I don’t “love” Joe Biden. The cheaply phrased accusation that partisans on both sides toss out every presidential election at “the other side” is mostly a crock. Exceptions? Yes, I’m referring to fanatics like the most violent MAGA insurrectionists who have no problem with beating cops and trying to get in to hang pols they don’t agree with.
I do agree with most, not all, of his policies. Once this was the norm for all NORMAL partisans, no matter what side they were on. Not so much today. Example: I agreed with Vietnamization, even though I think most of us knew it was doomed from the start. Proof lies with Afghanistan. After so many presidents slamming collective heads against that wall proved there was no end, why stall the inevitable? Help the people decide for themselves. If Afghanis wanted to be rid of the Taliban, THEY should have gotten rid of the Taliban. Instead, despite being offered bin Laden, we decided occupation was the solution.
Don’t we ever learn?
Besides our mission was to rid the world of terrorism, as if that’s even possible.
Surprise! We let them go in Tora Bora. They went back over the border because terrorists (SHOCK!) don’t respect borders. After two presidents tried the old formula, Biden completed plans set in motion by Trump. That not a “partisan” comment, he bragged about it. (“They tried to stop it…”) Meanwhile the afghanis had given up, figuring the not so secret Trump deal they were locked out gave the Taliban a big base, much of the weapons that would be used against them, so why bother if your abandoning us?
Shades of Vietnam.
Don’t we ever learn?
But the main reason is none of that.
No, I will vote for Joe Biden because of the type of president I want. I DON’T want a president who weaponizes the justice system, which despite claims Biden has stayed out. He handed it to Garland (Republican) who investigated then handed it over Jack Smith (Independent: has indicted pols from both parties). Given Trump’s history with DOJ (Sessions, Barr, Matthew Whitaker) and firing them I don’t want that in any president. They should be independent.
Tell me again who “weaponized” the DOJ?
Total loyalty… I don’t want a president who demands that.
I don’t want a president who uses Curveball to curve the intel, or tries to ruin the lives of a couple where the husband is appointed to investigate claims of yellow cake and finds them bogus.
No demanding total loyalty when they should have some independence. A president can accept their results, or not. Certainly not even harassed with a long litany of insults even a 5th grader might consider childish.
I would rather not have a president who sucks up to dictators and oligarchs. Yes that includes Biden and other presidents (like Trump) giving the Saudis the Monica. Even less so Putin.
I disagree with Joe Biden’s stance on expanding the Court, as stated in one of his latest interviews where he said, basically, that would lead to a tit for tat. It has been done before and leaving it as is means one party can use every trick in the book to pack the Court, like denying even letting Congress debate an appointee because it’s an election year, then shoving one down our throats after their guy lost.
But as far expanding the Court, I could be wrong. We shall see. For the moment I disagree with him. That’s how adult opinion making goes. Unchanging absolutes are for fools.
I won’t vote for a third party candidate. In our system third party candidates become scams: way to elect the least competent, most dangerous, worst, candidate. Until we get ranked voting that’s my stance.
Joe is being called an institutionalist. I’m comfortable with that after Trump. I certainly don’t want some governor who thinks it’s his job to make sure American is where the woke die. He would be their president too. They’re also Americans and have a right to their opinions. No president shouldn’t be going to (culture) war with his own people.
I think Biden is more what a president should be. A president is not a dictator, a micromanager, so damn sensitive he has to strike back at anyone who contradicts him, stands in his way. I also want a president who wants all people to vote, not target groups who tend not to vote his way, or his party’s way.
In a non-runoff, two party system I will vote for the party doing less of what I don’t want, and the candidate.
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“Inspection” is a column that has been written by Ken Carman for over 50 years. Inspection is dedicated to looking at odd angles, under all the rocks and into the unseen cracks and crevasses that constitute the issues and philosophical constructs of our day: places few think, or even dare, to venture.
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