Editor性视界传媒檚 note: This column was written before President Joe Biden announced he would en</p><p>d his reelection campaign.
I性视界传媒檓 in a musical mood. Cue Joni Mitchell:
All the news of home you read
Just gives you the blues
Just gives you the blues
Having taken a short vacation from the news, I性视界传媒檓 tanned, rested, and ready to report that the fundamentals of our nightmarish and unwanted presidential tourney haven性视界传媒檛 changed much since Saturday night, when a registered Republican white boy armed with an AR-15 wreaked havoc at a MAGA hate rally.
The state of play basically remains the same:
1. The guy who性视界传媒檚 on the cusp of another GOP nomination is the same fascist threat to our teetering democracy as he was before the kid shot at him. I性视界传媒檓 relieved that Trump wasn性视界传媒檛 killed 性视界传媒 the national trauma, from every angle, would性视界传媒檝e been so much worse had that happened. But whereas many members of the mainstream media (having still learned apparently nothing) have been sucking up to his brush with blood martyrdom by suggesting that he has been 性视界传媒渉umbled性视界传媒 and 性视界传媒渃hanged,性视界传媒 certain facts remain stubbornly self-evident.
He性视界传媒檚 still a convicted felon. He性视界传媒檚 still under indictment for plotting to violently overthrow the peaceful transfer of power. He性视界传媒檚 still on record using Nazi rhetoric, railing that undocumented immigrants are 性视界传媒減oisoning the blood of the country.性视界传媒 He性视界传媒檚 still thirsting to use unchecked power, granted to him by the MAGA Supreme Court, to prosecute political opponents. He性视界传媒檚 all that and much more, and no ear bandage can retroactively beautify him.
Only a fervently unified Democratic Party, led by a fervently energetic presidential candidate, can dispel the dark clouds looming on the horizon. Which brings me to what else hasn性视界传媒檛 changed.
2. Joe Biden, whom I性视界传媒檝e long boosted and supported, is still sucking us toward the abyss. With each precious passing day, with each new release of dire poll numbers , he nevertheless grows more delusional.
Earlier this week on his I性视界传媒檓-not-too-old tour, he told a cable TV interviewer: 性视界传媒淲hen I originally ran 性视界传媒 I said I was gonna be a transitional candidate, and I thought that I性视界传媒檇 be able to move from this, just pass it on to someone else. But I didn性视界传媒檛 anticipate things getting so, so, so divided. And quite frankly, I think the only thing age brings is a little bit of wisdom.性视界传媒
As painful as it is for me to say this, wisdom is not 性视界传媒渢he only thing age brings.性视界传媒 Cognitive issues are common, too. One of my fiercely anti-MAGA friends, an eldercare specialist based in Atlanta, publicly posted some worthy thoughts on July 6:
性视界传媒淚 had been thinking for months that (Biden性视界传媒檚) apparent frailty would repel voters. But I wasn性视界传媒檛 worried about his actual cognition. I was mainly worried about his ability to beat Trump. But now I性视界传媒檓 thinking geez, this lovely man really does have cognitive deficits. I性视界传媒檓 not a doctor, but for many years I worked with neurologists and neuropsychologists to assess older adults suspected of having cognitive decline. Many patients who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia had anosognosia, the inability to recognize their own deficits. It性视界传媒檚 not denial 性视界传媒 it性视界传媒檚 different. They had no insight into their problems and so they性视界传媒檇 become very offended and angry when concerned others told them otherwise性视界传媒 I hate being so negative but I just don性视界传媒檛 think this gentleman is fit to have the hardest job in the world.性视界传媒
I too hate being so negative, but unless Democratic leaders and delegates see fit to stop the party性视界传媒檚 death spiral 性视界传媒 well, I said at the outset that I was in a musical mood. Take it away, Paul Simon:
Slip slidin性视界传媒 away
Slip slidin性视界传媒 away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you性视界传媒檙e slip slidin性视界传媒 away.
