Joe Biden. Let me explain.
You simply have to out Trump, Trump. The Democratic Party is apparently otherwise incapable of doing this. Their “bleeding heart” social agenda just won’t play in Peoria anymore. These are different times, we are a different people. Republicans are more cynical with a distain for soft political correctness while Democrats continue to cry in their beer and with helpless naivete cry out loud for truth, justice, compassion, and the American way. They take things much too seriously, “to personal”, as Sonny Corleone told his brother Michael in ‘The Godfather’.
Democrats don’t know how to sell their ideals to an America largely striped of its’ identity. They don’t know how to fight dirty and play the game. Our new America wants a reality television star, a late night comedian, a “honcho”, to entertain their thoughts and visions of a president.
In just two short years the position will be open again to some one heroic individual both worthy and capable of embracing the symbolism an American president must embody while raising the bar and retrieving America from the depths of self-doubt and world criticism to which Donald Trump has mired us. Fueled by Trump’s swagger and bravado, his impulse for taking credit for economic success is actually historically cyclical. It alway is, with any president, and it’s usually reactive based on passed conditions and policies put into place by others. It’s like fiscal, presidential term-based musical chairs. No one person is responsible for either the credit or the blame. Employment percentages rise and fall. Markets move up and down according to ‘feelings” of forward looking projections and a fickle marketplace based largely on bread and circuses. Our president, however, takes all the credit for the successes, and sluffs-off the blame on others for the failures.
This is not a stand-up guy, he’s more of a stand-up comedian. But it’s not funny. Given Trump’s history, lineage and temperament, how on earth, and why did America ever elect this man as president? Well, we know why.
As a nation, anymore, we are barely capable, even worthy, of our constitutional, hard-fought by others, right to vote and elect leadership for America. We need to take a good hard look at ourselves, and we need a new sheriff.
Joe Biden fits that bill as far as I can see, better than any others on the horizon. He could be the proverbial new sheriff in town, “clean up the town”, and at the same time be the familiar, comfortable, “Uncle Joe” we all know and love. He’d eventually move into the role of “Great White Father”, hopefully, for the better meaning of the term, ‘cause right now we have a not so great orange father that’s hurting more than helping America.
Notwithstanding the outcome and impact of the midterm elections, just look at the current presidential candidate offerings. Standard fare “Crooked” Hillary? Nah, not again, she’s had her chance. The thin-skinned, shrill, Elizabeth “Cherokee DNA” Warren? Give me a break! Trump would eat her alive. He already has. “Crying” Chuck Schumer? No way. Nancy Pelosi? Yikes! Kamala Harris, Cory Booker? Nope. Mitt Romney, Lindsay Graham, Evan McMullan. All nope. Michael Avenatti, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Cuomo ...Fareed Zakaria, Van Jones? Unlikely. Kanye West. Help!
Joe Biden has mastered the fine art of reckless sincerity. Unlike Trump, Biden’s gaffs are always harmless and easily forgiven. Biden kisses a baby, we all love it. He kisses a babe, it’s sincerely harmless. Trump kisses a baby, eyebrows go up, he kisses a babe and lawyers are called. Biden has said that, in reference to Trump’s sexual dalliances, marital infidelity and general disrespect for women, that he wished he and Trump were in high school so he could “take him behind the gym” for a good old- fashioned ass wooping. This is a stand-up guy who says what he thinks in a straight line, unlike Trump who barely thinks what he says.
Ex-Vice President Joe Biden is the only Democrat standing in the wings right now with the chops to go toe-to-toe with Trump and have a good chance of winning. His personality, his looks and demeanor, temperament, government experience, are all positives for this potential savior of our country. His life experience is to be considered also for a worldview and personal philosophy reflective of the challenges he has met and the hardships he has endured.
Biden may not want the job. Who could blame him? But, as a lifelong and dedicated public servant, an American personality, a true politician and a stand-up guy, he may feel a compelling “personal” responsibility to take on Donald Trump.
Joe needs to position himself and say, “It’s not personal, Sonny, it’s strictly business.” He needs to metaphorically go the the meeting at the restaurant under the El, go to the bathroom and retrieve the gun behind the toilet and come out blazing.
John Kushma is a communication consultant and lives in Logan, Utah.
