Someone here needs to make a nod to political realities that are being missed in these essays.

FIrst, as NBC news has noted, the Democratic party would have more control under its rules over naming a replacement for Biden after Biden has been nominated. Prior to that, if Biden were to withdraw, his delegates might do what Biden asks of them, but aren't obligated to, which could easily lead to chaos at the convention. In the words of a senior Democratic official quoted, "We need to have as much discipline as emotion. It's not politically smart for Biden to step down." The ability for party leaders to manage the nomination of a replacement strikes me as particularly important in this scenario where circumnavigating around the iceberg that is the Vice President needs to be the top priority.

Second, following that practical advice for party leaders, it is probable that many of the public statements both authors here find objectionable are simply necessary maintenance of the status quo to get the party through the convention. Having worked in and around politics for most of my adult life, I can attest that this is done all the time, in good faith, and is a time tested strategy for dealing with crisis situations while avoiding an actual crisis.

I do not know whether this is actually what is happening, or if it is, whether it is wise. But I do know that people at the top level of national parties are far more attuned to the longer game of dealing with these situations and the rules that govern them than those of us on the sidelines who only see and hear what has been made public.

While Biden, alone, must make the final decisions about his future, he seems more like Richard Nixon than anyone right now: stubborn, isolated within a small team of close advisors, proud, and privately aware of his situation. It took great courage for Nixon's party elders to tell him that his intransigence was harming his nation, his party and what was left of his reputation. I think it will ultimately be up to Obama, Bill Clinton, and other leading Democrats to serve in that role for Biden, and work to do the clean-up afterward.