the press conference:

*adding - Biden has said he will not pardon Hunter or commute his sentence pic.twitter.com/pb5aPJufRT

— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) July 12, 2024

What you saw with your own eyes

The Corner: "Remember When Biden Was Perfectly Fine at the Hollywood Fundraiser?"

The AP added, with the strong implication that something untoward was being done to the president, “The video is the most recent in a series of clips taken at public events, some of them edited, that are being used to suggest Biden is mentally and physically unfit for office.”

The White House strenuously denied that anything was amiss at the fundraiser.

And there it was left, until now, when it has suddenly become safe for Democrats to admit the truth. We’ve now learned from his op-ed that co-host George Clooney himself was dismayed by Biden’s condition at the event, and, according to former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau on CNN earlier, everyone he talked to at the fundraiser — everyone — knew there was something wrong with Joe Biden.

In case you missed it, Clooney confirmed that it wasn't just "one bad night" with Dementia Joe:

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. 

The tide is moving against Biden now.

You don't hate the media enough

One of these guys was a Klansman and another killed a woman; the last one wasn't an "austere religious scholar" but he bought a snowball to the Senate.

I don't think the bar is that high for them

Federalist: "If You Were Duped On Biden’s Cognitive Decline, You’re Too Dumb To Be A Journalist." 

Just stop

Twitchy: "John Kirby Insists President Joe Biden Is Sharp as a Tack in Closed-Door Meetings." 

Unemployment up again

Outkick: "All-Black Radio Station Fires Host Who Interviewed Biden With White House-Supplied Questions." 

It's CYA-time in the mainstream media

The Corner: "The Media Want the Flaming Wreckage of the Biden Campaign to Explode — to Cover Their Tracks."

Don’t take my word for it, take Jill Abramson’s. Take Olivia Nuzzi’s, who just wrote an intolerable piece for New York magazine titled “The Conspiracy of Silence to Protect Joe Biden” where she unwittingly revealed that she’d been sitting on this story for over half a year. Hence the media rage: They did their job — why, look at how enthusiastically they coordinated with the White House on the “cheap fakes” story a mere two weeks ago! — but Biden failed to keep up his end of the deal, and now he’s going to pay. Not for being a senile vegetable posing as commander in chief while directed by a coterie of Jill Biden’s secretaries, mind you, but for dropping the curtain and revealing how deep an inside game the press has always played with the Democrats. “We simply had no idea!” is not going to wash with an American public that itself has been deeply concerned with Biden’s decline for years, only to be told how ignorant we were for falling for “cheap fakes” and Fox News propaganda.

Emphasis added.  Much more background at Instapundit.

Everybody act surprised

Hot Air: "NYT: White House Supplying Radio Hosts with Questions for Biden Interviews."

It's funny how things that conservatives have been claiming for years have become conventional wisdom.  Something must have changed.

Troll level: Master

Great audience control from the Biden campaign here:

The debate was not an aberration

Axios: ""He's toast": Biden's ABC interview flops with Hill Democrats." 

I'm hearing a lot of "when, not if" comments on Biden's withdrawal. 

I'm going to say something nice about the press

Ya know, despite the claims of bias, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash did a good job at the one (and only) debate between Trump and Biden last week.  And then tonight - despite my reservations - George Stephanopoulos did a direct and honest interview with Joe Biden.

The quip about comparing crowds between Biden and Trump was deadly, man.

I mean, better late than never I guess.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Morning Joe

Joe Scarborough, a few months ago: Biden is better than he’s ever been.

Joe Scarborough, post-debate: Thank God it’s June, we have time to replace him. This is the last chance.

Joe Scarborough, now: Everyone slow down, it’s only July. There is plenty of time.

Incredible. 🤡 pic.twitter.com/AqdefetDkX

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) July 5, 2024

Yes, we noticed

Real Clear Politics: "They Lied to You"

"Democracy Dies in Darkness," reads The Washington Post's masthead slogan, conveniently adopted mere weeks after former President Donald Trump took office in 2017. Come again? We don't actually know who is running the country right now. It certainly isn't Uncle Joe. Now that is some serious "darkness."

