Ugh, I read this so you don’t have to. You’re welcome. 😓
The first half seemed to be about how the focus on the “Culture War” is now replaced by hatred for Israel, since people can only handle one thing at a time.
I feel dumber for reading that part of the article, but the second half has the real meat of the article.
As for the racial reckoning of the last decade, it missed Joe Biden. He couldn’t stop talking in cringe-inducing racial clichés about the black United States president in whose administration he served. He may employ and empower some radical ideas through his policies and his administration, and for that, Republicans will try to hold him to account. But it will be in vain.
It is very difficult to associate Biden with that radicalism when it is so evident that the last racial-attitudes software update was uploaded to his brain in a 1970s Knights of Columbus cookout. Biden still talks in the racial and ethnic clichés of an America where his voters had little portraits of JFK and John XXIII hanging above their kitchen tables. The Irish are known for whiskey and hating the English. And Italians for pasta and organized crime. And it’s great in Joe Biden’s America when so many black people are “clean” and “articulate,” and you put on “a slight Indian accent” to go into 7-Eleven or Dunkin’ Donuts.
Biden is a man out of his time. That may hurt him among the most progressive voters. But it’s going to reassure the vast majority of Americans. He may be losing his mind, but his character and prejudices are still recognizably loyal to this nation, its institutions, and its traditional allies.
So as “woke” as Sleepy Joe goes, he’s still racist uncle enough to not alienate the 80% off people that aren’t “radical leftists” and the 20% that are won’t be swayed to not vote for Joe because the sensible Republicans can’t build a strong argument around his weak, fake “wokeness.”
Or something like that. I could only force my brain to absorb so much of that.
Many of us have not forgotton what bills he helped push against the black community and many other things.
But this is just the activists that have skin in the streets, others may just vote due to “not Trump”.
I am hoping for more turnout for left leaning 3rd Party candidates, so as to beat the Libertarian Party numbers, at least.
There is plenty to rightly criticize Biden for over his very long tenure, which it seems the writer of the article couldn’t be bothered with. Maybe he should listen to some of those leftist talking points…
I’d love a party left of the current Dem majority. I’m only registered Dem so I can vote for the actual leftists in my state’s primary, otherwise I have zero say.
I feel Biden and Co have done enough good these last few years that I don’t feel horrible about the chance for him to continue another 4 years, and I hope he improves some of the things he’s doing for sure, but “not Trump” is pretty crucial right now to me.
Thank you for explaining your point of view, I don’t hear that side too much.
I hear mostly the bad stuff said of Joe’s wars and economy, while also seeing how the left of the Democrats (Justice Democrats), have failed and have gone the Nanci Pelosi/Bernie Sanders route.
Just to chime in with Anon here. I’m someone who leans libertarian and communist. I pragmatically vote for the Democrats. Because it’s simply the best effective way to actually improve things. I would dearly love to have actual left-leaning parties with actual left leaning policies getting elected to support. I don’t want to vote for right wing liberals. But at best, they’re the ones to get elected.
There is not a single person, especially in politics that hasn’t made mistakes or have baggage. You can hold grudges against people eternally. But it’s often to your own detriment. People can change, grow. If you give them the chance. And sincerely, Biden really seems to have. Remember for a moment, the fact we currently even have marriage equality ATM. Is due to one of those patented Biden “gaffes”. Putting Obama, who’d previously been very clear about not supporting it on the spot.
Diplomacy sucks. Ask anyone who’s had to dealt in it. They’ll still tell you it’s vital. We should have never gotten involved with Israel, 70 years ago. Flash forward to today and it couldn’t be clearer. It is possible to believe Biden is a clueless, biased, tone deaf old man. It’s also possible to believe that the administration is trying to maintain friendly, non antagonistic relations with Israel. In an attempt to appeal to them as a friend. The administration is pushing for a 2 state solution currently. Something Netanyahu absolutely doesn’t want. Israel will continue the genocide regardless of what Biden did. I think it’s far too late to save Israel. But it is generally a sound strategy.
Thank you for your input!
I appreciate the time you took to explain your reasoning!
I just try to be respectful of people’s opinions, even if I disagree, unless they’re being outright dangerous. I disagree with the right on just about everything, but I can disagree with Biden or The Squad as well.
I don’t believe politics is winning, I believe it’s compromise between many conflicting interests. Someone is many times going to come up short or take an outright loss, or be forced to falter on their ideology, but the goal is for the society our politicians represent to end up net positive.
We’re often stuck with bad choices, but many times it’s hard to find what the good choice would actually be. I just try to use my collected wisdom of my years to try and be the least worst person I can be, and try to influence by my example to whoever can see the virtue in that.
No one person other than myself will embody my ideals anyway, so having to vote for less than stellar candidates is one of the compromises I realize I have to do.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom in such an eloquent way!
This shows me that I still have much to learn and improve, which is an exciting endeavor!
Thanks again for explaining!
Certainly! More understanding, knowledge, and communication are things we can all always work on to make ourselves and our world better.
I’m glad I could steer a National Review article into something positive! 😉
If you ever need a positivity break from political stuff, stop by !superbowl@lemmy.world for fun nature stuff involving adorable sky-cats!
Yes, it seems to be a hard thing to do, for me at least. I need to check myself more often than not…
That is awesome, always great when people are glad or happy after having a conversation on the interwebs!
hahaha, I was not expecting to see owls, I was thinking of the NFL when I saw your link, you got a sub!
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