The Deep Rot Exposed by the Biden Flap - WSJ Geral Baker, fomer editor

[question everything]

Imagine for a moment you’re the ruler of China. You’ve got a master plan to run the world. The main obstacle to your ambitions, of course, is America, shining city on a hill, a nation founded on an ideal—the most inspiring and destabilizing ideal in human history—that all are created equal and that they should be free to pursue their own cause without undue interference or direction from some despotic monarch or party chairman.

This nation, powered by this ideal, rose from upstart to superpower in a little more than a century, and despite proliferating challenges, remains dominant not just militarily and economically but as an idea—a beacon of hope and opportunity for billions of people not fortunate enough to call it home. Mindful of all this, you look across at this great nation and discover that the big question preoccupying the people who control the public conversation there this week is: Should Joe Biden be disqualified from the presidency because he sniffed that woman’s hair?

I have a simple question for you: Is this really happening, people?

(snip)

What troubles me isn’t simply this particular obsession with the former vice president’s odd olfactory habits or what he does with his hands. It is what this baffling discussion says about the quality of what passes for debate now, the issues that seem to dominate that debate and the way that debate is conducted.

For the record, I too have met Mr. Biden on a number of occasions, and though he never attempted to smell my hair (he’d be out of luck with that one), he’s certainly pressed my flesh. Indeed, meeting Joe Biden, for a man or a woman (he doesn’t discriminate), is a bit like an encounter with an especially attentive and curious cephalopod—one tentacle grips your upper arm, another winds its way around your shoulder and another (yes, I do think there might be three) prods you repeatedly in the chest to emphasize a point. This isn’t in any way to minimize sexual harassment or assault, which are despicable offenses, and women are absolutely right to demand accountability for powerful men who abuse their position. But, please, Joe Biden isn’t a monster. He’s an overly tactile septuagenarian with blindingly white teeth and suspiciously glossy hair.


More..

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-deep-rot-exposed-by-the-biden-flap-11554472705 (paid subscription)

[marylandblue]

1. Democracy is founded on a theory that humans are fundamentally rational.

Other forms of government don't have this assumption. Maybe the others are right?

[question everything]

2. Indeed

Here is more

All of this speaks to the triumph today not of reason—the defining characteristic of the Enlightenment values that made America great—but of emotion. Pundits, media companies and politicians have discovered that it is emotion, not reason, that wins votes and pulls in eyeballs. It’s fun and lucrative while it lasts, but the Greeks and Romans can tell you precisely what it does to a civilization in the long run.

Because this, in the end, is what undoes great civilizations. Defeat on the battlefield overseas or destructive revolution at home only comes when the rot within is so advanced that the seemingly robust institutional structures have been fatally undermined. The condition of public discourse today is absolutely the kind of rot with that sort of potential.

[bitterross]

8. Boy, is that a huge mistake. Rational? Not for a moment.

Humans are not consistently rational.

[workinclasszero]

3. WSJ owned by Rupert Murdock of Fox News imfamy

I can't believe any democratic party political figure would welcome a defense from the likes of that right wing birdcage liner or the fascist POS that owns it!

[BlueFlorida]

4. bwahahahahahahahahahaha

I get it. Every good article about any Democratic candidate who poses a threat to Bernie MUST be shot down by the faithful.

[question everything]

6. Right, like the one supporting Klobuchar

https://www.democraticunderground.com/13007

[Cha]

7. So Friggin Predictable!

[betsuni]

12. STOP READING ANYTHING NOW! FAKE NEWS!

Do not read list:

WSJ: bad because of Rupert Murdock
Washington Post: bad because of Jeff Bezos
CNN, ABC, CBS (almost everything else): bad because corporate media conglomerate
And any small newspaper can be brushed off as insignificant because of "small circulation"

But The Intercept, The Young Turks, Russia Today, right-wing sources OK!

[melman]

13. " But The Intercept, The Young Turks, Russia Today, right-wing sources OK!"

The Wall Street Journal is a right-wing source

[Cha]

14. Unless.. those on the Do Not Read

list say something nice about BS. Then it's okay. lololol..

Oh "small circulation" is it? rofl Big, small.. if they print something the least bit Vettish of BS.. they automatically disqualify themselves.

Gotcha!

[betsuni]

16. And don't forget the retweeting rules.

If you retweet something by Cindy McCain or some other Republican it means you must visit their page or follow them or follow someone who retweets them and therefore you are EXPOSED AS A REPUBLICAN!!!!1111!!!

[melman]

17. "If you retweet something by Cindy McCain or some other Republican"

Why would you do that?

[Cha]

18. Yeah that

follows.

[melman]

19. Yeah those damn purists

who don't read right-wing media or cozy up to Republicans on twitter. Damn their purity.

[George II]

20. Well, yes, they're all bad, but we still have the Vermont Freeman to fall back on!

[betsuni]

22. !

