This was Biden at his best; negotiating with multiple parties who all have different interests. He presented the release well. He praised everyone involved. The contrast between this old pro and the other stammering, angry, blaming, name calling , lying, corrupt, bag of wind could not be any clearer. Who cares what color Kamala is, she has learned from Biden how to lead America and the world to freedom in the 21st Century. Let’s get this done!
And he let Sullivan participate fully in the press conference. Biden creates allies not only across the globe...
Maybe the greatest example Biden gives us is that in spite of the clamor of the press to "know, and know now," the timeless values of allowing time and privacy for consideration is still a valuable commodity in human relations. What a huge mistake we have made in not supporting him for a second term. And we did it for the worst possible and shallowest of reasons.
KEM, what happened to Joe Biden this campaign season is a product of the rampant ageism that is going on in this society. I think America has always been a society of the young, but along with that notion, it has meant that after a certain age, people are seen as irrelevant, unnecessary, uncapable, that is unless they have a bunch of money and can fake abilities he doesn't have, as Donald Trump has done. Joe Biden has so much experience in all areas of government he is a treasure, not someone ready for assisted living. And then assisted living has become warehousing for older people, often with useless activities, little challenge, and insufficient staff to make certain the residents receive appropriate care, and nursing homes are worse, mostly because most are owned by corporations whose only interest is the bottom line and how much profits they can accumulate for themselves and their shareholders through Medicare and Medicaid, and who cares about the residents actual needs! We have a lot to do to fix this. I hope Kamala Harris will keep Biden as a trusted assistant because he can help her get wound up in any areas she has not yet had a chance to work with Biden on. And, she has a lot to teach Biden about the situation in Gaza, and the criminal-legal system in America. Go Team!
I quite agree with you, Ruth. What makes it so ludicrous is that no one wants to die young; aging is what happens if we are lucky. But let's get beyond the sound bites and images to show how false, damaging, and superficial our thoughts about aging are: Only 2% of people over 70 live in assisted living. About 30% live alone. Only about another 6% live with family. Dementia is lower than one thinks--around 4% for folks aged 70 to 75, less in those who are physically active. So chances are that most people don't interact with seniors regularly. This makes us susceptible to all kinds of misperceptions, and worse, to ageism in our youth-worshipping culture. I think many folks would be surprised.
The backside of the hard-won right to retire at a reasonable age is that we have been convinced that old = non productive. Underlying ageism, of course, is the same malevolence of which Professor Richardson writes: equating human worth with economic productivity instead of experience, wisdom, perspective, and sheer persistence.
KEM At 90 I have considerable insight into ‘aging.’ For those of us who are still alive and not inflicted with dementia, life has considerable zest.
We may move more slowly than our children and grandchildren. We may experience short-term memory gaps [our brains are filled with more data and memories than the most sophisticated computers], while our long-term memory is surprisingly lucid.
I find this true with President Biden. Once again he utilized his boots on the ground experience that enabled him to orchestrate an extraordinarily complicated hostage exchange deal with Trump’s bromance buddy.
Kudos, Joe and soggy hamburgers to Bone Spur Donnie.
No ketchup. Nope - make it a REAL punishment (for him - I imagine ketchup is a pain to get off a wall for the people who actually work). Imagine that disgusting wretch tantrum-throwing ketchup on the walls of OUR White House! No fried chicken, either.
Nothing wrong with a delicious, well-seasoned, properly prepared and expertly-cooked tofu burger. If you saw what happens to animals in a slaughter house, you would never enjoy eating meat again. It would haunt you - not just how these annimals are killed in fear and pain, but how these sentient beings are raised in restrictive conditions, never knowing kindness or normal existence. The meat industry is cruel, exploitive and heartless- just like Trump.
Damn. Here you go again making this 82 year old want to live to 90! Kudos for sure to Biden's team. And his grace in recognizing them. No chest thumping.
Humans live quite a bit beyond their peak reproductive years, and i think that may be in part because our intergenerational learning is so crucial to records and multimedia recordings, but I believe there are human attributes that can only be adequately communicated in person. And, i think that if we work at it, fruitful perspectives can be drawn from extended years of lived experience, so long as we don't get stuck in them. Rumor has it that old people are big on nostalgia. I'll cop to some of that, but find it gets old really fast. The is stuff to learn every day, and no end to challenges. Love of learning means never, ever running out of something to engage with.
I also have a sense that wisdom involves better than random educated guesses not only about what is real and true, but also what is worthwhile, and I think keen and considered extended experience can assist with both.
JL As my friend David McCullough used to say: ‘Nostalgia is history and history is the story of life.’
I remember, 60 years, when I, as a smart ass Foreign Service analyst, would go brief Under Secretary George Ball on the Congo hostage crisis. He would take my factual report and process it through his three dimensional brain of experience.
This was an education that served me well when I became the first person to rate the credit of sovereign countries (and refuse to rate others).
President Biden has a lifetime of experience. President Truman was extremely well read in history. Us old codgers often have a perspective that the young ‘ens, with no knowledge of history, miss.
As they would say in Wyoming about President Biden “This isn’t his first rodeo.”
P. S. This old codger sees Trump being defeated in a Harris Blitzkrieg that goes forward as he frantically backpedals.
Present day Trump reminds me of a whirley bird that flies in ever lessening concentric circles until it flies up its own ass hole.
Kim, thanks for the statistics. It helps to put things into perspective. I have always enjoyed being around older people because of their life experience and often their willingness to share their stories, a treasure trove of information with so many life lessons. This used to be a "youth culture" but these days, the young people are disparaged as though they have nothing to offer because they are whiners who don't care or whiners who protest things they don't understand, or whiners who don't want to do anything, and on and on. As a retired public school teacher, I did not find any of that to be true. Young people want to make a difference and need guidance to help them to do it. We need to encourage them to check in with the older people in their lives for some of the life wisdom that can help them. Then, they can share some of what they are learning through their exposure to the world and their ability to function with technology many older people did not have an opportunity to learn. It is a win-win. Now how do we get the folks together? Maybe it can be through working on Kamala's campaign where all are needed, old, young, and everyone in between.
There are programs in Canada that match up seniors living alone in their family home wth rooms to spare with university/college kids facing a housing shortage. It's working really well.... win win. Lots of good connections happening with seniors getting involved with social justice movements. Who'd a thunk it?
At 64 years old I am renting out my room to a young college student former military. Having him live with me has far exceeded my expections by far! My plan, as i continue this ageing process, is to stay as socially connected as possible as it positively affects one's mental and physical health.
There’s also a systems place that if one can’t contribute to society and is financially struggling they are encouraged to euthanize themselves. Whether they want to die or not.
Ruth, great comments (and the ones from others in this community before). Years ago, my daughter worked in a Community Center in Vermont and had classes for teenagers and seniors to help each other learn important skills, e.g. computer skills for seniors, cooking and other life experience skills for teenagers. It was so successful and popular that the then Governor came to visit. I am sure it happens elsewhere today, but it isn't reported.
Sally, what a great way to spend money. Our Department of Education should be looking into such programs. It would be healthy and fun for all involved, each one teach one. Now who can we get to follow up on something like this or to publicize the programs like it that are already functioning?
Yes. Working together toward a common goal is always the best way. My father (and his children and grandkids) also benefited from a project that centered around those stories that you love. It's called "The Best Day of My Life...So Far."
efh, connecting older people with younger ones, say age 10 and up would be terrific! They all have so much to offer each other. That could be a really fine way to rebuild community that has been shaken by the current us vs. them division that Republicans have been pushing for decades.
Ruth- You make a great point about youth connecting with older people. I thought this was why Biden and Harris were such a good team. They also had the advantage of having diverse perspectives based on gender and race. It's about time that we value all of humanity. It's the only way we'll survive and strive-together!
We had an opportunity in my little New England town to put the young and old together and it was voted down.
Some of us in town pushed for a combination Senior and Youth Center when the town was replacing the decrepit senior center.
I pictured older people imparting wisdom and enjoying and helping young people and for young people to educate the seniors about technology and other things. We have so much to learn from each other.
It was suggested too we allow room for the Veterans. Seemed like such a great idea to me. The plan was voted down.
Marj, I can't help but wonder why the town stood against something that makes so much sense. Is it because they want to pretend they won't get old and don't want to be reminded of it, or that they are already old and don't want young people around (too noisy, too messy, too off the wall), or is it their minds have been so clouded by the divisions set up by Republicans that they can't imagine old and young people doing anything positive together? Hard to say. I am sorry your town decided not to make a positive move that could have helped the entire community. Alas, that is so often what happens.
I am 86. I live in an Independent Living community. Filled with active and intelligent seniors. Yes, many with walkers but that doesn’t stop them. And the majority seems to be Democrats!
One of the ways I deal with this KEM is to do volunteer work, which keeps me engaged as Manager of our County Democratic Office. It includes working with our Young Dems Club. We also work with our County High School Democrsts. We have a lot to offer to others of our own age and ages up and down the rest of our County Democrats! We have a lot of work to do as some Early Voting begins in Sept!
Amen to your last paragraph. What I've found in retirement (and age) is OPPORTUNITY. The OPPORTUNITY to engage more frequently (and enthusiastically) in election issues; the OPPORTUNITY to volunteer in my community and hopefully improve OPPORTUNITIES for others, and the OPPORTUNITY to still find time to enjoy what remains of life. It DOES NOT get better than this, I can assure you!
Kem, that is very informative. My guess is that, in the next six months, Joe Biden will make it very clear that he is still fully capable of continuing to do the job he has done so well.
Ageism and ableism. People using a life-long struggle with stuttering as evidence of dementia.... it's like thinking people who walk differently a have a low mental capacity. My wife walks differently and all the way through school, administration kept trying to put her in the non-college track classes. She has a Masters in anthropology with an honours undergrad degree in history. Employers keep wanting her to self-identify as "disabled" so they can check a diversity box to make them look good. Ableism.
NLTownie, people tend to think that all the problems related to disability ended with the Americans with Disabilities Act 34 yearas ago; it didn't. "Able-bodied" people seem to have a need to keep proving they are better than others, particularly if they have a difference the person does not understand or is afraid of. We must keep calling it out when we see it even if it embarrasses the able-bodied person. Maybe they will have a little more compassion if they can come to realize people can overcome challenges and that if something happened to them, they could too. Or, maybe not, but it's worth a try.
Knowing when to exit the stage is difficult at times, but this we know: Biden's leaving the race has released a tsunami of enthusiasm among Democrats and has put us on the offensive, instead of the defensive. And, as VP Harris recently noted, "Taking the offense is what wins elections." Regarding the exchange of prisoners, it is a moment for tearful rejoicing.
Nursing homes are waiting rooms for death and money grabs for equity firms. These facilities care more about staff than residents. Much easier to replace a resident than an LNA.
If Joe Biden was my loved one, i would want him home. He has worked hard enough dedicating himself to this country.
Ellen, I am not so sure nursing homes care much about the staff either. They over work those folks terribly and do not pay well, except maybe for the ones in rich neighborhoods. I don't think Biden needs any kind of assisted living. He seems just fine to me and proved it today. OK, there are a lot of folks in nursing homes and assisted living who are just fine too, but have no funds to maintain their own homes and need a little help with some daily activities. They should be treated with the respect they deserve and should not be drugged into insensibility as my grandmother and aunt were in a nursing home.
The First Nations know how to treat their Elders, and that is with RESPECT! Elders are a very important component of Native culture. They are revered and cared for because of their Life Lessons. The people are lifted by the knowledge that the Elders can pass on. We would do well to consider this situation thoroughly.
"Every time an elder dies a library burns to the ground." African proverb.
Many cultures including most Native American tribes respect their elders.
Millions of Americans are cared for by a spouse or other family members in the US, but respecting them isn't always part of the deal.
In many cultures the grandparents raise the children and impart their wisdom to them.
It's interesting how Project 2025 defines a family as a mother, a father and biological children, and don't mention the village that actually spends more time and effort to raise their kids.
Craig, that would be a really positive program to start in general, focusing on older people and what we have to offer. My nephew had a 4th grade assignment to interview the oldest member of his family. He chose my maternal grandmother. Through his interview, I learned all sorts of things about her life that I never knew. She was a remarkable woman, raising 5 kids during the Great Depression while managing an abusive husband. She was one of the people who did not tell me I would change my mind when I told her I would not have children by choice and that marriage was not something I was interested in either. She told me I had to make the decision, not society or anyone else in particular. That kind of wisdom would be valuable to anyone. I am so glad First Nations people did not let that practice die out. Maybe passing that knowledge of the value of older people to the broader society would be a positive life changer.
Actually, My Mom lived in a retirement home that had the gamut from full independent living to assisted living to nursing to hospice. My Mom lived in each of those as time went on. It was a wonderful place -- because it was a nonprofit organization -- so the mission of the org was to provide good housing, food, and services to the residents who were uniformly treated with dignity and respect. It is the for-profit homes that put $$ above all else.
Laurie, we were fortunate to find a facility like that for our mother when my sister could no longer safely care for her at home. It, too was a non-profit, religious supported facility where everyone was welcome. The staff was lovely, caring and very skilled. We will always be grateful for who they were for our mother.
My mother-in-law was in such a place. Any caregivers that disrespected the clients or otherwise failed to provide the best care for them was let go. I asked one of the caregivers where they found such dedicated staff and she told me were many like her, who had her parents taken care of there, and was the place so many other caretakers recommended as a place where your work mattered and made a such difference to both staff and clients.
Joe in assisted living?! Oh I think not! My parents chose to move from their home to a senior living facility. Their reasons were yard work when all the grandkids left for college, regular house expenses, taxes and they were just ready to not be homeowners any longer. That was 10 years ago. Dad passed away in 2019, mom is 93 and still in her apartment healthy as a horse. Her eyesight isn’t what it once was, may take her a minute or two to remember a friend of ours from the past, but no way is ready to go to assisted living.
My sisters and I are close by and have always seen her twice a week. Plus take her out for lunches and pleasure rides.
But… you’re right about staffing issues. I’ve watched it go downhill because of corporate greed. All the existing staff is wonderful and caring toward the residents but are being worked very hard. They’re down to barely a skeleton crew. Again I will cite corporate greed.
My sisters and I speak at monthly meetings and let them know this is not acceptable as many residents have no one to speak up for them. Maintenance needs upgrades, more cleaning and kitchen staff (although the place is spotless) they have lost some very dedicated care givers recently because of overwork and poor pay/benefits.
Activities have been less than exciting, how many puzzles can you build or play Bingo? They provide transportation to Dr appointments and have dinner out once a month.
Mom does very well and happy for the most part.
But, when looking for assisted living for a friend with no family, I was very ambivalent about putting him in several I toured. He’s in one now, but we’re working on getting him out of because it’s s horribly understaffed.
Our Seniors are full of life and want to stay engaged in today! Not 50 years ago when they were young(er). More than a few are 100 years old and healthy! Several are still in the senior apartments NOT assisted living. It’s corporate greed.
What nursing homes? They are a failed business model and have been for decades. This is why almost there are millions of caregivers.
Who, in their right mind, would open a nursing home for profit? Can we really fault anyone for closing a nursing home because they see no way to avoid bankruptcy?
You see the richest people in the US paying an average of 8.5% in Federal income taxes thanks to the tax breaks Congress has bestowed on them over the years. And yes, it is both parties on this one.
If they resurrected the AMT and forced a minimum rate of 20% on income over $400,000 not only would we balance the budget there would be money available to take care of the indigent.
And, of course have an AMT for corporations with income over $10 million.
For-profit has ruined many a reasonable nursing home. They are bought up, costs cut ( people laid off, or their pay cut ) and spiral toward the worst kind of place. Kind hearted and good staff try to salvage these places but are demoralized and eventually are likely to leave. People with poor training and less respect take their places. Someone makes money, takes the money, and runs to buy up another thriving place and the spiral goes on.
To some extent, I agree with the comments about nursing homes and assisted living facilities being money grabs for their corporate owners. There is so much Medicare fraud and also neglect.
On the other hand, in 2020, my wife was diagnosed with a debilitating neurological illness and her condition deteriorated rapidly. I was fortunate to find a wonderful, assisted living facility where the staff were kind, caring, diligent, hardworking, and of course, poorly paid. Most were from Haiti but there were some from Uganda, Kenya, India, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad.
What was totally amazing is how hard these healthcare workers worked and how compassionate and kind they were as they went from assisting one resident to another. When they fed my wife, there was a touch of caring and dare I say, love about it.
The facility worked at maximizing revenue. It was expensive, but worth it.
After my wife passed, I went back and gave each of the staff some money, a small token of appreciation which I had also shown at holidays over the 2-1/2 years of this ordeal. Some of them cried and said: "you came back for us? Thank you." I think the sad thing is that they are not appreciated for their dedication, kindness and for doing a really, really tough job.
