The political circus of 2024 was a spectacle of absurdity, a masterclass in bad decisions and even worse optics. From Joe Biden’s cognitive stumbles to Kamala Harris’s ill-advised “brat summer” branding, it was a year that tested the patience of even the most cynical observers. If there was a limit to political blunders, it wasn’t found in 2024. Instead, it became clear that when it comes to American politics, the depths of ridiculousness are bottomless.
Biden’s exit from the stage was the kind of disaster only the Democrats could spin as noble. Following a humiliating debate meltdown in June, the party orchestrated what can only be described as a not-so-soft coup. Biden’s departure, framed as a “gracious” passing of the torch, fooled no one. Nancy Pelosi, ever the opportunist, used the moment to paint Biden’s presidency as historic, even daring to place him alongside Washington and Lincoln. Her hyperbolic eulogy of Biden’s tenure was as believable as the idea that he could jog up Air Force One’s stairs without a mishap. Behind the scenes, her fingerprints were all over his political ousting, but Pelosi maintained her usual plausible deniability, smiling through it all.
In true form, the Democratic Party didn’t stop at shoving Biden offstage. They doubled down by elevating Kamala Harris as their next big hope. Never mind her abysmal approval ratings or her disastrous record as “border czar”—apparently, a little rebranding was all it would take. The media pitched Harris as the “joyful” change candidate, pushing the idea that her “brat summer” vibes would win over voters. What, exactly, is a brat summer? Evidently, it means acting messy, saying dumb things, and pretending it’s all part of some relatable charm offensive. Unsurprisingly, Harris’s campaign fizzled as quickly as it began, leaving voters unimpressed and the Democrats scrambling for a plan B.
Desperation reached new heights when the Democrats dragged Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz out of political retirement for endorsements. This is the same Dick Cheney they once lambasted as the Darth Vader of American politics, but suddenly, he was their savior. The idea was as tone-deaf as it was laughable. Cheney’s endorsement may have thrilled the Lincoln Project crowd, but for most Americans, it was a head-scratcher. Who exactly was this meant to appeal to? People who want more child tax credits but also pine for the days of endless Middle Eastern conflicts? It was a move that screamed desperation more than strategy.
By year’s end, 2024 had cemented itself as a cautionary tale in political mismanagement. Biden’s departure was a farce, Harris’s rebranding flopped spectacularly, and the Democrats’ embrace of Cheney left voters more confused than inspired. If there’s a lesson in all this, it’s that Washington has mastered the art of lowering the bar, only to limbo under it again and again. For Americans hoping for real leadership, 2024 was another year of empty gestures and theatrical incompetence.