Never forgive, and never forget, what these lying miscreants have done to us -- and to the republic.

The death spiral of the Washington Post is especially gratifying mostly due to this smug tagline.

Extra - CNN: "Biden’s mental fitness could have been better covered leading up to the debate, some White House reporters acknowledge."

Oh, do tell, do tell: "Media Didn’t Report On Biden’s Senility Because Republicans Noticed It." 

Let's turn our attention to Kamala

NY Post: "Dems are kidding themselves: Kamala is a terrible — and terribly awkward — candidate." 

About that "leaked" video

PJ Media: "Trump Says Biden Is ‘Quitting the Race’ and Brags That He ‘Got Him Out’."

This is just Trump trying to goad Biden into staying in the race. 

Kamala or bust?

The Washington Post has an opinion piece titled "If not Biden, who?"  I LOL'd at this comment:

You all live in a fantasy world. How do you think the Democratic base would respond to the VP, a woman and POC getting passed over? I mean, do you guys actually get paid to come up with this fan ficition? The Post is slipping, and slipping fast.

That's not to mention that almost none of the money raised nor the campaign apparatus would transfer to a replacement candidate. Again, this entire piece is just fantasy world stuff.

What's funny is that (allegedly) Biden decided to run for re-election because he believed that only he could defeat Trump and Kamala would be a disaster.  Now the Democrats are trapped in their own identity politics snare.

I believe (and the betting markets agree) that Kamala will be the nominee, mostly due to the campaign funding rules.  Biden won't resign and he won't be driven out by the 25th Amendment; there is zero chance he'll allow himself to go down in history in that manner.  But I think he'll be forced out as the nominee (somehow) and the Democrats will throw in behind Kamala.

[cringey cackle]

No notecards, George

Legal Insurrection: "ABC News Moves 15-Minute, Pre-Taped Biden Interview To Friday Primetime" - "It won’t help. And may well make things worse for Team Biden."

The general consensus is that this interview should be live or presented unedited.  I'm less concerned about ABC News doing some favorable editing than I am about allowing Biden to use notecards.  As I've said many times: he cannot function without a teleprompter, a laminated binder, or notecards. 

The Presidency isn't just reading a script.

"Fact-based reporting"

The New York Times literally citied videos of Biden freezing up yesterday, that two weeks ago they called misleading cheap fakes. https://t.co/bU1sP5DCUK

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) July 3, 2024

C'mon, man: there ain't gonna be a second debate

Hugh Hewitt: "Trump dominated the debate. He doesn’t need a second one." 

Not to worry.  It's one and done.

Money money money

Fox News: "Uncharted territory: Could campaign finances keep Biden on the ballot?" - "An FEC commissioner said there are 'too many hurdles' to replacing Biden as the nominee."

And now the Boston Globe

Boston Globe: "Why Biden should step aside." 

Harris is now higher in the betting market than Biden

That's it.  That's the headline.  Amazing.  

No, Joe, keep fighting!

NY Times: "Biden Told Ally That He Is Weighing Whether to Continue in the Race - The president’s conversation is the first indication that he is seriously considering whether he can recover after a devastating performance on the debate stage in Atlanta on Thursday."

Biden needed to staunch the bleeding immediately after the debate either with a free-form press conference or a contentious interview.  Instead, a week later, he has a softball interview planned with George Stephanopoulos who has been openly hostile to Trump in every appearance.  Nobody is going to buy what they're selling.

Flashback - just a week ago:

I know — I know — I know right from wrong.  (Applause.)  And I know how to do this job.  (Applause.)  I know how to get things done.  (Applause.)  And I know like millions of Americans know: When you get knocked down, you get back up.  (Applause.)

Get up, Joe!  You need to work your 11-4 day.

Lot of resume updating in the West Wing

Legal Insurrection: "Report: ‘Anxiety is Only Increasing’ Inside Biden’s White House" - “Everyone is freaking the f*** out.” 