So, these facilities are not all bad and let's keep that in mind. Perhaps I was just lucky because I've heard and read horror stories as have all of you.
Anil, I think you were lucky. Which is not the way things should be: luck shouldn’t determine quality of care. But I noted that you said many of the caring staff were from African countries. A friend of mine died of Alzheimer’s in December. The staff in her memory care unit were all African immigrants and I was overwhelmed with their caring. They used every resident’s name when they spoke and touched their arm or patted their shoulder. They were aware of each person’s favorite seat, treats, etc. They were the “village” that helped their patients stay clean, comfortable and cared for. The complete opposite of the nursing home that neglected my father nearly to death. My take? Both facilities were non-profit. The exemplary one is located in Minnesota where the State Health Department has always taken regulatory oversight seriously. The negligent facility is in Ohio and was given a “deficiency-free” certification even though I saw violation after violation at every visit. The extraordinary facility also hired staff from countries where the elderly are revered - and that led to remarkable services.
Absolutely, I was very lucky. So was my wife. She really got great care.
You are right that luck shouldn't determine quality of care. But it's more than luck. This was an expensive for-profit company. There are many extremely wealthy people who have made their money off assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
This was a well-resourced and wonderfully run facility.
But the average American without resources is relegated to second rate nursing homes and facilities where the staff are overworked, underpaid, and the level of care is shocking. The goal of many of these places is to maximize profits.
Experience shows that even non-profit facilities have severe problems, but they are generally better than the facilities where everything including caring is squeezed.
The staff, as I have described, were mostly Haitians, but from many countries.
We need to show more appreciation for the essential services that so many immigrants provide in this country as they try to make a better life for themselves and their children.
I was so shocked by one vocal old guy that sounded racist to the bone with endless rants about people of color (not the words he used), but loved the way the staff at his assisted living facility took such good care of him. When I went by the facility, I was amazed to see the staff were almost all dark skinned seeming African immigrants. At least he was color blind about them.
We lose a lot that may be impossible to replace when we let others force them out.
During my 17 month "Travels with Charley" adventure in my "Rocinante" Big Rig (going to see the country I spent 32 years defending in the Air Force and Aerospace Industry, once the Cold War was ended), I was pleasantly surprised when my tractor trailer trainer invited me to stay with him and his wife (who was a healthcare worker) in the Miami Haitian neighborhood they lived in, for what was supposed to be an overnight stay. The tractor trailer and it's load of computers was stolen that night from a warehouse parking area so we ended up staying for several days more. I was impressed by the sense of community and especially the food culture I had no idea existed. My mother-in-law would have been impressed to (as she had been wherever they were stationed and she could learn from the locals). Hawaii was heaven to her because of the service wives from all over the world that had frequent gatherings where they could share their foods.
She pointed out the military Commissaries there had some of the greatest variety of ethnic foods in one store, too.
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, my wife was a terrific partner. We were married for just a bit short of 50 years when she left us. She was a brilliant, brilliant lawyer and prepared the cases that I tried. She didn't want to try the cases, and I didn't like the drudgery of preparation. So, we were a perfect fit. She would sit in court at the counsel table while I did my ham and egg stuff. LOL!
Once, I was cross-examining an opposing expert witness and had caught him in a lie. I fumbled around looking for a document to nail him and a minute or more went by -- no luck. Those moments get embarrassing. I said loudly enough for all to hear: "Where is ___?" She reached into a folder, pulled out the document and smugly handed it to me. I said: "Thank you. But just don't understand her filing system." The jury loved it and laughed. I knew she had subtly won them over.
Healing is a process. You learn to live with things as they are. But "as they are" is not "the same as they were."
Since moving to Maine over 20 years ago, several wonderful well run caring facilities have closed. My daughter's violin teacher would take several of his students to the nursing homes to play Christmas Carols. I always drove. Every time was an uplifting experience. And then, one by one they closed.
Actually, they care even less about staff. For Profit Corporations make money. That is the point of their existence. If they are a public corporation, they have a fiduciary duty to create as much return on their stockholders' money as possible. Therefore, they should never be allowed to provide health care, where the Primary goal is to Care for the Health of patients.
My dad Thought he would be ok because he was a veteran. Seriously, NO. Don't count on it unless you have combat disability. Then he went from the hospital to a decent place (because the care giver we hired to visit him once a week during the pandemic worked there and helped) BUT oh no, Medicare Advantage through CIGNA (which had somehow reached him and sold him a policy even though he was covered under Medicaid as well as MediCare)
decided that this 86 year old who had Just lost the ability to walk or feel his left foot, and who still had a DVT and a Stent from the PE, was OK to leave rehab after 12 days. ?!!!!
We were NOT prepared. But even if we had been, the only places within reach of his caregiver were out of beds. It's a lottery. You end up where the bed is, because you have NO CHoice about when you leave the hospital or rehab.
He ended up in a corporate owned HELL. Within 2 days (of being left alone in his own excrement and badgered by his insane roommate) he was dissociating and sundowning. I was never so frightened and angry and appalled! I insisted he go to the ER when I found out from his roommate, not the home, that he had slipped out of bed (ie fallen) and been found on the floor TWICE in those 2 days.
Probably just trying to get up to go to the loo, and maybe even forgetting that he could no longer walk!
In the end, after waiting for him to heal and have the stent removed, and fighting to no avail for better care (ombudsman, letters, refusing to sign BS updates to status, calling state agencies, enlisting ER doc to try to get him moved....)
I left CA on a red eye, picked him up, had a REALLY bad time with American Airlines, but got him to CA, where he is now ensconced in what is possibly the Best "senior living community in the world, the Samarkand in Santa Barbara. !!! LUCK. They have room for 2 MediCal patients at a time in their skilled nursing, and one bed just happened to open up while we were all crammed into my sister's condo trying to figure out how to care for him, and where he could live, now that he was with us. NIGHTMARE with a happy ending. We were Extremely lucky. So. Yeah. Profits have No PLACE in our health care, except in a regulated way for devices and pharmaceuticals.
OK goodnight and VOTE BLUE but also
can we all try to figure out what kind of insane tricks the Billionaires are about to pull to make sure their Clown wins? Because he and they don't even seem to care about running anymore. It's Almost As If They Know They Have It In The Bag. (see Maddow, past day or two.)
I will only add, if you have a loved one in a home, never forget about them. I spent every day with my husband and went to my apt at night. Know what is happening. Never assume..
Jeri, I'd like to add to your add. If you have a person in the hospital, be there every single day, even if they are on hospice in the hospital for a short time and even if you can only be there for a short time. Seriously - not on the phone except to schedule a good time to be there. Every day. And yes, believe me, I know how hard this is, even when shared with my sisters.
Life essentials like education (all levels), healthcare, housing, utilities including internet access, libraries, long-term care facilities of all types including prisons, basic foods (there is probably more I have forgotten) should be non profit, somehow protected from market speculation (churning). I am afraid privatization has maybe gone too far in this country though. It seems our country has become an economic engine enabling wealth extraction on the backs of our citizenry. I think our market may help people all over the world extract wealth. Meanwhile we let U.S. citizens sleep on the street and think it is their fault for being homeless and not a symptom of our own economic system faults.
There shouldn't be a "richest man in the world". That should never become a category to be praised. There SHOULD be a "person who donated all their zillions, more than anyone else in the world, to help others and the environment". This aspect of his life I'll praise Andrew Carnegie for, if nothing else.
So sorry for your experiences, which I understand well. Luck should not determine whether a person receives kind, competent care. At the end of his life, my father was not lucky.
If Joe Biden were my loved one, I would want for him what he wanted for himself. My hunch is that in the Harris administration he's going to be a respected adviser on foreign affairs (and other matters as they arise).
Good points. But my husband’s last two years (total 15 years) with Alz needed more care than I could do alone. Fortunately, he had long-term insurance. Assistance was desperately needed and appreciated. Still, it is lacking in many respects. There are so many older gems among us, some comment here, but wise elders is not the norm these days. Consider chump’s cult. I too hope that Joe will have a position that is commensurate with his considerable skill and ability. No cow pasture for Joe. President Emeritus
Ageism was not the reason most Dems wanted Biden to step down. It was his performance, regardless of age, as a candidate in the last few months that had most of us concerned. He was going to lose and probably lose badly, and take a lot of good Dems down with him. He obviously recognized that, as well. He did the right thing for the country (and the world). Now he can focus, without the added burden of the tremendous stress of campaigning, on continuing to be a good President, with the help of the very capable and intelligent people he has surrounded himself with and that help him run his administration. Hopefully, he can help get rid of Netanyahu.
Well I belonged to those who appreciated him and am not ageist in that way. I agree with Prof. Timothy Snyder that Biden is a gifted negotiator and politician. Just not in the ways that many Americans, very superficially, appreciate.
Agree. For a president optics matter. They need to present as a political athlete able to hit softballs out of the park. As athletes age they often transition to coaches. I hope he remains on the team!
I agree with much of what you have said. I would want to wait until I see Kamala Harris' true position on the Palestinian/Israeli issue. Although, it is a marked difference from Biden's stance, it still, for me, does not cross the threshold of how this nation should view Israel in the future. As a committed Palestinian supporter, and as one who was born in Syria and know the Palestinian-Israeli issues well, I was not going to vote for President Biden and instead, turned my support in Cornel West's direction. Yes, I know Cornel West will not win; my conscience, however, will be intact. I may switch my vote to Kamala Harris if she well indicates what I want to hear. The tired old chant of "Israel has a right to protect itself" rings hollow in the face of over 76 years of brutal occupation; it rings hollow even after the Oct. 7th murder of 1200 Israelis as Israel has demonstrated time and time again in the collective punishment and murder of Palestinian innocents. The time has well passed that we cease financial and military support for a parasitic state that has long bottom fed from the US treasury, assassinated foreign dignitaries who have only tried to help solve the Palestinian-Israeli issues, attempted to sink one of our ships in international waters thereby murdering 74 US sailors and gravely wounding 171 more, many of whom eventually died of their injuries, and then lying to the people of this nation that they made a mistake and assumed it was a freighter that they were attacking. It's well past time that we change course in our relations with this codependent state that repeatedly insulted Biden and Obama on too many occasions. For the past 76 years, Israel has been shooting itself in the foot and we are the ones who have repeatedly given it "urgent care" to continue. This has got to stop! Cornel West finds all of this unacceptable and holds Israel feet to the fire, especially now, in the face of almost 40,000 Palestinians who have been murdered. We have much to thank President Biden for his leadership; however, that he is clearly a Zionist is a major roadblock for many of us of Arab descent. I voted for him in 2020 gladly because DJT was on the threshold of the White House again. At any time and any condition, better Biden/Harris, or now, Harris and someone else, than Trump/Vance. Frankly, in spite of our leadership's stance on Israel, it simply is not even a close call as to whom I would rather have in the WH. My conscience, however, is with Cornel West.
Riad, I understand your pain. DJT is still at the threshold of the White House and any vote for anyone but Kamala is a vote for him. We are about to lose democracy. How will your conscience rest with that?
Not just lose democracy here in our US, but what is painfully obvious is that the prior administration of the wannabe fascist dictator, trump, is what delivered Putin’s emboldened attempts to destroy Ukraine and Hamas’ and Netanyahu’s savagery. None of that would have ever happened had Clinton been seated in the Oval Office in 2016. And the thought of anyone throwing a precious vote away on a guy who has absolutely no chance of winning is ludicrous. That’s just begging for more of the same Putin/Hamas/Netanyahu 💩💩💩 to keep on happening. We will only have a better world when people can vote like an adult and not a spoiled brat.
With all due respect, Christy, Clinton is a Zionist of the first order. She proved her chops in allowing the Israelis to destroy much of Beirut in 2006 by delaying any comments to Arial Sharon concerning the slaughter that occurred at that time. She didn't used to be this way; I remember when she was more conciliatory to Palestinians while looking for common ground. After kissing Suha Arafat on the cheek, Zionists in the Senate and House skewered her for doing so. Under the cover and protection of Sheldon Silver, things automatically changed so that she would have a better shot of being a Senator of New York. Clinton would not have prevented Putin from anything he has done in Ukraine up to this time. Putin and HRC did not get along in spite of the "reset" she had advertised she wanted with Moscow. Ther truth is, HRC and Putin never got along as Putin had complained to Bill Clinton on a visit to Russia and seeing Putin. I well remember the articles that I read as Putin told Bill Clinton in so many words that his wife was disagreeable or something to that effect: I remember in one article I read, of several, that Clinton was quoted as "chuckling" after Putin had made that statement. I'm sorry Christy; however, your statement has little basis in fact. Now, all of this is nothing more than background information. Your opening sentence is essentially correct; I cannot dispute that. However, to state that none of that would have happened had Clinton been in the WH is a bridge too far to believe. As for my "precious vote": I agree that all votes are precious: yours, mine, and even those that go for Trump (although I must admit that I gag when I write this in spite of the statement's truth.) Just because I may well vote for Cornel West, doesn't mean my vote is wasted. (BTW, I did state in a previous post on this thread, that it would depend on what Kamala Harris would say concerning the Israelis further actions on the Palestinians. I may well still vote for her.) I don't believe *your* vote is wasted any more than mine. The Palestinian/Israeli issue is important, to me at least, for several reasons: we are in a throat grip by a regional power that has long guilted us and the rest of the world for the extermination of approximately 6 million people of the Jewish faith. That number is horrific but has nothing to do with the Palestinians. When Truman recognized Israel against the advice of Secretary of State Marshall, Defense Secretary James Forrestal, and the Iraqi ambassador at that time, Truman instead went with his old business partner who would sneak into the side door of the WH and see Truman to push for a meeting with Chaim Weizman (ya... see whether that stunt can happen today.) Since then, it's been all downhill, not only for Palestinians, but for all people of the Jewish faith. There are so many ins and outs of this that no one can put them all in one thread such as this. However, there are salient reasons why this is a critical issue. You speak of our democracy as on the threshold of being lost: I won't disagree with you on that. However, the Israelis have been violating one of our most cherished documents, The Declaration of Independence, which is foundational to our Constitution. You know, of course, that the D of I was a formal complaint to King George the III. In it, it had approximately 33 or 34 specific complaints of the Crown's abuse of the colonial population. The Palestinians are, today, and have in the past 76 years, been experiencing at least 23 of the very same complaints that the colonialists experienced. In other words, Israel doesn't give a whit about any of our values, and before anyone can say that Israel is the only democracy in the M.E., they should endeavor to understand that the Rabbinical Council in Israel has far reaching powers, not only among its citizenry, but also within the government. The "democracy" people speak of about Israel, in fact, does not exist. Israel is not a democracy, but a theocracy. Recognizing nations in good standing is a central tenet of US diplomacy and cooperation. I can't begin to tell you how many times this parasitic nation has stabbed us in the back. On the attack of the USS Liberty in international Mediterranean waters, President Johnson, along with Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, should have been impeached for abandoning the USS Liberty to the Israelis as they ordered a recall of 4 Phantom jets from the USS Saratoga anchored somewhere near Cyprus. You may want to read "Attack on the USS Liberty" by James Ennes. However, one cannot deny that one of the key similarities between the US and Israel, is that we are both settler nations. That seems to be in our DNA which is one of the things that pulls us down, and I suspect, psychologically, allows us to enable Israel to do whatever the hell it wants to do as they also are a settler nation. I'm 74 years old Christy. I've been around. Traveled to about 15 nations in my lifetime and many of them in the Middle East. We are now in a critical state not only for our democracy, but also in how a certain region of the world views us. To a large extent, we've committed a breach of our own values concerning the Arab populations. What Harris must do is to reach out to Arab nations under Israeli assault and set some matters straight at the expense of the Israeli state. I agree with you on this one point: we sure as hell cannot depend on Trump to do so. I'll wait and see what Harris has to say further than what she has already said. In closing, I do wish to say that any statement that dictates to one on *how to vote* or for whom one *should vote for* can only be regarded as arrogant. The statement is arrogant; I don't know you, never met you, so I don't believe I have the right to call *you* arrogant. However, the statement you made? Well...that's arrogant.
Riad, I respect your opinion and passion. All war is repulsive. Where we disagree is only that I don't believe in one-issue voting when it comes to running a country and leading the free world. I also believe, as today's events have shown us, that much good diplomacy happens behind the scenes while only a brief line is repeated for public consumption. "Israel has the right to defend itself" tells us little about what is being negotiated, just as "improperly detained" did not tell us that nations were working hard to bring people home. We have to remember that autocracy entrenches itself in many systems, and each has its own tentacles and rationales that must be peeled away.
KEM, I hear what you are saying. Wrapped in this Palestinian/Israeli issue are other important issues that can affect our economy, immigration status, security, and the beginnings of demonstrating "democracy" to a region that is terribly in need of it. Please don't conflate that with the neocons efforts under the W Bush administration. That's not what I'm talking about. I would hardly call this a one issue voting matter. Clearly, on the surface, it looks like one; I would argue it includes more than one issue.
