THE WHITE KNIGHT
Despite razor-thin majorities on Capitol Hill, Joseph R. Biden successfully delivered shots in arms, restored America’s global leadership, secured passage of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act. He’d only just begun.
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.—Seneca
I got elected to solve problems.—Joe Biden
SHOW AND TELL
Comparisons between the current first Lady’s G7 Summit “LOVE” and her predecessor’s infamous “I really don’t care, do u?” jackets were inevitable. The attire was the message in this viral fashion statement smackdown. The clothes spoke for themselves.
Keep your heels, head and standards high.—Coco Chanel
It’s amazing how much people pay attention to every little detail.—Jill Biden
PAWSITIVE NEWS
Whereas Republicans and Democrats fight like proverbial cats and dogs, the two new occupants to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Commander and Willow, are exemplary proof that humans, like felines and canines, don’t instinctively hate each other. They can peacefully coexist.
To err is human; to blame it on the other party is politics.—Unknown
FULL DISCLOSURE
POTUS was focused on a surfeit of national and global issues including fighting the on-going pandemic. Regardless, 46 never sought to nor could he mask his feelings for the First Lady, “the love of his life and the life of his love.”
I love you, Jilly, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have you with me on the journey ahead. Joe Biden
And one thing in my life has stayed the same: Joe and I have always had each other. Jill Biden
HOOK, LINE & SINKER
Something’s fishy. Two years after leaving the White House, 45 ran again as a political outsider. The “Lord of the Flies” put a bow on his third run vowing that he would stay the course and remain in the race for president even if criminally indicted.
I’ll never leave.—Donald Trump
BATTER
After a nearly five-year investigation, a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump on more than 30 counts related to business fraud for his role in paying hush money to a porn star. Bottom line? The GOP eagerly went to bat for the “victim” who cried witch hunt glutting the self-professed billionaire’s GoFundMe 2024 campaign. Foul ball!
I don’t want to be indicted. I’ve never been indicted. I went through my whole life, now I get indicted every two months.—Donald Trump
FRINGE BENEFITS
MAGA supporters and extremist groups—many who were among those who violently stormed the Capitol—reprised Trump’s greatest hits: The 2020 election was “stolen;” Democrats are evil. The proposition that truth mattered and lies had consequences was loudly and soundly debunked by the base. “Bull-shit! Bull-shit! Bull-shit!”
I wouldn’t have seen it if I hadn’t believed it.—Marshall McLuhan
There’s never been a movement like this, ever, ever.—Donald Trump
GROUNDHOG DAY
Win-win no lose claims. 2016. 2020. 2024. The election is rigged.
Trump stands by all his bogus predictions, threats and lies. Old news.
You’ve been hearing me say it’s a rigged system, but now I don’t say it anymore because I won.
—Donald Trump (2016)
Of course, the 2024 election is in full swing. And, yes, age is an issue. I’m a grown man running against a six-year-old.—Joe Biden
GRAVE DECISIONS
After 20 years, the U.S. mission of counterterrorism in Afghanistan—to get the terrorists and stop attacks—had morphed into nation building. Biden’s decision to terminate an open-ended failed quest inherited from 45 was correct. But, a chaotic withdrawal undercut his image of competency on Capitol Hill, the campaign trail and the world stage.
There are two things which a democratic people will always find very difficult— to begin a war and to end it.—Alexis de Toqueville
UNCHARTED WATERS
Having honored his commitment and concluded the forever war in in Afghanistan as promised, Joe Biden returned to a turbulent sea of realities at home. Falling approval ratings, rising divisions within his own party, resistance to his agenda, and threatening calls for impeachment from MAGA Republicans. Steady as he goes. One crisis at a time.
The storms come and go, the waves crash overhead, the big fish eat the little fish, and I keep on paddling.—George R. R. Martin
Failure at some point in your life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable.—Joe Biden
POLITICAL PROWESS
After her photo-finish loss in the gubernatorial election, Stacey Abrams continued the fight to end voter suppression in Georgia. She registered more than 800,000 new minority voters and put Joe over the top in the state by more than 10,000 votes. Historic wins of Jon Ossof and Reverend Raphael Warnock turned the red state blue in three pivotal elections.