A conspiracy of lies

The Corner: "‘How Did the Media Miss the Biggest Story in American Politics?’ Some of Us Didn’t!"

I think the clearest answer is that a lot of people in the major mainstream media are really lousy at their jobs, because they wake up every morning asking, “How can I convince people that Democrats are good and Republicans are bad?” instead of asking, “What’s going on in the world, and what do my readers, viewers, or listeners need to know about it?”

The media has destroyed both itself and Joe Biden by covering up his infirmity for years as conservatives were posting "Weekend at Bernies" memes.

Good.

Let's go Joe!

Fox News: "Biden donors 'freaked out' by his reliance on teleprompters at private fundraisers."

That's right: even at intimate events with friendly crowds, Biden can't recite his campaign talking points without a crutch.  I've known this for a while because if you compare the transcripts for these events they are identical.

Everything's fine!

Washington Post: "Biden team circulates poll showing no change in race after bad debate."

Keep calm and support Joe, Democrats.

Schedule update

The White House says Dementia Joe will give a statement on the Supreme Court's immunity ruling at 7:45pm tonight.

But - really - this is just an opening so that Biden can take some shouted questions and then declare that he's staying in the race.  That's the only reason they shoehorned in this last-minute event.

Update - Meh, no questions taken, just reading off the teleprompter and shuffling away.

Ignore Biden like the Borg

In the Star Trek universe, there is a species known as The Borg.  A collective hive mind, the members of the Borg will not react to anybody or anything unless they consider them a threat.  Thus there are several episodes where the Star Trek: TNG characters will board the Borg ship and none of the Borg drones react until they consider something a danger.

Republicans should now ignore Biden like the Borg.  Biden is no longer a threat.

In fact, we should amplify the support of politicians like Senator Chris Coons and Governor Wes Moore.  Biden is the best!  Keep going, buddy, you're doing great.

Borg collective: "Biden is sharp and engaged...behind closed doors.  Also: resistance is futile."

OMG

NY Post: "Biden claims at posh NJ fundraiser that his debate debacle impressed undecided voters."

He's staying in the race, folks.

The Torricelli switcheroo

Federalist: "Can Democrats Just Dump Biden And Move On? It’s Not That Simple."

Mostly because of Kamala.  

Won't work anymore

Washington Free Beacon: "The Gaslighting of the American Public." - "Believe it or not, some of us were not actually surprised by President Joe Biden’s catastrophe of a debate performance." 

Everybody knows

For years - years! - I've been complaining about the mainstream media's long march away from fairness and objectivity.  Last night's debate exposed the media as hopeless shills for the Democrats, covering up Biden's infirmities, because Orange Man Bad.  The media's downfall is condign punishment.

Here's Bari Weiss: "They Knew"

The debate was not just a catastrophe for President Biden. And boy—oy—was it ever.

But it was more than that. It was a catastrophe for an entire class of experts, journalists, and pundits, who have, since 2020, insisted that Biden was sharp as a tack, on top of his game, basically doing handstands while peppering his staff with tough questions about care for migrant children and aid to Ukraine.

Anyone who committed the sin of using their own eyes on the 46th president was accused, variously, of being Trumpers; MAGA cult members who don’t want American democracy to survive; ageists; or just dummies easily duped by “disinformation,” “misinformation,” “fake news,” and, most recently, “cheapfakes.”

Ah, yes, the "cheap fakes."  That's the last time we'll hear that phrase since Americans saw the debate video with their own eyes.  All the media's so-called integrity is now blown to hell:

The lies won’t work anymore. Biden’s dementia isn’t a “cheap fake.” It’s not “misinformation.” Last night the sad truth was plain to see, live on national television.

Now our moral, ethical, and intellectual betters in the press have no choice but to say the same thing the Republicans have been saying for four years, without ever admitting that their bitterest enemies were right.

Biden is done and he's taken the media down with him.  

