1 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: You can listen to the Front on your smart speaker 2 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: every morning to hear the latest episode. Just say play 3 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: the news from The Australian. From the Australian, Here's what's 4 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: on the Front. I'm Claire Harvey. It's Friday, July twenty six. 5 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: Anthony Albinizi is setting the scene for his first cabinet reshuffle, 6 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: with Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Bernie quitting politics and pressure 7 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: to dump underperforming Immigration Minister Andrew Giles. Australia has imposed 8 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: sanctions and travel bands on seven Israelis and one religious 9 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 1: youth group linked to beatings and sexual assaults against Palestinians. 10 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: It comes as the conflict continues to rage in Gaza 11 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: and Israeli PM Benjamin Netnia, who begs the UN for 12 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: more weapons. That story is live now at the Australian 13 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: dot Com Dot A you a presidential address to the 14 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: United States and a decidedly luke warm endorsement of Kamala Harris. 15 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: Today we unpacked Joe Biden's first public appearance since he 16 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 1: stepped out of the race for the White House. Greg 17 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: Sheridan is The Australian's Foreign editor. Greg Joe Biden started 18 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: his speech in the Opal Office, referencing the fact that 19 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:38,320 Speaker 1: he was sitting behind the resolute desk. 20 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 2: I follow Americans, I'm speaking of from behind the resolute 21 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 2: tesk in the Oval Office. 22 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: There were flags and golden curtains behind him. The symbolism 23 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: was all about being the president. Wasn't at all about power? 24 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 3: Yes it was, But he betrayed the symbolism, of course, 25 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 3: by his very faltering delivery. 26 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: You know, when I came to office, conventional wisdom was 27 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 2: a China would inevitably pass, passing United Dates. 28 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 4: I mean. 29 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 3: In a very short address which he must have rehearsed 30 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 3: five thousand times, he still couldn't read the teleprompter properly. 31 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 3: But over office speeches inherently radiate the power of the presidency. 32 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 3: Although in recent years they haven't been very successful, they 33 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 3: have less and less magic about them. Over office speeches, 34 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 3: they just looked so artificial. 35 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: It became clear from quite early in this speech that 36 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: he wasn't going to acknowledge that he was in cognitive 37 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 1: decline or in any kind of distress. He talked about 38 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: it being the honor of his life to have served 39 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: as president, but presented himself as someone who was such 40 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: a patriot that he was going to step aside. 41 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 2: I reviewed this office. I love my country more. It's 42 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 2: been the honor of my life to serve as your 43 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 2: president with this secret task perfecting our union. It's not 44 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 2: about me. It's about you, your families, your futures. It's 45 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 2: about we the people. We can never forget that, and 46 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 2: I never have. 47 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: What did you think about that choice not to reference 48 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: explicitly the fact that he was struggling. 49 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 4: We look to be. 50 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 3: Honest with your class. I've been in America several weeks now. 51 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 3: I'm watching this on the West coast, and first of all, 52 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 3: most Americans couldn't care less about politics, and especially if 53 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 3: they're not in the battleground states. But secondly, the whole 54 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 3: premise of Biden's speech was ridiculous. I mean, he was 55 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 3: saying that fifty Democrats could beat Trump, and I my 56 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 3: record as the best in the world, and I'm fabulous, 57 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 3: But I've got to drop out to maintain democratic unity. 58 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 2: You know, original weeks has become clear to me I 59 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 2: need to unite my party in this critical endeavor. I 60 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 2: believe I record as president, my leadership in the world 61 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 2: I visioned for America's future all married it a second term, 62 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 2: but nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving 63 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 2: our democracy that includes personal ambition. 64 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 4: So there's a logical flaw in this. 65 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 3: Why is the Democratic Party so disunited if his record 66 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 3: and prospects are so fantastic. So the question you ask 67 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 3: is very acute. He said he was resigning to preserve unity, 68 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 3: but he didn't say what had caused the disunity. And 69 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 3: what has caused the disunity is that in the debate 70 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 3: with Trump, he was obviously not competent. And I think 71 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 3: it's very ineffective in politics when you try to deny 72 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 3: what is just. 73 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 4: Obvious before the voter's eyes. 74 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 3: So you know, the liberal press will be weeping over 75 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 3: this and saying, how you know what a noble, splendid 76 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:53,359 Speaker 3: Churchill in figure Biden is. 77 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 4: But I thought the thing just lacked the slightest semblance 78 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 4: of logic. 