The year 2024 was a masterclass in political absurdity, showcasing a bottomless pit of ridiculousness that spared no party or public figure. From Biden’s cognitive struggles to Harris’s “brat summer,” the year delivered a series of moments that left even the most cynical observers shaking their heads. If nothing else, it proved that in politics, there’s no shortage of bad ideas and even worse execution.
Let’s start with the spectacle of Joe Biden’s exit. After a cringe-worthy debate meltdown in late June, the Democratic Party orchestrated what can only be described as a “soft coup.” Biden’s gracious step aside, framed as “passing the torch,” was less an act of selflessness and more a political ousting. Media sycophants tried spinning this as a noble sacrifice, but no one was fooled. Nancy Pelosi, never one to miss an opportunity to rewrite history, danced on Biden’s political grave while insisting she had no hand in his downfall. Her insistence that Biden’s presidency belonged alongside Washington and Lincoln was, frankly, as credible as claiming he could still jog up Air Force One’s steps without tripping.
But the Democrats didn’t stop there. They doubled down on bad decisions by putting forward Kamala Harris as their fresh face for 2024. Somehow, they believed the deeply unpopular “border czar” could be repackaged as a “joyful” change candidate. Harris’s PR campaign, with help from an inexplicably giddy mainstream media, pushed the notion that she embodied good “vibes” and was having a “brat summer.” What did that mean? Apparently, it was shorthand for someone who’s messy, parties too much, and makes dumb comments—a fitting description for Harris, whose gaffe-riddled tenure has been anything but inspiring.
As Harris’s campaign fizzled, Democrats played a desperate card by bringing in neocon relics Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz. This was the party that once demonized Dick Cheney as the ultimate war hawk, but now, in their desperation, he was their idea of a hero for endorsing the Harris/Walz ticket. The cognitive dissonance was staggering. The endorsement may have warmed the hearts of Lincoln Project grifters, but for most Americans, it landed with a resounding thud. As Jon Stewart aptly quipped, who was this endorsement supposed to sway? People who love child tax credits but also demand more drone strikes?
In the end, 2024 was a year of empty gestures and political theater. Harris’s “brat” branding flopped, Biden’s forced retirement fooled no one, and the Democrats’ unholy alliance with Dick Cheney did little more than remind voters why they’ve lost faith in Washington. The year proved, once again, that no matter how low you think the political bar is, someone will always find a way to limbo under it.