It's been a glorious 24 hours if you're a conservative (like me) who has been seething at the chummy and mutual behavior of the Democrats and the media.  "I told you so" isn't enough.  Trump Derangement Syndrome has destroyed both Biden and the media and now everybody knows.

Wow

So I was wrong about Biden debating but was OH SO RIGHT why he shouldn't have.

I can't stay up (gotta work tomorrow) but watch the prediction markets.  Trump is currently +18 on the betting odds and by tomorrow it will be +48.

You know why.

— Stephen Green (@VodkaPundit) June 28, 2024

Well, I was wrong wrong WRONG

Barring some last minute surprise, it looks like Dementia Joe will join the debate tonight.  I guess he invested a full week to debate prep, so he's going through with it.

I can't remember the last time he was without a teleprompter, a binder, or notecards so it's going to be interesting to see how he functions without them.

That's all.

You know that's gotta hurt

The Hill: "Swing-state ‘deciders’ trust Trump more than Biden to protect democracy: Poll"

Voters in key states who will likely decide the election trust former President Trump more than President Biden to handle threats to democracy, according to a survey released Wednesday.

The poll, conducted by The Washington Post/Schar School, surveyed voters across six swing states and identified a subgroup of respondents labeled as “deciders.” It found that 38 percent of “deciders” said Trump would do a better job of handling threats of democracy to the U.S., while 29 percent said Biden and 23 percent said neither.

Good gravy.  The Biden campaign has gone all-in on the January 6th/Grave Threat to Democracy narrative and Americans just aren't buying it. 

I'm just spitballing here but maybe turning the country into a banana republic with Soviet show trials for invented charges that have never been used before was a bad idea.

Turns out voters think prosecuting your political opponent isn't very Democratic. https://t.co/Cvrrrj1uDf

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) June 26, 2024

No s--t, Sherlock

CNN: "Outside advisers urging Biden team to focus on Trump – not first-term record."

Several top Democrats have issued stark warnings to President Joe Biden’s camp, urging them to spend more time going directly after former President Donald Trump and less time – if any – pointing to the president’s policy record.

The reason is simple: Talking about Biden’s policy achievements is not resonating with voters.

“He wants the credit, but it’s not working,” one top Democrat, who recently shared these concerns with the campaign, said of Biden. “He needs to stop.”

I simply refuse to believe this debate is going forward.  There's going to be a sudden "international crisis" or some other such excuse to keep Dementia Joe off the stage.  

Put aside Biden's mental infirmity and his deep reliance on notecards and teleprompters.  He has two choices in this debate, neither one of them good: 1) gaslight on his record or 2) go after Bad Orange Man.  Who in America has not heard this latter drumbeat for nine years now?  There's zero evidence that the "convicted felon" mantra has or will move the needle.

The Biden camp seems to be congealing around the slogan that "Biden is for you while Trump is just for himself."  I don't see how this moves Americans who are beset by inflation and illegal immigration, wishing for the days when the world wasn't on fire.

Unconstitutional bribery

Hot Air: "Double Blow to Biden's Unconstitutional Student Loan Forgiveness Scheme"

Biden knows his blatant sop to young voters in an election year is unconstitutional. He brags about working around the Supreme Court's ruling against it. Biden is transferring student debt repayments from students who took out the loans to taxpayers. The loan debt doesn't magically disappear. Ordinary taxpayers are on the hook.

It appears we're now in a loop where Biden ignores the law and then courts have to issue new rulings to shut down the latest iteration of his illegal scheme.

Inside Out 2 = great movie!

Outkick: "Disney Actually Released A Non-Woke Kids Movie, And It’s Doing Well Financially."

Hollywood in Toto: "‘Inside Out 2’ Leaves the Lectures Off Screen."

I went to the movies this weekend for the first time since "The Holdovers" to see Pixar's latest "Inside Out 2."  Great time.  Without giving too much away, our beloved Riley is now 13 and puberty has brought on a whole range of new emotions, mostly Anxiety.  You care about Riley as a character and you care about the characters inside of Riley, especially Joy who has to face up to the reality of growing up.

