Joe is certainly making it hard to defend him.

Failure of imagination.

Failure to recognize just how far gone down the theofascist rabbit hole the Republicans are.

Failure to accurately appraise the nature of the Republican threat.

Failure to recognize the extent to which our institutional norms and traditions failed to protect us.

Failure to recognize that agreements with Mitch McConnell are meaningless and that he WILL renege and stab you in the back at the first opportunity.

Failure to recognize the extent to which democratic voters (and likely democratic voters) want bold, robust, in-your-face leadership that will fight back, not Carter-Mondale-Dukakis caricatures.