Biden plays political hack in France
The annual memorial for those who died in the D-Day invasion of Normandy is a solemn occasion – more a requiem than a celebration. After 80 years, there are no new words to express our nation’s – and the civilized world’s – admiration and appreciation. We are admonished to never forget the sacrifice of so many.
The occasion should never be abused by the introduction of political and partisan language – even by innuendo. President Reagan set the highest standard of appropriateness in an address to the world from Normandy Beach in 1984 – the fortieth anniversary of the invasion. But then, he was the most gifted orator since Lincoln.
Virtually every American President used his D-Day visit to put politics aside during their stay in France. It was not a time for political cheap shots. That is, until President Biden traveled there during his reelection campaign – in which he is struggling.
Biden used the visit to the graves site to play out his campaign themes – directly and by less than subtle innuendo. He was not addressing the world but using the platform to address American voters. I came across as what it was – an act of desperation.
Every President described the war and the casualties — and the price paid to save democracy from the ambitions of autocrats, such as Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito. Using the theme of preserving democracy, Biden segued into the Democrat’s domestic political narrative – exaggerating a threat to American democracy by his political opponents.
Undermining American democracy by telling the world that it is on the precipice of collapse if he does not win the election, can only needlessly weaken America’s power and influence in the world – more than he already has with three years of foreign policy blunders.
He did not call out Trump and Republicans by name during his speech, but the innuendoes were inescapable. And at other times during his stay in France, Biden was not subtle in his partisan campaign rhetoric.
In a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden apologized to the Ukrainian leader for the three-month delay in approving funding for the war effort. Biden specifically blamed his political adversaries — “conservatives” in Congress — for blocking the aid. It was a gratuitous remark and a cheap shot.
For the record, I should remind readers that I was extremely critical of the House GOP for their using Ukraine funding to eke out more money for U.S. border protection – even though it was a worthy cause. Apart from diminishing the war effort – which I do not believe it did as much as Democrats now claim – the delay sent an awful message to the world … to the Ukrainians … and especially to Putin and our other adversaries. I remain both angered and mystified by those in the conservative movement who are willing to let Ukraine fall into Russian hands.
Biden’s criticism of the House GOP was pure hypocrisy, however. It was Biden who maintained restraints on Zelensky’s ability to mount a more effective and successful war with the too little/too late policies. Biden did nothing to prevent the invasion – and even assured Putin that the United States would stand down. He never imposed the sanctions on Russia he initially promised. He refused to declare a no-fly zone. He rejected the request for jet fighters. He refused to provide longer range weapons – and demanded that Ukraine not attack the Russian homeland. He refused to provide intelligence support, lest it anger Putin.
Yes, Biden did reluctantly and belatedly acquiesce to pressure at home and abroad to eliminate some of the restraints. But his “full support” rhetoric is still not matched by his actions.
I was also angered – but not mystified — by Biden’s using an international tour to play local politics. He has not experienced anything but politics in his long life. For all his success, Biden remains a strident Democrat politician. He has the office of President, but the DNA of a political hack.
Lest you think I am being petty in pointing to Biden’s politicization of his D-Day visit to France, every major news outlet carried the story of his unprecedented and inappropriate apology.
Why would he do that? Maybe because that is what a hack politician would do when desperate.
So, there ‘tis.
That old fool should not have been there. He’s too stupid to conduct American business on the world stage.
Wow, my tastefully short piece seemingly disappeared….. wonder how I screwed that up.
Did a rewrite, sorry, got longer of course…….sorry.
Just jesting, but finally Horist has found a topic he is the expert on: political hackery. With over 50 years of political hack experience, if he calls this one, it must be true. Or is it?
Here’s a paragraph by Horist, with Biden’s name replaced by same; you be the judge: “I was also angered – but not mystified — by (Horist) using (anything that moves) to play local politics. He has not experienced anything but politics in his long life. For all his (lack of personal campaign) success, (Horist) remains a strident (Republican) politician. He has the office of (political pundit), but the DNA of a political hack.
Ever notice how Horist goes on long tirades of ranting mendacious screeds about what Joe has said without even so much as a tiny quote? Great work if you can get it. There is no direct evidence in this piece beyond Horistian observations of hubris. After all, without direct evidence, who is he to judge except a self-professed expert due to experience as a political hack. I understand he does not like Biden, but why the hate, why the lack of evidence to share his hate? I hope always for the honest debate. None here.
