Monday, July 22, 2024

It's hard to walk away, but it was time for Joe to go

Carnitas torta, 5 Rabanitos
     When Warren Zevon was dying of lung cancer, he spoke with David Letterman. The talk show host asked the great singer/songwriter what it is like living with his fatal diagnosis.
      "You put more value on every minute," Zevon replied. "I always thought I kinda did that ... but it's more valuable now. You're reminded to enjoy every sandwich."
     "Enjoy every sandwich." A great line, one that I think of, more and more. Even though I'm healthy as a horse. But I'm also 64. Nothing lasts forever.
     I can relate to Joe Biden's predicament, I really can. He's president of the United States, a job that comes with power and attention and a jet airplane. Hard to walk away, and kudos to him for making the tough decision and deciding not to run again. He dragged his feet, naturally, but in the end he did what he thought was necessary to give American democracy its best shot at survival.
Turkey club on wheat toast, Lou Mitchell's
     Stepping down has to hurt. Biden was at peak performance not long ago: defeated Donald Trump in 2020, mobilized Europe to respond to the invasion of Ukraine. One bad night, and suddenly the kids were taking away his car keys.
     Only it wasn't just one bad night but what that bad night represented. If I turn in my grocery list as a column, that wouldn't be just one bad column, but a clanging alarm bell that something bad had happened, and might happen again.
    Biden endorsed Kamala Harris. Not that she's a sure winner. Harris has the same handicap that sank Hillary Clinton: She's a woman in a sexist country. Where a third of the women can't be trusted to decide when to have a baby. But she can speak powerfully and get Americans excited.
Pastrami on rye, Max & Benny's
     Imagine if Republicans pushed against an unfit candidate half as hard?
For some, retirement is easy. My father retired from NASA at 56. Meaning he's been retired for the past 36 years, longer than he worked. The glory of a federal pension.
     At the time I was puzzled. Stopping so young seemed a refutation of his entire career. Did he not want to do something else? Find another job? No. He wanted to paint watercolors and hike the Rockies, which he did until the frost set in. 
     Now he sits and stares blankly at the television. So maybe retiring early was smart. As a bartender said in Buenos Aires, encouraging me to try the tango: "The life is only once."
      Right. But what if you like to work? And the job has a shimmer of significance. Shouldn't you stick at your post, tapping away, as the water rises around your ankles? I always assumed the decision would be made for me. The paper would break apart in the typhoon battering professional journalism. Or I'd make some joke that is no longer funny and be frog-marched offstage.

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19 comments:

  1. To me, it seems Joe was dragged off kicking and screaming . Statements and interviews over the last few weeks indicated he was convinced he's still capable of "running the the world". He's done a fine job these last 3-1/2 years and might of had enough juice to start another term but is on the downhill slide . Then we would end up with the less than desirable choice of vice-president Harris who I am not impressed with and from all indications neither are my fellow citizens so that is of course the person Joe endorses.

    Right now 4 months from the election the democrats do not have a candidate for president. Virtual nomination? Open convention? Secret ballot?

    A letter from the president on a Sunday is how this was announced? With no clear plan on how to move forward. Makes it hard to be proud to be a democrat

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    1. Actually, Biden's action makes me proud of our democracy. This is how democracies should work. Country above party and country above self. I haven't seen that level of patriotism in a while. As to our options in November... I'm hoping fellow citizens show up to the polls to vote. That is also how democracies should work, but the US has an abysmal voting record. Citizens have a job to do, too. Yes, we can stand outside the DNC convention and form a Valituskuoro (complaint choir). But for me, the upcoming election is a stand against Project 2025 rather than an endorsement of a specific individual. Now that Biden has stepped aside to allow another to continue fighting with a stronger voice and a quicker mind, my vote shifts to that candidate. And I will vote proudly in November.

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    2. With all due respect, the United States is a republic. In a democracy there would not be an electoral college that seems to put space ahead of people.
      In a democracy it would matter who got the most votes but we could beat the orange one by 10 million by getting the vote out and still lose the electoral college. It sucks but it's just how it works. I'm going to vote for sure and if Kamala is the only option I'm going to vote for Kamala. Hopefully she's not the only option and there's an open convention and they hear the voice of the chorus, though I can't imagine whose name everyone would be willing to chant or sing.
      As far as project 2025, I haven't read it. I've read a summary of it, but I also haven't read the Republicans platform and I'm sure I wouldn't be thrilled with even it.
      Thankfully the Democrats have been able to change the narrative and hopefully can take control of the news cycle and raise enough money to be competitive because sadly, these are the things that seem to take the most importance in our country.
      Thank you joe for stepping back. At least Kamala has a chance at making a scoundrel look like a scoundrel.

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    3. Thanks for the correction/reminder, FME. The structure of the electoral college does, indeed, weaken the power of (some) voters and strengthens others in our federal elections. Right up there with "I dont like the candidates" and "It's a rigged system" comes "My vote doesnt count" , when I hear the excuses of why people dont vote. I'm glad you'll be voting in November, despite the limits of living in a Republic. (In my circle, voting earns the right to kvetch until the next election. I have at least one relative who votes solely so his family will listen to his political views).

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  2. A beautiful column. Now if only DT would learn about humility. Not likely. (Now I need to have a blt for lunch.) Best wishes to Ms. Harris.