Pro-tip: stay until the very end for the post-credits scene.  Four stars.

Why are you swinging your arms like that, Riley?!?  Sheesh.

The media runs with White House talking points

Independent Journal Review: "CBS News Issues Update After Getting Called Out for Falsely Labeling Video of Biden ‘Digitally Altered’."

Western Journal: "CBS Forced to Delete Segment After Most Embarrassing Biden Reporting in History Exposed On-Air."

CBS "News" went all-in on the "cheap fake!" characterization preferred by Biden's White House until people looked at the video and said "what is fake?"

This is the Biden's campaign's new strategy: don't believe your lying eyes.  

Too late, they realized their mistake

Crowd Goes Dead Silent as Bill Maher Realizes “Hush Money” Trial Was a BIG MISTAKE

BILL MAHER: “The trial in New York, the one he [Trump] got convicted for, was the greatest fundraising bonanza ever. He was lagging behind Biden, and now he's pulled quite a bit ahead. That trial… pic.twitter.com/lATiJBVaj0

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) June 22, 2024

The gaslighting isn't working

Hot Air: "NY Times Readers Aren't Buying the Democratic Talking Point About 'Cheap Fake" Videos."

Lawfare in America

Excellent article here from WSJ: "Why Republicans Don’t Abandon ‘Felon’ Trump - They see the Democrats’ political use of the justice system as a more serious threat to democracy."

This is me:

Many Republicans who have never been Trump supporters—who are disgusted by his personal immorality, appalled by his inflammatory and often uninformed rhetoric, and unconvinced by his claims that the 2020 election was stolen—believe that Democratic prosecutors are waging lawfare against Mr. Trump. Many Republicans who condemned his part in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol and thought he should have been impeached and convicted for it now consider the legal crusade against Mr. Trump to be as threatening to democracy as what happened that day. Democrats need to understand why.

In 2016, I voted for Marco Rubio in the primary and saw certain defeat with Trump who - at the time - I did not consider to be a real Republican.  Now I'm all-in on MAGA because this banana republic B.S. cannot profit.

Using the criminal-justice system to handicap the opposing political party is a deep-dyed violation of democratic norms—something we expect from authoritarian regimes, not in a mature, well-functioning democracy. This isn’t to say that members of the opposing party ought to be exempt from prosecution, but any such prosecution should be for real crimes that would be brought against defendants of either party. If Democrats want to be taken seriously when they claim to be defending democracy, they should take a long, hard look in the mirror and see the damage they are doing.

As detailed in the article, the prosecutors couldn't find a direct crime so they had to invent one just for Trump and Trump alone.  The Democrats were warned this lawfare would elect Trump and that's exactly what's happening.

Democrats in a nutshell

The Corner: "Ben Kamens Is a Perfect Spokesman for the Democratic Party"

“Just got a call to let me know my student debt has been canceled. This is why elections matter. Thanks @JoeBiden.”

Ben Kamens, the communications director for Representative Marcy Kaptur (D., Ohio), posted that on X today. It included a picture of the letter he received from Nelnet, the company that serviced his student loans. The letter begins, “Congratulations! The Biden-Harris administration has forgiven your federal student loan(s) listed below with Nelnet in full.”

Kamens’s two loans were taken out in 2010. The original principal balances were $2,750 and $5,500. Again, he posted this on X for the entire world to see.

As the text of his message demonstrates, he’s not the least bit ashamed about the fact that he, a grown man and college graduate with a full-time job, was apparently unable to repay debt with a principal of $8,250 over a span of 14 years.

In related news: "Student loan relief contributing to 27% jump in projected federal budget deficit, per CBO."

Whenever Republicans pass a tax cut, Democrats scream that letting Americans keep more of their own money "wasn't paid for."  Well, this little defiance of the Supreme Court isn't paid for.  I'm sure the mainstream media will be all over this.

Extra - Freeloader Ben has been having a good time spending money.

