The Bulwark
The Bulwark Podcast
Stuart Stevens: I think Joe Biden Has Been A Great President
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Stuart Stevens: I think Joe Biden Has Been A Great President

So many of the people who worked around POTUS 44 think no one will ever be as good as Obama, but Stuart Stevens argues that Democrats need to make the case that Joe Biden is a great president. Meanwhile, Dems on Tuesday showed they are the one party holding their crazy people to account. Plus, Vance is too smart to be Trump's VP pick, more Republicans need to follow Kinzinger's example, and Ole Miss, college sports and civil rights. Tim Miller's show today.

show notes:


Stuart's latest book, "The Conspiracy to End America"
Stuart's book, "The Last Season: A Father, a Son, and a Lifetime of College Football"
Wright Thompson's piece on Ole Miss in 1962
Stuart's piece on calling Biden a great president 

Discussion about this episode

User's avatar
Joan Panzella's avatar

Hi Tim, Stewart,

No fooling. Watch Keith Olbermann's Post Debate YouTube analysis. Nothing short of brilliant, describing journalistic malpractice. He knows legacy media like the back of his hand.

https://www.youtube.com/live/0q0NNnn_kCE?si=7X_XDbXAzT-0llNU

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Susan B's avatar

Great pod as always and I stay until the last word just to hear your close out tunes. The best!! Thx!

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Stephan Cotton's avatar

Good chat today with Stuart Stevens, but it leaves me with a couple questions.

The easy one, that I’ll dispose of in a sentence, is why didn’t you discuss Burgham in your conversation about VP picks. He can contribute the only thing Trump cares about – money. (Okay, that was two sentences.)

More importantly, your discussion of the future of the Republican Party and this week’s primaries in New York and Colorado. I’ve asked this of several people and have never gotten a good answer.

Given that the crazies have taken over the Republican Party, why not encourage all Normie Republicans, electeds and rank and file, to switch and become Democrats. It seems to me that it’s easier for lots of former Republicans to bring the Democrats to the center than it is to rescue their former party.

What you’ll probably end up with is a party that’s center left on social issues, center right on economic and strong on defense.

And, as a somewhat liberal Democrat, I ask what’s wrong with that?

But how can you discuss SEC football without facing the fact that Alabama will beat 'e both?

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Different drummer's avatar

What an awesome pod! Stuart is the only person I've ever heard say what I've said many times: now I can see how Nazi Germany happened. I've also wondered if the only thing that will destroy the MAGA movement is the movement itself.

Stuart made lots of good points and it was an A#1 discussion - once again. Tim, your talent for choosing guests and ensuring engaging and thought-provoking conversations is off the charts.

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Tim Cremer's avatar

When Stuart made the comment about how pain at the ballot box is the only thing R’s understand I swear I heard Carville talking!

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David Eddy's avatar

But the problem is that (at least) a significant plurality of the American electorate are not looking for a 'great president,' they're looking for an Entertaining President!

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TW Falcon's avatar

Re: Trump's VP pick.

I'm inclined to think it will be Burgum. He hasn't torched Trump in the past, unlike Vance and Rubio, he's rich (Trump has got to like that), he won't outshine Trump like Vance might, and he's a loyal lapdog so Trump won't have to worry about his unfailing obedience.

That's my hunch anyways.

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Mississippi Phone Booth's avatar

Man, how could I not love this episode? HYDR.

Speaking of Ole Miss and the 1962 riot and books, An American Insurrection is a great read…and the riot itself is an eerie parallel to J6.

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Linda Odell's avatar

That piece about Ole Miss is astonishing in every way. Thank you for the link.

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Chris's avatar

It's very simple when it comes to these coward Republican's incentive structure when it comes to getting in line with Trump. It's the first time in history a political party is scared to death of their own voters. Poly Sci Ph.D. students will be writing dissertations about this forever.

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Colleen Kochivar-Baker's avatar

Great one Tim. You and Stuart Stevens are the only two GOP operatives who have taken accountability for the actions and blindness that have led us to the GOP we are now cursed with. I so appreciate your honesty. JVL has also accepted his blindness to the pro life power broker reality. Self insight is priceless.

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Stephanie M's avatar

Obama was really disappointing. But Joe Biden is a really great President.

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Clay Banes's avatar

I thought Kinzinger's timing was very strong, punching through pre-debate. Smart people. A march of endorsements here till Election Day.

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Dave Yell's avatar

Stuart Stevens is fabulous.

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Ana María Concepción's avatar

Great episode. Learned a lot.

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Pauline Francis's avatar

The book title that Stuart mentioned re Joe Namath and civil rights: "Rising Tide: Bear Bryant, Joe Namath, and Dixie's Last Quarter" Hardcover – August 20, 2013

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Jesse K's avatar

Dylan as the closing music. I feel seen.

That aside, great episode as usual!

