Not surprisingly, I jinxed my blog again. No sooner do I write a new post than my stats tumble. Makes me feel a little like Joe Biden whose poll numbers once again have sagged in the aftermath of the Israeli-Hamas war. Granted, I would like to see the President exercise more influence over Israel but that's not going to happen. His advisors have worked out the mental calculus on the issue and determined it is better for him to side with Israel as all presidents have done. He can show his sympathy for Palestinians but that's about it. The bigger issue, however, appears to be how he is being projected in the media.
Joe turned 81 yesterday and once again the issue of age came up with pundits wondering how many "good years" he has left in him. We are still more than 11 months out from the general election, but everyone is pointing to the poll numbers that indicate Trump would win if the election were held this month. I highly doubt it as most persons are simply expressing their grievances against the current administration. However, it has created a great deal of anxiety in the media.
Trump's personal physician claims that Donald is in excellent health despite what seems to be an eroding memory and obsession with whales on the campaign trail. Yet, it is Joe Biden that everyone is demanding to take a cognitive test, which Trump so proudly boasted of taking at the tail end of his administration. Biden's slips are mostly the result of the stammer he has been able to suppress but not entirely eradicate. He hasn't had much problem placing persons and events in the proper chronological order, whereas "Dotardly Don" seems to think Biden will bring about WWII with his aggressive stance toward Russia and that he beat Obama in 2016.
The other problem is the way the economy is projected in the media. Treasury Sec. Yellen remains very optimistic given the current numbers. Yet, Moody's downgraded the US credit rating once again on reports that the current interest on the national debt topped $1 trillion. Inflation Reduction Act, Infrastructure Act be damned. Biden has to find a way to cut the soaring deficits. Oh yes, he's done that too, but the same business gurus pour ice water on this as well, claiming the deficit is jumping back. It's a losing battle as whatever Biden does to stem inflation, curb recession fears and trim the budget is met with the similar backlash from the media. I really haven't been able to figure this out as we are currently enjoying the most prosperous economy in years. Even the Dow has peaked above 35,000 again, making up for what was a relatively turbulent past two months.
One of the things I find so amusing about all this is the belief that somehow the US is the only affected country. No other country suffered through inflation like we did. It was all "Brandon's" fault as we saw at the gas pumps during the summer of 2022 when prices soared as the result of the war in Ukraine. Yet, gas prices soared everywhere and then tapered off and have since fallen substantially. Gas prices have dropped so much that they could be cheaper than they were Thanksgiving 2020 when (gasp!) Trump was in office. This despite efforts by the OPEC cartel to curb production yet again.
Overall costs have stabilized, although we are still waiting to see what our first heating bill for the season will be. I imagine Americans are feeling the same anxiety, but it won't be because of anything Biden has done or not done. This is the price we pay to live in a "free market," which conservatives regard as the cornerstone of our economy.
I think a lot of the initiatives this administration has taken won't really be felt until 2024. As Americans begin to feel a lighter load when it comes to prescription drugs or that they aren't paying so much at the gas pump or that all those new manufacturing jobs are putting able-bodied Americans back to work, they won't have such a negative impression of Biden. Of course that depends on whether the mainstream media takes note, rather than continue to pound the President over his age. It has gotten so testy that Joe called David Axelrod what I assumed to be a "prick," judging from the number of hyphens after "p----." Why you can't print that, I don't know? Unless of course he said pussy.
Eighty-one is not the end of the world. My dad continued to work right up until his death at 86 and this despite having both his cancerous prostate and colon removed. He was still very sharp of mind and could continue to play golf, walking not tootling around in a cart, and shoot an honest 16 handicap. Judging from how trim Joe Biden is, he seems in very good shape and has at least five "good years" left in him.
So to that I say Happy Birthday, Joe! Keep up the good work. I'm with you.
"One of the things I find so amusing about all this is the belief that somehow the US is the only affected country. No other country suffered through inflation like we did."
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the Democrats have chosen to disregard this fact in the face of the endless lies and distortions of the Repukeblicons.
They could easily point to statistics which show that the USA ranks 7th 𝑳𝑶𝑾𝑬𝑺𝑻 in world inflation. But they refuse to do so. All they ever do is to turn the other cheek and kiss the CONs in the butt.
Biden's administration has been a success. But the Dems cower away and act as if it is a failure. Same as they did with Clinton which resulted in a huge loss to Gore in 2000. Expect the same in 2024.
I don't get so pessimistic as what's going on reminds me a lot of 2011. Obama was also polling in the low 40s most of the year and many thought he would be a one-term president, only to see him pull out a big win in 2012. Not only that but the Democrats held onto the Senate, when many thought they would lose that too.
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