Over the past few weeks, it’s been interesting to see that the core concept of the Biden campaign is completely false. He claims that all we have to do is defeat Trump and then we’ll get back to some normalcy in which the GOP can work with the Democrats – and there is no better person to do that type of work than Joe Biden.
And yet, since the Hunter Biden news, right wing media has been awash with endless coverage of the Biden-Ukraine connection, and this includes all sorts of elected officials coming on to spout nonsense (it’s not just the despicable hosts. These officials are also meeting Trump at rallies to say the same things about the Bidens.
But sure, we can go back to normal and work with these guys . . .
40 years of being wrong on policy and now being wrong about the core argument of his campaign and the politics of the present. I don’t really care what Obama thought of him. He isn’t the one for this moment.
terrymcgintysays
Case in point, Doubleman. Go ahead, talk about the White House concocted non-issue of Hunter Biden. Pathetic.
terrymcgintysays
As a matter of fact, that’s the last thing I have to say about this. I’m not gonna waste my words on you or your comment any further.
terrymcgintysays
Ok, five more words: on Veteran’s Day, no less.
doublemansays
1. The Hunter Biden story is sketchy as heck and shows more proof of the pervasive corruption of our politics.
2. The Hunter Biden story is completely overblown with lies by the GOP and right-wing media.
Both 1 and 2 can be (and are) true.
The issue is whether Biden’s core idea for his candidacy, that we can return to “normalcy” and the the GOP will be a good faith partner, is true. The Hunter Biden story shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is not true, and especially not true with respect to Joe Biden himself.
fredrichlaricciasays
As a Gold Star brother, for anyone to drink the bogus Trumpist lie about a fellow Gold Star family on Veterans Day is beyond despicable.
doublemansays
Bringing this in seems pretty despicable, but also, who are you talking about? The Bidens are not a Gold Star family.
Please read what I wrote.
Biden claims that he can work with the GOP and that they will work with him in good faith. The Hunter Biden circus proves this to be false, regardless of the truth of any of the allegations. The GOP will never be a good faith partner. They weren’t before Trump won, and they won’t be after.
SomervilleTomsays
Come on, Fred. Joe Biden is NOT a “fellow Gold Star family”.
A Gold Star family is a family that has lost a member to military service.
Joe Biden never served in the military. Hunter Biden and Beau Biden served in the military. Neither died in military service Hunter Biden was discharged after failing a drug test in 2014.
Whatever we might say for or against Mr. Biden, it is incorrect to describe the BIdens as a “fellow Gold Star family”.
doublemansays
Correction – Beau Biden served in Iraq. He also died. He did not die in service.
It’s weird to wrap in the flag to distract from real political criticisms of Joe Biden that are no more or less relevant on this day as they are on any other day.
SomervilleTomsays
I appreciate the clarification about Beau Biden. I edited my comment accordingly.
fredrichlaricciasays
Beau Biden served in uniform during war but was not killed in battle and I apologize for confusing his death to cancer with those who gave the last full measure of devotion to their country.
SomervilleTomsays
I appreciate the walkback — no harm, no foul.
terrymcgintysays
“If you can’t admire Joe Biden as a person, you’ve got a problem. He is as good a man as God ever created.”
-Senate colleague of fmr. Sen. Biden
Biden is a person who deserves better than the disrespect he is too often getting within our party, not just as a politician, which is fine, but also as a person, which is not fine.
doublemansays
This sounds like the same kind of stuff that Chuck Schumer said today about Peter King, who is as blatant an Islamophobe as you will ever find.
Peter King stood head & shoulders above everyone else
He’s been principled & never let others push him away from his principles
He’s fiercely loved America, Long Island, and his Irish heritage and left a lasting mark on all 3
I will miss him in Congress & value his friendship
fredrichlaricciasays
Bull to your distraction conflation.
SomervilleTomsays
I’m sure Joe Biden is fine man, personally. That’s not my issue with him.
There are lots of similarly fine men and women who nevertheless do not win my support for the presidency. Your conflation of disagreement and an alleged lack of “respect” is dishonest and offensive.
Addressing the facts of Mr. Biden’s long career in public office is not disrespect. Addressing the lies and distortions of his current campaign is not disrespect. Joe Biden is neither a deity nor a monarch. He is a politician running for President.