Biden won't debate

Here's your regular update.  PJ Media: "The Media Knows Biden Will Lose the Debate With Trump."

MSNBC - naturally - is making pre-emptive excuses:

Can anyone explain how Joe Biden, whose campaign set the terms of the debate, is at a structural disadvantage? The rules they proposed — which Trump agreed to — were designed to benefit Joe Biden, yet Wagner feels the need to preemptively make excuses for Biden’s anticipated poor performance. Not only will there be no audience present, but there will be no opening statements, microphones will be muted when it’s not the candidate’s turn, and it will be just one hour, not the usual 90 minutes. 

The media is desperate.  They know what's coming.  Biden's biggest mistake was agreeing to no pre-written notes and he simply cannot function without them.

Nobody cares

Hot Air: "CBO: National Debt Will Pass $50 Trillion in 10 Years."

The national debt is an abstract that currently affects nobody and nobody will care until it becomes an intractable problem, whereupon it will be too late to stop Frankenstein's monster.

"The media gaslighting is embarrassing."

Federalist: "Stop Trying To Convince Me Joe Biden Isn’t A Confused, Doddering Old Man." 

Another executive action on immigration

Dementia Joe lets his executive action pen go wild whenever it comes to letting more illegals into the country but - gosh darn it - he just can't do anything at all to enforce the law unless Donald Trump says so.

The Corner: "Amnesties All the Way Down"

The amnesty the White House announced today is simply the latest — and maybe not even the largest — of its many unilateral decrees legalizing and/or letting into the country individuals who have no right to be in the United States. 

Just like Biden's YOLO student loan forgiveness scheme, I hope Democrats remember this latest perversion of the law when Trump is back in office.  Anything goes, man: you opened the door.

Your lyin' eyes

PJ Media: "White House Denies Biden Froze at Hollywood Fundraiser."

Sharp as a tack...behind closed doors, we've been assured.

Imagine believing this

Twitchy: "Yeah, Go With THAT Strategy: Axios Says Hollywood Stars Could Be the Key to Biden's Campaign."

In case you hadn't noticed, the producers of the Academy Awards had to tell actors to STFU because Americans were tired of being lectured to by Hollywood phonies.

Hey, how's the box office lately?  Have you considered making another "strong girlboss" movie?

NYT is gonna NYT

Which means: simping for Democrats.  Althouse: "The Biden campaign is a disaster and this is what the NY Times dredges up?"

This is the stupidest thing I've ever seen in The New York Times.

Competition is fierce!

Time to recalibrate the "battleground states"

Red State: "Shock Polls: Trump Edges Biden in Two Blue States That Haven't Gone With the GOP for President in Decades"

Those states are Virginia and Minnesota.  

Real Clear Polling has a running update of seven battleground states but - let's face it - four of them are going to Trump.  (Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina and Georgia.)  The battleground has shifted.  Time to add Virginia, Minnesota, and how about Maine? 

Extra - Wall Street Journal: "Virginia Hasn’t Backed a Republican for President in Two Decades. Is It About to Flip?" 

Joe ain't got no rizz

Ace: "NYT: Biden Is Trying to Get TikTokers and "Influencers" on His Side But They Don't Trust Him and Think He's Cringe"

The subtext of this story is that, denials notwithstanding, the Biden campaign is paying influencers to shill for Uncle Joe.

The slightest of pushbacks

PJ Media: "Even the WH Correspondents’ Association Is Sick and Tired of Biden's Press Conference 'Rules'."

She concluded the statement with what sounds like a barb at Biden: “WHCA would welcome more opportunities to pose a range of questions to the president in a press conference setting.”

It's telling that even the more sycophantic press members see fit to push back against the "rules" that Biden insists govern his press conferences. It makes one wonder if they're beginning to get tired of his shtick, too.

Maybe!  But you ain't gonna get that press conference.  Also: Biden won't debate.

Of course

Reason: "The Mainstream Media Is Still in Denial About Hunter Biden's Laptop - Case in point: The Washington Post's Philip Bump."