Stacey, you’re changing Georgia. You’ve changed America.—Joe Biden
A DELICATE BALANCE
With a razor-thin Democratic House majority and no reliable Republican support, Speaker Nancy Pelosi worked without a net to balance competing demands of the progressive and moderate wings of her caucus. The first woman to lead a major political party in either chamber of Congress succeeded in passing many of Biden’s signature landmark bills.
I mean, that’s a storybook, man.—Joe Biden
TAKING A KNEE
A multitude of recordings, clearly documented the caught-on-tape “lawful but awful” behavior of Derek Chauvin (a white police officer) and brutal murder of George Floyd (a black man.) The triple-guilty verdict holding one man accountable was a beginning. It’s not an end in itself.
One picture is worth 1,000 denials.—Ronald Reagan
This case is clearly about more than nine minutes and 29 seconds. Eric Nelson (Chauvin lawyer)
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES
The man with a plan. Steve Bannon, Trump wingman and chief strategist, sought to thwart and continues to undermine Biden’s victory. Spinning lies, he “floods the zone with shit” on his daily podcast “posse.” Testing! Testing! One, Two, Three… the boundaries of executive privilege.
Things are never so bad they can’t be made worse.—Humphrey Bogart
This is not about persuasion: This is about disorientation.—Steve Bannon
CODE RED
Russia’s latest unprovoked brutal invasion of a sovereign nation resulted in the largest conflict since World War II. Claiming to be open to ending the war, Vladimir Putin made unacceptable conditions for peace.
I took a speed-reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia. — Woody Allen
There will be peace when we will achieve our goals.
—Vladimir Putin
AT A LOSS
The Russian President, one of three sitting heads of state targeted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, blames Ukraine for a war that he started and intended to win—consequences, heavy death toll and destruction be damned. Russia is not squeaky clean. Russia is what it is. And we are not ashamed of showing who we are. — Sergei Lavrov
We have to stand up to this naked aggression today to deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow.—Joe Biden
THE NEW NORMAL
Volodymyr Zelensky—the former actor, comedian, entertainer and political novice— campaigned for and handily won a landslide victory. Standing on a platform of peace, Ukraine’s leader found himself a wartime president and the face of Ukrainian resistance.
The president can’t change the country on his own. But what can he do? He can give an example.—Volodymyr Zelensky
DAMAGE CONTROL
When Putin ruthlessly attempted to bomb his homeland into submission, Zelensky, a prime Russian target, courageously met the moment. Seeking ammunition, not a ride; Zelensky rejected a U.S. offer of safe evacuation and stayed to defend his country.
History is unfair. We are not the ones who have started this war. But we are the ones who have to finish it.—Volodymyr Zelensky
THE POWER OF HIS CONVICTIONS
“Damned if you do.” Mild-mannered attorney general Merrick Garland, often criticized for being too cautious in holding the former president to account, authorized a search of Mar-a-Lago. Forty-five’s reveal of the FBI “raid” and false claims had the desired Pavlovian effect. MAGA loyalists condemned it as a “Deep State” abuse of power.
“Damned if you don’t.”
Upholding the rule of law means applying the law evenly, without fear or favor.
Merrick Garland
Such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World countries.—Donald Trump
SOUND AND FURY
The Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee marched to the beat of his own drum. On the offense in defense of the ex-president, Jim Jordan (R-Ohio,) launched far-reaching much-hyped evidence-free investigations into a seemingly endless list of perceived ideological foes.
All those things (like Hunter Biden’s laptop) need to be investigated just so you have the truth… that will frame up the 2024 race when I hope and I think President Trump is going to run again and we need to make sure that he wins.—Jim Jordan
WILD CARD
Conspiracy theorist extraordinaire, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. divulged a parasite, before dying, consumed part of his brain causing memory loss and mental fogginess. The 70-year-old third-party alternative in a two-party system might change the dynamic for 78-year-old former President Donald Trump and 81-year-old President Joe Biden. Hobson’s choice.
Democracy is messy, and it’s hard. It’s never easy. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same vision, values or judgment.—Four of Kennedy Jr.’s ten siblings
CATCH-22
Much ado about everything! Slings and arrows were out; the pressure was mounting. Republicans wanted to impeach him. Democrats wanted to replace him. POTUS had to think outside of the box.
Being President is like being a jackass in a hailstorm. There’s nothing to do but to stand there and take it.—Lyndon B. Johnson
C’mon, Man!—Joe Biden