Harris is nit going to say how she will deal with the Israeli Palestinian conflict except generally prior to the election. I think she will be strong with Israel. And Israel is now facing wider war that we don’t want and there is a huge problem about Gaza that we are at odds with Israel about. I look for stronger threats from us. You won’t have it from Trump.
Regardless of whether you are a one issue voter or not, you still have a binary choice on your one issue and as well on a constellation of your issues same as we all do.That should have weight. I abhorred those otherwise principled moral people who voted for Trump solely because of his promises about Israel. I know them. They have, but won’t admit or think it’s okay to have dual loyalty. This is not the issue with you i think.
But I don’t think you are really hearing what is being said.
I also wonder if you are wanting to punish.
Harris was not responsible for Biden’s policies or actions with re Israel either. Yet you blame Biden/Harris. Not right any more than Biden was responsible for what Obama did or did not do. (Obama would not have hugged Netanyahu and probably would not have visited but sent Biden). Kamala Harris is her own person.
You vote for whoever you want but your rationale seems like you are fooling yourself…and so I ask if this is vindictive because if it is then why don’t you realize that it hurts your main cause? I do not think, if we get Trump, your conscience will be soothed.
I read your comment w great interest. without nearly the background, i am pretty much in agreement w your cogent analysis. However, the real choice this Nov is between Democracy and Autocracy or theocracy. Only a vote for Harris can avoid that dramatic fall. We can’t always get everything we want. (I imagine you know that well from your history) In this case, we must settle for the best and safest choice. well said that Harris has learned from one of the best. I do believe that Biden will continue to be a close advisor/mentor to her. that’s a damn good team - vs (a quote from one of the earlier comments/responses to HRC’s letter today. “…The contrast between this old pro and the other stammering, angry, blaming, name calling , lying, corrupt, bag of wind could not be any clearer…”
And with all due respect, JD, a vote for Cornel West is exactly that; it is a vote for Cornel West and not Trump. This is part of the problem we have in this nation; we all think that we must believe in a binary choice. That has gotten us nowhere and in fact, may well have contributed to the fact that we are now stuck with a criminal imbecile such as Trump demonstrates to us. We don't need binary choices JD; we need multiple choices. How long must we wait? When will it be the right time to experience this? Both, the democrats and republicans have long worked hand in hand to lock out all other candidates in national debate. Sure, they tell us that with a fabricated percentage that will always be too high, they would allow someone on stage with the two parties. Does anyone really believe that is ever going to happen? With the exception of Ross Perot in 1992, it hasn't happened since. Of course, Ross Perot may well have scared the CPD off by getting approximately 19% of the national vote. That sure set off alarm bells, didn't it?
Did the political process revamp totally in the last couple of days. I think not. Lie to yourself all you want to. BTW Perot is why we ditched another Bush term. Thankfully. This time you are helping the devil. Way to go…
Riad, thank you for sharing your perspective; although I don’t wholly agree, I have long been disturbed by the unequal power dynamic and actions in that region. ☮️
Riad, you articulate what many people I know experience and I know others (half my age) who are proponents of Cornell West. True that we each have one vote in **the** election but we have influence all the time and your perspective seems grounded in the true complexities, tensions, and tragic destruction going on now. Thank you for writing.
Agreed that Trump will never help Palestinians. I understand the odds; however, Biden Harris, to this point have done enough damage by aiding Israel. As I've said to Christine B. in NC and to Christi: a vote for Cornel West is a vote for Cornel West. Please read my previous answers to the other good folks I addressed.
Thank you. At 90, feeling everything you list, I am grateful for any bit of understanding. I held out for Joe Biden until he left the race. Having heard his post-NATO press conference (dazzling), I was Not surprised at the timing we learned last night. May he continue to advise Kamala!
Ruth, you are so right! The ageism is outrageous and allows for financial exploitation and neglect of our older ones. My father needed a transitional care unit and even though my brother visited every day and I flew back and forth every three weeks, the nursing care was so extremely poor that he lost 30 pounds and his cognitive faculties with a few months. Nothing I did moved the staff to actually provide adequate care (and we couldn’t move him). I witnessed many violations of NH regulations at each visit - yet the state of Ohio gave them a deficiency-free review. At every level it was clear that my father would simply be a cash cow until he died. Worst seven months of his (and my) life until death ended the torture.
I am so sorry that your father and you had to endure that. It can be horrifying to see our parents left to suffer with much of the staff seeming inured to the extreme negligence, just trying to do their awful jobs. We were in a similar terrible facility, and I feel very very lucky to have been able to get my dad out and that he didn't jump out of the frying pan and into the fire. Most of the skilled nursing facilities we visited in the LA area looked and smelled frighteningly similar to the place. Right when we thought we were going to have to pay the 10k deposit (from my IRA) to move him in one of those, we got a call from one of other places we had toured. They had a bed. It's luck of the draw, and the house has the odds. Vote Blue and Raise Hell!
Marge, how very sad. I suspect what you experienced is not very uncommon. Once the monied folks get into medical facilities and practices and housing, etc. we all lose.
Agreed. Well said Ruth. I have and continue to support Biden but I think he needs to serve his Country and save democracy in a different role. Kinda of like Big Corporations. Eventually the CEO steps a side and serves the corporation as a board member or Executive Chairman. I’ve seen this many times in my career. It’s a natural succession plan which Biden understands. What a class act!!
Biden is an indispensable elder statesman, definitely not a lame duck, and I'm sure he will be advising Kamala Harris as well as the many friends he has made all over the globe.
Those care facilities are also staffed with the fewest number possible (I know, I visited one for 20 days and unless I absolutely have to, I will not go back. Took HOURS for help to come or when it did come, was totally incompetent.)
Ageism for certain, but also we have allowed our organic culture to be replaced by entertainment media. Carter was a much better president that he generally gets credit for, but he was not a skilled TV personality. Reagan was a crappy actor, but TV was his home court. Biden has been an innovative and effective president, and I don't know how his speeches are written, but he has delivered many words that carry depth. TV prefers the "zingers". TV and corporate Internet sites are top-down, not democratic structures, and we are unwise to let them dominate our narratives.
Meanwhile, a democratic society requires currents of conversation across all segments of society, the old and the young included. Though I was wary of Biden stepping down as nominee, in current circumstances, think it was the right move, That said, I think all the buzz questioning Biden's mental fitness to continue was trumped up charges.
I support Biden. I also support his difficult decision to step aside for a younger person and a better chance at defeating Trump. I am almost his age. I know I have lost a step or two, though I also know that I still have a lot to offer. One of those things is to support and mentor the younger people coming along so that we can take advantage of their new points of view and new energy. I'm enjoying that role, and so will he.
Many of us absolutely did support him and stood by him and like him received a great deal of snarky attacks for it. Ageism is a nasty beast and wait until the shoe is on the other foot when his critics age
I love and admire Joe Biden - but in my view he was clearly faltering - in speech and in thought. What an incredibly demanding job and he's done it brilliantly - but I think he was absolutely right to pass the torch. It was not just about his age but about the frailty he was demonstrating.
Elder abuse…yes. I can hear it now…”oh, you’re 80? Time to go!” Half of our leadership is at or approaching that venerable age…time to go, folks! Not every older person gets dementia and some people have early onset. Hmmm. Can you think of anyone currently?
Agreed on the ageism thing, but like it or not, endorsing Kamala was not just an exercise in humility, but a very astute decision, which is paying off in spades in bolstering the Dem's electoral chances. What a change "a decision makes" , eh?
Let's not count our chickens before they hatch, though. Just don't forget to Vote Blue, to make this Fairy Tale come true. Hang on, I've got another one up my sleeve...
"Permian Extinction" wow what a name! Since then Planet Earth has made another complete journey around the galaxy. As one of the favorite movie quotes says these days, "Yet, here we are."
Ooh, good one! I've been saying that regularly over the last 8 years. Would have been longer, except dementia donnie had not been on my radar, having no desire to subject myself to that idiot TV show that made that incoherent incompetent famous.
KEM, a fun fact: Jake Sullivan's wife Maggie Goodlander is a NH native who is running to succeed the retiring Annie Kuster in NHCD2 this fall (and I'm supporting her.) Their wedding was a Who's Who of Dem politicians, including the Clintons, showing that Jake and Maggie have very strong DC connections that may serve them well into the future.
"What a huge mistake we have made in not supporting him for a second term. And we did it for the worst possible and shallowest of reasons."
I was forced out of my job in my 50's so I totally get the damage done by ageism (and misogyny) however, I could not disagree more with those two sentences quoted above. Joe Biden has been a fabulous president - not my first choice, but once elected I have been 200% behind him - the right person for the right time. He would not have won a 2nd term because, while not diminished mentally, he did get "old" and struggling in the public forums, and the MSM unjustly massacred him. Biden did not get to where he is by being ignorant of politics and he, of all people, knows full well this election must be a win for the democrats.
The wisdom of aging well is to know when to pass the torch . . . . which he did brilliantly. For the remainder of his term he can do what he does masterfully (yesterday's news is a prime example!) and continue to support and mentor his successor which far from diminishing his record, enhances it to new levels!
Good people all around this country and the world are re-energized by the positive momentum of Kamala Harris and that is the best possible scenario for winning the 2024 election!
And he has mentored her with his greatest skills so she can continue into the future after this time of apprenticeship of sorts. This is his legacy. This is his gift to America. Yes, we KAM!
Initially I felt the same way but I see now that the youngsters didn’t feel their important issues were represented. I am very excited regarding the groundswell of enthusiasm for Kamala, as well as the change that took the wind out of thump’s campaign. Kamala was a good friend to Beau Biden. I am sure Joe & Jill will always be on her advisory team.
As a teacher of over 30 years, and the mother of a 19-year-old who always calls me for advice even if she does not take it, I would agree with the saying that, "Youth is wasted on the Youth." As my private school pushed older teachers out, other teachers left because they felt the school was losing its institutional memory. That is what Biden provides, and what the youth don't understand or appreciate. I could give examples but won't here. I think my daughter is brilliant, and capable for her age, but at the same time she is a transitioning adult. The frontal cortex does not finish developing until between 24-30 roughly. That is the critical thinking area. We need everyone engaged, but I hope the youth also listen to the wisdom of those who have been around. They don't even know that Reagan did the damage he did. They have no memory of life before Reagan. I talked regularly with my maternal grandmother until she was 98.5, then she started losing her lucidity. I learned so much about history from her even though she was not a great history story teller. Let's hope the old listen to the young, the young listen to the old, and the apathetic get motivated. We need everyone on board.
Your reminder about Beau gives me hope, but Kamala has said her policies will be the same. Youngsters not feeling their important issues were represented because they were said by an older white male American is, in fact, ageism.
No it wasn't a mistake. He is a fantastic president, and a wonderful human being. I think the job of doing the job and campaigning against an idiot were too much. The job has taken a lot out of him, and someone needed to campaign full time against the twit. He did the right thing, an amazing thing, and if he had not the equally stupid among us would have put that damn fool back in power.
The PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMATIC CORPS and President Biden’s relationships with our ALLIES and diplomacy itself are also major factors . This is important to note because autocrats or dictators or authoritarians are not team players and really don’t have the expertise and experience.
I love Joe Biden and think he is a great man. However, I firmly believe he did the right thing in stepping down - and by doing so a fresh wind is at our backs and we have a good chance of winning in November.
Unfortunately winning does not mean the most experienced governing. We will see on that. Biden is a hard act to follow on an international stage. I am glad Kamala has experience with that, the experience that others don't.
I love your comment about the "timeless values of allowing time and privacy." I do, however, even though I wanted Pres. Biden to run, disagree that it was a huge mistake that he is not running. Unfair as it is, his many accomplishments and skills were not recognized (thank you free press) enough to overcome the concern about his age. Most folks who don't follow politics as closely as Heather's readers have no idea what a fine president he is. I believe we need the added energy of enthusiasm for VP Harris to be completely sure that we can not only beat Trump, but win BLUE up and down ballots to strengthen the senate and take back the house "bigly." I believe our dear President Biden came to believe that as well.
Yes, he did come to that opinion--as he said in the address to the nation, he needed to lead "my party and my country." I guess there's a difference between the mistake I think we made of not supporting him and his decision, in the face of that, not to run. But now, yes, win Blue and win Bigly!
I too am angry with how President Biden was treated and pushed aside. But once again Joe Biden steps in and comes through. We may lose Mr Biden as a president but he keeps building on to his legacy,” when to let go and let others”. The gift that keeps on giving vs the thug who keeps on taking and sucking.
This demonstrates why Biden did NOT want to step down. He knew how capable he was and how much he to offer. When I hear that he sacrificed by giving up power, it makes me sick. He sacrificed his knowledge and skills, not power. He will now become a statesman, very active in affairs of State. We over 80 folks, some of us know how much we have to offer to the welfare of society, our loved ones......and, to our cats.
Wait til you see the "elder statesman" coronation at the Convention. It will be a showstopper and a spectacle, and he will continue to push for a Harris win.
Of course, I'm sure it's debatable but it felt to me that Nixon became a Statesman after a few years...like maybe 10. He really knew so much about foreign affairs. Too bad he had that character flaw....which when you look back is nothing compared to the orange clown's complete lack of character.
It's a huge tribute to Biden that after being basically humiliated by some in his party, he just kept moving ahead. Now, that is character.
I was lucky to be able to follow President Carter to Egypt when he met with Begin and Sadat to plan signing the peace agreement. That was done here at camp David in March 26, 1979.
President Carter never stopped working for America! Even after the Republicans helped end his term by using the take over of our embassy to make it look like his doing.
The republicans work for “themselves” clink clink$$$$$$$. President Carter built houses after his political retirement. Thump golfs!
He certainly did. He wrote "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" published in 2006....he was very active in the middle east peace process. It must be very discouraging for him to see where it is today.
And, horses!......I was just making fun of that jerk's opinion of women who don't produce humans. Frankly, I think it's going out of style. What is the benefit of bringing more polluters into this world? Aren't there enough, already??
MY REPLY: Watch the 2 hour PBS Frontline bio of Biden...it gives much perspective on his personality..."'Falling down' and then getting right back up".....He had many challenges starting with the stutter....several times running or almost running for the Presidency. Plus, his family tradition of being "a proud Biden"..
He had accomplished his long fought goal...he didn't want to give it up in spite of his dwindling abilities...a stubborn Irishman.
Biden was finalizing the negotiations while sick with Covid and one hour before announcing he was declining the presidential candidate nomination...got Putin to release his own Russian prisoners to leave the country...naming the many countries involved in acknowledgement and appreciation...singing "Happy Birthday" to the 13 year old daughter of a newly released hostage...mic drop "why didn't Trump do it..." Kamala Harris on the tarmac to share the emotional reunions (which she helped make happen)...and removing his American flag pin to put on the jacket of former Marine Paul Whelan...crying, not crying.
That was some damn good tv last night, eh? WOW! Breeeeeathe! POTUS trotting over the press scrum 🤸♀️ He and VP answering questions lucidly with smiles galore. And, yeah, that mic drop for the ages. 🤗
"Separately, Harris spoke to Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexey Navalny, on Thursday, according to a White House official. Russian political prisoners who had worked with Navalny were released as part of the swap"
Thank you Ned, this end bit speaks volumes for A Navalny's cause for the eventual freedom of Russians.
I think it is typical Biden. He always gets the job done, and that requires wisdom and patience, qualities many Americans don't seem to have. I have been excited by Biden's presidency all along, and this exemplifies why. I will be excited about Harris winning, and it is impossible not to get caught up in the fever for her, but I am also always knowing that Biden excels in statescraft and that is a loss for us. I believe he will be advising Harris and she will seek his advice because she is a wise woman too.
Biden’s competence and skill became boring for the “reality” addicted MSM. And, of course, Fox turned to entertaining cruelty for news decades ago. The process of governing is quiet, tedious and not great for sound bites or entertainment. Just get the job done in the background. How I long for those days and appreciate Joe being “old-school” in the best way. Reagan turned it into entertainment since he played the role like a pro, all the while, chipping away at the foundation of the government. And the path was set, except Dems had blinders on. Hopefully they are off now.
Not only have Democrats of all sorts been galvanized, I saw that Mormons for Harris were also doing a big call in. In the USA I have a lot of "Liberal" Mormon neighbors and I have a good sense of who they have been voting for. So, I am really pleased to hear about Mormons for Kamala having a fundraising call, because I know Mormons can get things done. A friend on a political listserve I am on, sent us this video of Republicans saying why they would vote for Harris, or would not vote for Trump. Here is a compilation of Republican Voters Against Trump videos. Reading the comments is inspiring too. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLPbECI-Q45WdmDcEglQaPrsKqqZibDZTi
Thank you. The Mormon family I knew up close were wonderful people, but they were always missionaries first. Indeed they get things done, but the "preaching" was constant. Worse than the evangelicals in my family
Jake Sullivan and Secretary Blinken are just two examples of the amazing team that Biden has assembled.