This relentless and relentlessly sappy drum-beating and flag-waving is wearisome and ineffective. Telling me to vote for Joe Biden because Barack Obama awarded a medal to him is counterproductive. The focus on these irrelevant accolades, combined with the insulting and false accusations of “disrespect” do MUCH more harm than good.
Every post like this digs the hole deeper and deeper. I encourage you to put down your shovel and stop digging.
fredrichlaricciasays
Jill and Joe Biden’s Veterans Day tribute :
Today is about making a commitment to pay our gratitude to America’s veterans.
Less than 1% of our country’s population serves in our Armed Forces, but the other 99% of Americans owe that 1% more than we could ever repay.
Veterans are the heart and soul of the nation.
We also know that when a veteran chooses to sacrifice and serve, they aren’t alone. It’s also their family — their mothers and fathers, children, siblings and spouses.
This Veterans Day we want to make something crystal clear : when we talk about restoring the soul of our nation, a big part of that promise is that, as commander in chief, ensuring that the White House advocates for the best interests of our service members, veterans and their families.
This White House is doing far too little to look after America’s veterans and military families. Together we can change that.
There are more than 18 million surviving veterans across America who have bravely and faithfully protected our freedom.
So to each of these heroes and their families, please know that you have our admiration, our gratitude, and our promise to always fight for you.
Thank you and may God protect our troops and their families.
SomervilleTomsays
Elizabeth Warren’s brothers are veterans. My late father — and all of his generation in my family — was a WWII combat veteran. My grandfather was a Marine who fought and was disabled in WWI.
Of course we all admire the sacrifice of each and every veteran and of their family members.
Elizabeth Warren merits every accolade this thread accords Joe Biden.
doublemansays
And Sanders released a plan today for expanding and improving the VA and providing additional services for veterans, while also explicitly addressing veterans as part of his justice-based plans around health care, education, criminal justice, immigration, and housing.
I’d like to see what Biden is proposing beyond a nice statement.
fredrichlaricciasays
The Fake Bone Spur Five Time Draft Dodger stole money raised for veterans yet oxymoronically headed up a Veterans Day parade today.
Only in America.
jconwaysays
I think the bigger issue is his weakness as a fundraiser and a debater. Both are not signs of strength that he can go toe to toe against Trump. We could argue until the cows come home about moderate v. progressive as the way to win a general election, but it’s becoming all too clear even the moderates lack faith in Biden. Hence the Bloomberg and now Patrick boomlets and the Buttigieg surge in Iowa. Biden is in every sense yesterday’s candidate, and it seems that this political reality is finally catching up to him.
I’ll close with the fact that one can critique Biden’s strengths as a candidate without endorsing Trump or endorsing the GOP attacks against Biden. It certainly seems that’s what’s many of his own former supporters seem to be doing.
Christophersays
He did an excellent job at his CNN town hall tonight. One of the analysts suggested it may have been his best performance so far in this campaign and I am inclined to agree. A nominee always has plenty of resources so I would not worry too much about that.
fredrichlaricciasays
“Disagree with him all you want. Support him or don’t. But after 4 years of Trump rallies, watching this Joe Biden town hall feels like chicken soup for the soul. The man is decent, authentic and gives a damn about other humans. How refreshing.” Anna Navarro – Cardenas
jconwaysays
She also thought Jeb Bush was going to lead the GOP away from Trump.
Our problem as a party is the progressives are excited about Sanders and Warren whom the centrists fear, while the centrists are excited about Biden and Bloomberg whom the progressives wouldn’t be excited about voting for. This is why I am starting to think Buttigieg has a good shot at splitting the difference.
doublemansays
This is why I am starting to think Buttigieg has a good shot at splitting the difference.
Maybe. He has become my least favorite candidate in the race. I think he is a total careerist opportunist that is completely disingenuous and has no real values – and for someone his age, that is very scary to me.
That’s just me.
I’m hoping his new turn as one of the frontrunners will increase the pressure and scrutiny and his campaign will come back to reality – where it should be for someone who has only won elections with the number of votes that losing Boston City Council candidates get.
