Hey there, folks. We have just heard from President Biden about why he now thinks the best way for him to serve the country is to not serve a second term. And with that, welcome to this very special episode of Amy and TJ. Robes. We have now seen and heard from President Biden for the first time since his decision to get out of the race. And what were you expecting versus what we got?
Well, okay, so a lot of things actually, So I knew it would be probably short, but it was much shorter than I expected. Eleven twelve minutes depending on who was doing the timing.
Started on time eight o'clock Eastern.
Start, run on time, and I clocked it as a twelve when he was done. So that was a little shocking at just how short it was. I was surprised that he never explained why he was getting out of the race ever addressed the issues about the accusations about his mental acuity. He never even touched on that, and he barely spoke. I think it was one line about the woman he endorsed, Kamala Harris. So those things all surprised me.
Let's go back here, we folks. The set up here was that This was the speech, and with this was the legacy speech. This is when he was supposed to talk about what he has done as president and why he's getting out of the race and for it to be for the better event of the country. Now he did do this from the Oval Office. This was a prime time speech. He was in a navy suit. That's a royal blue tie. He looked, he looked sharp, He looked pretty good. He's gotten a little rest, I suppose
because he has been in isolation with COVID. But some of the details and things we couldn't see and couldn't know while the speech was going on if you were watching it on televisions, that his family was in the room. He had a number of members of his family robes that were lining the wall. So they were sitting around
the wall of the old office. And who was it that was sitting actually closest to him along that while wall is one of the family members that a lot of people say he should have been trying to distance himself from.
Yeah, and someone who I have spent quite a bit of time with, Hunter Biden. He was right next to him, and his daughter Ashley was next to Hunter, and notably doctor Jill Biden, his wife was at the far end. So but yeah, that look, this was a historic moment. This was a painful moment for him personally, for the family. He absolutely did not want to get out of the race. This was not something that he personally wanted to do. There was clearly political pressure, and some people have suggested
this was even a political intervention of sorts. So this resignation wasn't necessarily something he chose. A lot of people have said he was forced out. So this had to be an incredibly painful evening for President Biden and for every member of his family who supported him.
Painful. It adds to the political theater we have seen, but it's been historical theater, it seems in this particular cycle. But here we are watching and I guess not something I would ever think I would see necessarily in my lifetime. This wasn't a resignation, But this was a sitting president deciding not to voluntarily deciding. Okay, we can yes, some people will debate that word yea if this was voluntary, but he's making the choice to step aside. So you've
got in our history. Lyndon Johnson, I guess was the most famous and what was the line, I will not accept what's the line he had the very famous line about not accepting the nomination? Correct, you know what I'm talking nineteen sixty eight.
That's how far you have to go back. So many people presentaries included this is the first time in our lifetimes we have seen a sitting president stand back and say I will not I will not run for president again, despite the fact that he had been elected through the primary process to be the nominee.
And it's so rare. We up to forty six, right, we have forty six presidents, so we're talking what we got Coolidge, Truman, Hayes, you can polk. I believe we had several that this actually happened in our history, but it's just such a rare thing to take place. So, you know, this was a tough and was emotional night and something still he did not want to do so.
But the content, I guess ropes of what he was trying to get across tonight, and he uses line you'll see it everywhere is that we are we don't kings don't rule here, and that was really a theme of what his speech was. He started off pretty much that way, saying, this is not who we are. We have presidents. Our presidents are not kings. And he never mentioned Donald Trump a single time during the speech. He never even said anything like the other candidate. He didn't say the other side.
But he tried to Roways make that point that he was doing this as a matter of showing who we are the republic. That is an idea that we haven't quite made it there, but we are still trying.
So he talked about how he revered the office of the presidency, but that he loved his country more and that was one of the reasons why he said he was stepping down. But as you point out, he never mentioned the other party. He never mentioned Donald Trump, and yet he did make this about protecting democracy directly implying that voting for Donald Trump would be a vote against democracy. And I think so a lot of folks who are undecided or who are on the side of Trump look
at this as something that didn't feel genuine. So here we have President Biden saying that he is trying to unite the country. He said, we have a choice between hope and hate, unity versus division. He asked whether or not character in public life still mattered, and so he was clearly drawing a line in the sand and basically saying that a vote for Trump would be a vote against democracy. So this wasn't necessarily a speech to the
American public. It absolutely was a political speech. And so he had the opportunity perhaps not to do that, and yet I understand we're in a political season that is as tough as it's ever been, and so he took the opportunity to to the party line, but did it in the veil or acting as though he were doing this for the American people. And so I think a lot of people who and this is a divided country, you look at this and say, you know, he could have been a little bit more unifying.