A few weeks ago Mika Brzezinski said, on the Friday before Biden stepped out of the race, "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone." This was her acknowledging the myriad accomplishments of the Biden administration.
Fortunately, Biden has surrounded himself with what is likely the most productive and accomplished cabinet in US history. It is customary for cabinet members to leave after one term so Kamala may need to select several replacements. We can only hope that she had a hand in selecting the amazing team surrounding President Biden.
Took the wind out of Trump, the proto-"Putinist." Putin installed his own oligarchs and took a cut. May be the richest man in the world. That's why Trump admires him so much. Wants the Russification of our country.
Look at the VP pick. Supports Putin in the Ukraine. Open and obvious.
Here in Baghdad By the Sea about 20% of the population wanted a caudillo just like Fulgencio Batista, who installed his "boys" in all positions of power, took a 20% cut from everything, and jailed his opponents. Ironically, same folks' enemies, the Cuban government is in bed with Putin. I'm hoping it blows up before the election.
Old and in the way you've got to reveal your true name! You are not ln the way , you are safely Iin the swim of politics. l love your comment except for the"who cares"! I'm so glad Kamala won't have to paint herself orange to look healthy!
Well said! The contrast between DJT and Biden was extraordinary.. I continue to be amazed by the numbers of his followers. And I"m very excited about Kamala! You don't get elected to the office of Attorney General by as you said, by blaming, naming, and lying..., Actually, that behavior, those traits are not going to get anyone elected to anything.. DJT has begun to sound like he's falling apart.
I'm wondering if the old fox timed it like this on purpose... I mean, stepping down in favour of Kamala has given an enormous positive upswing in energy for the Democrats, and a punch in the face for D.J. Rump, and now Joe deals him another one. All his bragging about making this prisoner deal with Putin ("he'd do it just for me") was just an air balloon, and Joe punched a needle in it. I swear, if Joe did this on purpose, he's a real master of timing...
I don't think Biden uses people as political pawns. If he was that sort of person....just waiting for the perfect political timing to bring them home, he'd have done it when the media was asking him to step down.
I think it took Kamala Harris's incipient presidency to make Putin come to heel. He could have done this swap years ago, Joe has been working on it from the beginning. It is always Putin who is the monster, and I think he fears Harris more than Biden. He thought he was going to get his toady drumpf, and is watching him slide into senility.
Hold on to that book. The Disney film Song of the South was pulled from the public due to racial stereotypes. I understand that but come on what great lessons.
Likely because she’s lazy af and expects her animals to train themselves. Then, when they don’t turn out as *she* wants, kaboom 💥. She is completely useless.
But DJT is still criticizing the deal and claiming he would’ve gotten it done without giving anything in return. Criticizing the American negotiators. I’m so tired of the almost 10 years of his negativity and dark view of America. Can we give him an additional moniker? How about ”Donnie Downer”?
In addition to insipid I like what his own lawyer called him repeatedly in the trial in NYC that convicted him of 34 felonies, she referred to him as “the orange turd”, I’ve used it ever since.
I think the time has come to FINALLY pay zero attention to anything tffg says. He is SO over. Him going racist on Kamala? FORGETABOUTIT! The key is she is going to beat tffg and get him OUT of our lives and OUT of our heads.
I'm still in doubt which was better: that quote from Dark Brandon, or this one from Heather: "And from the Department of Poor Timing, MAGA representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina tweeted ..." I laughed pretty hard at this :)
Love it. My sister, who had been Repub before chump, was telling me that Mace seemed to be a good repub. I enlightened her so I hope she got it. Her REPUB husband died so there is hope.
With death star and the party of death, all I see is death and dearth as well. I read an interesting essay in the NYT(?) about the future of food and it wasn't pretty, so there may be plenty of both death and dearth. Here in the Willamette Valley which used to be near heaven for gardening, all we have now is days in the 90s or at best high 80s coupled with humidity in the am when it is cooler. We have raging fires in eastern Oregon and one dope did a burn pile of his trash and started one of them. I guess that is not worse than the guy in CA who set his car on fire and rolled it into a ravine.
I wish we could get mainstream media that is as good as Heather Cox Richardson. Maybe Americans might remember that having a President who is good at foreign relations and diplomacy actually makes us safer. They might even be made aware that the aged President learned a thing or two in his years of public service. I am sure that Kamala Harris will make a great President too, but I felt sad at the way the press piled on a decent man while ignoring the huge criminal element in the room.
Angela, beyond huge donations, or rather because of huge donations, the press has been enamored with Donald Trump. They are smart enough to know he is a jerk with nothing to offer anyone, but they doubled down on supporting him from 2015 and show no signs of changing direction. I hope Kamala Harris and her enthusiastic joy and Biden's diplomatic successes will force the media to take off the Trump blinders and see the world as it is and put their energy and skill behind Harris for President as well as the Democrats running across the country in down ballot races, the people who actually care about this nation more than money, power and their own self-agrandisement.
The press cares more about the sound of the cash register every time they mention Trump, who is clickbait. As we all know, Trump is a dangerously ignorant twit and evil bully. The sad fact is that millions of American citizens and voters are the same.
Oh I think there are signs of changing direction. No one has covered a drumpf event until Kamala, and the idiot was so stupid as to go to the NABJ meeting and show his racism and stupidity. Many carried it live, including his staff yanking him off the stage.
That said, I've read numerous Reuters Trump fact checks in the process of reporting various stories. Not something particularly needed when reporting on Dems.
Yep. History and accuracy are boring. They want sound bites, drama and violence. On the other hand, one could say about the American citizens "man kann sich da an der eigenen Nase fassen", as they say in Germany, literally: "you can grab yourself by your own nose" - if the Americans wouldn't read and buy this pulp, there would be no money made off of it and the media would stop producing it...
I think that Heather has always been independent, just doing what interested her. She never had to report up, change to fit in or compete to move ahead.
Yes...the depth she gets into! But just this morning I was thinking I'm glad she's not as visible as somebody like Joy Reid on MSNBC ..the trolls on Joy's FB page are many, nasty, and scary!
Watch them "eat their words" without acknowledgement of the collective pile on they just perpetrated. I'm sure though Biden's stepping aside the way he did, with the huge send off he's gonna get at the Convention, will earn the Dems an extra dose of votes.
Why would it ever not be the case that citizens who form a corporation would bear any less responsibly to the general welfare than any other citizen? And if we the people have no such obligation, who the hell does?
especially after a corrupt court declares the corporate entity to be "a person" - who often happens to control whole sectors of the economy (thank's to repo dereg)
but from their point of view, that is benifcence (sp?), since it trickles down like a peeing putti in the public garden
Annie, how Nancy Mace got anyone to vote for her is beyond me even though I have been told she is attractive and that is all Republican women need these days, brain power is superfluous!
You are likely right. I remember the first time I saw her on TV. I did think she was very attractive and she seemed a reasonable person. I guess the Trump party is hoping to win the election on the “mean” platform.
She is one of those awful women who rely on looks and thinks being mean makes her a modern woman. She has no idea of the power of the feminine archetype. I would also note that this is way we enjoy British series, because not everyone is attractive in the hollow sense. They even have actors with various kinds of disabilities.
What a stunning achievement for Joe Biden! How generously he has named all of the countries that contributed to this astonishing diplomatic coup, reminding us of the essential nature of trust and friendship among allies. Although tempted, I won't call it a crowning achievement since Biden will be President for another five and a half months. Who knows what he will add to his legacy between now and then!
"At today’s White House announcement, a reporter noted that former president Trump 'has said repeatedly that he could have gotten the hostages out without giving anything in exchange,' and asked President Biden: 'What do you say to that?'
'Why didn’t he do it when he was president?' Biden answered."
The end of HCR's Letter is a corker. Joe may be old and not quite as quick as he used to be, but that comeback is worthy of someone much younger than him! T***p is a fool.
Even knowing he wasn't going to continue his candidacy, he pressed forward. This is a man of honor, compassion and determination. We are grateful for him!
Trump's response was despicable....not a single comment expressing gratitude for their release...not a single acknowledgement of the prisoners grueling experience....not a single acknowledgement of the families and the pain and suffering they have endured.
Don’t underestimate Putin. In fact, never underestimate him! He’s evil and just got his number assassin back. As long as that man breathes oxygen, he will create chaos. I believe Putin knew that Biden would not take any of his cruelty lightly because how else could Joe negotiate release of these Americans? The US froze his assets here and heavily sanctioned Russia. Their banks have very little money. Russians are suffering under his rule while he dashes off to his palatial residences. Navalny knew everything. That’s why he was killed. Biden tried to get him released before his demise. Putin has to face a tribunal or be killed. There’s no other way.
I don't think Putin is underestimated and I don't think anyone thinks he is less evil for releasing hostages....and know he unfairly took them....just for this. It worked....but we got our people back and many people freed. Furthermore....they have to know/think the German were able to get information from their Russian sharpshooter. I think this story is still unfolding.
I think you are right Marlene, if he lets go of power there are thousands of Russians who would kill him in an instant as payback for the loss of family members. It’s just a matter of time, they who live by the sword will die by the sword.
He wouldn’t do it but when Kamala wins she should ask President Biden to be Secretary of State. The man is incredible (and I do think he deserves to rest on his laurels 💙)
He DOES deserve to rest on his laurels... As a highly valuable Statesman, he will be available for advice but I think his main activity should be his Biden Library. 50 years of service. Enough, already.
Maybe we could join our native peoples and African tribes in teaching the world to value the wise elders. While realizing that some just grow old without the wise part. Know the difference, cult nuts…
He also seems to understnad better than the national media to whom you go to accomplish an end, and to whom you go to spread chaos. They don't even know they've been played and hung out to dry.
So well put. Trump and Putin are not friends. Trump has been a convenient tool in Putin's arsenal to destabilize the West. Putin most likely sees Trump's usefulness waning. Though the MAGA movement still works to divide America and weaken us.
Christopher, I would add Truman to that even though Truman had difficulties, he did work to change many things that seemed to have been entrenched like a segregated military.
Biden once again delivers for the United States, its citizens, and for our allies and their citizens. This exchange is extraordinary, and an extraordinary feat of diplomacy and cooperation by free nations.
He will go down in history as way up there near the lofty echelons of Abe—-and a monument in DC should start the planning process—Scranton Joe! Woohoo!
This was Biden at his best; negotiating with multiple parties who all have different interests. He presented the release well. He praised everyone involved. The contrast between this old pro and the other stammering, angry, blaming, name calling , lying, corrupt, bag of wind could not be any clearer. Who cares what color Kamala is, she has learned from Biden how to lead America and the world to freedom in the 21st Century. Let’s get this done!
And he let Sullivan participate fully in the press conference. Biden creates allies not only across the globe...
Maybe the greatest example Biden gives us is that in spite of the clamor of the press to "know, and know now," the timeless values of allowing time and privacy for consideration is still a valuable commodity in human relations. What a huge mistake we have made in not supporting him for a second term. And we did it for the worst possible and shallowest of reasons.
KEM, what happened to Joe Biden this campaign season is a product of the rampant ageism that is going on in this society. I think America has always been a society of the young, but along with that notion, it has meant that after a certain age, people are seen as irrelevant, unnecessary, uncapable, that is unless they have a bunch of money and can fake abilities he doesn't have, as Donald Trump has done. Joe Biden has so much experience in all areas of government he is a treasure, not someone ready for assisted living. And then assisted living has become warehousing for older people, often with useless activities, little challenge, and insufficient staff to make certain the residents receive appropriate care, and nursing homes are worse, mostly because most are owned by corporations whose only interest is the bottom line and how much profits they can accumulate for themselves and their shareholders through Medicare and Medicaid, and who cares about the residents actual needs! We have a lot to do to fix this. I hope Kamala Harris will keep Biden as a trusted assistant because he can help her get wound up in any areas she has not yet had a chance to work with Biden on. And, she has a lot to teach Biden about the situation in Gaza, and the criminal-legal system in America. Go Team!
I quite agree with you, Ruth. What makes it so ludicrous is that no one wants to die young; aging is what happens if we are lucky. But let's get beyond the sound bites and images to show how false, damaging, and superficial our thoughts about aging are: Only 2% of people over 70 live in assisted living. About 30% live alone. Only about another 6% live with family. Dementia is lower than one thinks--around 4% for folks aged 70 to 75, less in those who are physically active. So chances are that most people don't interact with seniors regularly. This makes us susceptible to all kinds of misperceptions, and worse, to ageism in our youth-worshipping culture. I think many folks would be surprised.
The backside of the hard-won right to retire at a reasonable age is that we have been convinced that old = non productive. Underlying ageism, of course, is the same malevolence of which Professor Richardson writes: equating human worth with economic productivity instead of experience, wisdom, perspective, and sheer persistence.
KEM At 90 I have considerable insight into ‘aging.’ For those of us who are still alive and not inflicted with dementia, life has considerable zest.
We may move more slowly than our children and grandchildren. We may experience short-term memory gaps [our brains are filled with more data and memories than the most sophisticated computers], while our long-term memory is surprisingly lucid.
I find this true with President Biden. Once again he utilized his boots on the ground experience that enabled him to orchestrate an extraordinarily complicated hostage exchange deal with Trump’s bromance buddy.
Kudos, Joe and soggy hamburgers to Bone Spur Donnie.
Keith Wheelock -- I'm "only" 89 but share your views!
And yes, Kudos to Joe and "soggy hamburgers to Bone Spur Donnie."
Or maybe tofu burgers for poor Donnie? He'll douse them with ketchup and throw them at the nearest wall.
No ketchup. Nope - make it a REAL punishment (for him - I imagine ketchup is a pain to get off a wall for the people who actually work). Imagine that disgusting wretch tantrum-throwing ketchup on the walls of OUR White House! No fried chicken, either.
Nothing wrong with a delicious, well-seasoned, properly prepared and expertly-cooked tofu burger. If you saw what happens to animals in a slaughter house, you would never enjoy eating meat again. It would haunt you - not just how these annimals are killed in fear and pain, but how these sentient beings are raised in restrictive conditions, never knowing kindness or normal existence. The meat industry is cruel, exploitive and heartless- just like Trump.
Here's to "considerable zest," Keith!!
Damn. Here you go again making this 82 year old want to live to 90! Kudos for sure to Biden's team. And his grace in recognizing them. No chest thumping.
Fred When you’re 90 I’ll only be 98. Perhaps we can play pickle ball.
At age 82 fast sliding into 83, I am playing pickleball
Humans live quite a bit beyond their peak reproductive years, and i think that may be in part because our intergenerational learning is so crucial to records and multimedia recordings, but I believe there are human attributes that can only be adequately communicated in person. And, i think that if we work at it, fruitful perspectives can be drawn from extended years of lived experience, so long as we don't get stuck in them. Rumor has it that old people are big on nostalgia. I'll cop to some of that, but find it gets old really fast. The is stuff to learn every day, and no end to challenges. Love of learning means never, ever running out of something to engage with.
I also have a sense that wisdom involves better than random educated guesses not only about what is real and true, but also what is worthwhile, and I think keen and considered extended experience can assist with both.
JL As my friend David McCullough used to say: ‘Nostalgia is history and history is the story of life.’
I remember, 60 years, when I, as a smart ass Foreign Service analyst, would go brief Under Secretary George Ball on the Congo hostage crisis. He would take my factual report and process it through his three dimensional brain of experience.
This was an education that served me well when I became the first person to rate the credit of sovereign countries (and refuse to rate others).
President Biden has a lifetime of experience. President Truman was extremely well read in history. Us old codgers often have a perspective that the young ‘ens, with no knowledge of history, miss.
As they would say in Wyoming about President Biden “This isn’t his first rodeo.”
P. S. This old codger sees Trump being defeated in a Harris Blitzkrieg that goes forward as he frantically backpedals.
Present day Trump reminds me of a whirley bird that flies in ever lessening concentric circles until it flies up its own ass hole.
Don-Old
Kim, thanks for the statistics. It helps to put things into perspective. I have always enjoyed being around older people because of their life experience and often their willingness to share their stories, a treasure trove of information with so many life lessons. This used to be a "youth culture" but these days, the young people are disparaged as though they have nothing to offer because they are whiners who don't care or whiners who protest things they don't understand, or whiners who don't want to do anything, and on and on. As a retired public school teacher, I did not find any of that to be true. Young people want to make a difference and need guidance to help them to do it. We need to encourage them to check in with the older people in their lives for some of the life wisdom that can help them. Then, they can share some of what they are learning through their exposure to the world and their ability to function with technology many older people did not have an opportunity to learn. It is a win-win. Now how do we get the folks together? Maybe it can be through working on Kamala's campaign where all are needed, old, young, and everyone in between.
