What Comes Next for Joe Biden and the Democrats?

In the annals of political misadventures, last week’s debate ranks somewhere between Gerald Ford’s infamous Poland gaffe and Rick Perry’s "oops" moment. President Joe Biden’s performance was less a display of leadership and more an existential crisis played out on national television. Picture it: Biden, eyes glazed over, fumbling through answers like a man who just woke up in a parallel universe. The Democrats, in their infinite wisdom, are now faced with a conundrum that would make Kafka blush.

Camp David: The Family Intervention
After the debate debacle, Biden retreated to Camp David, ostensibly for a family gathering, but more likely for an intervention. The scene at Camp David probably resembled a cross between a family therapy session and a mob meeting where someone’s about to get whacked. Biden’s advisors, in full damage control mode, tried to downplay the fallout. Meanwhile, Democratic heavyweights like Nancy Pelosi and James Clyburn went on TV to play the role of the loyal soldier, insisting that one bad debate doesn’t define a presidency. Pelosi, with a straight face, urged, "Let us not make a judgment about a presidency on one debate." Sure, Nancy, and let’s not judge the Titanic on that one iceberg.

Public Support, Private Panic
Publicly, the Democratic brass is rallying behind Biden. Privately, however, they’re probably Googling “how to stage a political intervention” and “quick fixes for public speaking disasters.” Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, bless his heart, hinted at a “very serious conversation” about Biden’s future. Translation: the Democrats are in full-blown panic mode, wondering if they can duct tape the campaign together for another few months or if they need to start looking for the emergency exit.

Polling: The Grim Reaper’s Knock
Polling data post-debate is as brutal as a mafia shakedown. A recent CBS/YouGov poll shows that 72% of registered voters now believe Biden doesn’t have the mental and cognitive health to serve as president. That’s up seven points from the previous month. Only 28% think he should run for president, and even 46% of Democratic voters think he should call it quits. These numbers are less comforting than a fortune cookie that reads, “You’re screwed.”

The Path Forward: Clutching at Straws
Biden’s campaign is in spin mode, emphasizing his past successes and robust fundraising efforts. They might as well be rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The Democratic National Convention in August looms large. If Biden drops out before then, the ensuing chaos would make the Democratic primary look like a model of German efficiency. Vice President Kamala Harris is the obvious choice, but her polling numbers suggest she’s about as popular as a root canal. The Democrats face the unenviable task of finding someone who can unite the party and stand a snowball’s chance in hell against Trump.

Enter RFK Jr.: The Unlikely Savior?
And then there’s Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Yes, that RFK Jr.—the one the Democratic establishment has treated like the crazy uncle who keeps getting invited to Thanksgiving out of a sense of familial obligation. Despite their best efforts to dismiss him, RFK Jr. is starting to look like the Democrats’ Hail Mary pass. He’s been railing against the establishment and gaining traction with disillusioned voters. In a political landscape where reality often feels stranger than fiction, RFK Jr. might just be the plot twist no one saw coming.

Kennedy’s critique of both Biden and Trump has resonated with voters who are tired of the status quo. His campaign, once dismissed as a sideshow, is now being viewed as a viable alternative. It’s a classic underdog story, and if Hollywood has taught us anything, it’s that underdogs sometimes win—usually after a rousing montage set to inspirational music.

The Tragicomedy Continues
In the grand theater of American politics, the Democrats’ predicament is a tragicomedy for the ages. Sticking with Biden risks a Trump victory, while pivoting to a new candidate threatens internal chaos. The coming weeks will be critical in determining the future of Biden’s candidacy and the Democratic Party’s prospects in the 2024 election.

As Biden’s advisors, family, and supporters weigh their options, the American electorate watches closely, popcorn in hand, aware that the outcome of these deliberations will shape the nation's future—or at least provide some top-notch political entertainment. And who knows? Maybe RFK Jr. will be the deus ex machina that saves the day, proving once again that in politics, as in life, truth is stranger than fiction.