Speaking of which: "Charles C.W. Cooke Takes Philip Bump APART for Refusing to Admit He Eff'd Up Hunter Laptop Story."

It's a mystery why the Washington Post is a dying newspaper.

Sweden leads the way for Europe

Wall Street Journal: "Europe Follows Sweden in Tilting to the Populist Right - The new right’s success has alerted liberals to the threat to social cohesion from mass immigration."

Wonder why the immigrant backlash started in Sweden?  Probably all the grenade attacks: "Sweden’s new normal: Bombs in the suburbs on a weeknight." 

Nothing will happen

He's a Democrat.  Fox News: "House votes to hold Garland in contempt, refer him for criminal charges at own DOJ" - "Republicans went after Garland for not handing over the Hur-Biden audio tapes."

Hunter's conviction

I don't care much about the Hunter Biden gun crime for this very reason: "Hunter’s Conviction Is A Fig Leaf To Cover The Biden Family’s More Serious Crimes." 

Have you considered calling them "racist"?

Ace: ""Far-Right" Parties Make Big GAINZZZ in European Parliament and the Leftwing Media Is Angry."

No kidding.  The hyperventilation on NPR this afternoon was something else.  Positively apocalyptic.  Whelp, you didn't want to protect the borders and this is whatcha got, Europe.

More insight from the Paper of Record:

Biden Asks Why Europe Didn't Just Arrest Conservative Candidates Before Election https://t.co/3MgAh4kIB4 pic.twitter.com/HcP16crCUA

— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) June 10, 2024

The threats to democracy are coming from inside the house

Jonathan Turley: "Can democracy survive the ‘defenders of democracy’?" - "The most obvious threats today to the democratic system are coming from the left, not the right." 

The NY Times suddenly decides to do its job

NY Times: "Biden Loves to Tell Tall Tales. We Cut Them Down to Size. - By President Biden’s account, he was a fierce civil rights activist in his youth, had an uncle who fell prey to cannibals and used to drive an 18-wheeler."

The cynic in me suggests this is a way for the Times to get this out well before the election so they can claim they covered Biden's perpetual lies like an honest newspaper.

I was fooled. Not.

Biden takes unscripted questions from reporters in France, and jogs off stage showing his tremendous vigor.

Just kidding. None of that happened. pic.twitter.com/0gfpCDj9lv

— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) June 8, 2024

At this event dubbed "remarks to the press," Dementia Joe read directly off his laminated binder, barely looking up, then bid a hasty retreat.  It is so very rare when he has an unscripted event and when he does (like the CNN interview), it's a disaster. 

This is interesting

Wall Street Journal: "Wall Street Moves to Texas - Financial firms want competition for the NYSE and Nasdaq." - "New York politicians, watch out. A new stock exchange based in Texas could soon challenge Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange—and the Empire State’s status as America’s financial capital."

Population, business, and now finance seems to be gravitating towards the red states. 

We found the collusion in Washington

Victor Davis Hanson: "Dems, media fool no one: White House is knee-deep in Trump prosecutions." 

Plagiarist

Dim bulb Biden pretty much copied Ronald Reagan's classic D-Day speech: "Pointe Du Hoc- Biden’s Sad Echo."

Oh, cool, World War 3

NY Post: "NATO preparing for potential ground war with Russia — including plans for US troop involvement." 

Can't we just go back to leaving billions of dollars of equipment to the Taliban? 

Let me just leave this meme right here

The Nation: "Under a Second Trump Term, the DHS Will Be Even Harsher Than Before."

"The game is up"

I've written about the crisis at the Washington Post but Ace (unsurprisingly) has a much funnier take:

Listen to this guy's answer. It's an energizing spa day for your boner.

"Don't we need our brilliant social journalists and service journalists as embedded in our core product to make sure that people are actually reading the thing that's out at the center of the mission of the Washington Post?" one staffer asked, to which Lewis replied, "You haven't done it. I've listened to the platitudes. Honestly, it's just not happening."