There are programs in Canada that match up seniors living alone in their family home wth rooms to spare with university/college kids facing a housing shortage. It's working really well.... win win. Lots of good connections happening with seniors getting involved with social justice movements. Who'd a thunk it?
That’s a brilliant idea!!
Definitely a win-win situation for many situations!
This is a really cool program.
At 64 years old I am renting out my room to a young college student former military. Having him live with me has far exceeded my expections by far! My plan, as i continue this ageing process, is to stay as socially connected as possible as it positively affects one's mental and physical health.
There’s also a systems place that if one can’t contribute to society and is financially struggling they are encouraged to euthanize themselves. Whether they want to die or not.
Ruth, great comments (and the ones from others in this community before). Years ago, my daughter worked in a Community Center in Vermont and had classes for teenagers and seniors to help each other learn important skills, e.g. computer skills for seniors, cooking and other life experience skills for teenagers. It was so successful and popular that the then Governor came to visit. I am sure it happens elsewhere today, but it isn't reported.
Sally, what a great way to spend money. Our Department of Education should be looking into such programs. It would be healthy and fun for all involved, each one teach one. Now who can we get to follow up on something like this or to publicize the programs like it that are already functioning?
Yes. Working together toward a common goal is always the best way. My father (and his children and grandkids) also benefited from a project that centered around those stories that you love. It's called "The Best Day of My Life...So Far."
Thanks, Ruth. You have stated many excellent points.
I find younger people energizing.
It can't be us vs. them. We have to work together listening, sharing, accepting and moving forward.
efh, connecting older people with younger ones, say age 10 and up would be terrific! They all have so much to offer each other. That could be a really fine way to rebuild community that has been shaken by the current us vs. them division that Republicans have been pushing for decades.
Ruth- You make a great point about youth connecting with older people. I thought this was why Biden and Harris were such a good team. They also had the advantage of having diverse perspectives based on gender and race. It's about time that we value all of humanity. It's the only way we'll survive and strive-together!
We had an opportunity in my little New England town to put the young and old together and it was voted down.
Some of us in town pushed for a combination Senior and Youth Center when the town was replacing the decrepit senior center.
I pictured older people imparting wisdom and enjoying and helping young people and for young people to educate the seniors about technology and other things. We have so much to learn from each other.
It was suggested too we allow room for the Veterans. Seemed like such a great idea to me. The plan was voted down.
Marj, I can't help but wonder why the town stood against something that makes so much sense. Is it because they want to pretend they won't get old and don't want to be reminded of it, or that they are already old and don't want young people around (too noisy, too messy, too off the wall), or is it their minds have been so clouded by the divisions set up by Republicans that they can't imagine old and young people doing anything positive together? Hard to say. I am sorry your town decided not to make a positive move that could have helped the entire community. Alas, that is so often what happens.
I am 86. I live in an Independent Living community. Filled with active and intelligent seniors. Yes, many with walkers but that doesn’t stop them. And the majority seems to be Democrats!
I am so proud to have Joe Biden as my President!
One of the ways I deal with this KEM is to do volunteer work, which keeps me engaged as Manager of our County Democratic Office. It includes working with our Young Dems Club. We also work with our County High School Democrsts. We have a lot to offer to others of our own age and ages up and down the rest of our County Democrats! We have a lot of work to do as some Early Voting begins in Sept!
Amen to your last paragraph. What I've found in retirement (and age) is OPPORTUNITY. The OPPORTUNITY to engage more frequently (and enthusiastically) in election issues; the OPPORTUNITY to volunteer in my community and hopefully improve OPPORTUNITIES for others, and the OPPORTUNITY to still find time to enjoy what remains of life. It DOES NOT get better than this, I can assure you!
It's all about perspective!
Kem, that is very informative. My guess is that, in the next six months, Joe Biden will make it very clear that he is still fully capable of continuing to do the job he has done so well.
Bravo, and thank you for the stats. “We learn from experience” has been exchanged for “retire and die as you are no longer paying your way.”
Absolutely. I have been raising my fist shouting ‘ageism!’ Its nothing but that.
Ageism and ableism. People using a life-long struggle with stuttering as evidence of dementia.... it's like thinking people who walk differently a have a low mental capacity. My wife walks differently and all the way through school, administration kept trying to put her in the non-college track classes. She has a Masters in anthropology with an honours undergrad degree in history. Employers keep wanting her to self-identify as "disabled" so they can check a diversity box to make them look good. Ableism.
NLTownie, people tend to think that all the problems related to disability ended with the Americans with Disabilities Act 34 yearas ago; it didn't. "Able-bodied" people seem to have a need to keep proving they are better than others, particularly if they have a difference the person does not understand or is afraid of. We must keep calling it out when we see it even if it embarrasses the able-bodied person. Maybe they will have a little more compassion if they can come to realize people can overcome challenges and that if something happened to them, they could too. Or, maybe not, but it's worth a try.
Lucky Kamala! She has had a 3 1/5 year master class in diplomacy from the master! And because of that, lucky us!
Knowing when to exit the stage is difficult at times, but this we know: Biden's leaving the race has released a tsunami of enthusiasm among Democrats and has put us on the offensive, instead of the defensive. And, as VP Harris recently noted, "Taking the offense is what wins elections." Regarding the exchange of prisoners, it is a moment for tearful rejoicing.
Nursing homes are waiting rooms for death and money grabs for equity firms. These facilities care more about staff than residents. Much easier to replace a resident than an LNA.
If Joe Biden was my loved one, i would want him home. He has worked hard enough dedicating himself to this country.
Ellen, I am not so sure nursing homes care much about the staff either. They over work those folks terribly and do not pay well, except maybe for the ones in rich neighborhoods. I don't think Biden needs any kind of assisted living. He seems just fine to me and proved it today. OK, there are a lot of folks in nursing homes and assisted living who are just fine too, but have no funds to maintain their own homes and need a little help with some daily activities. They should be treated with the respect they deserve and should not be drugged into insensibility as my grandmother and aunt were in a nursing home.
The First Nations know how to treat their Elders, and that is with RESPECT! Elders are a very important component of Native culture. They are revered and cared for because of their Life Lessons. The people are lifted by the knowledge that the Elders can pass on. We would do well to consider this situation thoroughly.
"Every time an elder dies a library burns to the ground." African proverb.
Many cultures including most Native American tribes respect their elders.
Millions of Americans are cared for by a spouse or other family members in the US, but respecting them isn't always part of the deal.
In many cultures the grandparents raise the children and impart their wisdom to them.
It's interesting how Project 2025 defines a family as a mother, a father and biological children, and don't mention the village that actually spends more time and effort to raise their kids.
Craig, that would be a really positive program to start in general, focusing on older people and what we have to offer. My nephew had a 4th grade assignment to interview the oldest member of his family. He chose my maternal grandmother. Through his interview, I learned all sorts of things about her life that I never knew. She was a remarkable woman, raising 5 kids during the Great Depression while managing an abusive husband. She was one of the people who did not tell me I would change my mind when I told her I would not have children by choice and that marriage was not something I was interested in either. She told me I had to make the decision, not society or anyone else in particular. That kind of wisdom would be valuable to anyone. I am so glad First Nations people did not let that practice die out. Maybe passing that knowledge of the value of older people to the broader society would be a positive life changer.
Craig - Capitalism would disagree. It needs cogs; wisdom is a threat.
Actually, My Mom lived in a retirement home that had the gamut from full independent living to assisted living to nursing to hospice. My Mom lived in each of those as time went on. It was a wonderful place -- because it was a nonprofit organization -- so the mission of the org was to provide good housing, food, and services to the residents who were uniformly treated with dignity and respect. It is the for-profit homes that put $$ above all else.
Laurie, we were fortunate to find a facility like that for our mother when my sister could no longer safely care for her at home. It, too was a non-profit, religious supported facility where everyone was welcome. The staff was lovely, caring and very skilled. We will always be grateful for who they were for our mother.
My mother-in-law was in such a place. Any caregivers that disrespected the clients or otherwise failed to provide the best care for them was let go. I asked one of the caregivers where they found such dedicated staff and she told me were many like her, who had her parents taken care of there, and was the place so many other caretakers recommended as a place where your work mattered and made a such difference to both staff and clients.
Joe in assisted living?! Oh I think not! My parents chose to move from their home to a senior living facility. Their reasons were yard work when all the grandkids left for college, regular house expenses, taxes and they were just ready to not be homeowners any longer. That was 10 years ago. Dad passed away in 2019, mom is 93 and still in her apartment healthy as a horse. Her eyesight isn’t what it once was, may take her a minute or two to remember a friend of ours from the past, but no way is ready to go to assisted living.
My sisters and I are close by and have always seen her twice a week. Plus take her out for lunches and pleasure rides.
But… you’re right about staffing issues. I’ve watched it go downhill because of corporate greed. All the existing staff is wonderful and caring toward the residents but are being worked very hard. They’re down to barely a skeleton crew. Again I will cite corporate greed.
My sisters and I speak at monthly meetings and let them know this is not acceptable as many residents have no one to speak up for them. Maintenance needs upgrades, more cleaning and kitchen staff (although the place is spotless) they have lost some very dedicated care givers recently because of overwork and poor pay/benefits.
Activities have been less than exciting, how many puzzles can you build or play Bingo? They provide transportation to Dr appointments and have dinner out once a month.
Mom does very well and happy for the most part.
But, when looking for assisted living for a friend with no family, I was very ambivalent about putting him in several I toured. He’s in one now, but we’re working on getting him out of because it’s s horribly understaffed.
Our Seniors are full of life and want to stay engaged in today! Not 50 years ago when they were young(er). More than a few are 100 years old and healthy! Several are still in the senior apartments NOT assisted living. It’s corporate greed.
What nursing homes? They are a failed business model and have been for decades. This is why almost there are millions of caregivers.
Who, in their right mind, would open a nursing home for profit? Can we really fault anyone for closing a nursing home because they see no way to avoid bankruptcy?
You see the richest people in the US paying an average of 8.5% in Federal income taxes thanks to the tax breaks Congress has bestowed on them over the years. And yes, it is both parties on this one.
If they resurrected the AMT and forced a minimum rate of 20% on income over $400,000 not only would we balance the budget there would be money available to take care of the indigent.
And, of course have an AMT for corporations with income over $10 million.
For-profit has ruined many a reasonable nursing home. They are bought up, costs cut ( people laid off, or their pay cut ) and spiral toward the worst kind of place. Kind hearted and good staff try to salvage these places but are demoralized and eventually are likely to leave. People with poor training and less respect take their places. Someone makes money, takes the money, and runs to buy up another thriving place and the spiral goes on.
EGDx2
To some extent, I agree with the comments about nursing homes and assisted living facilities being money grabs for their corporate owners. There is so much Medicare fraud and also neglect.
On the other hand, in 2020, my wife was diagnosed with a debilitating neurological illness and her condition deteriorated rapidly. I was fortunate to find a wonderful, assisted living facility where the staff were kind, caring, diligent, hardworking, and of course, poorly paid. Most were from Haiti but there were some from Uganda, Kenya, India, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad.
What was totally amazing is how hard these healthcare workers worked and how compassionate and kind they were as they went from assisting one resident to another. When they fed my wife, there was a touch of caring and dare I say, love about it.
The facility worked at maximizing revenue. It was expensive, but worth it.
After my wife passed, I went back and gave each of the staff some money, a small token of appreciation which I had also shown at holidays over the 2-1/2 years of this ordeal. Some of them cried and said: "you came back for us? Thank you." I think the sad thing is that they are not appreciated for their dedication, kindness and for doing a really, really tough job.
So, these facilities are not all bad and let's keep that in mind. Perhaps I was just lucky because I've heard and read horror stories as have all of you.
Anil, I think you were lucky. Which is not the way things should be: luck shouldn’t determine quality of care. But I noted that you said many of the caring staff were from African countries. A friend of mine died of Alzheimer’s in December. The staff in her memory care unit were all African immigrants and I was overwhelmed with their caring. They used every resident’s name when they spoke and touched their arm or patted their shoulder. They were aware of each person’s favorite seat, treats, etc. They were the “village” that helped their patients stay clean, comfortable and cared for. The complete opposite of the nursing home that neglected my father nearly to death. My take? Both facilities were non-profit. The exemplary one is located in Minnesota where the State Health Department has always taken regulatory oversight seriously. The negligent facility is in Ohio and was given a “deficiency-free” certification even though I saw violation after violation at every visit. The extraordinary facility also hired staff from countries where the elderly are revered - and that led to remarkable services.
Marge Wherley
Absolutely, I was very lucky. So was my wife. She really got great care.
You are right that luck shouldn't determine quality of care. But it's more than luck. This was an expensive for-profit company. There are many extremely wealthy people who have made their money off assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
This was a well-resourced and wonderfully run facility.
But the average American without resources is relegated to second rate nursing homes and facilities where the staff are overworked, underpaid, and the level of care is shocking. The goal of many of these places is to maximize profits.
Experience shows that even non-profit facilities have severe problems, but they are generally better than the facilities where everything including caring is squeezed.
The staff, as I have described, were mostly Haitians, but from many countries.
We need to show more appreciation for the essential services that so many immigrants provide in this country as they try to make a better life for themselves and their children.
I was so shocked by one vocal old guy that sounded racist to the bone with endless rants about people of color (not the words he used), but loved the way the staff at his assisted living facility took such good care of him. When I went by the facility, I was amazed to see the staff were almost all dark skinned seeming African immigrants. At least he was color blind about them.
We lose a lot that may be impossible to replace when we let others force them out.
During my 17 month "Travels with Charley" adventure in my "Rocinante" Big Rig (going to see the country I spent 32 years defending in the Air Force and Aerospace Industry, once the Cold War was ended), I was pleasantly surprised when my tractor trailer trainer invited me to stay with him and his wife (who was a healthcare worker) in the Miami Haitian neighborhood they lived in, for what was supposed to be an overnight stay. The tractor trailer and it's load of computers was stolen that night from a warehouse parking area so we ended up staying for several days more. I was impressed by the sense of community and especially the food culture I had no idea existed. My mother-in-law would have been impressed to (as she had been wherever they were stationed and she could learn from the locals). Hawaii was heaven to her because of the service wives from all over the world that had frequent gatherings where they could share their foods.
She pointed out the military Commissaries there had some of the greatest variety of ethnic foods in one store, too.
agree completely.
I'm sorry for your loss. You sound like a great partner but I'm guessing your wife was as well. Hope you are healing.
Christine B in NC
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, my wife was a terrific partner. We were married for just a bit short of 50 years when she left us. She was a brilliant, brilliant lawyer and prepared the cases that I tried. She didn't want to try the cases, and I didn't like the drudgery of preparation. So, we were a perfect fit. She would sit in court at the counsel table while I did my ham and egg stuff. LOL!
Once, I was cross-examining an opposing expert witness and had caught him in a lie. I fumbled around looking for a document to nail him and a minute or more went by -- no luck. Those moments get embarrassing. I said loudly enough for all to hear: "Where is ___?" She reached into a folder, pulled out the document and smugly handed it to me. I said: "Thank you. But just don't understand her filing system." The jury loved it and laughed. I knew she had subtly won them over.
Healing is a process. You learn to live with things as they are. But "as they are" is not "the same as they were."
Thanks again.
Since moving to Maine over 20 years ago, several wonderful well run caring facilities have closed. My daughter's violin teacher would take several of his students to the nursing homes to play Christmas Carols. I always drove. Every time was an uplifting experience. And then, one by one they closed.
Actually, they care even less about staff. For Profit Corporations make money. That is the point of their existence. If they are a public corporation, they have a fiduciary duty to create as much return on their stockholders' money as possible. Therefore, they should never be allowed to provide health care, where the Primary goal is to Care for the Health of patients.
My dad Thought he would be ok because he was a veteran. Seriously, NO. Don't count on it unless you have combat disability. Then he went from the hospital to a decent place (because the care giver we hired to visit him once a week during the pandemic worked there and helped) BUT oh no, Medicare Advantage through CIGNA (which had somehow reached him and sold him a policy even though he was covered under Medicaid as well as MediCare)
decided that this 86 year old who had Just lost the ability to walk or feel his left foot, and who still had a DVT and a Stent from the PE, was OK to leave rehab after 12 days. ?!!!!
We were NOT prepared. But even if we had been, the only places within reach of his caregiver were out of beds. It's a lottery. You end up where the bed is, because you have NO CHoice about when you leave the hospital or rehab.
He ended up in a corporate owned HELL. Within 2 days (of being left alone in his own excrement and badgered by his insane roommate) he was dissociating and sundowning. I was never so frightened and angry and appalled! I insisted he go to the ER when I found out from his roommate, not the home, that he had slipped out of bed (ie fallen) and been found on the floor TWICE in those 2 days.
Probably just trying to get up to go to the loo, and maybe even forgetting that he could no longer walk!