I mean, I absolutely think that he believes he was being unifying in what he was saying. I know politics always plays into this, but I think he genuinely believes that the country needs to come together. I think a lot of people believe the country needs to come together, and he thought this was. Yeah, he talked about the uniting the country, but he also talked about uniting the party.
He spoke specifically about the onus being on you, the voter, the American public, to save the democracy is the line. He you saved the democracy and the onus is on you to do so, and his role in doing that is to step aside. It's a step aside, he sa it is now. The best way forward is for him to pass the torch to another generation. So there's a time and place or experience that time in place is not now. The time in plays is now for a
younger generation and youngunger voices. We understand. I mean, this guy's been in public office for fifty years and maybe some are arguing that the biggest service he has done to the country is to stop serving the country. That's got to be tough to stomach tonight. It's a tough night with the Biden family.
Absolutely, it is a difficult thing to do. And I was I think anybody could put themselves in that position and think, Wow, this thing. You love this thing, You've worked your whole life for this thing. You truly and I do believe in his genuine care and concern for our country in the direction it's headed and where he wants to see it go. So his heart is in
the right place. But it's just it is a tough thing to watch, and it had to have required so much strength to be able to deliver that speech with not just the world watching, but his family even more so watching him just from a few feet away. So the humbling, humbling experience. And you know, we all age, We all, I think, fear what happens with age and where we're all headed. And so it's tough to watch because we're all headed in that direction and we won't
be our sharpest the older we get. And just watching him, unfortunately have to acknowledge that in a very public way is difficult to witness. It certainly is. But he did not go into any of those details about where he is mentally. And you know, maybe this is silly of me, maybe this is the woman in me, but I actually kind of wanted to hear how he felt emotionally about it.
Maybe that doesn't matter, but I kind of wanted to see the human side of what he's been through over the last few days and what led him to this decision. I was hoping that maybe we would hear some of that, because that just would have felt, i don't know, honest and real and human, and I think I'm desperate for that in politics. And maybe that's just a silly thing for me to even want to reach too, because no
one would dare do that. But I actually think it's so powerful when people are human, and I just I wanted a little bit more of that.
But you know, it was a very human We all see people in our families grow older. He did not address this in that way we can all kind of relate. But watching him on TV tonight, if you've got a chance to, or you'll see clips at some point, there's one thing I think the most powerful images of the night are the still images of his family lined up along the walls of that oval to watch this guy they love have to do something that we know he did not want to do, so he will no matter what.
He's going to remain president. He says he's still got some work to do over the next several months, things he wants to get accomplished. He mentioned some of them, including Supreme Court reform. Tonight, Again, like I said, he did not mention Donald Trump by name, but he did mention Kamala Harris like you were saying ropes. Yes, it makes sense now that I sit here, But at the
time I thought he thought there'd be two sentences. There was essentially one she's experienced, she's tough, she's capable, and that was kind of it. But maybe that's okay. This is not supposed to be her night. She'll have plenty of attention and eyeballs on her. But that was the nod he still gave tonight.
Yeah, I guess I just look. I wish I could have heard more from him, from his heart, more from him about what this decision was like for him, more from him about where he is in his life, and I just wanted more. I think twelve minutes wasn't enough. I wish I could have heard more from him, and then there would have been maybe, yeah, a little bit more time to give Kamala a little bit more of a nod. I do, And I don't want to harp too much on what he didn't say. Something he did
say struck me. And we were watching the analysis before and we watched some of the analysis afterwards. We had all the networks up, we had two computers up and the actual television sets. We watched the MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, so we're getting it from all the different vantage points. But I didn't hear anybody point this out yet. But there was a point in his speech where he said, I he said, I promise to level with you. I
promised to tell you the truth. And then he didn't see anything beyond that, And I was kind of holding my breath because I was hoping he was going to then maybe go into some of those details I was talking about, because, as you know, if you've been watching and I'm sure if you will watch any of the political commentary following this and leading up to the election, one of the big allegations the Republicans in the right are going to point to, not just Joe Biden, that
Joe Biden administration, but Kamala as well and anyone associated with them, is that they were covering up Joe Biden's cognitive decline. And so that's going to be a huge, huge part of this campaign going forward. So anyway, I just wondered if that part of his speech will come back to bite him, because he made a point to say that he was leveling with the American people and telling us the truth, and that's what's in question from the other side.