[UniteFightBack]

5. When folks are right they're right...no matter what the hell political party. nt

[workinclasszero]

11. Rupert Murdock is not folks

He is a billionaire thats enabling fascism in America!

Orange Agent's favorite show is Fox & Friends ffs!

[marylandblue]

15. No doubt he is, but are we talking about fascism, income inequality and democratic norms?

No, we are Joe Biden's hands. And lest you think we are immune, we've also been known to talk about Trump's hands.

If Abraham Lincoln had anything unusual about his hands, thank God the newspapers didn't report it.

[question everything]

23. Actually he is a libertarian and supported Senator Clinton when she ran in NY

And until the end, the WSJ editorial as well as most columnists hated Trump.

Even now, the WSJ often has editorials against Trump. Especially on immigration and "border security."

[workinclasszero]

24. How in the **** can I be reading a defense of Rupert Murdock on Democratic Underground?????????

I mean....

I can't believe it!

I have to go wash my eyes out with bleach now!

[marylandblue]

25. Because not everybody shoots the messenger.

[melman]

26. Because they just don't care

As long as it suits their needs.

[workinclasszero]

28. That's the sad truth

I just thank God I will never have to try and defend the WSJ or one of the most evil bastards on the planet, Murdock because they are defending Bernie Sanders!!

No chance those haters of the working class would EVER do that!!!

People need to stop and wonder why these POS that back Trump/McConnell/GOP, 1000% are standing up for their candidate?

Are they just trying to be helpful to the democratic party and making sure we select only the best candidate for our nomination??

I mean... really?

[melman]

29. Exactly

But they will never ask themselves that.

[workinclasszero]

30. I'm sure you are right about that

[John Fante]

31. You two are going to great lengths NOT to address

what's written in the article. Ad hominem overload.

[melman]

32. Okay here's what I think of the article

It's bullshit.

[John Fante]

33. Because it defends Biden. You've established that for the

last several hours with your ad hominem attacks.

[melman]

34. You said I should discuss the article

My view on the article is that it's bullshit.

[Cha]

47. No kidding!

[MrsCoffee]

55. How are you ever going to watch your candidate's town hall on Fox next week?

That much bleach can blind you.

[George II]

21. Isn't a certain democratic candidate going on fox news next week?

[Cha]

48. Oh that's right. what are the "shoot the messenger"

types gonna say about faux and BS going on there?

[MrsCoffee]

54. But the rules are different for Bernie. If he goes on Fox, it's doubleplusgood.

It’s cognitive dissonance wrapped in performance art.

[still_one]

27. I can't believe that any Democratic candidate would hire 3 people in high positions who not only

voted for Jill Stein, but encouraged others to do likewise

[Cha]

49. Yeah, I guess he has crickets to say

about 3rd party voters, who helped trump get elected, being on BS' top staff.

[still_one]

52. I would like someone to ask him that question, but I doubt it will get asked

[LAS14]

36. This is a perfect example of ad hominem politics. Aren't we better than this? Truth is truth....

.... no matter the source.

[WeekiWater]

37. The search feature shows that you have commented numerous times to...

The content of WSJ articles. Often in favor to the position being asserted.

[Cha]

50. Aha! HaHa!

[herding cats]

44. I'm feeling some weird deja vu.

You ever have that happen to you? I hate that!

It's something about message vs. messenger, maybe? It's so damn familiar... but I just can't put my finger on it. It's right there on the tip of my tongue. Gah! This is so frustrating!!

Oh, and then there's some weird tickling in my mind leading me to think the WSJ wasn't always admonished as foul when it suited some. Yeah, I remember that I'm sure.

Page turned on a new day just like the old one. Wake up! Pay attention and actually recognize who the enemies are once and for all, please.

We have way more in common than we have different. I can't say that about the current GOP Vs. Dems. We're polar opposites and yet they've kicked our asses and are destroying our country for decades to come with the judges they're instilling. Just like I warned people of here. I'd love to hear a plan (there's not one) on how to mitigate that fuck up.

For the love of Pete, THINK long game for once.

Edit to add: Were idiots if we fall for such simplistic bait again. Those working to destroy us deserve victory if we're such obvious fools in 2020.

[MrsCoffee]

56. The same Fox News that Sanders will be holding his Town Hall on next week? That Fox News?

[aikoaiko]

9. The Chinese know that deviations from protocol can derail careers within Chinese politics.

There is nothing special about that.

[Honeycombe8]

10. LOL. Well, that puts things in perspective. nt

[LAS14]

35. [phone]!!!!!!!!

[Gothmog]

38. Joe Biden is the most electable candidate that the Democratic Party has available

[melman]

40. He's really not

Nominating Biden would be a giant mistake.