In the end, after waiting for him to heal and have the stent removed, and fighting to no avail for better care (ombudsman, letters, refusing to sign BS updates to status, calling state agencies, enlisting ER doc to try to get him moved....)
I left CA on a red eye, picked him up, had a REALLY bad time with American Airlines, but got him to CA, where he is now ensconced in what is possibly the Best "senior living community in the world, the Samarkand in Santa Barbara. !!! LUCK. They have room for 2 MediCal patients at a time in their skilled nursing, and one bed just happened to open up while we were all crammed into my sister's condo trying to figure out how to care for him, and where he could live, now that he was with us. NIGHTMARE with a happy ending. We were Extremely lucky. So. Yeah. Profits have No PLACE in our health care, except in a regulated way for devices and pharmaceuticals.
OK goodnight and VOTE BLUE but also
can we all try to figure out what kind of insane tricks the Billionaires are about to pull to make sure their Clown wins? Because he and they don't even seem to care about running anymore. It's Almost As If They Know They Have It In The Bag. (see Maddow, past day or two.)
I will only add, if you have a loved one in a home, never forget about them. I spent every day with my husband and went to my apt at night. Know what is happening. Never assume..
Jeri, I'd like to add to your add. If you have a person in the hospital, be there every single day, even if they are on hospice in the hospital for a short time and even if you can only be there for a short time. Seriously - not on the phone except to schedule a good time to be there. Every day. And yes, believe me, I know how hard this is, even when shared with my sisters.
Life essentials like education (all levels), healthcare, housing, utilities including internet access, libraries, long-term care facilities of all types including prisons, basic foods (there is probably more I have forgotten) should be non profit, somehow protected from market speculation (churning). I am afraid privatization has maybe gone too far in this country though. It seems our country has become an economic engine enabling wealth extraction on the backs of our citizenry. I think our market may help people all over the world extract wealth. Meanwhile we let U.S. citizens sleep on the street and think it is their fault for being homeless and not a symptom of our own economic system faults.
Mary Ellen. Well said. Exactly the problem!
There shouldn't be a "richest man in the world". That should never become a category to be praised. There SHOULD be a "person who donated all their zillions, more than anyone else in the world, to help others and the environment". This aspect of his life I'll praise Andrew Carnegie for, if nothing else.
Saying it for ages! Keep on saying it, you all !
So sorry for your experiences, which I understand well. Luck should not determine whether a person receives kind, competent care. At the end of his life, my father was not lucky.
If Joe Biden were my loved one, I would want for him what he wanted for himself. My hunch is that in the Harris administration he's going to be a respected adviser on foreign affairs (and other matters as they arise).
A respected elder. What a concept!
I've heard it suggested elsewhere -- and think of everything Jimmy Carter has done since he left the White House!
Amen. The world would be a better place with many more such human treasures,
If Joe Biden were my loved one, I would want him to do whatever he still wanted to do and was still capable of doing.
Good points. But my husband’s last two years (total 15 years) with Alz needed more care than I could do alone. Fortunately, he had long-term insurance. Assistance was desperately needed and appreciated. Still, it is lacking in many respects. There are so many older gems among us, some comment here, but wise elders is not the norm these days. Consider chump’s cult. I too hope that Joe will have a position that is commensurate with his considerable skill and ability. No cow pasture for Joe. President Emeritus
Ageism was not the reason most Dems wanted Biden to step down. It was his performance, regardless of age, as a candidate in the last few months that had most of us concerned. He was going to lose and probably lose badly, and take a lot of good Dems down with him. He obviously recognized that, as well. He did the right thing for the country (and the world). Now he can focus, without the added burden of the tremendous stress of campaigning, on continuing to be a good President, with the help of the very capable and intelligent people he has surrounded himself with and that help him run his administration. Hopefully, he can help get rid of Netanyahu.
Well I belonged to those who appreciated him and am not ageist in that way. I agree with Prof. Timothy Snyder that Biden is a gifted negotiator and politician. Just not in the ways that many Americans, very superficially, appreciate.
Agree. For a president optics matter. They need to present as a political athlete able to hit softballs out of the park. As athletes age they often transition to coaches. I hope he remains on the team!
I agree with much of what you have said. I would want to wait until I see Kamala Harris' true position on the Palestinian/Israeli issue. Although, it is a marked difference from Biden's stance, it still, for me, does not cross the threshold of how this nation should view Israel in the future. As a committed Palestinian supporter, and as one who was born in Syria and know the Palestinian-Israeli issues well, I was not going to vote for President Biden and instead, turned my support in Cornel West's direction. Yes, I know Cornel West will not win; my conscience, however, will be intact. I may switch my vote to Kamala Harris if she well indicates what I want to hear. The tired old chant of "Israel has a right to protect itself" rings hollow in the face of over 76 years of brutal occupation; it rings hollow even after the Oct. 7th murder of 1200 Israelis as Israel has demonstrated time and time again in the collective punishment and murder of Palestinian innocents. The time has well passed that we cease financial and military support for a parasitic state that has long bottom fed from the US treasury, assassinated foreign dignitaries who have only tried to help solve the Palestinian-Israeli issues, attempted to sink one of our ships in international waters thereby murdering 74 US sailors and gravely wounding 171 more, many of whom eventually died of their injuries, and then lying to the people of this nation that they made a mistake and assumed it was a freighter that they were attacking. It's well past time that we change course in our relations with this codependent state that repeatedly insulted Biden and Obama on too many occasions. For the past 76 years, Israel has been shooting itself in the foot and we are the ones who have repeatedly given it "urgent care" to continue. This has got to stop! Cornel West finds all of this unacceptable and holds Israel feet to the fire, especially now, in the face of almost 40,000 Palestinians who have been murdered. We have much to thank President Biden for his leadership; however, that he is clearly a Zionist is a major roadblock for many of us of Arab descent. I voted for him in 2020 gladly because DJT was on the threshold of the White House again. At any time and any condition, better Biden/Harris, or now, Harris and someone else, than Trump/Vance. Frankly, in spite of our leadership's stance on Israel, it simply is not even a close call as to whom I would rather have in the WH. My conscience, however, is with Cornel West.
Riad, I understand your pain. DJT is still at the threshold of the White House and any vote for anyone but Kamala is a vote for him. We are about to lose democracy. How will your conscience rest with that?
Not just lose democracy here in our US, but what is painfully obvious is that the prior administration of the wannabe fascist dictator, trump, is what delivered Putin’s emboldened attempts to destroy Ukraine and Hamas’ and Netanyahu’s savagery. None of that would have ever happened had Clinton been seated in the Oval Office in 2016. And the thought of anyone throwing a precious vote away on a guy who has absolutely no chance of winning is ludicrous. That’s just begging for more of the same Putin/Hamas/Netanyahu 💩💩💩 to keep on happening. We will only have a better world when people can vote like an adult and not a spoiled brat.
With all due respect, Christy, Clinton is a Zionist of the first order. She proved her chops in allowing the Israelis to destroy much of Beirut in 2006 by delaying any comments to Arial Sharon concerning the slaughter that occurred at that time. She didn't used to be this way; I remember when she was more conciliatory to Palestinians while looking for common ground. After kissing Suha Arafat on the cheek, Zionists in the Senate and House skewered her for doing so. Under the cover and protection of Sheldon Silver, things automatically changed so that she would have a better shot of being a Senator of New York. Clinton would not have prevented Putin from anything he has done in Ukraine up to this time. Putin and HRC did not get along in spite of the "reset" she had advertised she wanted with Moscow. Ther truth is, HRC and Putin never got along as Putin had complained to Bill Clinton on a visit to Russia and seeing Putin. I well remember the articles that I read as Putin told Bill Clinton in so many words that his wife was disagreeable or something to that effect: I remember in one article I read, of several, that Clinton was quoted as "chuckling" after Putin had made that statement. I'm sorry Christy; however, your statement has little basis in fact. Now, all of this is nothing more than background information. Your opening sentence is essentially correct; I cannot dispute that. However, to state that none of that would have happened had Clinton been in the WH is a bridge too far to believe. As for my "precious vote": I agree that all votes are precious: yours, mine, and even those that go for Trump (although I must admit that I gag when I write this in spite of the statement's truth.) Just because I may well vote for Cornel West, doesn't mean my vote is wasted. (BTW, I did state in a previous post on this thread, that it would depend on what Kamala Harris would say concerning the Israelis further actions on the Palestinians. I may well still vote for her.) I don't believe *your* vote is wasted any more than mine. The Palestinian/Israeli issue is important, to me at least, for several reasons: we are in a throat grip by a regional power that has long guilted us and the rest of the world for the extermination of approximately 6 million people of the Jewish faith. That number is horrific but has nothing to do with the Palestinians. When Truman recognized Israel against the advice of Secretary of State Marshall, Defense Secretary James Forrestal, and the Iraqi ambassador at that time, Truman instead went with his old business partner who would sneak into the side door of the WH and see Truman to push for a meeting with Chaim Weizman (ya... see whether that stunt can happen today.) Since then, it's been all downhill, not only for Palestinians, but for all people of the Jewish faith. There are so many ins and outs of this that no one can put them all in one thread such as this. However, there are salient reasons why this is a critical issue. You speak of our democracy as on the threshold of being lost: I won't disagree with you on that. However, the Israelis have been violating one of our most cherished documents, The Declaration of Independence, which is foundational to our Constitution. You know, of course, that the D of I was a formal complaint to King George the III. In it, it had approximately 33 or 34 specific complaints of the Crown's abuse of the colonial population. The Palestinians are, today, and have in the past 76 years, been experiencing at least 23 of the very same complaints that the colonialists experienced. In other words, Israel doesn't give a whit about any of our values, and before anyone can say that Israel is the only democracy in the M.E., they should endeavor to understand that the Rabbinical Council in Israel has far reaching powers, not only among its citizenry, but also within the government. The "democracy" people speak of about Israel, in fact, does not exist. Israel is not a democracy, but a theocracy. Recognizing nations in good standing is a central tenet of US diplomacy and cooperation. I can't begin to tell you how many times this parasitic nation has stabbed us in the back. On the attack of the USS Liberty in international Mediterranean waters, President Johnson, along with Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, should have been impeached for abandoning the USS Liberty to the Israelis as they ordered a recall of 4 Phantom jets from the USS Saratoga anchored somewhere near Cyprus. You may want to read "Attack on the USS Liberty" by James Ennes. However, one cannot deny that one of the key similarities between the US and Israel, is that we are both settler nations. That seems to be in our DNA which is one of the things that pulls us down, and I suspect, psychologically, allows us to enable Israel to do whatever the hell it wants to do as they also are a settler nation. I'm 74 years old Christy. I've been around. Traveled to about 15 nations in my lifetime and many of them in the Middle East. We are now in a critical state not only for our democracy, but also in how a certain region of the world views us. To a large extent, we've committed a breach of our own values concerning the Arab populations. What Harris must do is to reach out to Arab nations under Israeli assault and set some matters straight at the expense of the Israeli state. I agree with you on this one point: we sure as hell cannot depend on Trump to do so. I'll wait and see what Harris has to say further than what she has already said. In closing, I do wish to say that any statement that dictates to one on *how to vote* or for whom one *should vote for* can only be regarded as arrogant. The statement is arrogant; I don't know you, never met you, so I don't believe I have the right to call *you* arrogant. However, the statement you made? Well...that's arrogant.
Riad, I respect your opinion and passion. All war is repulsive. Where we disagree is only that I don't believe in one-issue voting when it comes to running a country and leading the free world. I also believe, as today's events have shown us, that much good diplomacy happens behind the scenes while only a brief line is repeated for public consumption. "Israel has the right to defend itself" tells us little about what is being negotiated, just as "improperly detained" did not tell us that nations were working hard to bring people home. We have to remember that autocracy entrenches itself in many systems, and each has its own tentacles and rationales that must be peeled away.
KEM, I hear what you are saying. Wrapped in this Palestinian/Israeli issue are other important issues that can affect our economy, immigration status, security, and the beginnings of demonstrating "democracy" to a region that is terribly in need of it. Please don't conflate that with the neocons efforts under the W Bush administration. That's not what I'm talking about. I would hardly call this a one issue voting matter. Clearly, on the surface, it looks like one; I would argue it includes more than one issue.
Harris is nit going to say how she will deal with the Israeli Palestinian conflict except generally prior to the election. I think she will be strong with Israel. And Israel is now facing wider war that we don’t want and there is a huge problem about Gaza that we are at odds with Israel about. I look for stronger threats from us. You won’t have it from Trump.
Regardless of whether you are a one issue voter or not, you still have a binary choice on your one issue and as well on a constellation of your issues same as we all do.That should have weight. I abhorred those otherwise principled moral people who voted for Trump solely because of his promises about Israel. I know them. They have, but won’t admit or think it’s okay to have dual loyalty. This is not the issue with you i think.
But I don’t think you are really hearing what is being said.
I also wonder if you are wanting to punish.
Harris was not responsible for Biden’s policies or actions with re Israel either. Yet you blame Biden/Harris. Not right any more than Biden was responsible for what Obama did or did not do. (Obama would not have hugged Netanyahu and probably would not have visited but sent Biden). Kamala Harris is her own person.
You vote for whoever you want but your rationale seems like you are fooling yourself…and so I ask if this is vindictive because if it is then why don’t you realize that it hurts your main cause? I do not think, if we get Trump, your conscience will be soothed.
I read your comment w great interest. without nearly the background, i am pretty much in agreement w your cogent analysis. However, the real choice this Nov is between Democracy and Autocracy or theocracy. Only a vote for Harris can avoid that dramatic fall. We can’t always get everything we want. (I imagine you know that well from your history) In this case, we must settle for the best and safest choice. well said that Harris has learned from one of the best. I do believe that Biden will continue to be a close advisor/mentor to her. that’s a damn good team - vs (a quote from one of the earlier comments/responses to HRC’s letter today. “…The contrast between this old pro and the other stammering, angry, blaming, name calling , lying, corrupt, bag of wind could not be any clearer…”
Really, a vote for chump should shame your conscience. And that’s exactly what it would be.
And with all due respect, JD, a vote for Cornel West is exactly that; it is a vote for Cornel West and not Trump. This is part of the problem we have in this nation; we all think that we must believe in a binary choice. That has gotten us nowhere and in fact, may well have contributed to the fact that we are now stuck with a criminal imbecile such as Trump demonstrates to us. We don't need binary choices JD; we need multiple choices. How long must we wait? When will it be the right time to experience this? Both, the democrats and republicans have long worked hand in hand to lock out all other candidates in national debate. Sure, they tell us that with a fabricated percentage that will always be too high, they would allow someone on stage with the two parties. Does anyone really believe that is ever going to happen? With the exception of Ross Perot in 1992, it hasn't happened since. Of course, Ross Perot may well have scared the CPD off by getting approximately 19% of the national vote. That sure set off alarm bells, didn't it?
Did the political process revamp totally in the last couple of days. I think not. Lie to yourself all you want to. BTW Perot is why we ditched another Bush term. Thankfully. This time you are helping the devil. Way to go…
Riad, thank you for sharing your perspective; although I don’t wholly agree, I have long been disturbed by the unequal power dynamic and actions in that region. ☮️
Riad, you articulate what many people I know experience and I know others (half my age) who are proponents of Cornell West. True that we each have one vote in **the** election but we have influence all the time and your perspective seems grounded in the true complexities, tensions, and tragic destruction going on now. Thank you for writing.
Let your conscience also deal with a vote for Cornel West being one that helps Trump. Please. That will not help Palestinians.
Agreed that Trump will never help Palestinians. I understand the odds; however, Biden Harris, to this point have done enough damage by aiding Israel. As I've said to Christine B. in NC and to Christi: a vote for Cornel West is a vote for Cornel West. Please read my previous answers to the other good folks I addressed.
Thank you. At 90, feeling everything you list, I am grateful for any bit of understanding. I held out for Joe Biden until he left the race. Having heard his post-NATO press conference (dazzling), I was Not surprised at the timing we learned last night. May he continue to advise Kamala!
Ruth, you are so right! The ageism is outrageous and allows for financial exploitation and neglect of our older ones. My father needed a transitional care unit and even though my brother visited every day and I flew back and forth every three weeks, the nursing care was so extremely poor that he lost 30 pounds and his cognitive faculties with a few months. Nothing I did moved the staff to actually provide adequate care (and we couldn’t move him). I witnessed many violations of NH regulations at each visit - yet the state of Ohio gave them a deficiency-free review. At every level it was clear that my father would simply be a cash cow until he died. Worst seven months of his (and my) life until death ended the torture.
I am so sorry that your father and you had to endure that. It can be horrifying to see our parents left to suffer with much of the staff seeming inured to the extreme negligence, just trying to do their awful jobs. We were in a similar terrible facility, and I feel very very lucky to have been able to get my dad out and that he didn't jump out of the frying pan and into the fire. Most of the skilled nursing facilities we visited in the LA area looked and smelled frighteningly similar to the place. Right when we thought we were going to have to pay the 10k deposit (from my IRA) to move him in one of those, we got a call from one of other places we had toured. They had a bed. It's luck of the draw, and the house has the odds. Vote Blue and Raise Hell!