Christophersays
Regarding Jeb Bush, so did I, and in our defense the history of the party to that point strongly suggested it would come to pass. I love listening to Buttigieg, but still think Mayor of South Bend to the WH is a bit of a leap. I thought Kamala Harris was going to be the one to split the difference, but her campaign seems to be faltering which surprises me.
fredrichlaricciasays
Joe Biden supports a plan to extend GI Bill benefits to all veterans.
doubleman says
Over the past few weeks, it’s been interesting to see that the core concept of the Biden campaign is completely false. He claims that all we have to do is defeat Trump and then we’ll get back to some normalcy in which the GOP can work with the Democrats – and there is no better person to do that type of work than Joe Biden.
And yet, since the Hunter Biden news, right wing media has been awash with endless coverage of the Biden-Ukraine connection, and this includes all sorts of elected officials coming on to spout nonsense (it’s not just the despicable hosts. These officials are also meeting Trump at rallies to say the same things about the Bidens.
But sure, we can go back to normal and work with these guys . . .
40 years of being wrong on policy and now being wrong about the core argument of his campaign and the politics of the present. I don’t really care what Obama thought of him. He isn’t the one for this moment.
terrymcginty says
Case in point, Doubleman. Go ahead, talk about the White House concocted non-issue of Hunter Biden. Pathetic.
terrymcginty says
As a matter of fact, that’s the last thing I have to say about this. I’m not gonna waste my words on you or your comment any further.
terrymcginty says
Ok, five more words: on Veteran’s Day, no less.
doubleman says
1. The Hunter Biden story is sketchy as heck and shows more proof of the pervasive corruption of our politics.
2. The Hunter Biden story is completely overblown with lies by the GOP and right-wing media.
Both 1 and 2 can be (and are) true.
The issue is whether Biden’s core idea for his candidacy, that we can return to “normalcy” and the the GOP will be a good faith partner, is true. The Hunter Biden story shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is not true, and especially not true with respect to Joe Biden himself.
fredrichlariccia says
As a Gold Star brother, for anyone to drink the bogus Trumpist lie about a fellow Gold Star family on Veterans Day is beyond despicable.
doubleman says
Bringing this in seems pretty despicable, but also, who are you talking about? The Bidens are not a Gold Star family.
Please read what I wrote.
Biden claims that he can work with the GOP and that they will work with him in good faith. The Hunter Biden circus proves this to be false, regardless of the truth of any of the allegations. The GOP will never be a good faith partner. They weren’t before Trump won, and they won’t be after.
SomervilleTom says
Come on, Fred. Joe Biden is NOT a “fellow Gold Star family”.
A Gold Star family is a family that has lost a member to military service.
Joe Biden never served in the military. Hunter Biden and Beau Biden served in the military. Neither died in military service Hunter Biden was discharged after failing a drug test in 2014.
Whatever we might say for or against Mr. Biden, it is incorrect to describe the BIdens as a “fellow Gold Star family”.
doubleman says
Correction – Beau Biden served in Iraq. He also died. He did not die in service.
It’s weird to wrap in the flag to distract from real political criticisms of Joe Biden that are no more or less relevant on this day as they are on any other day.
SomervilleTom says
I appreciate the clarification about Beau Biden. I edited my comment accordingly.
fredrichlariccia says
Beau Biden served in uniform during war but was not killed in battle and I apologize for confusing his death to cancer with those who gave the last full measure of devotion to their country.
SomervilleTom says
I appreciate the walkback — no harm, no foul.
terrymcginty says
“If you can’t admire Joe Biden as a person, you’ve got a problem. He is as good a man as God ever created.”
-Senate colleague of fmr. Sen. Biden
Biden is a person who deserves better than the disrespect he is too often getting within our party, not just as a politician, which is fine, but also as a person, which is not fine.
doubleman says
This sounds like the same kind of stuff that Chuck Schumer said today about Peter King, who is as blatant an Islamophobe as you will ever find.
fredrichlariccia says
Bull to your distraction conflation.
SomervilleTom says
I’m sure Joe Biden is fine man, personally. That’s not my issue with him.
There are lots of similarly fine men and women who nevertheless do not win my support for the presidency. Your conflation of disagreement and an alleged lack of “respect” is dishonest and offensive.
Addressing the facts of Mr. Biden’s long career in public office is not disrespect. Addressing the lies and distortions of his current campaign is not disrespect. Joe Biden is neither a deity nor a monarch. He is a politician running for President.