That is what I think a lot of people were holding their breadth for tonight. If there's going to be a look from the other side, there'll be a criticism. But to that exact point, he didn't. If he thinks that he's getting out, if he's getting out of the race now because he thinks it's the best for the country and the party, there is a why do you think that's the best for the country and the party? The why was not answered. He only said it's time
for younger voices. When did he come to that conclusion about when it's time for younger voices? And why didn't you come to this conclusion several months ago or before the primaries actually started? That the why? So a lot of the why has to do with, for those on the outside, his cognitive ability, how he performed in that debate. He's old now and he's not up for the task.
He never addressed age or anything about his cognitive ability, and so his reasons for getting out of the race, at least listening to this twelve minute speech, had nothing to do with that. And I don't think a lot of people are going to buy that for a second. So robes that we both sat on the edge of our seat truth being transparent with you. I promised I would do that, and then it trailed off. We were sitting out waiting this is going to be lined up, and there was nothing after that.
Really, yeah, yeah, I mean, I do appreciate the sentiment he made about the fact that nothing can come in the way of the greater good, and he pointed out not even personal ambition. And I do know that watching him tonight, he has clearly set aside personal ambition. It's something that has motivated it, I'm sure, and driven him, driven many of us in our careers to get to where he is, and to have to set that aside
is a big deal. And we saw him do that tonight, and for that, I do think, you know, you never know how the history books will look on a president, but I do think for this moment, for his choice, how he got to it, it can be up for debate, But the fact that he did come to this evening and make this speech, I think people will look back and say this was an act of generosity, This was an act for the greater good, and certainly a selfless one and a difficult one and a humbling one to
do and then to witness, you.
Say, a humbling one. But how history will will never know, but we just need to I guess there how are people going to receive this over just the next few months, because this, I mean the idea, that's how it's going to be spun. On one side, he is putting he is so committed to making sure the democracy is preserved, and that Donald Trump isn't in the Why he is so committed to that that he's willing to get out
of the race. Compare that, folks to the other side and Donald Trump, who was willing to do whatever it took to stay in power. Now, that is an argument that one side is going to trying to make and juxtapose those two images. The side or the argument the other side is going to make is he's out of the race because he got pushed out by his own people. They don't They saw their chances and they didn't like it,
so they just decided to switch horses. And by the way, they've been covering up for the longest his ability to do the job. That is the other side and the other argument, And what he didn't do tonight was answer any critic that might have a question about how he's doing as an eighty one year old man.
Yeah, because there are genuine concerns about what the next six months look like, is he the president? Is he co leading with Kamala? And has that been happening? We don't know, and a lot of people are asking that question. I don't think he made people feel better about that with this speech, and he had the opportunity to do that, and I.
No, not once, no, not anything about it in the room wasn't acknowledged.
And that is part of the problem with politics in general, because don't we see that all the time from so many people. So I'm curious, are we going to see Joe out in the campaign trail with Kamala? Is Kamala going to distance herself from him? Is he going to laylaw? I mean, there's a lot of questions about what the next few weeks and months are going to be like. But I fear that the tone is, you know, we talked about how we were hopeful. Maybe just gosh, think
about the last four weeks. You go from that debate that set this whole entire night in motion and to a to an assassination attempt to today. I mean, I can't even recall four weeks like this in political history that I've witnessed in my life like I've seen in the last four weeks and I can't even imagine what the next few months are going to be. I mean, it's like I can't even imagine.
So there's a sprint to the finish a line I guess for Vice President Harris now, and everybody's up giving all the scenarios for how she her path weighs to victory and the electoral College. So you'll see a lot of that. The thing, however, look, you will see of a lot about favorables and unfavorables. Joe Biden's approval rating was somewhere in the mid thirties. Kamala Harris's was somewhere in the high thirties.
Yeah.
Right, so maybe a little bump and whatnot. But what the Democrats just gave Americans who weren't excited at all about this election, which might be the thing that tips them tips the scale. They just gave them something that people desperate for, an alternative to two old guys who were in the last matchup. Yeah, like, we don't give us anything other than this, and Democrats just gave it to them. Here's an alternative here. You didn't want these
two A lot of people didn't want that matchup. So could that be one of the things, and of course the black vote specifically. We have seen today all over television black women, black women, black women rallying with black women, black women. It's going to be a very big focal point of this of the Harris campaign to try to drive a vote, because it's going to be necessary now. But to see some of that come through in the speech tonight, we've turned another page in this election. But
that's huge. They've given people what they desperately. Black people weren't excited about either one of these candidates.