I love how this person used such flowery and woke language in xir's question and the publisher responded: "No, you suck." 

Biden won't debate

Zero point zero chance of it happening.

Wall Street Journal: "Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping."

Jim Geraghty condenses the article here: "What Did the President Know, and How Long Did He Remember It?"

On the menu today: Way back in June 2022, I wrote, “I think the single most predictable ‘bombshell’ of the coming years is that sometime in 2025, someone like Bob Woodward or Robert Costa will publish a book with a title like Perpetual Crisis: Inside the Biden White House, and we will ‘learn’ something like, ‘the president’s official health report said he was in fine shape for his age. But behind the scenes, Jill Biden, Ron Klain, and Susan Rice were deeply concerned the president’s health was rapidly declining, and that he would soon be unable to perform his duties.’” This morning, the Wall Street Journal takes us another half-step toward that minimally shocking revelation, interviewing more than 45 sources and offering a grim portrait of President Biden behind the scenes: forgetful, mumbling, increasingly reliant on notes to remember basic facts, and seemingly oblivious to his own administration’s policies and decisions. 

I don't mean to keep harping on this sick man, but he brings it on himself with his unearned self-regard and the contempt he pours upon half the country. 

Historic figure Karine Jean-Pierre will be out soon repeating the story about how she can't keep up with Dynamo Joe...behind closed doors:

The media explain Biden’s “stellar mental abilities” with all the fervor of Sasquatch hunters. “I’ve seen it, it’s real, but it is impossible to capture on film.” https://t.co/lj54B7YdSS

— Magills (@magills_) June 5, 2024

Good Lord, Morning Joe, have a soupcon of respect for yourself. 

The failing media has its priorities

Outkick: "Washington Post Is Failing But Some Staffers Are Only Concerned With Diversity."

Don Surber: "Media pays for getting Trump wrong." 

After losing half their readership and $77 million over the past three years, the Washington Post replaced their diversity hire with a bunch of white guys.  The newsroom was not amused. 

Dementia Joe speaks to Time magazine

Here's the transcript from Time.  It was another train wreck full of non-sequiturs, (unintelligible) moments, and outright lies - so many that Time felt obliged to include a fact-check.

What's striking about this interview is how Biden falls back onto the same lines and tropes, without deviation, that he's been using for three years.  For example:

"And what do you say to Americans who are worried about [your age]?"

Biden: Watch me. Look, name me a president that’s gotten as much done as I've gotten done in my first three and a half years. When all of you wrote in Time magazine I couldn't get any of it done.

OMG, the "watch me" thing again?  Yeah, we've been watching Joe.  Also, the interview is dotted with misremembered history to provide the basis for a humblebrag moment.  Everybody doubted the great Joe Biden and he proved them wrong!  His invented stories about European leaders insisting he must win is part of the same mythology.

Don't change a thing, Joey.  You're doing great.

The media is trash

I guess the disembodied knife just "went in" to this policeman.

Just amazing work honestly… pic.twitter.com/LOXFJu1l6k

— EducatëdHillbilly™ (@RobProvince) June 3, 2024

Biden won't debate

Hot Air: "Why Joe Biden's Hur Interview Recording Was Hidden."

So why would this transcript be altered in that fashion? That much should be obvious. It's the same reason that Biden is refusing to allow the recording to be made public. The removal of awkward pauses ("uh... um") and repeated words ("and... and") makes Biden sound less like a cognitive mess. If he started rambling and losing the thread in the middle of the unscripted interview, that would look even worse as he pursues his reelection bid. Having an audio tape floating around in the media could be politically toxic.

Those cognitive deficits won't disappear in a debate and will probably be exacerbated.  This is why Dementia Joe gives so few media interviews and no press conferences.  He won't debate.

Extra - "Deepfake privilege?"

Lavrentiy Beria nods

Old and busted: "Give me the man, and I will find the crime."

New and shiny: "Bragg...pushed his prosecutors to scour the penal code for a workable theory."

But don't call it a Soviet show trial.