A reader asked me about supporting progressive democrats to challenge Biden in 2024, a topic I didn't cover. Here's my response:
I agree. But I don’t see a progressive challenger to Biden in 2024. Unless Biden has a serious lapse in health before then, he’ll almost certainly be the candidate.
As you know, we had a progressive choice in 2020. Sanders and Biden were running neck-and-neck, then Obama and the pros intervened, tipping the primary to Biden. (Recall that “Mayor Pete” and Amy K. were basically told to drop out, tipping their votes to Biden, but Warren was encouraged to stay in so that she’d draw votes from Bernie.)
So, we may wish for a progressive to run in 2024, but the fix is already in. It’s Biden unless he croaks, and even then the DNC might try a “Weekend at Bernie’s” ruse with him.
Feb 20, 2023·edited Feb 20, 2023Liked by Bill Astore
I agree with you entirely, but the system runs on its own regardless of who is in office, keeping profit well before people. Trump caused occasional disruptions, tossing out people left and right, but even he was managed. Biden seems, due to his age, very docile.
I'm cynical about the American people in the voting booth, confirmed by the 1% vote that Jill Stein received, a woman who offered a distinct alternative to The System and called it out. She was on the ballot nationwide. We are sitting in what is essentially a self-driving car with it deciding where we go. So absent minded geriatrics are no problem.
I'm in solid agreement with both of your main points, and have said as much in those occasional conversations that touch on the subject. In fact, such a conversation just took place while my 60-ish in-laws were visiting. I think the consensus of everyone but me was that age itself (over 60?) is a serious disqualifier. I pointed out how many people I know who approaching or at 80 are mentally sharper then most people generally. Sanders was, during his Presidential runs, certainly in that category. When cognitive decline is observed, however, such as appears the case with Biden, those around the candidate should dissuade them.
Yet, while the President COULD have a significant role in guiding / 'managing' the Executive, the importance of your statement about who really runs thing can't be overstated. This has been at times apparent at other times- Cheney & Rumsfeld certainly seemed to lead Bush, for example. But it's now ever so clearly seen as Biden seems no more than a mere marionette, mouthing the words of the security-state establishment and the corporate oligarchs whose interests they, too represent.
So I agree. Let's encourage the electorate to evaluate candidates on ability and strength, yes; but even more importantly, on whether they have both the principles and spine to stand up for the broadly public interests of the people, as envisioned in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address:
"...that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.
We've certainly never reached that state and it sometimes seems even more remote, with both electoral and policy politics all but completely under the control of the oligarchy, but it's a vision worth keeping and fighting for.
Personally I believe like one of my fave. Comedians & Actors Denis Leary a great Firefighter supporter too who opins. : "60 is the new Go Fuck Yourself!!!" Seriously in a perfect World I'd like a President like in his early 40's. quick-witted & fast enough to stay ahead of the M.I.C., C.I.A., N.S.A., C.E.O.'s., Chairman and the like. For this Old Geezer that'll do about right...!
WHAT BETTER TIME for a NEW PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL PARTY; with the peoples interests genuinely in their mind, to make their debut. The BAR has been LOWERED. Puleezee take advantage of it - NOW!
One alternative ~ to Trump, Biden, and any and everybody else that America’s Ruling Political Elites may jam down our throats as candidates for President [or any other federal office] in Election2024 ~ was offered here on Bracing Views last April at https://bracingviews.substack.com/p/reforming-americas-elections-the-notc-way , “Reforming America's Elections the NOTC Way.”
And at this stage of the game, the assumption that there will even Be an election in 2024 may or may not be a valid one.
We've had some real "Duds" as Presidents think Millard Fillmore, or more recently Richard Nixon-that said I like a 70 mandatory Retirement age due to the Physical as well as the Intellectual rigors of the Presidential office. In my Line its mandatory for Firefighters @ 65 due to obvious reasons being Firefighting is a young mans job, and the vim and vigor that the occupation requires...
Perhaps sixty is the new forty and eighty is the new sixty but by one hundred most everybody is still dead. They don't get there all at once as Joe Biden illustrates. I really think there should be an age limit on legislators and the President. But they won't ever enact it willingly. They cling to power. And while we're at it why is George Soros (age 92) still trying to run the world?
A reader asked me about supporting progressive democrats to challenge Biden in 2024, a topic I didn't cover. Here's my response:
I agree. But I don’t see a progressive challenger to Biden in 2024. Unless Biden has a serious lapse in health before then, he’ll almost certainly be the candidate.