79 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 3: He neither said I'm no longer confident, nor did he say, 80 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 3: you know, thirty congressman and a half a dozen senators 81 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 3: and a million fundraisers have all told me to quit 82 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 3: because they won't support me any longer. 83 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: Did he seem to you like someone who's been dragged 84 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: to this moment and who still doesn't really acknowledge that 85 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: he is into client. 86 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 4: Oh yes, absolutely so. 87 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 3: According to Joe Biden, he has selflessly trying to run 88 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 3: again even though he would win, and his record is 89 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 3: unequaled in the world, and America is the greatest position 90 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 3: it's ever been in that lacks no logic. So what 91 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 3: that means is is a guy denying reality. But you know, 92 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 3: he's a sort of an old fashioned political pro and 93 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 3: he has at least been able to take the message 94 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 3: that this is an offer you can't refuse, you know, 95 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 3: I mean, the Democratic Marfia has come to him and said, look, 96 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 3: let me make you an offer you can't refuse. 97 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 4: So you're either going to resign. 98 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 3: Your candidacy nobly and we're all going to weep about 99 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 3: what a saint you are, or you're going to get 100 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 3: beaten by Trump eighty twenty because none of us is 101 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 3: going to support you. And you know, it's not too 102 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 3: late for us to swing behind a third party candidate. 103 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 3: And all kinds of threats were, no doubt made behind 104 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 3: the scenes, and you know, we'll look again at Hunter's 105 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 3: situation and who knows what sort of things were said privately, 106 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 3: but he was bludgeoned into this decision. 107 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 4: There's no doubt about that. 108 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 2: I'm going to call for a Supreme Court reform because 109 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 2: this is critical to our democracy. Supreme Court reform. You know, 110 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 2: I'll keep working when sure American remains strong, secure, and 111 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 2: the leader of the free world. 112 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: One of the first ideas he invoked was Supreme Court reform. Now, 113 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: I was watching this speech on the YouTube feed of 114 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 1: the Associated Press, which was also running a comments thread 115 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: from people who were watching. Forty eight thousand people watching, 116 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: and that remarks Supreme Court reform prompted a wave of 117 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: kind WTF, you know, what. 118 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 4: The hell is he talking about? So what is he 119 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 4: talking about? 120 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 3: It's a very good example of the bidon non secuitur. 121 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 3: So early on in the speech, he says, we must 122 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 3: stop thinking of people we disagree with as enemies. 123 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 4: They're just fellow Americans we disagree with. 124 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 3: Then he says, but this election is for the preservation 125 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 3: of American democracy, meaning that my opponents are fascists, they're 126 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 3: all anti Democrats, and if you elect them, that's the 127 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 3: end of American democracy. Similarly, there's a contradiction with the courts. 128 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 3: When the courts are delivering decisions which Biden the Democrats like, 129 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 3: they say, the Republicans are intensely irresponsible for undermining the 130 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 3: court and the court system, which is independent of politics, 131 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 3: and which sometimes gives you decisions you like, sometimes gives 132 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 3: you decisions you don't like, and you should put up 133 00:07:56,480 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 3: with the decisions you don't like and not undermine the system. 134 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 5: At the Supreme Court today, an historic upheaval in a 135 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 5: sweeping ruling that overturned a half a century of presidents, 136 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 5: five justices ended the right of American women to choose 137 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 5: abortion under the Constitution. 138 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 3: But then if the Court gives a series of decisions 139 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 3: that the Democrats don't like, it all of a sudden 140 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 3: becomes a corrupt Supreme Court and they no longer want 141 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 3: the judiciary to exercise the power of the judiciary. Now, theoretically, 142 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 3: there are many ways you could reform the court. You 143 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 3: could legislate for another twenty justices and appoint them all yourself, 144 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 3: and then you've got a wonderfully stacked court. But that'd 145 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 3: be very hard to do because you'd have to get 146 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 3: the legislation through their House of Representatives and the Senate. 147 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:48,479 Speaker 3: Or you could legislate for term limits. But the independence 148 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 3: of the Supreme Court justices has always meant that they 149 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 3: can't be fired. There is no term limit and there's 150 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 3: only a certain number of them. And if you make 151 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 3: the court something which the administration can shape absolutely. I 152 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 3: mean the Australian High Court only has a certain number 153 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 3: of members. The government appoints the members. That doesn't have 154 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 3: to go through the Parliament or anything. But it only 155 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 3: has a certain number of members. If you enlarge it 156 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 3: by twenty or something, then every incoming administration can just 157 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 3: appoint twenty new judges and the court becomes completely politicized, 158 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 3: even much more than it has been with fifty years 159 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 3: of judicial activism under it's spelt. 