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Let the Handwringing Continue [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-11-20  

Now that a new NBC News poll has added to the flop sweat of Democratic strategists and given the reins to cable news to mount Seabiscuit and enter the election derby, the stories of discontent with Joe Biden's leadership ran rampant. From the day Joe Biden announced for the presidency, the GOP disinformation machine went into high gear. Much like with misleading videos and social media posts that painted former Secretary of State [Hillary Clinton] as a sickly spawn of Satan, Biden has been characterized as an old man playing Mahjong with Xi Jinping in his basement, afraid of his own shadow. Meanwhile, Donald Trump wakes up every morning tweeting threats to the judges, prosecutors, and any former employee willing to speak truth to power, whom he at one time called the " best people ." What is new in this scenario is the willingness of Democrats to join in the premature burial of Mr. Biden's presidency.

One would have thought we would have learned from the Obama versus Romney campaign when the New York Times referred to Mr. Obama's reelection chances as " toast ." The people who thought it was wise or courageous to cast protest votes for Jill Stein or Bernie Sanders were not solely responsible but helped to open the door to fascism. Accusations of Hillary Clinton being treated as an incumbent—with words like "coronation" and Joe Biden, the incumbent President create instant backlash. There is an inherent dissatisfaction that comes with incumbency. Unfortunately, incumbents are saddled with the campaign slogan; it could be worse because no achievement will appease everyone. When Mr. Biden says inflation is lowering, people only remember it was high.

Slogans and shouted responses in reporter gaggles can leave behind sound bites than can sound callously out of touch. Guarding against that carries the danger of appearing incompetent and dining on crow while the public craves humble pie. Balancing when two things can be true at once is the hardest thing about falling into the pessimism of any campaign poll. When President Biden says, " Bidenomics is working ," and many Americans find it hard to pay bills, both things can be true. Americans like to be entertained, and most of our entertainment depends on fuel and food. Corporate inflation, gas prices, and entertainment have little to do with policy because they are fueled by greed .

It is an empirical fact that wages are rising but are being offset by corporate avarice. Joblessness is at historic lows, even accounting for the pandemic. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had a whopping increase of 4.9 percent in the third quarter of 2023. Still, it was described by the media as only " better than expected ." The problem with numbers and statistics is that they become meaningless to the average Joe or Joanne, who cannot determine the GDP from AOC. With the holidays fast approaching, conversations over the deli counter are more likely to sound like can you believe it as opposed to; what do you think about the supply chain issues? No matter how many elections since 2018 have proven the polls fallible, the media still breathlessly awaits the next result. Former President Barack Obama saved Americans' economic bacon, and Joe Biden restored the nation's health. Before we declare the race over for the umpteenth time, restring your pearls; it ain't over yet.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/11/20/2207001/-Let-the-Handwringing-Continue?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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