andym
andym's JournalSuggestion: Biden make a series of videos doing vigorous exercises as part of a campaign for US health
He can ride bicycles, jog, swim, chop wood, etc as part of a campaign to ensure Americans are not sitting on their butts, being unhealthy. Joe seems very healthy for his age and should have no problem doing something like this. Not only would it really help motivate some Americans to exercise, but it would go a long way to end the age prejudice that seems to be festeing in the media and among some of the public. The recent NY Times poll being discussed today comes to mind.
Keep in mind that a fitness buff like Jack Lalanne was doing a crazy amount of exercise up until the day he died from pneumonia at 96. Ronnie Reagan made a point to be shown chopping wood to show how healthy he was, despite his age. Joe can be more modest and show everyone that an 81 year old can be healthier than a sedentary, inactive 40-year old.
Lesson for Biden supporters: Reagan was thought to be elderly and losing his memory in 1984 yet he won in a landslide
In Reagan's case he may have even been suffering from early signs of Alzheimer's, which he was later diagnosed with. In one debate with Mondale he couldn't answer many questions due to forgetfulness. Didn't matter. Why? The country had just come out of a high inflationary period, and Reagan got credit for the economy. At the moment, a similar economic situation has been developing with regard to inflation. Reagan projected an image of a kindly grandfather optimistic about the future of America (despite his policies directly contradicting his image). Biden projects a similar image, distorted as it is by partisan attacks by the Right. Reagan was trailing "democrat to be named" in polling until the spring of 1984, when it was apparent the economy was improving. The stage is set for a Biden victory if he can demonstrate that he is competent (the bar is lowered by special prosecutor's report) by delivering a coherent State of the Union address-- perhaps even stating something like it's "morning in America, again," which would throw the Right into fits.
Dangerous in-group behavior of the GOP house members: following the whims of their real leader, Trump
That Trump as leader has so much sway over the GOP House, shows how tight their group is defined, and how dangerous Trump is. The GOP group narrative holds more sway over its members than usual: only 3 GOP House members chose to vote against the impeachment of a cabinet member who broke no law and was guilty of no unethical conduct (the 4th vote was procedural). Why did they vote to impeach and mock the Constitution? Because Trump wants the border as an issue, and they want to pin the problem on Joe Biden. The whole group including many supposed "moderates" went along. This is how the republics fail and are replaced by empires (think Rome): bad group decisions at key times.
The only question is how many GOP members are following cynically, how many in fear of losing their jobs, or how many really buy in. Unfortunately there is likely to be a large set of the last possibility.
Though it's been argued at each Presidential election of potential catastrophe if the GOP wins power, this time the reality may actually exceed the hyperbole.
Biden's plea to save democracy faces harsh democratic reality
[link:https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/06/politics/biden-democracy-january-6-what-matters/index.html|
Analysis by Zachary B. Wolf, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 9:21 AM EST, Sat January 6, 2024
"President Joe Biden commemorated January 6 as a day of American infamy, marking the third anniversary of the 2021 insurrection with a call for Americans to join him in defending US democracy from former President Donald Trump, who by comparison has promised to pardon the insurrectionists.
-snip-
[The hard democratic truth is Trump could win]
Looking past the presidential primaries, which get underway with the January 15 Iowa caucuses, a new assessment by David Chalian and Terence Burlij in CNN’s political unit suggests Trump has the advantage in a general election matchup against Biden. Trump currently has the advantage in enough states to win the election, according to their outlook.
-snip-
[Accountability for the insurrection continues, slowly, through the US justice system]
--snip--
[The system worked the last time]
--snip--
Trump was unable to overturn the election results in 2020 because the complicated, inefficient and often frustrating US system of government, which was designed to guard against a monarchy, was too strong for him to completely break down.
[Chipping away at what was normal]
--snip--
Kinzinger: “The basic contract for self-governance … is that we know that we can vote, that vote counts and the winner wins. He [Trump] sullied that and destroyed people’s faith in that very basic compact we have to have when he convinced a quarter of the country or more that the election was stolen."
[Biden needs more than his democracy argument]
[the following is paraphrased due to quote limits]
Nancy Pelosi says that President Biden will need more than Trump's threat to democracy to win, he needs to expand the threat of Trump to issues people face everyday: the economy and inflation, as well as the effort by the GOP to deprive women of rights (eg abortion rights).
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Fortunately, inflation is receding, fuel prices are lower and the economy is strong-- Americans consumer confidence is only now beginning to rise, just in time for the election. The strong economy coupled with Trump convictions should help Joe Biden be elected, but its not a done deal yet and won't be until the November election. In the meantime, there is a need to counter the GOP propaganda and get Joe Biden's accomplishments re: Bidenomics out there to as many as will listen.
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