[Gothmog]

41. Denial is not just a river in Africa

In the real world, sanders is not electable

Link to tweet

?s=20

[melman]

42. Did someone mention Sanders?

I certainly didn't.


also lololol @ 'puesto loco'. That dude makes Claude Taylor seem credible by comparison. And that is saying something.

[Cha]

45. "Among registered voters, Bernie & Trump are virtually tied for the LEAST LIKED at 58% & 59%..

respectively."

Link to tweet

Good to know are on the same page as I am.. or should I say "we are"?

[Gothmog]

58. Biden is the most electable candidate right now

While I am undecided, I do think that Joe Biden is the most electable candidate.

Link to tweet

Biden has been in the public eye since the 1970s, and unlike Hillary Clinton, who claimed the public never really knew her, voters feel like they know Biden pretty darn well. Many voters don’t remember anything before his vice presidency, his demonstrably warm relationship with President Barack Obama, his remarkable dignity after the death of his beloved son Beau, and his emotional goodbye to the late senator John McCain. He has established a level of emotional intimacy with voters that few politicians attain. He’s the chatty next-door neighbor, the avuncular relative and the co-worker who remembers everyone’s birthday.....

They are also unlikely to decide he’s not progressive enough. Being vice president to the most progressive president we’ve had (including his role in seemingly pushing Obama forward on gay marriage) has its advantages. Moreover, the media periodically lapses into the delusion that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are representative of the entire party.

The recent Monmouth poll of Iowa voters is instructive: Biden not only leads, but has a 78 percent favorability rating and support from the kind of Democrats who show up in primaries — moderate, older voters. Biden has support from 44 percent of seniors and 35 percent of self-described moderate and conservative Democrats. Among lower income/working-class voters whom Democrats have been desperate to attract, he gets 38 percent. Those kind of voters — not self-identified socialists, not Bernie activists on social media — are numerous and dependable voters. And they’re not exactly the kind to punish him for hugging people in distress.

The most important hurdle for Biden and for his competitors will be convincing voters he can beat President Trump. Right now, Biden has a big advantage. “While issue positions are important to Iowa Democrats, the overwhelming majority (64%) prefer to have a nominee who would be strong against Trump even if they disagree with that candidate on most issues,” the pollsters found. “If they were forced to choose, just 24% say they would favor a candidate who they are aligned with on the issues even if that person would have a hard time beating Trump. Biden garners more support among voters who prioritize beating Trump (33%) than he does among those who are looking for issue alignment (15%).”

I agree with the premise of this piece. I know Joe Biden and I like Joe Biden. The polling indicates that Joe is the most electable candidate.

[melman]

59. Jennifer Rubin

is a right winger.

[Gothmog]

60. The polling cited in the article will not change

[Renew Deal]

43. Not really

He has the most name recognition, but he is severely flawed. This is why he's lost twice before.

[Cha]

46. Biden hasn't run since being

an outstanding Veep for 8 years. That's quite a resume.. and why I think he's ahead even before he's declared.

[iamateacher]

39. I really can not say

How much I hate this article. May it backfire on this bunch of SOBs.
Btw, I was a hospice social worker. Hugs, connection, and caring gestures are important. They help help you through the pain.
Imagine losing your child, your spouse, your reason for living. A hug, a touch, can make you want to live instead of jumping in the grave with them.
This man lost a wife, a daughter, a son. He may see things in a different way.

[ucrdem]

51. I think that's more or less what the article is saying too

the "deep rot" isn't Biden's, it's his accusers. At least that's how I read it.

[Hortensis]

53. As an alternative "deep rot" of rancor and triviality in public debate,

Link to tweet

Questions Everything, we get to read Gerard Baker's hits on Biden, "tentacles" and all, but left behind the paywall unseen his moral plea supposedly justifying all the rotten leadup. He's right, of course. The whole first part of his article actually illustrates a form of the "rancor and triviality" he deplores, not Breitbart style but in a "fair and balanced," even almost gentlemanly way, as befits an article in the WSJ's political, not opinion, section.

[Gothmog]

57. This so-called scandal/hit job failed

Link to tweet

One almost sensed from the breathless coverage of women who decided years later to object to former vice president Joe Biden’s non-sexual hugs and pats and kisses on the head that they expected the media to think it would be a fatal or near-fatal blow to Biden’s presidential chances. Not only was it not fatal, it didn’t register as particularly relevant to most Democratic voters. He was atop the polls before these stories aired, and he is atop them now.

Biden has been in the public eye since the 1970s, and unlike Hillary Clinton, who claimed the public never really knew her, voters feel like they know Biden pretty darn well. Many voters don’t remember anything before his vice presidency, his demonstrably warm relationship with President Barack Obama, his remarkable dignity after the death of his beloved son Beau, and his emotional goodbye to the late senator John McCain. He has established a level of emotional intimacy with voters that few politicians attain. He’s the chatty next-door neighbor, the avuncular relative and the co-worker who remembers everyone’s birthday.