Marge, how very sad. I suspect what you experienced is not very uncommon. Once the monied folks get into medical facilities and practices and housing, etc. we all lose.
Agreed. Well said Ruth. I have and continue to support Biden but I think he needs to serve his Country and save democracy in a different role. Kinda of like Big Corporations. Eventually the CEO steps a side and serves the corporation as a board member or Executive Chairman. I’ve seen this many times in my career. It’s a natural succession plan which Biden understands. What a class act!!
Biden is an indispensable elder statesman, definitely not a lame duck, and I'm sure he will be advising Kamala Harris as well as the many friends he has made all over the globe.
Those care facilities are also staffed with the fewest number possible (I know, I visited one for 20 days and unless I absolutely have to, I will not go back. Took HOURS for help to come or when it did come, was totally incompetent.)
Ageism for certain, but also we have allowed our organic culture to be replaced by entertainment media. Carter was a much better president that he generally gets credit for, but he was not a skilled TV personality. Reagan was a crappy actor, but TV was his home court. Biden has been an innovative and effective president, and I don't know how his speeches are written, but he has delivered many words that carry depth. TV prefers the "zingers". TV and corporate Internet sites are top-down, not democratic structures, and we are unwise to let them dominate our narratives.
Meanwhile, a democratic society requires currents of conversation across all segments of society, the old and the young included. Though I was wary of Biden stepping down as nominee, in current circumstances, think it was the right move, That said, I think all the buzz questioning Biden's mental fitness to continue was trumped up charges.
I couldn't put the book down, Ruth, I read it in days, and was so sorry when the book ended!
KEM, bravo! Respect for one another no matter the age, the color or the economic status has disappeared in our country. What a loss of treasure!
I support Biden. I also support his difficult decision to step aside for a younger person and a better chance at defeating Trump. I am almost his age. I know I have lost a step or two, though I also know that I still have a lot to offer. One of those things is to support and mentor the younger people coming along so that we can take advantage of their new points of view and new energy. I'm enjoying that role, and so will he.
Many of us absolutely did support him and stood by him and like him received a great deal of snarky attacks for it. Ageism is a nasty beast and wait until the shoe is on the other foot when his critics age
I have been appalled at the mainstream media's treatment of President Biden, and have cancelled more than one subscription and changed my viewing.
One of the few networks that was and is fair and accurate: Meidas Touch.
I agree. Telling him AND the media that he should give it up. SHAME on them!
But, Biden did not give up. He is still fighting for us and will be until 1/1/2025.
This amazing feat of diplomacy shows us that his eye is still on the prize.
At this point in the Trump Presidency, he was spending 20% of his waking hours on the golf course 75% campaigning and 5% doing his job.
And his team accomplished virtually nothing for 4 years. No wonder only 4 of 44 endorsed him in 2024.
Agree totally.
If you or I treated an elderly relative the way the press treated Biden, we'd be in court for elder abuse.
I love and admire Joe Biden - but in my view he was clearly faltering - in speech and in thought. What an incredibly demanding job and he's done it brilliantly - but I think he was absolutely right to pass the torch. It was not just about his age but about the frailty he was demonstrating.
The debate was horrible and spoke louder than any denial. That said, he still has plenty of Moxie. Hope we see plenty more .
Tina, alas, by the time they get to 80, they will have forgotten their past bad behavior and will call those who remember, liars. Disgusting.
Elder abuse…yes. I can hear it now…”oh, you’re 80? Time to go!” Half of our leadership is at or approaching that venerable age…time to go, folks! Not every older person gets dementia and some people have early onset. Hmmm. Can you think of anyone currently?
Agreed on the ageism thing, but like it or not, endorsing Kamala was not just an exercise in humility, but a very astute decision, which is paying off in spades in bolstering the Dem's electoral chances. What a change "a decision makes" , eh?
And you can depend on Biden to make the right decision, even to his own sacrifice. He is indeed a treasure.
Let's not count our chickens before they hatch, though. Just don't forget to Vote Blue, to make this Fairy Tale come true. Hang on, I've got another one up my sleeve...
"Permian Extinction" wow what a name! Since then Planet Earth has made another complete journey around the galaxy. As one of the favorite movie quotes says these days, "Yet, here we are."
Or, as Joe Tiberius Biden said to Donald J. Khan, "I have had enough of you." ;;))
https://youtu.be/H0tf9Jm0hq8
Ooh, good one! I've been saying that regularly over the last 8 years. Would have been longer, except dementia donnie had not been on my radar, having no desire to subject myself to that idiot TV show that made that incoherent incompetent famous.
lol, that was a while ago...
KEM, a fun fact: Jake Sullivan's wife Maggie Goodlander is a NH native who is running to succeed the retiring Annie Kuster in NHCD2 this fall (and I'm supporting her.) Their wedding was a Who's Who of Dem politicians, including the Clintons, showing that Jake and Maggie have very strong DC connections that may serve them well into the future.
"What a huge mistake we have made in not supporting him for a second term. And we did it for the worst possible and shallowest of reasons."
I was forced out of my job in my 50's so I totally get the damage done by ageism (and misogyny) however, I could not disagree more with those two sentences quoted above. Joe Biden has been a fabulous president - not my first choice, but once elected I have been 200% behind him - the right person for the right time. He would not have won a 2nd term because, while not diminished mentally, he did get "old" and struggling in the public forums, and the MSM unjustly massacred him. Biden did not get to where he is by being ignorant of politics and he, of all people, knows full well this election must be a win for the democrats.
The wisdom of aging well is to know when to pass the torch . . . . which he did brilliantly. For the remainder of his term he can do what he does masterfully (yesterday's news is a prime example!) and continue to support and mentor his successor which far from diminishing his record, enhances it to new levels!
Good people all around this country and the world are re-energized by the positive momentum of Kamala Harris and that is the best possible scenario for winning the 2024 election!
I agree. The response to Kamala has been electrifying!
I love Joe and hated to see him maligned by the shallow media.
I am in awe of his prowess and his gracefulness.
Joe did a masterful job of stepping down and stepping Kamala up.
And he has mentored her with his greatest skills so she can continue into the future after this time of apprenticeship of sorts. This is his legacy. This is his gift to America. Yes, we KAM!
Initially I felt the same way but I see now that the youngsters didn’t feel their important issues were represented. I am very excited regarding the groundswell of enthusiasm for Kamala, as well as the change that took the wind out of thump’s campaign. Kamala was a good friend to Beau Biden. I am sure Joe & Jill will always be on her advisory team.
As a teacher of over 30 years, and the mother of a 19-year-old who always calls me for advice even if she does not take it, I would agree with the saying that, "Youth is wasted on the Youth." As my private school pushed older teachers out, other teachers left because they felt the school was losing its institutional memory. That is what Biden provides, and what the youth don't understand or appreciate. I could give examples but won't here. I think my daughter is brilliant, and capable for her age, but at the same time she is a transitioning adult. The frontal cortex does not finish developing until between 24-30 roughly. That is the critical thinking area. We need everyone engaged, but I hope the youth also listen to the wisdom of those who have been around. They don't even know that Reagan did the damage he did. They have no memory of life before Reagan. I talked regularly with my maternal grandmother until she was 98.5, then she started losing her lucidity. I learned so much about history from her even though she was not a great history story teller. Let's hope the old listen to the young, the young listen to the old, and the apathetic get motivated. We need everyone on board.
Your reminder about Beau gives me hope, but Kamala has said her policies will be the same. Youngsters not feeling their important issues were represented because they were said by an older white male American is, in fact, ageism.
No it wasn't a mistake. He is a fantastic president, and a wonderful human being. I think the job of doing the job and campaigning against an idiot were too much. The job has taken a lot out of him, and someone needed to campaign full time against the twit. He did the right thing, an amazing thing, and if he had not the equally stupid among us would have put that damn fool back in power.
Joe Biden is a great man.
The PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMATIC CORPS and President Biden’s relationships with our ALLIES and diplomacy itself are also major factors . This is important to note because autocrats or dictators or authoritarians are not team players and really don’t have the expertise and experience.
I love Joe Biden and think he is a great man. However, I firmly believe he did the right thing in stepping down - and by doing so a fresh wind is at our backs and we have a good chance of winning in November.
Unfortunately winning does not mean the most experienced governing. We will see on that. Biden is a hard act to follow on an international stage. I am glad Kamala has experience with that, the experience that others don't.
… and how could one [sensible one’s among us] not be emotional [Jake Sullivan] about what was negotiated and pulled off … successfully executed!!L
Many of us DID support Biden. I did!
President Biden chose to step down.
The upside is that with his support Kamala Harris and her campaign have inspired and engaged our youth who had become apathetic about politics.
We NEED our youth engaged too.
I love your comment about the "timeless values of allowing time and privacy." I do, however, even though I wanted Pres. Biden to run, disagree that it was a huge mistake that he is not running. Unfair as it is, his many accomplishments and skills were not recognized (thank you free press) enough to overcome the concern about his age. Most folks who don't follow politics as closely as Heather's readers have no idea what a fine president he is. I believe we need the added energy of enthusiasm for VP Harris to be completely sure that we can not only beat Trump, but win BLUE up and down ballots to strengthen the senate and take back the house "bigly." I believe our dear President Biden came to believe that as well.
Yes, he did come to that opinion--as he said in the address to the nation, he needed to lead "my party and my country." I guess there's a difference between the mistake I think we made of not supporting him and his decision, in the face of that, not to run. But now, yes, win Blue and win Bigly!
I too am angry with how President Biden was treated and pushed aside. But once again Joe Biden steps in and comes through. We may lose Mr Biden as a president but he keeps building on to his legacy,” when to let go and let others”. The gift that keeps on giving vs the thug who keeps on taking and sucking.
Sorry, but the change in the landscape since Joe Biden’s courageous and patriotic decision to step aside shows that he made the right choice.
Well, at least the popular one, and maybe that's what democracy is fundamentally all about, right? How she governs if elected will tell.
The video of the debate would not self-destruct, sad to say.
Thanks to the oligarchs who fundraise and run our media.
This demonstrates why Biden did NOT want to step down. He knew how capable he was and how much he to offer. When I hear that he sacrificed by giving up power, it makes me sick. He sacrificed his knowledge and skills, not power. He will now become a statesman, very active in affairs of State. We over 80 folks, some of us know how much we have to offer to the welfare of society, our loved ones......and, to our cats.
Wait til you see the "elder statesman" coronation at the Convention. It will be a showstopper and a spectacle, and he will continue to push for a Harris win.
Of course, I'm sure it's debatable but it felt to me that Nixon became a Statesman after a few years...like maybe 10. He really knew so much about foreign affairs. Too bad he had that character flaw....which when you look back is nothing compared to the orange clown's complete lack of character.
It's a huge tribute to Biden that after being basically humiliated by some in his party, he just kept moving ahead. Now, that is character.
Hopefully Nixon’s legacy will be destruction, not wise foreign policy. He started the evil we have today. May it hang around his neck forever.
Your comment brought to mind President Jimmy Carter. He remained active until he couldn't be physically active any longer.
Thank you L Murphy,
I was lucky to be able to follow President Carter to Egypt when he met with Begin and Sadat to plan signing the peace agreement. That was done here at camp David in March 26, 1979.
President Carter never stopped working for America! Even after the Republicans helped end his term by using the take over of our embassy to make it look like his doing.
The republicans work for “themselves” clink clink$$$$$$$. President Carter built houses after his political retirement. Thump golfs!
Character requires a plan that is honorable. Note the difference??
He certainly did. He wrote "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" published in 2006....he was very active in the middle east peace process. It must be very discouraging for him to see where it is today.
I'm hoping Biden stays involved in a Harris Administration, selects a few big projects that motivate and allow him to work at his own pace.
AND Dogs !
And, horses!......I was just making fun of that jerk's opinion of women who don't produce humans. Frankly, I think it's going out of style. What is the benefit of bringing more polluters into this world? Aren't there enough, already??
🤣🤣🤣 or dogs!
MY REPLY: Watch the 2 hour PBS Frontline bio of Biden...it gives much perspective on his personality..."'Falling down' and then getting right back up".....He had many challenges starting with the stutter....several times running or almost running for the Presidency. Plus, his family tradition of being "a proud Biden"..
He had accomplished his long fought goal...he didn't want to give it up in spite of his dwindling abilities...a stubborn Irishman.
Biden was finalizing the negotiations while sick with Covid and one hour before announcing he was declining the presidential candidate nomination...got Putin to release his own Russian prisoners to leave the country...naming the many countries involved in acknowledgement and appreciation...singing "Happy Birthday" to the 13 year old daughter of a newly released hostage...mic drop "why didn't Trump do it..." Kamala Harris on the tarmac to share the emotional reunions (which she helped make happen)...and removing his American flag pin to put on the jacket of former Marine Paul Whelan...crying, not crying.
https://www.threads.net/@blackwhiteman21/post/C-J3ieHoTmo/?xmt=AQGzj4LZE0vMUclMsnVp-it906Yy5RdjazrY1cx2vizJ9w
That was some damn good tv last night, eh? WOW! Breeeeeathe! POTUS trotting over the press scrum 🤸♀️ He and VP answering questions lucidly with smiles galore. And, yeah, that mic drop for the ages. 🤗
Thank you Ellie! Crying.
Crying now... wow!
Perhaps the best news of all. From the W.S.J., an article on Vice President Harris's role in these negotiations. https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/evan-gershkovich-free-russia-hostage-exchange/card/kamala-harris-played-role-in-prisoner-swap-GJOISZWY48oePDmuhvY6
"Separately, Harris spoke to Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexey Navalny, on Thursday, according to a White House official. Russian political prisoners who had worked with Navalny were released as part of the swap"
Thank you Ned, this end bit speaks volumes for A Navalny's cause for the eventual freedom of Russians.
You are welcome, M.C.
EDIT: the delicate negotiations successfully pursued by the Vice President must be driving President Trump nuts. This is the art of the deal.
BIG relief!
NO one should step foot in Russia.....even Russians.
Whelan said “I’m never going there again.”
Good post Ned, thanks. Ya think Trump appreciated such a glowing article from a Murdock Trump supporting outlet? :-))
Would love to be a micro-critter on his lap-top right now.
Shocking
Damn, Rupert acknowledged her. Has hell frozen over…
lol
JD, and keep a lookout in the sky! You know what will be flying!
Well that got a giggle.
I think it is typical Biden. He always gets the job done, and that requires wisdom and patience, qualities many Americans don't seem to have. I have been excited by Biden's presidency all along, and this exemplifies why. I will be excited about Harris winning, and it is impossible not to get caught up in the fever for her, but I am also always knowing that Biden excels in statescraft and that is a loss for us. I believe he will be advising Harris and she will seek his advice because she is a wise woman too.
Biden’s competence and skill became boring for the “reality” addicted MSM. And, of course, Fox turned to entertaining cruelty for news decades ago. The process of governing is quiet, tedious and not great for sound bites or entertainment. Just get the job done in the background. How I long for those days and appreciate Joe being “old-school” in the best way. Reagan turned it into entertainment since he played the role like a pro, all the while, chipping away at the foundation of the government. And the path was set, except Dems had blinders on. Hopefully they are off now.
Not only have Democrats of all sorts been galvanized, I saw that Mormons for Harris were also doing a big call in. In the USA I have a lot of "Liberal" Mormon neighbors and I have a good sense of who they have been voting for. So, I am really pleased to hear about Mormons for Kamala having a fundraising call, because I know Mormons can get things done. A friend on a political listserve I am on, sent us this video of Republicans saying why they would vote for Harris, or would not vote for Trump. Here is a compilation of Republican Voters Against Trump videos. Reading the comments is inspiring too. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLPbECI-Q45WdmDcEglQaPrsKqqZibDZTi
Thank You, Linda. Excellent videos of Republicans voting for Harris. That's what coukd work up here in northern, true conservative, Michigan. Sharing.
I hope so MaryPat. Please share them around.
Thank you. The Mormon family I knew up close were wonderful people, but they were always missionaries first. Indeed they get things done, but the "preaching" was constant. Worse than the evangelicals in my family
Jake Sullivan and Secretary Blinken are just two examples of the amazing team that Biden has assembled.
A few weeks ago Mika Brzezinski said, on the Friday before Biden stepped out of the race, "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone." This was her acknowledging the myriad accomplishments of the Biden administration.
Fortunately, Biden has surrounded himself with what is likely the most productive and accomplished cabinet in US history. It is customary for cabinet members to leave after one term so Kamala may need to select several replacements. We can only hope that she had a hand in selecting the amazing team surrounding President Biden.
