Well, at least We'll have a President Now...

[Sunstone]

I don't much care for Mr. Biden's neoliberal, corporate Democrat politics, but today he not only led by example -- getting a vaccine on national television -- but he also graciously credited the current administration's efforts to get the vaccine up and running in the first place. In short, whatever else Mr. Biden might be, he acts like a leader.

Damn his politics, but at least we will soon have a president now.


Biden receives the coronavirus vaccine.

 

[SomeRandom]

I don't much care for Mr. Biden's neoliberal, corporate Democrat politics, but today he not only led by example -- getting a vaccine on national television -- but he also graciously credited the current administration's efforts to get the vaccine up and running in the first place. In short, whatever else Mr. Biden might be, he acts like a leader.

Damn his politics, but at least we will soon have a president now.


Biden receives the coronavirus vaccine.

Iow he’s a lot more classy than Trump.
Is that really a high bar to jump?


(Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

 

[Revoltingest]

I seldom predict a presidential winner, but I did this time.
Four years of relative boredom (I hope)...I can live with that.

 

[Sunstone]

Iow he’s a lot more classy than Trump.
Is that really a high bar to jump?


(Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

"Class" and "leadership" are not the same thing, but they are often enough seen mixed together in the public persona (at least) of presidents. It's no cause for joy or happiness, but only sorrow, that this country has suffered four years with a 'president' that neither had class nor was a generally competent leader.

 

[Valjean]

I don't much care for Mr. Biden's neoliberal, corporate Democrat politics, but today he not only led by example -- getting a vaccine on national television -- but he also graciously credited the current administration's efforts to get the vaccine up and running in the first place. In short, whatever else Mr. Biden might be, he acts like a leader

But surely that's a threat to a democracy. Real democracies don't have leaders, they have representatives, and legions of organizers, expert consultants, &c.

 

[Revoltingest]

But surely that's a threat to a democracy.

Reminds me of an inspirational quote.
The lesson I take isn't the not knowing about threats.
Rather, recognize that we've overcome them before,
we'll always face them, & we have a record of prevailing.
Worrying about them isn't productive.

 

[SomeRandom]

"Class" and "leadership" are not the same thing, but they are often enough seen mixed together in the public persona (at least) of presidents. It's no cause for joy or happiness, but only sorrow, that this country has suffered four years with a 'president' that neither had class nor was a generally competent leader.

I suppose, speaking as an outsider, Obama has the perception of having poise, grace and dignity. Trump meanwhile exemplified every negative American stereotype to ever exist.
I think people are still baffled that he could have this cult of personality. And yet it appears some have made him their entire political personality.

 

[Sunstone]

But surely that's a threat to a democracy. Real democracies don't have leaders, they have representatives, and legions of organizers, expert consultants, &c.

You're leaving out independent courts. Why are you leaving out independent courts? Do you hate America?

 

[Sunstone]

I think people are still baffled that he could have this cult of personality. And yet it appears some have made him their entire political personality.

I think the origins and nature of Trump's cult are complex and defy easy summation. But that the political movement/coalition he put together has evolved into a cult (or, at least part of it has evolved into a cult) is doubtlessly true. The term 'cult' is used without exaggeration.

 

[Valjean]

You're leaving out independent courts. Why are you leaving out independent courts? Do you hate America?

Yeah, independent courts are all in. What we really need to leave out of politics is money.

 

[SomeRandom]

I think the origins and nature of Trump's cult are complex and defy easy summation. But that the political movement/coalition he put together has evolved into a cult (or, at least part of it has evolved into a cult) is doubtlessly true. The term 'cult' is used without exaggeration.

You’re not kidding.
I remember randomly catching a news report/opinion piece on TV a while ago. The political commentator (or pundit I’m not quite sure) was expressing his dismay at the state of the Republican Party and how there was a clear distinction between “Trumpers” and “normal conservatives.”
At the time I sort of dismissed this. I naively took all the fervour for the run of the mill American political enthusiasm. Then Trump lost and I was like “oh, I get it now.”

 

[Valjean]

Reminds me of an inspirational quote.
The lesson I take isn't the not knowing about threats.
Rather, recognize that we've overcome them before,
we'll always face them, & we have a record of prevailing.
Worrying about them isn't productive.

But in many cases we didn't overcome them. In many cases they were kept secret from the public, with bad results. More often than not, the real threat is from within.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Real democracies don't have leaders, ...

And real Scotsmen don't ...

By the way, when did the U.S. become a "real democracy"?

 

[Revoltingest]

But in many cases we didn't overcome them. In many cases they were kept secret from the public, with bad results. More often than not, the real threat is from within.

The country is still here. And now the last half century has seen legal gay
marriage, widespread vote-by-mail, no military draft, etc. Could'a been worse.

 

[Sunstone]

What we really need to leave out of politics is money.

That's an ages old struggle that will never end. However, 'money' could be dealt a serious setback if elections were publicly funded and only publicly funded.

Professional bribers -- such as my cousin was, when he was alive -- would still find ways to bribe politicians, but the cost of bribing them would most likely be driven down to reasonable levels, allowing more people to have a say in their government. Only a few years ago, a friend of mine was able to gain access to his senator for just a few thousand dollars -- but that was before Citizen's United. Now senators are almost priced out of the market for him and he's a multi-millionaire.

 

[Sunstone]

Real democracies don't have leaders...

You must be defining 'leader' in some narrow, special sense of the word. What is it?

 

[Sunstone]

You’re not kidding.
I remember randomly catching a news report/opinion piece on TV a while ago. The political commentator (or pundit I’m not quite sure) was expressing his dismay at the state of the Republican Party and how there was a clear distinction between “Trumpers” and “normal conservatives.”
At the time I sort of dismissed this. I naively took all the fervour for the run of the mill American political enthusiasm. Then Trump lost and I was like “oh, I get it now.”

Off on a slight tangent here, but if you think American politics is confusing to non-Americans, you should try being born, raised, and constantly indoctrinated in various lies about it -- such as nearly every American is. By the time you're 18, you're lucky if you can tell the difference between a communist and a socialist, if you know both major parties are puppets of wealthy individuals and corporations, if you are aware that's more or less how the system was set up to function, if you understand that a certain level of corruption is necessary to get things done, or if you even have an inkling of why there is such a thing as politics in the first place. I think people living here can't see the forest for the trees, and half the trees are lies to begin with.

Maybe up to half the reason Trump was able to form a political cult has to do with the fact most Americans are incredibly ignorant and naive about politics.

 

[sun rise]

I seldom predict a presidential winner, but I did this time.
Four years of relative boredom (I hope)...I can live with that.

I doubt boredom in general but I'll take what I can get when it comes to calm in Washington.

 

[sun rise]

And say what you want about Pence and I have plenty to say, at least he got the vaccine on national TV as well.

 

[Sunstone]

By the way, when did the U.S. become a "real democracy"?

I believe it is widely recognized by historians that the US became a 'real democracy' back when George Washington refused to tell a lie and admitted to chopping down the cherry tree -- but it only happened in the "hearts and minds" of his countrymen. In the world outside their hearts and minds, we have yet to become a real democracy.