Members of Joe Biden’s family privately trashed his top campaign advisers at Camp David this weekend, blaming them for the president’s flop in Thursday’s debate and urging Biden to fire or demote people in his political high command.

There is no immediate expectation that Biden will follow through on that advice, according to three people briefed on the family conversations but not directly involved. The three people were granted anonymity to discuss the matter.

Among the family’s complaints about the debate practice: that Biden was not prepared to pivot more to go on the attack; that he was bogged down too much on defending his record rather than outlining a vision for a second term; and that he was over-worked and not well-rested.

The blame was cast widely on staffers, including: Anita Dunn, the senior adviser who frequently has the president’s ear; her husband, Bob Bauer, the president’s attorney who played Trump in rehearsals at Camp David; and Ron Klain, the former chief of staff who ran point on the debate prep and previous cycles’ sessions.

  • @Nobody
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    155 months ago

    Everyone keeps trying to sugarcoat this. We all saw what we saw. Biden did fairly well overall, but there were moments that showed that he’s lost it at times. Being President ages you 4 years each year. He and Trump are both practically 100 at this point.

    He needs to restore confidence by having a strong successor.

    • Flying Squid
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      85 months ago

      Who?

      I have yet to hear a name that enough people would accept at this late an hour.

      • @I_Has_A_Hat
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        25 months ago

        Michelle Obama is the only one I can think of.

        • Flying Squid
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          55 months ago

          I’m not even convinced that would work. I would love to see some polling though.

          I also doubt she’d be willing to do it. She’s already spent eight years in D.C. working behind the scenes.

  • @bazus1
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    95 months ago

    The article might as well have said, “The Cincinnati Euchre League privately trashed Biden’s top campaign advisers at Million’s Cafe this weekend,” because I have a similar lack of interest in what they’d have to say.

  • Dave V
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    75 months ago

    Who cares who’s fault it was. It’s too late.

  • @[email protected]OP
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    -45 months ago

    First rule of checking whose voice you should listen to – the amount of people who are vested in your ‘approval rating’ vs the amount of people actually stating the facts of what happened.

    Whichever number is greater is usually the one that’s right.

    • Flying Squid
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      15 months ago

      He and his people being only interested in his approval rating didn’t seem to work out for Trump in 2020.