The following article, Carville Calls Biden: The Most Tragic Figure in American Politics, was first published on The Black Sphere.
When you think back on Joe Biden’s presidency, the question begs: How do you go from 81 million votes to being called “the most tragic figure in American politics”? That’s how veteran Democratic strategist James Carville recently described the current commander-in-chief in an unvarnished interview that peeled back the façade of party unity.
Carville lamented Biden’s refusal to step aside in 2023, arguing that the Democrats could have walked into the 2024 election with a fresh face and momentum. “The most tragic figure in American politics in my lifetime is President Biden,” Carville said. He added:
“If he would have in September of 2023 or August said that he wasn’t going to run, goddamn, we would have won this election. It wouldn’t have been that close because we would have had so many frickin’ talented people that were running, and he would be sitting here right now getting ready to leave on a high note.”
Instead, Biden is limping toward the end of his term, weighed down by scandals, legislative blunders, and the drag of Hunter Biden’s legal troubles. According to Carville, the Hunter pardon issue could’ve been finessed with a new Democratic president in office—one willing to grant clemency under the guise of Biden’s “long and distinguished service.” But now? Biden’s legacy is as stained as his approval ratings.
Biden’s Presidency: A Greek Tragedy in Real Time
Carville’s remarks reveal what we’ve suspected all along: Biden was never seen as a strong candidate, even by his own party. Publicly, Democrats rallied behind him as the “unifier-in-chief,” a kindly grandfather figure who would return normalcy to the White House after the supposed chaos of Trump. Privately, they worried about his age, his mental acuity, and his lackluster record.
By mid-2023, the whispers of discontent turned into roars. Prominent Democrats began floating trial balloons to see if the party faithful would accept a Biden-free 2024. Among the loudest voices was Dean Phillips, a congressman from Minnesota, who openly called for Biden to step aside. Phillips even launched a primary challenge, arguing that Democrats needed younger, more dynamic leadership to defeat Trump. His campaign, while quixotic, underscored a growing unease within the party.
Even former Obama insiders expressed doubts. David Axelrod, Obama’s top strategist, said Biden’s age was “a major issue.” Axelrod might as well have been waving a red flag on the Titanic—Biden’s ship was taking on water, and everyone knew it.
The Left’s Plan B (and Plan C)
Carville’s frustration also sheds light on the Democrats’ contingency planning—or lack thereof. The party faced two unpalatable options:
- Dump Biden and hold a primary. This would have exposed the weakness of Kamala Harris, Biden’s anointed successor, as she likely wouldn’t win the nomination. Such an outcome would embarrass the party and alienate key constituencies.
- Force Biden to resign and make Harris president. While this would have given Harris the incumbency advantage, it would also saddle her with the baggage of Biden’s presidency. Harris, whose approval ratings make Biden’s look Rooseveltian, would be an even weaker candidate in the general election.
Ultimately, Democrats opted for a hybrid approach: pretend Biden is running while quietly undermining him. Then hand the nomination to Harris, but not the presidency.
Whatever they picked, Democrats were doomed, the candidate notwithstanding. Carville’s optimism about a “frickin’ talented” bench is misplaced. The Democratic Party’s roster of potential candidates—Newsom, Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren—is a mix of coastal elitists, ideological extremists, and charisma vacuums. None of them stood a chance against Trump, who has galvanized his base and expanded his appeal despite the endless legal assaults.
Biden’s 81 Million Votes: A Mirage?
Let’s not forget the elephant in the room: Biden’s supposed 81 million votes in 2020. The number was always suspect, given the lack of enthusiasm for his campaign and the unprecedented reliance on mail-in voting. But Democrats and their media allies insisted it was the “most secure election in history.”
Fast forward to 2024, and Biden’s approval ratings hover in the 30s. He’s now polling as the worst president of the last nine, behind even Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon. How do you reconcile that with his record-breaking 2020 turnout? The cognitive dissonance is staggering.
The Daily Mail recently reported on a poll showing that voters rank Biden as the worst president in nearly 50 years. Some 44% placed him among the bottom two, while only 14% placed him in the top tier. For context, even Nixon—who resigned in disgrace—fared better.
A Legacy of Scandal and Failure
Biden’s presidency is a cautionary tale of overpromising and underdelivering. He came into office with lofty rhetoric about unity and competence. Instead, he’s presided over:
- Rampant inflation that has decimated household savings.
- An embarrassing withdrawal from Afghanistan that left 13 U.S. service members dead and tarnished America’s reputation abroad.
- Hunter Biden’s endless scandals, from tax evasion to influence peddling, culminating in the president’s own dubious denials.
Even Carville, in his candid assessment, couldn’t ignore the elephant (or donkey) in the room: Biden’s previous and well-noted refusal to pardon Hunter is both principled and politically disastrous. Had Biden announced he wasn’t running, a new Democratic president could have quietly commuted Hunter’s sentence with minimal backlash. Instead, Biden is stuck between alienating his base and enraging the public further.
The Democrats’ Reckoning
As Carville pointed out, Biden could have exited stage left in 2023, allowing the Democrats to reset. Instead, he’s dragging the party down with him. But even without Biden, the Democrats’ problems run deeper.
The party’s obsession with identity politics, climate alarmism, and social engineering has alienated working-class voters and moderates. Their leaders are out of touch with the concerns of everyday Americans, focused more on virtue signaling than governing.
Carville’s lament isn’t just about Biden; it’s about a Democratic Party that has lost its way. The “big tent” coalition that once included blue-collar workers, suburbanites, and progressives has fractured. And no amount of wishful thinking or Newsom charm can put it back together.
Biden’s Presidency: A Case Study in Hubris
Joe Biden’s rise and fall is a story as old as politics itself—a cautionary tale of hubris and overreach. In 2020, he was marketed as the safe choice, the steady hand. But behind the scenes, even his allies doubted his capacity to lead. Now, as his presidency limps toward its conclusion, the Democratic Party is left grappling with the consequences of their Faustian bargain.
Carville’s brutal honesty is a rare glimpse into the Democrats’ internal panic. But it’s too little, too late. Biden’s legacy is already written, and it’s one of failure, scandal, and missed opportunities. The “most tragic figure in American politics”? Perhaps. But the real tragedy is what his presidency has done to the country—and to the party that put him there.
As 2024 proved, the Democrats’ bet on Biden in 2020 turned out as expected. Horrible. And while Biden is a tragic figure in American politics. He’s not alone. Maybe Carville should turn that mirror on himself?
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