Anyone who even opens their mouth about Biden's alleged health problems or mental "decline" should be assaulted with demands that until they give equal or greater time to Trump's (considering that he is NOW president) or their assertions about Biden will be ridiculed along with their claim to be "journalists." The media's three-week campaign last summer to drive Joe Biden out of office, unaccompanied by an equal amount of coverage about Trump's obvious mental and emotional unfitness, was an insult to democracy.
Michael, more than once, you have admirably tackled the question of Biden's health, the role he may or may not have played in the election, and whether it matters or not , and its obvious some are still angry, still assessing the loss. In my opinion, continuing to blame Biden and each other is neither productive nor helpful. The Republicans can do that to us, without our help. The target of our ire should be on them, not each other. I would like to see us move on - there's real work to do.
I agree 100% Michael ! Who's taking about the dufus in the oval office?! Crickets.... Good read today, I like the music 🎶 too. Thank you, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
I like Biden. I think he governed well. I supported his re-election, I thought a primary was dumb, and I am disappointed this is how his term ended. If I had to rank Biden's term I'd give him a C+, B- which all things considered is not bad; probably around George HW Bush in terms of overall rankings. Of the 45 men, probably in the 20-25 range; maybe 25-30.
But Biden is NOT the man he was even in 2020, and sure as hell not in 2016. I am sure that his decline was not linear, he was clearly not catatonic (like FDR was in '45), and I also agree that the wheelchair thing is completely irrelevant. It's painfully clear that Biden...is a really old man! Who forgot a bunch of shit, and reminds me of my grandparents in their own dotage! Not incompetent, not senile, but also insanely limited! Which, as Nate Silver is right to point out: is not good for the President of the United States! People can rightfully conclude that Biden was too old for the job. Is it unfair they don't come to the same conclusions as Trump? Fuck yes it is: but that's not the relevant part.
The relevant part is Biden fucked his party, and his country by running for re-election. Maybe he was in better health in 2023 when he started it all. He clearly had 'good days and bad days' and I think his health has improved since he left office since he's...out of office! That's a big burden. You can get as mad as you want Michael: but the important thing for Democrats now is to throw Biden under the bus. Sure, I agree: maybe Harris (or some other candidate) loses anyway if Biden steps aside earlier, but that's partially because Biden was so unpopular! I, like you, think he was good: but the American people disagreed. So instead of trying to defend this mess: the easy, and prudent, route is to acknowledge it, and then move forward in a different direction.
The facts are: the American voters blamed Biden for inflation. Biden for the border. Did not like his social policies, and thought he was letting the world get out of control. Wiser heads can realize what actually happened, and judge accordingly, but Biden was unable to defend himself or his record. So Democrats now need to kick him to the curb and promise change. Otherwise they will remain in the doldrums.
and I meant to write it above but needless to say: I was wrong to support Biden's re-election. I overly feared a primary compared to how awfully Biden performed in the 2024 campaign. I was blinded by fear of Trump, and I (as did many) was too stubborn to see the truth. Some of that blame belongs to Biden and his aids, but that's neither here nor there.
If only the low-information voters residing in Red states were hurt or suffered an early death, I wouldn't care. Still, their stupidity is sentencing innocent people to suffer the consequences of their ignorance. I don't care what stupidity you engage in while in your home, such as excessive drinking, shooting up drugs, or taking bleach as a medicine, but when you enter the public sphere, you are going to hurt innocent people, and you should be put away, as you are a public menace. The radical right has made vaccines, masks, and now fluoride into cultural issues instead of medical decisions. The same can be said of abortion, IVF, and stem cell therapies. The Democratic Party is obsessing over their loss to an illiterate clown, and instead of ridding themselves of the old, dead wood in the party, they are talking about things that can't be changed. It's time to realize that they need a unified message from now on, not a breast-beating look in the rearview mirror.
Thank you, as always, for setting the record straight. I particularly liked the following paragraph:
"The fact is, even on Biden’s worst day, he knew far more about government and public policy than Trump has in his entire life. Maybe some enterprising reporters could dig more deeply into that story and whether those around Trump are covering up for his ongoing age-related infirmities."
Oh, and regarding Florida: I guess DeSantis is still flailing away, trying to stay "relevant." Poor Ron!
So how to get the press to address these points? I watched the debate and the aftermath, and the people supposedly in the know--MSNBC talking heads, members of Congress, the people usually being talked about when other people say "the Democrats"--seemed to be as stunned as I was by Biden's disastrous performance. In other words, "the Democrats" didn't know and weren't hiding anything. And there was increasing unanimity among "the Democrats" with a few notable exceptions that Biden should step aside, I agree that (a) this is a non-story and that (b) Trump's mental condition is an unreported real story. The difference, I think, is in their appearances. Trump doesn't look like a doddering old man to the extent that Biden does, independent of what they actually say and how they say it.
No, Trump may not be doddering, but worse than that, he appears to be what he is - an elderly sociopath, an unfathomable liar, a fraud artist - I'll take doddering old man over that any day.
