I usually stay out of the “Pie” fights, and Democratic Circular Firing Squads that occur regularly on Daily Kos or in other Democratic and Liberal spaces. However, watching what is happening to President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party reminds me too much of how it felt watching America race to war in Afghanistan and Iraq when I was younger.
Back then it was obvious that the reasons for war were pretexts and lies. That the only reason we were attacking Iraq (Afghanistan was slightly different, if equally a bad idea) was that the powers that be wanted America to invade Iraq. It was obvious that a vast propaganda campaign had been cooked up to make the war happen, at any cost. An in depth analysis of that period in time is a subject for another day, and not really the point we need to be focusing on right now. (Moving on even though I’m well aware that somebody will focus on that section and try to refight the debates from 20 years ago. Along with Circular Firing Squads, that’s something that Democrats love doing.)
The lesson we actually need to focus on from the buildup to the Iraq war. Is that we know what a concerted propaganda campaign looks like, and if we take a step back from our visceral reactions we can recognize one when we see it.
As for why there’s a propaganda campaign against good ol’ Grandpa Joe. Well, as I first learned during the First Impeachment of the Orange Traitor. The American Right is obsessed with the man. Far more than anyone on the Democratic or Left side is. Before the 2020 impeachment of VonShitzinpants, Joe Biden wasn’t even on my radar of potential presidential candidates.
During 2020 Biden wasn’t my first choice as the nominee. I really preferred someone younger. Since the entire governmental establishment is overdue for generational change. However, I was pleasantly happy when he actually defeated the Malignant Narcissist that runs the Republican Party.
In the last several years I’ve become much more supportive of Joe because he’s governed far more from the left than I ever expected.
Your Conspiracy Addled Racist Uncle however, he’s become radicalized and dangerously obsessed with President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. in the last four years. From “Let’s Go Brandon,” baseless pedophilia accusations, to depictions of Biden with a bullet hole in his forehead (which should get an instant visit from the Secret Service in my opinion). President Biden is somehow simultaneously a doddering senile old man and a vicious eternal vampire that is an existential threat to God, Guns, and Freedom. When in reality, he’s the man that beat their God Emperor, and he can’t be forgiven for that.
Then there’s the whole “Genocide Joe” campaign, that has been somewhat successful at attacking Biden from the left. Which ignores the facts that while the President is the head diplomat. It’s actually congress that controls what aid foreign countries receive, and until essentially the last minute in the political world. It has been political suicide to criticize Israel for the country’s treatment of the Palestinian People. Frankly, it’s 2024’s “But Her Emails” refrain. There may be some room to criticize President Biden for his behavior, it’s actually fairly routine conduct that any other presidential candidate would be guilty of too.
This last week I’ve found out that you can’t have a bad day in front of the News Media and Political Operatives. I watched the debate last week. What I saw was an abusive bully being allowed to say whatever he wanted and going absolutely nuts on that debate stage. With a calm reasonable President Biden, who was feeling slightly under the weather, recognizing that there was no arguing with the massive sewage pipe break of lies that Donald J. Trump was spewing from his mouth.
The post debate coverage that painted President Biden as the loser and brought up concerns that he should step down. Frankly blindsided me. As anyone who’s ever been in an abusive relationship can tell you. There’s no winning a debate with an abuser on a roll. Even the attempt to argue your case will make you look like the bad person who’s actually at fault. I actually applauded Biden for recognizing that.
The propaganda campaign to force Joe Biden to withdraw was just waiting for a pretext to rev itself up. The first Presidential Debate of 2024 was absolutely that pretext. President Biden is just as fit to serve as president now as he was in 2020. The people suggesting otherwise are opportunists in his own party hoping to take over the nomination, and conservative operatives who oppose his entire agenda to begin with. “Should Joe withdraw” has become the overriding narrative for the last week because some topics are going to draw ratings. Whether or not there is any substance to them.
Right now it’s time to recognize what’s going on. To not panic and allow yourself to be drawn into the conflict. If you live in a legal state. Go buy yourself a nice pre-roll or special brownie, maybe add a few drops of “medicinal” tisane to your tea. If you live in one of the few remaining prohibition states get yourself a nice cup of calamine tea and a plate of cookies. Sit down and relax.