I’m sick of folks who proclaim they dislike Biden.
Disagree with? Fine. That’s politics. For every argument there’s a counter. Biden’s a centrist progressive. That means his solutions irk conservatives and radicals. Fair enough. But dislike?
I ask such proclaimers what they dislike about Biden, what he’s done or said to rub them wrong. Their answers melt into mush.
Afghanistan! Really? He accelerated withdrawal from a war that almost all Americans believed we should exit (including the former President). The retreat got sloppy (as retreats tend to). We lost thirteen soldiers. That’s sad. It’s also about ten percent of the Americans killed on our highways daily. A reason to dislike the guy?
He’s a boring speaker. Roger that. A dud on the stump, having recovered from a youthful stutter, Biden never got the hang of stem-winding. Please name the current American politicians you consider eloquent. (Obama and Clinton are long gone.) Trump can’t put two sensible sentences together. I’ve got plenty of reasons to hate Trump, but that’s not one of them.
Biden’s old. True. He’s guilty of 81 years. So should we loathe all grandparents? Deem all octogenarians senile and inept? I’m all in favor of age limits for public servants. I think 81 is too old to start a term as President; ditto for 77 (Trump’s age). I think we should pass a law. But we haven’t yet. Can we hate a guy for not obeying a law that does not exist?
Biden’s a crook. Hunter Biden’s laptop! If he were a crook, I’d be concerned. For my money, convicted felons and egregious sleazebags have no business being President. I dislike crooks generally. But where is any proof of Biden’s mischief? Any! If you’ve got the goods, the Republicans would love to pay you for them, since they’ve been sniffing hard for criminality since Biden’s election.
What’s hateful about Joe Biden? That he’s not my guy – and we hate everybody in authority – a plague on all their houses! Demonizing is easier than analyzing. Biden’s just the worst – everybody knows he’s the worst! – and don’t get me started on Kamala (a woman of color)!
Joe Biden is – famously – a good guy. The folks who’ve worked for and with him all say so. That’s been his calling card his long career – his good-guy-ness. Nobody who knows Trump or has worked for him likes him – name one who’s not related. Personally, he gives me hives – and has since long before he became our President. He beats little guys up, never pays his bills, lies, boasts, grabs women by the pussy, etc. After sitting beside him at a dinner function thirty years ago, I remember needing a shower. Yuk.
The reason folks insist on loathing Biden is they’re ashamed of their reasons for endorsing Trump. What does Trump offer? Lower taxes for the rich. Hearty hatred of immigrants, minorities, the disadvantaged, anyone he labels a “loser.” Misogyny. Assurance that whatever’s bugging us is not our fault. Vengeance on our perceived enemies (“I am your retribution,” he exulted recently). Dictatorship. Nonstop lies. Trump satisfies human appetites that are natural but not admirable. Therefore, to protect their wobbly pride, Trump supporters recast themselves as Biden-haters, equivalating the vileness of both.
We’re headed into the ugliest Presidential campaign ever. Little sensible will be uttered because this is war, not a debate. There’s only one issue really: Trump or not. Do Americans want the greed, vengeance, tyranny, viciousness, mendacity, cruelty he promises? Our choice is between an ordinary, modest, capable, not-too-special good guy and the most repulsive human being imaginable.
May we wake in time.