Anyone who even opens their mouth about Biden's alleged health problems or mental "decline" should be assaulted with demands that until they give equal or greater time to Trump's (considering that he is NOW president) or their assertions about Biden will be ridiculed along with their claim to be "journalists." The media's three-week campaign last summer to drive Joe Biden out of office, unaccompanied by an equal amount of coverage about Trump's obvious mental and emotional unfitness, was an insult to democracy.
Michael, more than once, you have admirably tackled the question of Biden's health, the role he may or may not have played in the election, and whether it matters or not , and its obvious some are still angry, still assessing the loss. In my opinion, continuing to blame Biden and each other is neither productive nor helpful. The Republicans can do that to us, without our help. The target of our ire should be on them, not each other. I would like to see us move on - there's real work to do.
I agree 100% Michael ! Who's taking about the dufus in the oval office?! Crickets.... Good read today, I like the music 🎶 too. Thank you, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
I like Biden. I think he governed well. I supported his re-election, I thought a primary was dumb, and I am disappointed this is how his term ended. If I had to rank Biden's term I'd give him a C+, B- which all things considered is not bad; probably around George HW Bush in terms of overall rankings. Of the 45 men, probably in the 20-25 range; maybe 25-30.
But Biden is NOT the man he was even in 2020, and sure as hell not in 2016. I am sure that his decline was not linear, he was clearly not catatonic (like FDR was in '45), and I also agree that the wheelchair thing is completely irrelevant. It's painfully clear that Biden...is a really old man! Who forgot a bunch of shit, and reminds me of my grandparents in their own dotage! Not incompetent, not senile, but also insanely limited! Which, as Nate Silver is right to point out: is not good for the President of the United States! People can rightfully conclude that Biden was too old for the job. Is it unfair they don't come to the same conclusions as Trump? Fuck yes it is: but that's not the relevant part.
The relevant part is Biden fucked his party, and his country by running for re-election. Maybe he was in better health in 2023 when he started it all. He clearly had 'good days and bad days' and I think his health has improved since he left office since he's...out of office! That's a big burden. You can get as mad as you want Michael: but the important thing for Democrats now is to throw Biden under the bus. Sure, I agree: maybe Harris (or some other candidate) loses anyway if Biden steps aside earlier, but that's partially because Biden was so unpopular! I, like you, think he was good: but the American people disagreed. So instead of trying to defend this mess: the easy, and prudent, route is to acknowledge it, and then move forward in a different direction.
The facts are: the American voters blamed Biden for inflation. Biden for the border. Did not like his social policies, and thought he was letting the world get out of control. Wiser heads can realize what actually happened, and judge accordingly, but Biden was unable to defend himself or his record. So Democrats now need to kick him to the curb and promise change. Otherwise they will remain in the doldrums.
and I meant to write it above but needless to say: I was wrong to support Biden's re-election. I overly feared a primary compared to how awfully Biden performed in the 2024 campaign. I was blinded by fear of Trump, and I (as did many) was too stubborn to see the truth. Some of that blame belongs to Biden and his aids, but that's neither here nor there.
If only the low-information voters residing in Red states were hurt or suffered an early death, I wouldn't care. Still, their stupidity is sentencing innocent people to suffer the consequences of their ignorance. I don't care what stupidity you engage in while in your home, such as excessive drinking, shooting up drugs, or taking bleach as a medicine, but when you enter the public sphere, you are going to hurt innocent people, and you should be put away, as you are a public menace. The radical right has made vaccines, masks, and now fluoride into cultural issues instead of medical decisions. The same can be said of abortion, IVF, and stem cell therapies. The Democratic Party is obsessing over their loss to an illiterate clown, and instead of ridding themselves of the old, dead wood in the party, they are talking about things that can't be changed. It's time to realize that they need a unified message from now on, not a breast-beating look in the rearview mirror.
Thank you, as always, for setting the record straight. I particularly liked the following paragraph:
"The fact is, even on Biden’s worst day, he knew far more about government and public policy than Trump has in his entire life. Maybe some enterprising reporters could dig more deeply into that story and whether those around Trump are covering up for his ongoing age-related infirmities."
Oh, and regarding Florida: I guess DeSantis is still flailing away, trying to stay "relevant." Poor Ron!
:(
Excellent article!
So how to get the press to address these points? I watched the debate and the aftermath, and the people supposedly in the know--MSNBC talking heads, members of Congress, the people usually being talked about when other people say "the Democrats"--seemed to be as stunned as I was by Biden's disastrous performance. In other words, "the Democrats" didn't know and weren't hiding anything. And there was increasing unanimity among "the Democrats" with a few notable exceptions that Biden should step aside, I agree that (a) this is a non-story and that (b) Trump's mental condition is an unreported real story. The difference, I think, is in their appearances. Trump doesn't look like a doddering old man to the extent that Biden does, independent of what they actually say and how they say it.
No, Trump may not be doddering, but worse than that, he appears to be what he is - an elderly sociopath, an unfathomable liar, a fraud artist - I'll take doddering old man over that any day.