We know this it's a rematch, so it's like, really, we can't we can't get someone other than these two Caucasian old men. Yes, that's been a big, big complaint, and now there is an alternative and we'll see what happens. But we've already started to see the coverage switch and it's on. The politics at its worst, perhaps is on. I mean, I wish it wouldn't be that way, but I think we're in for a difficult, difficult next few months.
We always say, look, the country's been through worse, right, and we'll make it through this like we've made it through everything else. But what a night for the guy has fifty years of service, and his biggest act, and some are arguing now, is that he is deciding not
to serve. And you're going to hear a line a lot out there about a kid with us stutter, and that's how he described himself tonight, as a kid with a stutter who ascended to the presidency, and that same kid with a stutter was in the Oval Office tonight having to do what was would argue maybe the most difficult thing he's had to do in his professional career, and we know it was something he did not want
to do. And for his family and look for people who love him and support him, you can see them all over sometimes the way they speak about him on television, people who have worked for him. Look, it's a tough day. And that image, right, it looked the image outside of the Whitehouse of all the staffers we've been seeing the video going to a watch party and the White House is kind of sad, like a slow procession.
Yeah, they said there was going to be pizza and beer and wine. So it was this bizarre you know, obviously it wasn't celebratory, and yet they were still perhaps applauding his decision to do the right thing by the party, and he would say for the country. I heard one commentator say this, so I couldn't. I wouldn't ever claim this, but I thought it was so well said. Before the speech began, she said, this is the most important speech he never wanted to give, and it may be the
thing he's most remembered for. We heard him tonight talk about all of his accomplishments as president, and I'm sure he will remember those, but this perhaps will be the thing he's remembered most for, stepping down and letting that fresher, younger voice carry on.
And now, just as the news keeps coming in, there was a you'll see an image of it. But doctor Biden, the first lady they've been thorin this handwritten note that she sent to staff. But the con the contents of that note, she says, to those who never wavered, to those who refused to down, to those who always believed. My heart is full of gratitude. Thank you for the trust you put in Joe. Now it's time to put that trust in Kamala. Page is being turned. How much
we'll see? Will we see that much of him? How much are we right? We have to turn that page. And sure he'll be on the campaign trail. Shure, we'll probably see some, but it's got to be you have to think it's gonna be few and far between. This is now Kamala Harris's party.
It is now Kamala Harris's party, but she has yet to receive the nomination officially. That may happen as early as early August. We may be waiting until the convention, but that's not as likely. We believe here within the next probably week or two, they do have that virtual roll call that perhaps she will be the nominee, but certainly the presumptive nominee. As it stands right now, no one has actively decided to run against her, and that's
highly unlikely. So and just you, we heard Trump on the on the stump today in North Carolina and it's all about Kamala. So they they've already they've already gotten their talking points and it is it is Trump versus Common even though.
It's not official.
Yes, that is where we are headed.
She does have enough, I mean enough have publicly come out and said that they but no voting has started, but enough have come out. Delegates have come out publicly and said there she has enough, So that's not the issue at all. But to hear, to hear the Republican now talking points everywhere, the same ones. Our borders are radical, they're going to hear radical. You're going to hear about our prosecutorial records. You're going to hear. Even Trump was
on the campaign trail saying she failed the bar exam. Yes, right, it begins here we go. But you know, if we can stop with violence, political violence, if we can get back to you know, just healthy debate.
You know what, let's like, let's let's just yes, let's let it be about where each candidate is taking our country and the policies they endorse. We can vote on that and hopefully we will have the best person win come November.
Well, right now, President Biden lost his fight. There was no way he could fight his own party. There's no way he could do that and fight Donald Trump at the same time. So President Biden will remain president and all the job for the next six months, but he will not be the candidate is now Kamala Harris, he has made the speech we were waiting on again. He just came out of COVID. I mean, he's we haven't
really seen him out and acted it. To be honest with you, it was nice to see him and to be honest, and I know you feel this way out. Well no excuse me, I won't speak for you in this, but you're you're sitting there and you're you're kind of hoping your he does okay, like I hope he gets through this speech. Any major gaffes, Yeah, he just mean, you.
Know, look, I think the bar unfortunately was set pretty low after that debate. So anything above that, you're like, Okay, that wasn't that was that was that was pretty good and uh, that's not what you want from a presidential candidate. And so it was his time and and he has you know, he he got to do it his way with his speech in his moment, and it was tonight. And we'll continue to follow all of the events that will continue to unfold here in this country over the
next few months. But we appreciate you listening to us. We hope you have a wonderful night. You can always find us on Instagram at Amy and TJ Podcast. Thanks for listening.