JOE BIDEN: We Need You Now
By Trevor K. McNeil
The Evil of Two Lessers
There is a long-standing joke that in the democratic system one is voting for the lesser of two evils. The basic idea being that no politician is really good and will almost always serve their own interests. Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore coined the phrase the “evil of two lessers” referring to George W. Bush’s second election in 2004. A term that could well apply to Donald Trump in 2016. Sorry Hillary boosters, but I was never a fan. There is something about hawkish economic pragmatists that just leaves me cold. Though compared to Donald Trump she looks like a master of state-craft, if a bit Machiavellian.
Beyond Party Lines
Another statement that has made it’s way into the political parlance is “anyone would be better.” A notion that was particularly popular in terms of Richard M. Nixon and George H.W. Bush. Though rarely has this been so literally the case in terms of the American presidency as it is this election cycle. Despite the continued protection of Donald Trump by the Republican party, a level of loyalty that looks like royal fealty, the current president has pushed politics past party lines. It is no longer about Republican or Democrat, not that it ever was, Trump changing parties more times than wives. It is about what is best for the country, which is getting anyone, but Trump into the Oval Office.
A Sense Of Security
For the most part Democrats vote for Democrats and Republicans vote for Republicans. This only stands to reason. It is also extremely limited and only takes into account card-carrying party members. According to the “30-30-40 Rule” each of the major parties has an intractable base of roughly 30% of voters. It is the other 40%, the swing voters and moderates that decide who wins elections. A fact which serves as a large part of the logic behind #VoteBlueNoMatterWho with regard to the 2020 presidential election. It is beginning to look increasingly like the “who” is going to be Joe Biden. Not because he has the best policies or voting history, but because in terms of sheer electability he has the best chance.
A Matter Of Experience
One of the best points favoring Joe Biden in terms of the ‘Never Trump’ camp is that he is safe. Candidates, particularly on the left, may run on a “Hope and Change” message, but, for the most part, people want some degree of predictability and security. A dichotomy demonstrated most strongly by Mr. Hope and Change himself, Barack Obama, who ran like a progressive and governed like a moderate. Experience is one thing that Joe Biden has in spades. He served as Vice President twice, one step down from the big job. Something that has made him a known name in terms of the electorate with several positive associations with Obama. Obama, despite some flaws, was still one of the best and most popular leaders the nation has ever seen.
Dents In the Armor
As with Obama, Joe Biden has some skeletons in his closet that may go against him when it comes to the 2020 Election. Just like any other politician. Such as when Bernie Sanders, a known millionaire, said “white people don’t know what it is to be poor” in an instance of cheap pandering to black voters. Joe Biden when compared to Donald J. Trump is looking like Jesus Christ risen.
Good And Bad
The elephant in the room in terms of Joe Biden is his extremely uncomfortable way of greeting women. Though it is also fair to say that this has been blown out of proportion by the right-wing media. The footage looks bad but is also taken out of context. One of the most damning things for Biden, that actually did happen, is that he was one of the few Democrats to vote in favor of the invasion of Iraq during the George W. Bush Administration. Biden has also said that if he were president he would veto Medicare For All, because it is too expensive. Likely not the smartest thing to say in lieu of the current pandemic which has led 70% of Americans to support Medicare for All, including nearly 60% of Republicans. Although it does appear Joe is softening on his original health care message, seemingly sensing a mood of change in the country.
On Balance
In the end, no one is perfect and politics is both a dirty and complex game. Look no further than the Snowden exposure of the NSA spy program under Obama for evidence of this. This does not, however, mean that some people aren’t better than others, and at the moment Joe Biden is the best we’ve got to defeat Donald Trump.
**This article was first published on March 15, 2020. A hell of a lot has happened in that short time. Joe Biden is now the Democratic presidential candidate and endorsements are piling up for him. Since Trump has been self destructing with his televised coronavirus task force daily briefings, Biden can just sit in his basement and watch the orange one self-incinerate.
