I published the post-election post “Trump Turns Republican Red Wave Blue for Democrats” on November 9. In it, I advised President Biden to deliver the very speech Speaker Pelosi delivered yesterday.
Under that post’s sub-heading, “Now is the time to go, Joe,” I urged Biden to announce he’s passing the torch to a new generation of Democratic leaders. And that he should boast about his legislative accomplishments and judicial appointments.
After all, they have already sealed his legacy as the most successful one-term president in US history.
Hakeem Jeffries is taking the torch
But Pelosi stole Biden’s thunder. She announced she’s passing the torch to a new generation of leaders. And Rep. Hakim Jeffries wasted no time announcing his intent to take that torch.
Except that fellow progressives are threatening to prevent Jeffries’s promotion by acclamation. They appear to have a political death wish. Because only that would cause them to undermine their leader, Pramila Jayapal, in an ill-fated bid to challenge Jeffries for speaker.
Even so, progressives are telegraphing their intent to bedevil his leadership of congressional Democrats. That is, just like MAGA Republicans are telegraphing their intent to bedevil Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s leadership of congressional Republicans.
In any event, here’s to Jeffries becoming the first Black leader of either party in Congress. And it’s only a matter of time (as in 2024) before he becomes the first Black speaker of the House of Representatives.
Still, the political imperative remains such that Biden would be well-advised to follow Pelosi’s lead. Pass the torch, Joe. After all, if you’re worried about Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom heads a list of many other suitable torch-bearers.