ARAB AND WORLD
Wed 03 Jul 2024 9:27 pm - Jerusalem Time
Thomas Friedman: This is the question Biden should ask himself
The famous American writer and political analyst, Thomas Friedman, advised his friend, President Joe Biden, to withdraw from the presidential race after his poor performance in the debate that brought him together with his opponent, Donald Trump, and to make way for a new generation of the Democratic Party.
He recalled that he had previously urged Israel, following the “invasion” of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in October, to think about how to respond to the attack by asking itself one question: What does your greatest enemy want you to do? Then do the opposite.
According to the author, Iran and Hamas wanted Israel to rush “recklessly” into the Gaza Strip “without any plan or Palestinian partner” to take over the next morning, but Israel “unfortunately” did just that.
Friedman - known for his Democratic leanings - said that he would like, “at this very important moment,” to urge President Biden, his family, and his party’s leadership to ask the same question: What does your greatest enemy, Donald Trump, want you to do now? Then do the opposite.
In satirical language, he wrote in his weekly column in The New York Times that “Donald Trump is salivating” at the prospect of Biden remaining in the presidential race until he pummels him between now and Election Day with 15-second TV and radio ads — not to mention satirical photos and videos ( Memes) on social media - over his incoherent performance in the debate that took place last Thursday evening, Washington time (Friday dawn, Mecca time).
Friedman expressed his belief that Trump supporters were aware that the only reason their presumptive nominee was leading in most major opinion polls was because many potential Biden voters were not concerned about price inflation, but rather about the “age inflation” of their president.
The well-known political analyst seemed pessimistic about Biden's chances in the presidential race, saying that if Republicans were able to make Biden's aging their main issue, they would inevitably get the result they wanted without much effort.
However, what Trump currently fears - and what Friedman is talking about - is that his opponent will withdraw from the race, and he also fears that Biden will show the difference between a leader and a party that puts the country first, and between a leader and a party (Trump and the Republicans) that favor themselves over the interests of the nation, despite the awareness of many of Trump’s advisors. The former said that he was unfit for office, despite their knowledge of his attempt to cancel the results of the 2020 presidential elections, and their knowledge that he did not disclose any real plan for the future of the country other than “revenge” against everyone who transgressed against him and his followers.
The writer urged the current president to rise above conflicts, and that the best thing he can do for the country, which is at the same time the worst for Trump, is to announce that he will exempt Democratic Party delegates from voting in favor of his candidacy to run in the presidential elections, when the party’s general conference is held in Chicago. Next August, we will work to prepare an organized process that will allow the next generation of Democratic candidates to present their ideas, and for convention delegates to choose a new presidential candidate.
According to the author of the article, Biden can support his deputy, Kamala Harris, for the nomination, or remain neutral, but he must make clear that the nomination must take place through open competition.
Trump was not spared from Friedman’s sharp arrows, as he called on Biden to respond to his “lies” with a set of arguments and to remind voters that the reason they elected him in 2020 was that they knew that America “will not remain great unless it is led by a president who unites the nation, and not a president driven by a tendency for revenge.” As the article put it.
The writer seemed to bid farewell to Biden, as he described him as a “really important” president, in addition to being a “good man,” adding that he deserves to be remembered as a leader who saved the country from Trump in 2020, rescued it from the Corona virus pandemic, and issued important legislation to rebuild. America's infrastructure, and finally knew when and how to say goodbye.
Source: New York Times
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Thomas Friedman: This is the question Biden should ask himself