Yet, with all that said, I agree, Biden most certainly spelled politics on this trip. Of course, who am I to say. Just a businessman. As Hoirst notes, no names, just issues mentioned by Biden. Horist should be impressed by the lack of evidence, just generalizations and innuendo by Biden. Sound familiar Horist? Unlike Horist and his favorite candidate Trump, the man Hoirst will vote for more times than any other real Republican, Biden was reserved, professional, did not call his opponent out by name, and mostly dealt in the generalities of the day as Horist has noted. Basically, autocrats bad, democracy good protect freedom in our time, defend democracy, stand up to aggression abroad and at home, be part of something bigger than ourselves. Now if you see Trump in that, which side? Good or bad?
Here’s some Biden quotes not shared by Horist: “When we talk about American democracy, we often talk about the ideals of life, liberty, pursuit of happiness. What we don’t talk about is how hard it is … The most natural instinct is to walk away, to be selfish, to force our will upon others to seize power, never give up,” Biden said. “They fought to vanquish a hateful ideology in the 30s and 40s,” he added. “Does anyone doubt they wouldn’t move heaven and earth to vanquish hateful ideologies of today?”
Again, if you see Trump in there, which side? Shining light or darkest day? You be the judge. Horist sees darkest day. Funny given his love of the policies as good. But once again, Hoirst just looks at Biden to make his “Democrats bad” pitch. He never once looks at Trump where “policies good, ignore the rest” is his mantra. Or, “I told you I did not support that part.” That’s what the good Germans said as they got their free watches and lamps….. In for a peck….
OK, so let’s go back in time….. Trump missed d-day commemorations until his third year, 2019. Not a priority. Really not a big deal. This is Biden’s fourth year. But in 2018, Trumpy went to France to commemorate WWI armistice where he skipped out on the cemetery remembrance reportedly because it was raining and his hair…. And something about the cemetery being filled with losers and suckers. Similar to the defamation dance he did about John McCain. Trump whines it was the weather, the Navy made him do it, he’s got the documentation (probably in his Mar A Loser bathroom). Marcon and Merkle made it as did John Kelly who opted to leave Trump and do the honorable thing. About this time Trump explained his reason for becoming Captain Bonespur instead of going to Vietnam. “Well, I was never a fan of that war, I’ll be honest with you. I thought it was a terrible war. I thought it was very far away. This isn’t like I’m fighting against Nazi Germany,” Trump said, I think it was to Morgan taped a few days before D-Day. Yeah, you betcha. Far away. Not Nazi’s. But the truth is he faked bone spurs, paid off a doctor to agree, and some other poor soul filled his spot. Patriot. The year was 1968, you can’t tell me he was protesting our efforts in Vietnam; there is no record of that ever happening.
Now in 2019 Trump did make it to Normandy and by all rights, his teleprompter speech was good. We know the carnage that happens when Trump’s prompter fails: it’s a shark attack! However, just before it, he was solemn as he bashed celebrities, politicians, and, of course, Congress and DoJ. Priorities. Professionalism. He did say the right things about the troops and then, for our allies, he added: “”Our bond is unbreakable.” They laughed at him for that lie. The ceremony was delayed for 30 minutes while Trump did FOX. Hey, these losers had been waiting 50 years for this, wtf does 30 minutes mean. Oh yeah, most of the rest of their remaining lives…. In his Morgan and then FOX interviews, the second within feet of the grave, Trump insulted former special counsel Robert Mueller and said House Speaker “Nervous Nancy,” “a disaster.” Trump said the special counsel had “made a fool out of himself” and then added: “Nancy Pelosi — I call her ‘Nervous Nancy’ — Nancy Pelosi doesn’t talk about it. She’s a disaster. She’s a disaster. Let her do what she wants, you know what? I think they’re in big trouble.” Say what you will, hate her if you must, but based on her votes, Pelosi is a patriot. Mueller is a decorated Vietnam vet. Trump is a pugnacious prick. They all act alike: junkyard dogs.
So there tis your comparison that Horist omits. Democrats may be bad, but Trump is so much worse. He is no patriot, he’s a student athlete that developed bone spurs after his four college deferments ran out. There is no evidence of bone spurs anytime in his life. And he used d-day to bash so many in so little time within feet of the graves of these true patriots he was there for one reason to commemorate their patriotism — he politics, by very specific names.