AH, THE JOE THING:  We're hearing more and more stories about plots within the Democratic Party to retire the president, and remove him from the 2024 presidential ticket.  We are a year and four months away from the election, and it's virtually impossible to read the importance of stories, rumors, and dreams.  But Michael Goodwin of the New York Post, one of the best political reporters around, has some very worthwhile observations. 

Stein’s Law holds that “If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.”

The late Herbert Stein made the observation about economic trends, but his axiom perfectly describes Joe Biden’s shaky dance with political death. 

The president is trying to navigate a narrow path between two potential disasters.
Each one could prove fatal to his tenure, but if the twain shall meet, he doesn’t have a prayer. 

And it’s a near certainty they will meet because the facts we already know are overwhelmingly stacked against him and more damaging information is coming soon. 

One track of his predicament stems from general public unhappiness with his performance.
Averages of recent polls compiled by RealClearPolitics show him with an approval rating of a saggy 42%, and the number sinks to the mid-30s on his handling of the economy.
He’s taken to boasting of his policies as “Bidenomics,” which is an odd move given public sentiment about the results. 

By consistent margins of at least 3-1, voters say the nation is on the wrong track and an astonishing 71% of respondents, including half of Democrats, said in a recent survey the 80-year-old-Biden is too old to seek a second term.

His doddering nature and frequent brain freezes compound the view he’s way over the hill. 

The other track of the president’s predicament is the gathering storm related to his son.
The obvious fact that Hunter Biden is getting favored treatment from the father’s Department of Justice has broken through the media’s Praetorian Guard and the public doesn’t like the smell of it. 

Although Hunter has agreed to plead guilty to two tax violations and a gun charge later this month after a supposedly five-year investigation, he’ll likely avoid spending a day in prison. 

A sweetheart deal for a notorious family member would be political trouble for any president, but the Bidens’ scandal is mushrooming now because of the sensational testimony of IRS whistleblowers.

They allege Justice officials obstructed efforts to seek more serious charges against Hunter, tipped off his lawyers to searches and interviews and refused to let them probe whether Joe played a role in the family’s multimillion-dollar schemes. 

“The criminal tax investigation of Hunter Biden has been handled differently than any investigation I’ve ever been a part of for the past 14 years of my IRS service,” said Gary Shapley, a supervisory special agent in the Criminal Investigation unit.

He added that decisions at every stage were “benefiting the subject.” 

COMMENT:  Read the rest.  It's a good statement of where we are.  I have to believe that it is far too early to say that either Biden or Trump will head their tickets next year.   And I will not be shocked if a third party tries to make its appearance. 

A Chinese curse says, "May you live in interesting times."  We are living in very interesting times.

July 8,  2023