PUBLISHER'S COLUMN
Don't trust anyone over.... how old??? T he political reporter for my Brooklyn paper (Howard Graubard) wrote an article that basically says that no matter how great a president Joe Biden is (and he does say he's been a great president) he won't win re-election. Graubard writes:
"Joe Biden may arguably be the best President of my 65 year-old lifetime. Reluctantly, running, while implying a promise of a caretaker administration to restore our national dignity out of the depths of depravity and degradation in which it had been dragged, he has succeeded admirably and gotten us through a pandemic into as soft an economic landing as was manageable under the circumstances. But, except for his Vice President, he is probably the potential Democratic nominee most likely to go down to defeat, putting our government solidly into the hands of a Party headed by
Still working.
a fascism-adjacent madman and controlled largely by ultra-right wing ideological fanatics."
Well, I'm often wrong about these things—I still can't believe Nixon beat Humphrey—but I disagree. I'm actually still not sure that Trump will be the candidate, but whether it's Trump or Nikki Haley, the incumbent will win. This is not about Haley or Trump. This is about Biden. First of all, it's clear that he, as many others, believe that Donald Trump is a genuine danger to the country. He probably would have run in 2016 were it not for the death of his son, and perhaps when Hillary ended up losing he felt that things might have been different had he chosen to run. Four years later he won a tough primary and the election. He took over a country still in the throes of a once in a lifetime pandemic, and together with the experienced and competent cabinet he put together, kept the country out of a depression. At the same time, he did what unfortunately a lot of Democrats have to do after a Republican administration, which is restore American credibility overseas. Inflation was the inevitable result of the tremendous monetary expansion that kept the country out of misery. Remember, for many months, even years, people were getting paid even though they couldn't work because of the pandemic. I don't remember any starvation or rioting. This was because government did what it was supposed to do, keep things going regardless of the situation. It's possible that inflation wouldn't have happened were there massive tax increases on the wealthy, but Americans have been subject to so much propaganda as regards govern-
ment and taxation that no politician wants to be known for increasing tax. So yes, money became worth a little less (all over the world, by the way). Republican strategy has been to hammer away at inflation, making people think that things are worse than they actually are (cognitive dissonance), and also Joe Biden's age. To be honest, I'm kind of surprised that all the people who keep putting up "Black Lives Matter" signs, haven't started putting up "Older Lives Matter" signs also. Both do matter. As I've gotten older myself, I can see that elder abuse is a big problem. I'm well on my way to 71, and I've never done more things. My mailing business is on an upswing, and I'm now publishing two papers, doing lots of the work myself, including driving to the printer, loading up the car with papers and delivering them all over downtown Brooklyn and then the East End. I'm now a member of two trade associations, and attend meetings and conventions all over the country. I made fast friends with a Brooklyn legend, Buddy Scotto, who passed away at 92 a few years ago. He was a community leader, and one of the projects he focused on was the revival of Gowanus and it's canal. He was single minded about it, and continued his advocacy at every community meeting he would attended (which were lots). Most people basically ignored him, writing him off as being in the throes of dementia. Nobody bothered to engage him in conversation. I did. If you read the back page of this paper, you'll see I enjoy the past. I find that I learn a lot from older people. Buddy not only was a great source of first-hand information about the 1950's onward, but he kept up-to-date on everything. He told me
George Fiala not to tell anyone, especially since his son was a rabid Republican, but in 2016 he voted for Sanders. Age finally caught up to him, but right up until the end he was a sharp as a whip. I have this strange idea, strange in that I've never heard anyone else talk about it, but my whole life I've felt old at the end of a decade, but rejuvenated once I passed the 9's. In other words 9 old, 10 young; 19 old, 20 young, and so on. Maybe more people than I think feel the same. Biden passed the hump of 80 and is still going strong. He flies all over the world, has productive meetings with some of the world's most powerful leaders, and travels to trouble spots and funerals just like presidents in their 50's and 60's have done. So here's my hunch. First of all, the economy will rocket next year, people's standard of living will noticeably raise, and people will notice it. Second, people will see a rejuvenated Biden shine in the presidential debates, no matter who he ends up facing.
"I'm kind of surprised that all the people who keep putting up "Black Lives Matter" signs, haven't started putting up "Older Lives Matter" signs also."
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS, READERS!
Amagansett Star-Revue
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BY MARC JACKSON
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You never can tell who will read your stuff if you write for the Amagansett Star-Revue.
FUNNY SIDE UP
#7 December 2023, Page 3