160 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: So, is that a gift to Trump and the Republicans 161 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: to suddenly throw into the minds of people who hadn't 162 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,319 Speaker 1: thought about it before that the constitution of the Supreme 163 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:34,559 Speaker 1: Court is now up for grams. 164 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 3: Yes, I think that is probably a mistake for the 165 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 3: Democrats to campaign on that. But Kamala Harris doesn't have 166 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 3: many issues she can campaign on. Despite what Biden said, 167 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 3: you know, the border has been a disaster. I legal 168 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 3: immigration has been a disaster. Inflation is problematic, crime is 169 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 3: very disturbing to people. But the main thing she's going 170 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 3: to campaign on, I think is abortion rights. 171 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 6: We'll believe reproductive freedom will stop Donald Trump's extreme abortion 172 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 6: bands because we trust women to make decisions about their 173 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 6: own body and not have their government tell them what 174 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 6: to do. 175 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 3: Because restrictions on abortion, whether they're ethical, on proper or not, 176 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 3: are unpopular across the United States, and the Supreme Court 177 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 3: reform will be seen as a way of getting back 178 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 3: to a position where the federal authorities guarantee abortion rights 179 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 3: from the moment of conception to the moment of birth, 180 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 3: Whereas what the Supreme Court has done in overturning Roe 181 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 3: versus Way is effectively meant that every state can legislate 182 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 3: however it likes. 183 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 7: Florida's six week abortion band goes into effect today, that 184 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 7: significantly shorter than the fifteen week band that had been 185 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 7: in place up until this point. Now almost every state. 186 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: In the South has restrictions on the procedure. 187 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 7: Arizona will soon be the latest state with a near 188 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 7: total abortion ban after that state Supreme Court revived a 189 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 7: one hundred and sixty year old law. The law provides 190 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 7: no exceptions for rape or incest, and in its four 191 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 7: to two opinion, the conservative majority wrote quote, physicians are 192 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 7: now unnoticed that all abortions except those necessary to save 193 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 7: a woman's life, are illegal. 194 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 3: So I suspect that Kamala Harris will think she can 195 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:38,199 Speaker 3: energize young voters, voters with a feminist consciousness, college activists 196 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 3: and so on on the abortion issue, and the Supreme 197 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,719 Speaker 3: Court is linked to that. It's almost inconceivable that any 198 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 3: administration would get Supreme Court reformed through because you would 199 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 3: think that the Senate would block it under any configuration. 200 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: Coming up. Joe Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris 201 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: to run for resident, but did his address reveal what 202 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: he really thinks about his second in command? And if 203 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 1: you're looking for up to date analysis on the American election, 204 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 1: written by some of the sharpest political commentators in the world, 205 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: head to the Australian dot com dot u. In front 206 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 1: of a screaming crowd of Republican faithful, Donald Trump took 207 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: to the stage in North Carolina. 208 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:39,840 Speaker 8: Thank you very much, Thank you, Richard. 209 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: This was his first rally since President Joe Biden announced 210 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: he wouldn't contend the election. It was vintage Trump. 211 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 8: So now we have a new victim to defeat lion, 212 00:12:52,280 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 8: Kamala Harris, lion l Yianna pass the most inc and 213 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 8: far left a vice president and American history. By the way, 214 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 8: they did a poll, she was rated the worst vice 215 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 8: president in history. I've never seen that poll before, but 216 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 8: that's the poll. 217 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: A few hours later, Joe Biden would address the nation. 218 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 1: This was his time to throw his support behind the 219 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: de facto democratic nominee to dilute the vitriol of Donald Trump. 220 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 2: Just a few months. The American people choose the course 221 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 2: of America's future. I made my choice, I made my 222 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 2: views known. I like to thank our great Vice President 223 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 2: Kamala Harris. She experienced, she's tough, she's capable, She's been 224 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 2: an incredible partner to me and the leader for our country. 225 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: That took twenty seconds, and that's all Joe Biden said 226 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: on the topic of Kamala Harris, the woman who hopes 227 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 1: to become the forty eighth president of the United States 228 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: of America. Hardly a glowing endorsement. 