As you know, we had a progressive choice in 2020. Sanders and Biden were running neck-and-neck, then Obama and the pros intervened, tipping the primary to Biden. (Recall that “Mayor Pete” and Amy K. were basically told to drop out, tipping their votes to Biden, but Warren was encouraged to stay in so that she’d draw votes from Bernie.)
So, we may wish for a progressive to run in 2024, but the fix is already in. It’s Biden unless he croaks, and even then the DNC might try a “Weekend at Bernie’s” ruse with him.
I agree with you entirely, but the system runs on its own regardless of who is in office, keeping profit well before people. Trump caused occasional disruptions, tossing out people left and right, but even he was managed. Biden seems, due to his age, very docile.
I'm cynical about the American people in the voting booth, confirmed by the 1% vote that Jill Stein received, a woman who offered a distinct alternative to The System and called it out. She was on the ballot nationwide. We are sitting in what is essentially a self-driving car with it deciding where we go. So absent minded geriatrics are no problem.
I'm in solid agreement with both of your main points, and have said as much in those occasional conversations that touch on the subject. In fact, such a conversation just took place while my 60-ish in-laws were visiting. I think the consensus of everyone but me was that age itself (over 60?) is a serious disqualifier. I pointed out how many people I know who approaching or at 80 are mentally sharper then most people generally. Sanders was, during his Presidential runs, certainly in that category. When cognitive decline is observed, however, such as appears the case with Biden, those around the candidate should dissuade them.
Yet, while the President COULD have a significant role in guiding / 'managing' the Executive, the importance of your statement about who really runs thing can't be overstated. This has been at times apparent at other times- Cheney & Rumsfeld certainly seemed to lead Bush, for example. But it's now ever so clearly seen as Biden seems no more than a mere marionette, mouthing the words of the security-state establishment and the corporate oligarchs whose interests they, too represent.
So I agree. Let's encourage the electorate to evaluate candidates on ability and strength, yes; but even more importantly, on whether they have both the principles and spine to stand up for the broadly public interests of the people, as envisioned in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address:
"...that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.
We've certainly never reached that state and it sometimes seems even more remote, with both electoral and policy politics all but completely under the control of the oligarchy, but it's a vision worth keeping and fighting for.
Personally I believe like one of my fave. Comedians & Actors Denis Leary a great Firefighter supporter too who opins. : "60 is the new Go Fuck Yourself!!!" Seriously in a perfect World I'd like a President like in his early 40's. quick-witted & fast enough to stay ahead of the M.I.C., C.I.A., N.S.A., C.E.O.'s., Chairman and the like. For this Old Geezer that'll do about right...!
WHAT BETTER TIME for a NEW PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL PARTY; with the peoples interests genuinely in their mind, to make their debut. The BAR has been LOWERED. Puleezee take advantage of it - NOW!
Kinda' tired of voting: LESSER of EVILS
biden is just right; a rubber stamp for the blob.
trump is too old he could not beat the blob even in 2017!
One alternative ~ to Trump, Biden, and any and everybody else that America’s Ruling Political Elites may jam down our throats as candidates for President [or any other federal office] in Election2024 ~ was offered here on Bracing Views last April at https://bracingviews.substack.com/p/reforming-americas-elections-the-notc-way , “Reforming America's Elections the NOTC Way.”
And at this stage of the game, the assumption that there will even Be an election in 2024 may or may not be a valid one.
Who knows? By then, Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s call for a “National Divorce” may have kicked in as a prime driving force in American politics, rendering a national election irrelevant. [ https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/marjorie-taylor-greene-calls-national-divorce-liberal-conservative-sta-rcna71464 ]
We've had some real "Duds" as Presidents think Millard Fillmore, or more recently Richard Nixon-that said I like a 70 mandatory Retirement age due to the Physical as well as the Intellectual rigors of the Presidential office. In my Line its mandatory for Firefighters @ 65 due to obvious reasons being Firefighting is a young mans job, and the vim and vigor that the occupation requires...
Perhaps sixty is the new forty and eighty is the new sixty but by one hundred most everybody is still dead. They don't get there all at once as Joe Biden illustrates. I really think there should be an age limit on legislators and the President. But they won't ever enact it willingly. They cling to power. And while we're at it why is George Soros (age 92) still trying to run the world?