Harkin speaks to the aftermath, Hersh speaks to the lead up, that same investigative reporting the same harsh realities he has spoken of for decades. What has not changed, is the absolute arrogance and hubris of both political parties, how they are so out of touch with so many realities, regarding the state of affairs and the everyday life of any average American. The level of disgust, anger and borderline despair I now feel is incalculable. I don't see any way forward, due to our long antiquated systems of policy, law, politics and it's finances, whereas a more articulate multiparty system may have been a way forward, we lack such a maneuver. Almost a year ago I was hoping that the Dems would have at least hosted a round of debates, but they decided to leave RFK and a few others out of the picture. Did they not learn from 2020, where those debates, in the end helped bring newer ideas and a bit of a stronger coalition of party planks together? Yes, indeed, WHO is running the country... has always been an issue, now it is the main theme. There is not one job or profession I have worked in over my entire adult life where this level of hubris, neglect & malfeasance would have been accepted for any appreciable length of time. The decline of values, truth, or progressive change, regarding the political class has been global and on going for decades, it's the authoritarians that step up at times like this.
Unfortunately the situation in France is no great demonstration of the multi party system....No matter your (which I share) despair and disgust, I still urge a vote against the MAGA forces. Don’t waste a vote on some third party....
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Mr Harkin. My dad had a stroke in Feb; it was scary to see Biden having the same dazed/lost expression I saw with my dad. I like Whitmer/Booker/mayor Pete. Can't figure out why Biden never has Harris doing anything...we can't afford a Truman/FDR situation if something happens to Biden!
I am amazed how many media outlets discussion of the debate starts with " Everything Trump said is a lie, but then again he always lies". Then they go on to review and discuss Biden's performance for an hour.
For once Trump is old news. Not quite the way we’d like to have had it play out, though. If President Biden were a pool shark, he would have played a great game by deliberately losing the first round....But again, this wasn’t his intention.....
Agreed. There is an a point where old age simply catches up with us. President Biden, an excellent Senator and President, has reached that point. I believe he is unelectable, and I also don't trust that he will have the faculties to govern for four more years.
If the President doesn’t see the light and endorse a whole new team...he will be ensuring MAGA landslide. Yes, it is that serious. Optics are everything and the Democratic Party must have blinders if it cannot convince the Bidens of the seriousness of this situation. Things were bad enough before the debate!
Thanks, Senator; your lips to God’s ears. President Biden has been a very good president and he has made a huge difference in so many ways, but if he doesn’t step aside his work will end up little more than an asterisk in history because republicans will undo everything. The supreme court has already started.
Thank you, Tom Harkin! The choice now appears to be between a selfish, spoiled pathological liar, mentally/emotionally stuck at smart ass junior high level who rewrites history, is a convicted felon, casually brings up a porn star and golf in a "debate", OR an obviously ill, doddering, old man barely able to walk across the stage. Yes, I think the world is laughing.
Mr. Harkin said the 'unspeakable' and he's correct. Right off the bat, Trump started with lies and I could see Biden getting angry. That, unfortunately, brought out his stutter which likely angered him even more, becoming a cascade of unintentional gaffes. Mr.Harkin is correct about Biden being given so many facts it became an exercise in frustration. Trump on the other hand, simply repeated the same lines he says during his 'rallies'. He only omitted the shark/electrocution story.
Tom's viewpoint is refreshing. If Dems think this is inconsequential for Biden, they're in denial. Sad that optics trump substance, but that's our modern reality. They should recruit Brown, Whitmer, Jeffries, Newsom, Booker, Buttigieg...so many young, capable, articulate options. Changing course ≠ giving up! It's making a tough but smart decision before it's too late.
Harkin speaks to the aftermath, Hersh speaks to the lead up, that same investigative reporting the same harsh realities he has spoken of for decades. What has not changed, is the absolute arrogance and hubris of both political parties, how they are so out of touch with so many realities, regarding the state of affairs and the everyday life of any average American. The level of disgust, anger and borderline despair I now feel is incalculable. I don't see any way forward, due to our long antiquated systems of policy, law, politics and it's finances, whereas a more articulate multiparty system may have been a way forward, we lack such a maneuver. Almost a year ago I was hoping that the Dems would have at least hosted a round of debates, but they decided to leave RFK and a few others out of the picture. Did they not learn from 2020, where those debates, in the end helped bring newer ideas and a bit of a stronger coalition of party planks together? Yes, indeed, WHO is running the country... has always been an issue, now it is the main theme. There is not one job or profession I have worked in over my entire adult life where this level of hubris, neglect & malfeasance would have been accepted for any appreciable length of time. The decline of values, truth, or progressive change, regarding the political class has been global and on going for decades, it's the authoritarians that step up at times like this.
Unfortunately the situation in France is no great demonstration of the multi party system....No matter your (which I share) despair and disgust, I still urge a vote against the MAGA forces. Don’t waste a vote on some third party....
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Mr Harkin. My dad had a stroke in Feb; it was scary to see Biden having the same dazed/lost expression I saw with my dad. I like Whitmer/Booker/mayor Pete. Can't figure out why Biden never has Harris doing anything...we can't afford a Truman/FDR situation if something happens to Biden!
I am amazed how many media outlets discussion of the debate starts with " Everything Trump said is a lie, but then again he always lies". Then they go on to review and discuss Biden's performance for an hour.
For once Trump is old news. Not quite the way we’d like to have had it play out, though. If President Biden were a pool shark, he would have played a great game by deliberately losing the first round....But again, this wasn’t his intention.....
Agreed. There is an a point where old age simply catches up with us. President Biden, an excellent Senator and President, has reached that point. I believe he is unelectable, and I also don't trust that he will have the faculties to govern for four more years.
Have you all seen Seymour Hersh’s comments asking Who Is Running the Country??
chilling, thanks for sharing
If the President doesn’t see the light and endorse a whole new team...he will be ensuring MAGA landslide. Yes, it is that serious. Optics are everything and the Democratic Party must have blinders if it cannot convince the Bidens of the seriousness of this situation. Things were bad enough before the debate!
Thanks, Senator; your lips to God’s ears. President Biden has been a very good president and he has made a huge difference in so many ways, but if he doesn’t step aside his work will end up little more than an asterisk in history because republicans will undo everything. The supreme court has already started.
Thank you, Tom Harkin! The choice now appears to be between a selfish, spoiled pathological liar, mentally/emotionally stuck at smart ass junior high level who rewrites history, is a convicted felon, casually brings up a porn star and golf in a "debate", OR an obviously ill, doddering, old man barely able to walk across the stage. Yes, I think the world is laughing.
Mr. Harkin said the 'unspeakable' and he's correct. Right off the bat, Trump started with lies and I could see Biden getting angry. That, unfortunately, brought out his stutter which likely angered him even more, becoming a cascade of unintentional gaffes. Mr.Harkin is correct about Biden being given so many facts it became an exercise in frustration. Trump on the other hand, simply repeated the same lines he says during his 'rallies'. He only omitted the shark/electrocution story.
There's no coming back from this for Biden.
There may be no coming back from this for the Democratic party.
Tom's viewpoint is refreshing. If Dems think this is inconsequential for Biden, they're in denial. Sad that optics trump substance, but that's our modern reality. They should recruit Brown, Whitmer, Jeffries, Newsom, Booker, Buttigieg...so many young, capable, articulate options. Changing course ≠ giving up! It's making a tough but smart decision before it's too late.
Whitmer... and Raskin?