Adrastos, Campaign Notes, JOEY B SHARK, Political Crack

The Long Goodbye

The post title does NOT describe President Biden’s concise and deeply moving 12-minute address to the nation. It’s stolen from the Raymond Chandler novel: I only steal from the best. How could I, of all people, resist a touch of noir while writing about Joe’s last speech as a candidate for office? It’s not the last we’ll hear from him. He’ll never stop fighting for the things we all believe in, hence The Long Goodbye.

It’s impressive how much substance was packed into the speech. Joe Biden is a meat and potatoes Irish politician who understands that politics is about helping people, not yourself. The contrast to the selfish son-of-a-bitch nominated by the Republicans couldn’t be starker.

The Insult Comedian accepted the GOP nomination and droned on for 90 minutes of bathos, blather, and bullshit. Trump is a phony. Joe Biden is the genuine article.

Does anyone think that Donald Trump is capable of speaking without seasoning it with dollops of self-pity? Hell, no. Can you imagine him uttering these lines?

Before the President spoke, Lawrence O’Donnell said that one thing he knew for sure is that there would be no self-pity from this president. As usual Lawrence was right. Joe is obviously hurting but he’s at peace with his decision to step aside in favor of his loyal Veep. He knows he did the right thing. One thing I know about Joe Biden is when he says he’s all in, he means it. Sincerity, thy name is Joe:

There’s mockery aplenty of this moment on the platform formerly known as Twitter. Is it a bit corny? Yes, but it’s as authentic for Joe Biden as his love of ice cream, aviator shades, family, and country. Joe Biden believes in the American dream, not American carnage.

Repeat after me: Thanks for everything Joe.

I had my second iron infusion treatment at University Medical Center yesterday. I was lost in thought as the IV went drip, drip, drip. I pondered the horrific damage done to our political system by the Trumpified GOP. It was not uncommon for presidents to be liked as human beings by people who disagreed with their policies. That was Ronald Reagan’s secret sauce as president. Joe Biden should have been that guy as well, but it’s impossible for anyone to be that popular for the foreseeable future; the poison runs too deep.

Republicans persist in demeaning and demonizing Democrats. The real demons live inside Donald Trump’s head. That’s why he hates Joe Biden so much. Deep down he knows that Biden is a better human being and that irks him mightily. And I know from irksome things.

It’s been a brutal month, but I’m fired up and ready to go in support of Vice President Harris. She’s studied politics with one of the masters. She’s learned her lessons well as she continues to praise the man who passed her the torch. It’s what diehard Biden supporters like me needed to hear.

Kamala Harris has the right stuff to be our first woman president. A reminder to those who are nervous about her gender: Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by 3 million votes and she’s not half the orator that Kamala is.

I realize the tone of my posts has been less snarky than usual of late. It’s because I’ve come to understand how much Joe Biden means to me. He’s always been there, not always right but always trying to do the right thing, learning from his mistakes and doing the best he can. Besides, there will be plenty of time for snark, the Republican nominee is an Insult Comedian with a nutria pelt atop his head and his running mate is best described as a right-wing shillbilly. I stole that line from Jamie Raskin. I only steal from the best.

The last word goes to Bruce Springsteen:

One thought on “The Long Goodbye”

  1. Considering how Felonious Donk’s fans are transported by paroxysms of mean joy when he humps a flag or kisses a helmet, I’m not inclined to listen to any criticism from them about President Biden briefly recounting his life and career.

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