229 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 3: I thought there was a bit strange, really quit So 230 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 3: obviously Biden kind of hates Kamala Harris because she's edged 231 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 3: him out of the presidency, but you would think he'd 232 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:12,079 Speaker 3: be ruthless enough to know that it's much better for 233 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 3: him if she wins, much much better for him. First 234 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,559 Speaker 3: of all, he certainly won't be prosecuted for anything, nor 235 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 3: will his family. And secondly, his resignation and his legacy 236 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 3: will look much better. But he didn't do anything for 237 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 3: her in this speech much now. 238 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 4: Of course, he never liked her. 239 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 3: He never, I mean, he chose her because he boxed 240 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 3: himself into a corner saying that he would have to 241 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 3: choose a nominee, a vice presidential nominee who was an 242 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 3: African American woman, and she was the most prominent African 243 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 3: American woman at the same time. He was quite happy 244 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 3: to choose her because she was so profoundly mediocre that 245 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 3: she would never pose any threat to him. So he 246 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 3: foresaw this moment and like a lot of presidents in history, 247 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 3: chose a mediocre vice president on purpose. You know, Richard 248 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 3: Nixon chose both Spiro Agnew and Gerald Ford, as is 249 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 3: abundantly clear in all the biographies, because he thought they 250 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 3: were both such mediocre dunderheads that nobody would ever try 251 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 3: to over him. Dwight Eisenhower chose Richard Nixon for much 252 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 3: the same reason. And leaders do this, especially in secure leaders. 253 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 3: The only leader who really chose a coequal but Ronald 254 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 3: Reagan chose Bush Senior and Bill Clinton chose Al Gore. 255 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 3: But they're the only two examples in probably the last 256 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 3: sixty years where you could say a president chose someone 257 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 3: who really would be a very viable replacement for them. 258 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: Biden's speech had a vibe of this is it over 259 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: to you, Kamala. So now the handover from Biden is done, 260 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: what are her prospects? 261 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 4: Remember Kamala Harris. 262 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 3: She ran in the twenty twenty Democratic presidential primary, and 263 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 3: her campaign was so poor that she actually quit before 264 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 3: the first care or primary was held. She had no 265 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 3: votes from anyone. Now, she might still win the presidency 266 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 3: because half the nation likes Trump and half the nation 267 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 3: hates him, and that half the nation who hates him 268 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 3: will certainly vote for her, and the pro Democrat media, 269 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 3: you know, CNN and the New York Times and so on, 270 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 3: will paint her as a magnificent, genius, fabulous blah blah 271 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 3: blah blah. 272 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 4: She failed her first bar exit. 273 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 3: You know, she won her first election in California by 274 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 3: less than one percent, when every other Democrat running for 275 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 3: statewide office run by more than ten percent. There is 276 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 3: no evidence at all that she is either a vote 277 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 3: winner or a competent person. And then as Vice president, 278 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 3: everything she's touched has turned to misery. She had the 279 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 3: assignment of fixing the southern border and that was an 280 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,479 Speaker 3: absolute disaster, and then she ran away from that assignment, 281 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 3: and then Biden never gave her really a serious job 282 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 3: to do as vice president. So Kamala Harris, even though 283 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 3: I think she is extraordinarily mediocre and poor as a 284 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 3: presidential candidate, nonetheless could win. We had two old men 285 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:07,120 Speaker 3: who both of them the whole of the United States detested. 286 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 3: The polls were overwhelming that Americans wished neither of them 287 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 3: was running. So Biden has been replaced. But because he's 288 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 3: so selfishly clung to office for so long, the Democrats 289 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 3: haven't been able to have a primary. 290 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 4: Now. 291 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 3: It's hard to imagine Kamala Harris would have beaten Gretchen 292 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 3: Whitmer or Shapiro or any of these powerful governors in 293 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:31,479 Speaker 3: all our primary and she's been handed the job, just 294 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 3: as she was handed the jobs in California. Now, of course, 295 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:38,679 Speaker 3: the campaign will bear a bingdong battle between Kamala Harris, 296 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 3: who is a California Liberal, and Trump, who is a 297 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 3: kind of wild rhetorically wild nationalist. So it's intensely unpredictable. 298 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 3: It's a better choice than Biden versus Trump, I guess, 299 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 3: because Kamala Harris has not ended the sort of mental 300 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 3: decline that Biden. 301 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,400 Speaker 4: Has entered, but is still a pretty poor choice. 302 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 3: For a country as big and magnificent as the United 303 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 3: States to produce Kamala Harrison Donald Trump as their two 304 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 3: presidential alternatives. I mean, frankly, I'd like to buy both 305 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 3: of them at my estimate, sell them both at their estimate. 306 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 3: I think i'd be Quin's ahead. 307 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: Greg Sheridan is the Australians Foreign Editor. Thanks for joining 308 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: us on the front this week. Our team is Stephanie Coombs, 309 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: Joshua Burton, Jasper leak Leat, Sam mcglue, Christian Amiot, Tiffany 310 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 1: Demac and me Claire Harvey.