Republicans Want Biden To Run -- Shouldn't That Tell Us Everything?

This is much simpler than Democrats are making it seem

Built from a photo by Gage Skidmore.

Democrats are trying themselves in knots trying to figure out their best play. Should they back Biden, or should they make an all-out push for a new nominee? If Biden is replaced, then with whom? And after what process? Lawmakers are treating this like three-dimensional chess: They’re being strategic and trying to “see the whole board” — as President Bartlett told them to do — with each new poll and Biden appearance providing fresh information that will help them deftly suss out an optimal strategy.

Personally, I don’t think that the situation is three-dimensional chess. I think it’s a lever on a wall that looks like this:

What would I do? Well — noting that the lever is currently set to “lose” — I’d throw the lever to the “maybe don’t lose” position. That’s just me. I don’t think this is the irreducibly complex riddle that many Democrats are making it out to be. If you want a tour through the Hall Of Nightmares that is Biden’s polling data, I’ll provide that in a bit, but the fundamental problem is that the president’s brain is leaking oil and making a very loud thunking noise. The idea that he can serve another four years is obviously absurd. And while Democrats hem and haw in an anguished attempt to divine their optimal strategy, the Republicans know exactly what they want: They want Biden to run so that they can kick his wrinkled old ass. There is no debate happening on the Republican side, and that seems notable.