"Just Watch ME" Biden has said for months. Millions did.

Biden and White Christmas

Many things inspire me to write these posts although not so many anymore because blogging has basically died. Today most people won't or can't read more than a tweet. This also killed newspapers and magazines. They WILL watch a video - often childish or in poor taste - but such is today's reality. On this today however, I shall persevere once again.

Last night I watched history in the making - very sad history to be specific, and it compelled me to express how I felt after the event. I suspect I am not alone.

I refer to the long publicised debate on CNN June 27, 2024 between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Recall - this had been suggested by the Democrats themselves including President Biden. Now the entire party likely resents that suggestion. People around the globe must have felt a great sadness for The President right at the beginning in one of his first replies. He went blank and silent looking very much like Mitch McConnell when he had his "frozen" moments. Even upon his introduction he appeared to be in a state of confusion walking to the lectern.

The party wanted a strong night to build on his State of the Nation address when he appeared to be in total command. They did not get it. I would not want to be Jill Biden last night or today. She probably saw it coming. That relationship has had many crises and remained strong because she provided vital support to the man she loved. This will be another test for that love.

This morning I had somewhat of a revelation. The entire episode reminded me of the Movie White Christmas. In one scene Bing Crosby is making an appeal on his own TV show to all of the former soldiers he can reach who served under General Waverly (Dean Jagger.) He asks them to come and pay tribute to their retiring General. He sings the number "What do you do with a General when he stops being a General?" Just substitute "President" for "General". 

After the soldiers respond by arriving in large numbers, in a show at the hotel for the General, they line up in their old uniforms out of shape with potbellies and they sing "We'll follow the old man wherever he wants to go". In a classic shot the General tears up at the sight. This is exactly what many loyalists in the party are saying right now with Biden. It is a stunning parallel but should include its own final farewell. 

As a Canadian I don't vote in the election but there is no question that I much prefer Biden over the other guy. That other guy was being himself - telling tons of lies and deflecting away from answering tough questions. He did not win - Biden lost.

Having said all that this is a HUGE crisis for America - and the world at large. It really does not matter whether Joe had a cold; just a bad night; was exhausted from all the preparation at Camp David; or was on drugs as Trump suggested. Today especially, we know that world events happen in an instant and we all see them in an instant: invasions; wars; natural disasters; changes of leadership; cyber attacks. They do not wait for The President of America and questionably the leader of the free world to have a GOOD day if he is presently having a BAD one. The job is 24/7 - sharp as a tack at a moment's notice. This is mandatory not just for the next few months but for another four years thereafter!

Very sadly - what we saw of Joe last night did not hit the mark. Many males will decline - sometimes very rapidly - in their eighties if they make it that far.

People keep saying that there is still lots of time before the big election. Really? There is NOT! Where are the alternatives to either candidate? If they are going to come out of the shadows they had damned well better do it NOW! The majority of the so-called GOP who have been kissing Trump's ass for so long to protect their own are elated at the moment. They think it is now a slam dunk. Prove them wrong!

The effects upon America herself are two-fold:

1) If Biden actually does win, there will now be 4 more years of wondering when you wake up, whether Vice President Harris has become the new President. Will another country and its leader take advantage of the bad day? They probably will.

2) If Trump wins there will be 4 years of him spending HIS time and YOUR money trying to get even with people. He already stated this. Then HE will be kissing ass like all those obsequious wannabes in congress - Putin's; Kim Jong Un's or somebody else's. There will be another even more violent uprising in 2028 when Trump is supposed to leave.

Sadly at this point neither is a good candidate for the Presidency.

Can a third party - Liz Cheney and anyone willing to join her steal enough of Trump's votes to deny the horrific prospect of a Trump second term or will this hurt the Democratic vote instead? Will someone like Gavin Newsom take the reins from Biden with the party's blessing?

If not family, then the job of telling Joe that stepping down would be for the good of the nation and not doing so would ruin his legacy has to fall on a prominent person who would NOT be a new candidate. Such a candidate would be shooting themselves in the foot. It will take an Obama, Schumer, Pelosi or the like in the sidelines but they have to do it.

In my last post I wrote about fate and the difference between it and destiny. Biden's problems - whether perceived or real - are fate. America's future is her destiny. She can still change it but time is quickly running out.

#thebrewsterblock

Fate: The Great Equalizer

What is YOUR view of Fate? 

Do you know what will unfold in your life a second from now - a day, week, or year? A world of con artists will tell you what yours is - for a suitable fee. Don't fall for it. In my humble opinion fate is NOT predictable.  

 

This makes it an equalizer among all individuals or species. It is this aspect of fate that gave rise to faith and religion in the first place. People need something to explain the unknown. Religion has been taking advantage of this from the beginning of time (whatever that means). 

 

What triggered this column? Yesterday I was talking to my neighbour and playing with a young and beautiful dog in my unfenced back yard. He had been pet-sitting and came across from his own yard to talk. The dog darted around in freedom - a large dog in a large yard. She is usually in a condo.   

 

Today while I was drinking a coffee inside and observing my front yard the same neighbour suddenly appeared chasing the frisky unleashed dog. She usually darts away a few yards and waits for him to catch her. We live on a busy highway - 5 lanes of traffic. Suddenly I witnessed fate several times.  

 

1. The dog while dragging its leash decided to take off across the highway at full speed. There was a lot of traffic. Thankfully a couple of cars managed to avoid her by inches.  

 

2. Then my neighbour had to run - with some caution - across the same lanes to retrieve her from a ditch opposite our houses. He managed to slow down cars enough to avoid being hit himself. 

 

3. I expected the dog to run through the traffic, returning to our side as his keeper approached. To her this is a game. 

 

4. He emerged from the ditch with the fortunate dog on leash at his side. Luckily he had managed to secure her. 

 

5. They both managed to cross back safely to our side. 

  

Both of their fates could have unfolded in a far more tragic way. Why was he lucky?  

 

In California several families wake up one day and everything they own - businesses, homes, and personal belongings have turned to ash in an instant by a wildfire.  Most survive with their lives. Some do not. 

 

A friend repeats an activity performed hundreds of times and verifies a lottery ticket. He is suddenly rich beyond his wildest dreams. Fate can be good. Meanwhile a close relative is told by her doctor that she has ALS. 

 

Entire countries and populations are being demolished by greedy dictators. The fate of a nation depends on an election. One child is born with a brain like Einstein's. Beside it in a hospital bed is another with a mental handicap. One elephant, moose, or whale is slaughtered while others survive. 

 

As humans we can attempt to minimize the effects of some horrible and some beautiful events, but few other animals can. 

 

Destiny we can control and we alone can mitigate the destiny of every living thing on this planet. We are failing. Will fate punish the worst perpetrators?  

 

Are you one of them? 

#thebrewsterblock