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  3. I watched my father go through this over 20 years ago.
    I believe Biden has had at least one mini stroke that was never diagnosed, which has affected him physically & mentally, although at times he's sharp as a tack. While the debate was a disaster for him, especially since all the fat traitor did was lie & those two CNN bumps on a log never once called him on those lies, it's that bizarre video of him standing like a stiff while everyone around him his grooving to the music that's shows his decline more. I think he also has the stiff type of Parkinson's.
    Sad to see, because T**** is an outright fascist & a definite traitor to this country, the worst since Benedict Arnold. He's given Top Secret info to Putin, in addition to his appalling crack that he believed Putin over our own intelligence agencies. Even worse, he & his mini-me Vance, both want to sell out Ukraine & let Putin take it over, which would mean that Russia would be threatening the rest of Eastern & Central Europe, the Balkans & Scandinavia, especially Finland, thankfully a new NATO member, except the fat traitor is against NATO, obviously on orders from his owner Putin!!

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    1. It’s not a debate moderator’s job to fact-check the participants. It was Biden’s job to refute Trump, and he wasn’t up to it.

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    2. Wrong!!!
      It's the job of all news reporters to call out lies when they see them!

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    3. During the debate they were not in the role of news reporters. After the debate, I’m sure they did.

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  4. Lovely, thoughtful column. I am nearly Biden's age so it really resonates with me. I guess the trick at the end of life, is knowing when to go if you have a choice. And to go with grace. Biden must be exhausted, but he was the best President I have known in my lifetime. I hope he has a long retirement with the family that he clearly loves so much. Godspeed, Joe.

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  5. Seems like Max & Benny's could give you a bit more pastrami (think Manny's), especially at those prices. The carnitas torta looks delicious.
    Joe, a most sincere thank you for saving us in 2020 and for a lifetime of service. Now go play with the grandchildren and enjoy life.

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    1. He still has nearly 6 months where he's got to be on point and do his job. He's the president

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  6. Here is an image of a $5,000 check T**** wrote to the Elect Kamala Harris for Attorney General campaign:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ec096ee06f646eb81766af0f1849510efdc4f0a4f8826e3289125ef28a460459.png?w=800&h=328

    And here's a great video of T****'s obvious dementia, it's from a Twitter account:
    https://tinyurl.com/bdfezjpk

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  7. I'm reminded of a recent quote from Pat Sajak, of all people, on his own announced retirement from the daytime edition of "Wheel of Fortune," taking himself out of it voluntarily: "I'd rather leave a couple years too early than a couple years too late." He seems to be in good health, and just decided to try Other Stuff while he still has years left to explore... life, or the world, or something.

    The future fortune of "Wheel of Fortune" was never at risk, but good judgement like that should be an example to everyone.

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  8. As of Saturday, Joe was still firmly in the race, and then...on a Sunday afternoon, of all days, he released the text of his announcement. CBS reported he didn't change his mind until 6-12 hours before it was released to the world. He must have been up all night, agonizing over this life-changing decision. I feel incredibly sad...and sad for Joe. That must have been a heartbreaking experience.

    ABC said that his brother Frank told them he did it because he's sicker than people know. But his family denied that, saying that Frank is an alcoholic, and that the brothers are not on good terms. They walked it back. Makes me wonder. FDR's rapid decline was kept under wraps, despite his terrible appearance. He died at 63. And LBJ was probably sicker than we knew. He lasted just five more years, and died at 64. So I can easily buy the sick Joe story. It''ll all come out...eventually.

    Don't carry a phone. Got home from a crowded and noisy street fair, and learned that one of my FB groups had been changed from "Ridin' With Biden" to "Ridin With Harris." Helluva way to find out. As Lincoln once said about losing an election: "It hurts too much to laugh...and I'm too old to cry." That was how my Sunday felt. Whatta summer this has been. What next? Who knows?

    My mother (1920-2012) favored Biden over Obama in 2008. She jumped on the bandwagon when I gave her an Obama yard sign. In Hebrew. Inclusivity, doncha know. I was extremely happy when Biden was picked for V-P. Whatta team. Worked for both campaigns. Had a ball.

    Ten years ago, in the summer of 2014, I read a very long New Yorker profile of Joe, and he became my guy. for '16. You can look it up. It's superb. I've been Ridin' With Biden ever since. Was crushed when he didn't run because of Beau's death. Changed his mind, but he was then snubbed in favor of Hillary. Huge mistake. Joe would have cleaned Sniffy's clock, and sent him whimpering back to Florida, for keeps. Joe would now be winding up eight outstanding and historic years in office. Orange Julius would be what he fears being most...a loser, a has-been, and a nobody. And we would not be up to our eyeballs in deep orange shit.

    Just the other day, Mr. S, you said: "Let's circle back on Sunday and see how this reads." Playing a hunch? Insider info? I'm assuming you already had the column in the can, and just had to plug in a few changes, because you knew what was coming. So did I. So did many of us, if not most. The graffiti was on the wall..."Joe must go." Was it scrawled by prophetic prognosticators...or by backstabbing bastards?. Really doesn't matter anymore. Kamala has the keys. It's her ride now.

    And all too soon,, 54 years of public service will come to a close.
    Thanks, Joe. Thanks. For everything. I really mean it.

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    1. Joe is still president less. He also resigns then Kamala is the president and incumbent seeking election. Much like Gerald Ford without all the baggage and if I'm not mistaken he got elected. At this point only Joe knows maybe a few others but soon the maga crowd will be beating the drum that if he's not able to run for reelection, how is he able to continue on with his presidency? , Kamala better be ready. This could be a very rough ride. She's proved she's tough as a prosecutor. Let's hope she can step up. At this point. The country is counting on her maybe more than she can imagine

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  9. Nope I was wrong. He never was elected. He lost to Carter

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