The conventional wisdom among us right-wing conspiracy nuts is that President Joe Biden, whose flub-a-dub weaknesses are on full display, would serve a year (if he can make it) and then be removed* so Vice President Kamala Harris can take over.
No longer. Biden is starting to look competent compared to Harris. King-making Democrats are beginning to seriously worry what a Harris administration would look like. And whether she be defeated in 2024 asBiden’s successor.
Her record has been one failure after another: Her assignments to head up the administration’s immigration, voter protection, space exploration and broadband internet. Her PR disasters, like her laughable “visit to the border.”
The latest folly as reported by Politico is the “hostile environment” she’s created in her office:
While much of the ire is aimed at Harris’ chief of staff [Tina Flournoy], two administration officials said the VP herself also bears responsibility for the way her office is run. “It all starts at the top,” said one of the administration officials, who like others requested anonymity to be able to speak candidly about a sensitive matter. [Emphasis added.]
“People are thrown under the bus from the very top, there are short fuses and it’s an abusive environment,” said another person with direct knowledge of how Harris’ office is run. “It’s not a healthy environment and people often feel mistreated. It’s not a place where people feel supported but a place where people feel treated like s—.”
The long knives are out. I’ve been on the journalism business long enough to know that “leaks” don’t just happen. Leaks have a purpose. To me, this onslaught came from the White House. The reporter was at least open and honest enough to quote “administration officials.” A “person with direct knowledge of how Harris’ office is run,” also is a red flag. If those anonymous sources were from inside Harris’ office, the reporter would somehow have found a way to say so, to give the report even more credibility.
Harris will be the perfect scapegoat if her former colleagues in the Senate deep six any of Biden’s grandiose plans.
So, here’s the deal, as revealed by my increasingly confused and suspicious brain: The damaging leaks will continue and grow. Her credibility will become so tarnished and laughable that she’ll be even more ineffective than she is now. Harris is “persuaded” to resign.
Who does Biden appoint to replace her? (Or, more likely, who will Biden be told to appoint?) No idea. Maybe Susan Rice or any number of behind-the-scenes Biden manipulators.
Now, the stage is set for Biden’s departure. Stepping into the White House is someone competent, energetic and possessing the “gravitas” (when is the last time you heard that word?) to be president. A sure winner if the egocentric Donald Trump decides to run again.
I know, it’s crazy. Unheard of. But wasn’t American’s being confined to their homes and children kicked out of the classrooms for a year also unheard of?
*Either by a vote of the cabinet, as provided by the Constitution, or an appeal to whatever good sense he has left. “Hey, Mr. President, you’ve reached your life-long goal of being president. You’ve done a great job, but even folks in your own party (like Nixon’s advisors) now are saying it’s time for you to move on. You’ll be cherished as a former president, a respected sage. We know that you love America so much that you’ll do what’s right.” Bingo.
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