Took the wind out of Trump, the proto-"Putinist." Putin installed his own oligarchs and took a cut. May be the richest man in the world. That's why Trump admires him so much. Wants the Russification of our country.
Look at the VP pick. Supports Putin in the Ukraine. Open and obvious.
Here in Baghdad By the Sea about 20% of the population wanted a caudillo just like Fulgencio Batista, who installed his "boys" in all positions of power, took a 20% cut from everything, and jailed his opponents. Ironically, same folks' enemies, the Cuban government is in bed with Putin. I'm hoping it blows up before the election.
Right on as usual, OAITW!
And Biden will be around to help when needed.
Yes, we KAM!
Let’s hope he stays around and helps Kamala. I know that she respects him immensely.
It's good to know there is still honor in politicians, and Joe Biden is an example of doing what's right for others, not just himself.
“ I ain’t dead yet “ “ Old and in the way” love it
The prisoner swap will be the crowning achievement of Joe Biden’s presidency. And a fitting one it is.
Old and in the way you've got to reveal your true name! You are not ln the way , you are safely Iin the swim of politics. l love your comment except for the"who cares"! I'm so glad Kamala won't have to paint herself orange to look healthy!
Well said! The contrast between DJT and Biden was extraordinary.. I continue to be amazed by the numbers of his followers. And I"m very excited about Kamala! You don't get elected to the office of Attorney General by as you said, by blaming, naming, and lying..., Actually, that behavior, those traits are not going to get anyone elected to anything.. DJT has begun to sound like he's falling apart.
It was a good day. And the obviously sharp President Joe Biden made it happen. Respect.
I'm wondering if the old fox timed it like this on purpose... I mean, stepping down in favour of Kamala has given an enormous positive upswing in energy for the Democrats, and a punch in the face for D.J. Rump, and now Joe deals him another one. All his bragging about making this prisoner deal with Putin ("he'd do it just for me") was just an air balloon, and Joe punched a needle in it. I swear, if Joe did this on purpose, he's a real master of timing...
I don't think Biden uses people as political pawns. If he was that sort of person....just waiting for the perfect political timing to bring them home, he'd have done it when the media was asking him to step down.
Hmm, not a bad point you're making.
I think it took Kamala Harris's incipient presidency to make Putin come to heel. He could have done this swap years ago, Joe has been working on it from the beginning. It is always Putin who is the monster, and I think he fears Harris more than Biden. He thought he was going to get his toady drumpf, and is watching him slide into senility.
Sometimes “timing” is just karma!
Heh, Brer Rabbit would be proud of Uncle Joe
Brer Rabbit, indeed. Just had the book (third printing, probably present from my father) out last week and felt its pull again.
Hold on to that book. The Disney film Song of the South was pulled from the public due to racial stereotypes. I understand that but come on what great lessons.
I don’t think Joe timed it, he doesn’t play games. Maybe it was divine intervention.
I think he’s more than that—sympathetic to prisoners— but his Irish wit makes your take entirely plausible.
Perhaps the best news of all. From the W.S.J., an article on Vice President Harris's role in these negotiations. https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/evan-gershkovich-free-russia-hostage-exchange/card/kamala-harris-played-role-in-prisoner-swap-GJOISZWY48oePDmuhvY6
This is a HUGE win for Biden and a REAL blow at Trumps lame rhetoric...
Dark Brandon rides again: “Why didn’t he do it when he was President?”
Over his shoulder, as he was leaving. What JOY to see him well, rested and stress-free. And...President.
No one bitching about his customary verbal slips which have zero to do with "ageing".
He's had so much to put up with. It would have flattened a lesser man.
All of the above!
Anne-Louise, when I saw and heard that, I yelled, YES!! with my fists in the air. He’s still got it!
YES!!!!!
When I watched that live, I just cheered! May we all be so lucky to grow “old” like Joe. He’s a master Statesman. Today, is indeed “A Very Good Day.”
Ally, Trump didn’t do it when he was president because he’s “all hat, no cattle” as they say in Oklahoma.
I thought they just said that in Texas! OK, OK....count Oklahoma, too. You could add about Trump's "diplomacy": That dog don't hunt.
Didn’t some congress critter kill their dog cause “that dog don’t hunt”?
Yes, Lauren Boebert of Colorado. Shot a goat, too. Unsure why.
Likely because she’s lazy af and expects her animals to train themselves. Then, when they don’t turn out as *she* wants, kaboom 💥. She is completely useless.
Ouch...
In Wyoming, they say that about Texans. Comes from the cattle drive days…
But DJT is still criticizing the deal and claiming he would’ve gotten it done without giving anything in return. Criticizing the American negotiators. I’m so tired of the almost 10 years of his negativity and dark view of America. Can we give him an additional moniker? How about ”Donnie Downer”?
Voldemort
In addition to insipid I like what his own lawyer called him repeatedly in the trial in NYC that convicted him of 34 felonies, she referred to him as “the orange turd”, I’ve used it ever since.
Deborah, I loved Biden’s answer: “Why didn’t he do it when he was president, then?”
I think the time has come to FINALLY pay zero attention to anything tffg says. He is SO over. Him going racist on Kamala? FORGETABOUTIT! The key is she is going to beat tffg and get him OUT of our lives and OUT of our heads.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Then: LOOK!: America will have a woman President!
Yes, but Debra, no one’s listening anymore.
Indeed.
Get yourself an outfit and be a cowboy too.
Only on the streets of Laredo? :-)
…the Smothers Brothers cover, I believe.
Yes - so many wonderful lines from Tommy and Dickie!
Face it. Trump is a 3-5 year old. Where oh where is the British Trump-in-diapers balloon?
Quick & to the point!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Somebody call out the burn unit! STAT!!!
👍
I'm still in doubt which was better: that quote from Dark Brandon, or this one from Heather: "And from the Department of Poor Timing, MAGA representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina tweeted ..." I laughed pretty hard at this :)
Love it. My sister, who had been Repub before chump, was telling me that Mace seemed to be a good repub. I enlightened her so I hope she got it. Her REPUB husband died so there is hope.
That zinger cracked me up- I love it that HCR ended this piece with it!! I guffawed yet again!
Ally, the perfect reply. Death star is all hot air and no substance.
The iconic "Baby Trump" blimp comes to mind.
Baby with the diaper ear.
You need to pronounce that carefully.
?
Diaper rear?
I wouldn't even rate the Orange Rat that, "dearth star" maybe....
With death star and the party of death, all I see is death and dearth as well. I read an interesting essay in the NYT(?) about the future of food and it wasn't pretty, so there may be plenty of both death and dearth. Here in the Willamette Valley which used to be near heaven for gardening, all we have now is days in the 90s or at best high 80s coupled with humidity in the am when it is cooler. We have raging fires in eastern Oregon and one dope did a burn pile of his trash and started one of them. I guess that is not worse than the guy in CA who set his car on fire and rolled it into a ravine.
He is President and will be until January. Let’s hope he is there to welcome Harris as his successor
lol, saucy lady!
I wish we could get mainstream media that is as good as Heather Cox Richardson. Maybe Americans might remember that having a President who is good at foreign relations and diplomacy actually makes us safer. They might even be made aware that the aged President learned a thing or two in his years of public service. I am sure that Kamala Harris will make a great President too, but I felt sad at the way the press piled on a decent man while ignoring the huge criminal element in the room.
Angela, beyond huge donations, or rather because of huge donations, the press has been enamored with Donald Trump. They are smart enough to know he is a jerk with nothing to offer anyone, but they doubled down on supporting him from 2015 and show no signs of changing direction. I hope Kamala Harris and her enthusiastic joy and Biden's diplomatic successes will force the media to take off the Trump blinders and see the world as it is and put their energy and skill behind Harris for President as well as the Democrats running across the country in down ballot races, the people who actually care about this nation more than money, power and their own self-agrandisement.
The press cares more about the sound of the cash register every time they mention Trump, who is clickbait. As we all know, Trump is a dangerously ignorant twit and evil bully. The sad fact is that millions of American citizens and voters are the same.
Oh I think there are signs of changing direction. No one has covered a drumpf event until Kamala, and the idiot was so stupid as to go to the NABJ meeting and show his racism and stupidity. Many carried it live, including his staff yanking him off the stage.
That said, I've read numerous Reuters Trump fact checks in the process of reporting various stories. Not something particularly needed when reporting on Dems.
And it seems the republicans who sold their souls to the devil are now really seeing what buyer’s remorse looks like.
Especially liked the last sentence
Agreed.
Why can’t Heather be syndicated or otherwise carried in main stream media? I’ve often wondered that.
History and truth are not in their agenda.
Yep. History and accuracy are boring. They want sound bites, drama and violence. On the other hand, one could say about the American citizens "man kann sich da an der eigenen Nase fassen", as they say in Germany, literally: "you can grab yourself by your own nose" - if the Americans wouldn't read and buy this pulp, there would be no money made off of it and the media would stop producing it...
Don't wreck it. Just keep sending the $$$.
I think that Heather has always been independent, just doing what interested her. She never had to report up, change to fit in or compete to move ahead.
Yes...the depth she gets into! But just this morning I was thinking I'm glad she's not as visible as somebody like Joy Reid on MSNBC ..the trolls on Joy's FB page are many, nasty, and scary!
Watch them "eat their words" without acknowledgement of the collective pile on they just perpetrated. I'm sure though Biden's stepping aside the way he did, with the huge send off he's gonna get at the Convention, will earn the Dems an extra dose of votes.
Extra dose exponentially
Why would it ever not be the case that citizens who form a corporation would bear any less responsibly to the general welfare than any other citizen? And if we the people have no such obligation, who the hell does?
especially after a corrupt court declares the corporate entity to be "a person" - who often happens to control whole sectors of the economy (thank's to repo dereg)
but from their point of view, that is benifcence (sp?), since it trickles down like a peeing putti in the public garden
The press should be forever shamed for that! While the felon can say and do whatever he wants and there is little coverage in the MSM! Shameful
“..the Department of Poor Timing…”
Made my day
Thank you. 😂
Agreed! I love the snarky humor she’s been tossing in lately!
Yes, that was perfect!
Oh that Nancy Mace!! Good grief.
Annie, how Nancy Mace got anyone to vote for her is beyond me even though I have been told she is attractive and that is all Republican women need these days, brain power is superfluous!
Ruth, proof positive that Rs see only the surface and underneath there is noting of substance.....like swamp gas.
Alternate facts alternate 'reality", aka delusional. "Reality Show" "reality", but not the sort you can rely on.
You are likely right. I remember the first time I saw her on TV. I did think she was very attractive and she seemed a reasonable person. I guess the Trump party is hoping to win the election on the “mean” platform.
She is one of those awful women who rely on looks and thinks being mean makes her a modern woman. She has no idea of the power of the feminine archetype. I would also note that this is way we enjoy British series, because not everyone is attractive in the hollow sense. They even have actors with various kinds of disabilities.
Yes! And no one hss “perfect white teeth”. Hahaha.
Nancy Mace is wicked and not good PR for Charleston.
She’s weird.
Yeah, Ma'am, l loved that one, too. Perhaps the best news of all. From the W.S.J., an article on Vice President Harris's role in these negotiations. https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/evan-gershkovich-free-russia-hostage-exchange/card/kamala-harris-played-role-in-prisoner-swap-GJOISZWY48oePDmuhvY6
Yeah, I laughed pretty hard at that one, too :) I had to read it multiple times, like "is Heather REALLY writing this??"
What a stunning achievement for Joe Biden! How generously he has named all of the countries that contributed to this astonishing diplomatic coup, reminding us of the essential nature of trust and friendship among allies. Although tempted, I won't call it a crowning achievement since Biden will be President for another five and a half months. Who knows what he will add to his legacy between now and then!
Hear, hear....well said Betsy. Who knows what he will add to his legacy in five months....'Biden unleased'
Yeah, I found that to be very statesmanlike.
Like he told the press scrum, (paraphrasing) he's still around til January. I'm sure he's got a few more surprises in the works. 🤗
"At today’s White House announcement, a reporter noted that former president Trump 'has said repeatedly that he could have gotten the hostages out without giving anything in exchange,' and asked President Biden: 'What do you say to that?'
'Why didn’t he do it when he was president?' Biden answered."
The end of HCR's Letter is a corker. Joe may be old and not quite as quick as he used to be, but that comeback is worthy of someone much younger than him! T***p is a fool.
Find it on video! You'll love it. They don't come much quicker than that.
Here you go . . . https://www.c-span.org/video/?537506-1/president-biden-delivers-remarks-americans-released-russia-prisoner-swap Love that the President sang 'Happy Birthday' to Miriam who is being re-united with her mother.
Was soooo sweet!
Joe Biden is pro-family. Did you notice that, you “conservatives”?
The heart emoji is not big enough for that whole amazing press conference. Thank you, Ned, for posting!
Emily, all I can say is that you are welcome and ditto.
I don’t know if I agree with you Bruce, to say that the insipid bastard is a fool puts “fools” in a very bad light. 🤷♂️ 💥
Great point, Bruce!
Even knowing he wasn't going to continue his candidacy, he pressed forward. This is a man of honor, compassion and determination. We are grateful for him!
Because the presidency has never been about Biden....always about serving the American people and furthering the American dream.
Even FOX had to praise the release.
Putin couldn’t wait to do it with Trump because he knows Trump is faltering.
Trump was visibly pissed.
Everyone else is elated.
A good day, indeed.
Trump's response was despicable....not a single comment expressing gratitude for their release...not a single acknowledgement of the prisoners grueling experience....not a single acknowledgement of the families and the pain and suffering they have endured.
But his ego is melting…
Wonder if the cretins in the SC are having second thoughts. Nah, they are looking for their own replacement…by whatever means
I bet Putin is not contributing any corruption to the Trump campaign like he did the last 2 times.
Don’t underestimate Putin. In fact, never underestimate him! He’s evil and just got his number assassin back. As long as that man breathes oxygen, he will create chaos. I believe Putin knew that Biden would not take any of his cruelty lightly because how else could Joe negotiate release of these Americans? The US froze his assets here and heavily sanctioned Russia. Their banks have very little money. Russians are suffering under his rule while he dashes off to his palatial residences. Navalny knew everything. That’s why he was killed. Biden tried to get him released before his demise. Putin has to face a tribunal or be killed. There’s no other way.
I don't think Putin is underestimated and I don't think anyone thinks he is less evil for releasing hostages....and know he unfairly took them....just for this. It worked....but we got our people back and many people freed. Furthermore....they have to know/think the German were able to get information from their Russian sharpshooter. I think this story is still unfolding.
I think you are right Marlene, if he lets go of power there are thousands of Russians who would kill him in an instant as payback for the loss of family members. It’s just a matter of time, they who live by the sword will die by the sword.
Agreed!
He wouldn’t do it but when Kamala wins she should ask President Biden to be Secretary of State. The man is incredible (and I do think he deserves to rest on his laurels 💙)
He DOES deserve to rest on his laurels... As a highly valuable Statesman, he will be available for advice but I think his main activity should be his Biden Library. 50 years of service. Enough, already.
👍👍
That’s a fascinating idea.
But far too taxing a job. He needs to care for himself and enjoy his retirement. He could be a senior advisor to the Secretary of State?
That's a better idea.
Yeah. Way better. President Biden deserves to relax, rest, then be a Senior Advisor to President Harris.
Sec of State is non-stop travel, grueling. Nah. Hopefully he picks a weighty topic that allows him to work it, as only he can do, at his own pace.
Maybe we could join our native peoples and African tribes in teaching the world to value the wise elders. While realizing that some just grow old without the wise part. Know the difference, cult nuts…
I'm really hoping for this, too! But otherwise, yes, I also think he earned some rest. So he should do it only if he really wants to.
Clearly Putin is more able than the national media, to disecern when an asset is no longer and asset.
He also seems to understnad better than the national media to whom you go to accomplish an end, and to whom you go to spread chaos. They don't even know they've been played and hung out to dry.
So well put. Trump and Putin are not friends. Trump has been a convenient tool in Putin's arsenal to destabilize the West. Putin most likely sees Trump's usefulness waning. Though the MAGA movement still works to divide America and weaken us.
I don’t know how you put together such a detailed and clear explanation of the extraordinary events today Heather.
Joe Biden is the best president of this century and certainly I think reaching back to LBJ and FDR. He is the most selfless politician of our time.
Christopher, I would add Truman to that even though Truman had difficulties, he did work to change many things that seemed to have been entrenched like a segregated military.
Joe Biden is a very good president and a great man.
Biden once again delivers for the United States, its citizens, and for our allies and their citizens. This exchange is extraordinary, and an extraordinary feat of diplomacy and cooperation by free nations.
Biden is the man.
That is all. ❤️
He will go down in history as way up there near the lofty echelons of Abe—-and a monument in DC should start the planning process—Scranton Joe! Woohoo!
An excellent writeup of a historic day. Inspiring. Filled with hope. Thank you once again!