I have written posts on both of the (probable) major party candidates for 2024. I wrote one entitled, “The Worst Ever” a few weeks before the 2020 election, and one (Bookends) a few months after Joe Biden took office. Since that time, Biden’s predecessor has been indicted in several jurisdictions for various crimes and misdemeanors, in at least two states (Georgia and New York) and Federal courts in D.C. and Florida. Biden, meanwhile, has passed sweeping infrastructure initiatives, has brought about a major effort to engage NATO in helping Ukraine fend off Russian aggression, tamed inflation and avoided an almost certain recession. On the date I’m writing this, the NYSE has had the highest closing ever. All of this with a slim-to-none majority in both houses of Congress during the first two years of his term. A widely predicted Republican wave in the 2022 midterms turned out to be a trickle, at best.
Yet, with about 11 months to go before the 2024 election, Biden is several points behind the former president in the polls. I know, I know it’s very early in the game, so to speak. Yet, it borders on the unbelievable that this decent, relatively successful chief executive is even close to this turkey. Age undoubtedly has much to do with it, but the GOP front runner is only a few years younger. Unfortunately, I believe much of it can be summed up in lyrics to an old song: “There’s No Business like Show Business”. One of the few things the guy did well at was his stint in “The Apprentice”. He is a superb actor, and the MAGA crowd eats it up.
Meanwhile, we keep hearing of additional aspects of his behavior, almost on a daily basis. The New York Times ran a piece yesterday (December 15) detailing how a “folder”, reportedly as thick as four reams or so of paper, and containing very highly sensitive classified material went “missing” in the final day of his term, and has yet to be found. Who took it, and why? Was some of the stuff to be sold to pay legal bills? Fortunately for the former president, one of his appointees to the federal bench is in charge of the trial. And will probably slow walk it until well past the election. The strategy? Reelect him, and he can make it go away via a pardon.
Ok, have fun with pollsters. You may not really mean it. But consider:
- Will we experience a day (or more) of retribution?
- If you are a member of a minority group, is this who you really want?
- The man seems to admire dictators.
- Do you really want a convicted felon in the White House?
Yes, America, we survived four years of sheer incompetence. Do we want to roll the dice again? Ben Franklin perhaps framed the situation best in 1776: Yes, gentlemen, we have a republic. If we can keep it.
On January 6, 2021 an insurrection took place at the Capitol. There seems little doubt that the man set it up and encouraged the mob. He continues to walk around free. If you, or I, had done this, we would be in prison for a long time. How do I know this? There are scores of foot soldiers (Proud Boys, Oath Keepers) already doing time. While I know it takes a lot of “due process” to convict and imprison a former President (after all, it’s never been done before), does it seem fair to you?
If the man has any talent, it lies in performance, as in acting. As little use I have for him, I find his shtick quite entertaining. Of course, what he says cannot, by any sentient person, be believed. The Washington Post stopped counting after several thousand whoppers. The truth, however, is that most listeners know it’s BS, but don’t care. Maybe we need to start caring.
Rogernarc 