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Kim M Murphy's avatar

A lot of us think Biden has been great, Tim.

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Jesse K's avatar

Best president of my lifetime.

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Kim M Murphy's avatar

Mine too, and I’m 66. We were never staring over the abyss before, and he did such a miracle.

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NatBe's avatar

The lack of understanding about old age is palpable. Just because you don’t have stamina or forget things does not diminish the strength of experience. Very upsetting to witness this incomprehension.

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Kim M Murphy's avatar

I think ageism is the last accepted bigotry.

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Kim M Murphy's avatar

It is. Forgetting your spouse’s name for a sec is 100% normal. Forgetting you HAVE a spouse is the beginning of a problem.

I walk into rooms and forget why occasionally. He runs the freaking country without forgetting what he’s there for.

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Pauline Francis's avatar

Yes, I think Biden's been great. No one has called me for my opinion, so I post it here. In case you haven't heard this before, I will be voting a straight DEMOCRATIC ticket for the foreseeable future. I think that Stuart is correct that it's gonna take several beatings or losses by the R's for there to be any change.

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Dave Yell's avatar

I've been voting a Democratic straight ticket since 2016 for obvious reasons. I used to be 2/3 D and 1/3 R. Like Stevens said, it is an extremist movement that has to burn itself out. Nothing else will do it. My hypothetical question is will it burn out faster after four years of Trump crazy or if he loses?

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Pauline Francis's avatar

The first time that I can vote for Liz, Adam or that guy from GA, I'm gonna vote for them as an exception to the above. What I would like to see, is for these guys to work in the next Biden admin, along with Mitt who would do a fab job at whatever position he was offered jmo

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Dave Yell's avatar

The trouble is there are no Liz, Zinger, Kemp or Duncan in the Republican/Maga party anymore with the exception of Larry Hogan.

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Kim M Murphy's avatar

I think Romney’s wife is ill. I imagine he’s done with public service.

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Kim M Murphy's avatar

Didn’t Stuart bring us Sarah Palin? And Dean Phillips?

Huh.

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Dave Yell's avatar

Kim, I think you are thinking of Steve Schmidt.

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Brett F.'s avatar

I had almost forgotten about Lynn Swann's run for Governor. Rendell crushed him.

PA Republicans are really bad at picking statewide candidates. Toomey was okay but Tom Ridge was the last really strong one. Connecticut Dave McCormick is going to be another loser. Would have thought they'd have stayed away from a carpetbagger after Doc Oz.

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Tim Miller's avatar

You are thinking of steve Schmidt

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Slide Guitar's avatar

Thank G-d. I momentarily panicked on reading OP.

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Dave Yell's avatar

Tim, you read my mind!

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Kim M Murphy's avatar

Thank you. I thought this man made too much sense.

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Dave Yell's avatar

Yes he does.

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Norman Bradford's avatar

So will Liz Cheney endorse Biden?

If she doesn’t, why not

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LeftCoastReader's avatar

I think Adam Kinzinger has just set the stage for other endorsements.

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Mary's avatar

Tim, just a stellar discussion. Thank you. And your closing music…..you are a master.

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Alexandra Barcus's avatar

Super discussion. Lots of sound points—anti-Trump folk need to support Biden. Otherwise their opposition is useless, it is not heartfelt. Lots of interesting stuff on previous presidential debates—fascinating

Most of all, Stuart Stevens is right. We must identify Joe Biden as a great President. Democrats are largely failing to point out all the terrific things he has accomplished domestically and abroad.

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Travis's avatar

Stuart Stevens is one of my favorite folks over at LP and I 100% agree with his take that Biden should be going into this debate with a cage match--two men enter, one man leaves--mentality. "Don't worry about losing voters you're not going to win. Trump is wrong, Biden is right." It's about how bad the country will look under Trump, not how it has looked under Biden. The only part of the past to talk about is Trump's abysmal response to CV-19 and his disastrous attack on democracy on J6th. Those are literally the only part of the past that Biden should be talking about.

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Dave Yell's avatar

Travis I totally agree. I saw an extensive piece in the W Post about the status of polling in the Presidential race as of today.The most discouraging thing I saw was about voters trusting Trump more than Biden in saving democracy. AAAAHH! Feel like JVL! Talk me down from the ledge! (as JVL used to say)

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Gail Shields-Miller's avatar

Stuart…we met recently in NYC at a Lincoln Project event …your article is brilliant…as was the presentation by you, Rick and Tara. Plus I have to throw in my bestie , Reed , who wasn’t there but has worked with me on many events supporting Democratic political organizations. Does TLP have the ear of the Biden Campaign? xxG

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Dave Yell's avatar

I would hope they have Biden's ear. I listen to Rick and Reed regularly.

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Pauline Francis's avatar

I've heard him say these things before and we should all share it like gospel to follow.

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