This relentless and relentlessly sappy drum-beating and flag-waving is wearisome and ineffective. Telling me to vote for Joe Biden because Barack Obama awarded a medal to him is counterproductive. The focus on these irrelevant accolades, combined with the insulting and false accusations of “disrespect” do MUCH more harm than good.
Every post like this digs the hole deeper and deeper. I encourage you to put down your shovel and stop digging.
fredrichlariccia says
Jill and Joe Biden’s Veterans Day tribute :
Today is about making a commitment to pay our gratitude to America’s veterans.
Less than 1% of our country’s population serves in our Armed Forces, but the other 99% of Americans owe that 1% more than we could ever repay.
Veterans are the heart and soul of the nation.
We also know that when a veteran chooses to sacrifice and serve, they aren’t alone. It’s also their family — their mothers and fathers, children, siblings and spouses.
This Veterans Day we want to make something crystal clear : when we talk about restoring the soul of our nation, a big part of that promise is that, as commander in chief, ensuring that the White House advocates for the best interests of our service members, veterans and their families.
This White House is doing far too little to look after America’s veterans and military families. Together we can change that.
There are more than 18 million surviving veterans across America who have bravely and faithfully protected our freedom.
So to each of these heroes and their families, please know that you have our admiration, our gratitude, and our promise to always fight for you.
Thank you and may God protect our troops and their families.
SomervilleTom says
Elizabeth Warren’s brothers are veterans. My late father — and all of his generation in my family — was a WWII combat veteran. My grandfather was a Marine who fought and was disabled in WWI.
Of course we all admire the sacrifice of each and every veteran and of their family members.
Elizabeth Warren merits every accolade this thread accords Joe Biden.
doubleman says
And Sanders released a plan today for expanding and improving the VA and providing additional services for veterans, while also explicitly addressing veterans as part of his justice-based plans around health care, education, criminal justice, immigration, and housing.
https://berniesanders.com/issues/honoring-veterans/
I’d like to see what Biden is proposing beyond a nice statement.
fredrichlariccia says
The Fake Bone Spur Five Time Draft Dodger stole money raised for veterans yet oxymoronically headed up a Veterans Day parade today.
Only in America.
jconway says
I think the bigger issue is his weakness as a fundraiser and a debater. Both are not signs of strength that he can go toe to toe against Trump. We could argue until the cows come home about moderate v. progressive as the way to win a general election, but it’s becoming all too clear even the moderates lack faith in Biden. Hence the Bloomberg and now Patrick boomlets and the Buttigieg surge in Iowa. Biden is in every sense yesterday’s candidate, and it seems that this political reality is finally catching up to him.
I’ll close with the fact that one can critique Biden’s strengths as a candidate without endorsing Trump or endorsing the GOP attacks against Biden. It certainly seems that’s what’s many of his own former supporters seem to be doing.
Christopher says
He did an excellent job at his CNN town hall tonight. One of the analysts suggested it may have been his best performance so far in this campaign and I am inclined to agree. A nominee always has plenty of resources so I would not worry too much about that.
fredrichlariccia says
“Disagree with him all you want. Support him or don’t. But after 4 years of Trump rallies, watching this Joe Biden town hall feels like chicken soup for the soul. The man is decent, authentic and gives a damn about other humans. How refreshing.” Anna Navarro – Cardenas
jconway says
She also thought Jeb Bush was going to lead the GOP away from Trump.
Our problem as a party is the progressives are excited about Sanders and Warren whom the centrists fear, while the centrists are excited about Biden and Bloomberg whom the progressives wouldn’t be excited about voting for. This is why I am starting to think Buttigieg has a good shot at splitting the difference.
doubleman says
Maybe. He has become my least favorite candidate in the race. I think he is a total careerist opportunist that is completely disingenuous and has no real values – and for someone his age, that is very scary to me.
That’s just me.
I’m hoping his new turn as one of the frontrunners will increase the pressure and scrutiny and his campaign will come back to reality – where it should be for someone who has only won elections with the number of votes that losing Boston City Council candidates get.
Christopher says
Regarding Jeb Bush, so did I, and in our defense the history of the party to that point strongly suggested it would come to pass. I love listening to Buttigieg, but still think Mayor of South Bend to the WH is a bit of a leap. I thought Kamala Harris was going to be the one to split the difference, but her campaign seems to be faltering which surprises me.
fredrichlariccia says
Joe Biden supports a plan to extend GI Bill benefits to all veterans.