My Thoughts While Mowing the Lawn [View all]

[H2O Man]

"In social science, in contrast to natural science, it seems that by the time one goes in search of empirical evidence, a favored theory has already been chosen, and evidence is being gathered not in order to test it but in order to confirm it.”
― Lee McIntyre, Dark Ages: The Case for a Science of Human Behavior


I've liked Joe Biden since I first became aware of him long ago. The more I learned about him, the more I hoped that he would be elected president. That's not to say that I've liked him more or longer than anyone else (****except those under the age of 50 per “longer”). But it's not a contest. I rank him high among American politicians, as a Senator, Vice President, and President.

I was excited when he ran in the Democratic presidential primaries in 1988. He ended up dropping out, though I thought the reason was baloney. Joe used to quote the politicians who inspired him in his youth: primarily Senator Robert Kennedy, as well as President Kennedy. At the end of a hard day's night from being on the trail, he used a Robert quote without crediting RFK. I think it was at the end of his third speech that day.

The thought that Joe Biden was a perfect man never crossed my mind. I don't expect to find any saints running for office. Being Irish, I know that a saint is just a dead sinner, having his/her life revised and edited. Joe Biden was a good man, as good a man and politician as the times produced. Like JFK and President Obama, he was the president we needed in rough times.

There is a book recently released by a journalist. Now, I am definitely not buying it. To be fair, I didn't buy the author's previous novels, “The Hellfire Club” or “The Devil May Dance.” I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but I'm confident that on my death bed I won't be wringing my hands thinking,”I wish I had found the time to read 'The Hellfire club'.” I have never read anything this journalist wrote, and while I have seen him on television, there is nothing he has said or accomplished that has in any way altered my understanding of national or world events. I have more respect for Stormy Daniels than him.

I do, however, recognize that there is always a risk of “confirmation bias” on my part. Thus, in my presidential library, I have a lot of books about and by Richard Nixon. Lots about other republican villains. But that is a conscious choice, and confirmation bias is of the unconscious mind. For example, I like watching “true crime.” There is the re-trial of Karen Read going on now.

It's an interesting case. Did she kill her police officer boyfriend? Did others, including police? I don't know, because I wasn't there. When I first heard about the case, I thought she was likely guilty. As I watched the first trial, I thought “not guilty,” even though maybe she did. The more I watched, the more I thought she is likely innocent. But other people see it differently. And because the initial police investigation was so flawed, with more than a hint of corruption, the heat between the pro-prosecution and pro-defense sides, as found on the internet, is rising.

When an “expert witness” testifies, the pro-prosecution views it exactly opposite than the pro-defense. On internet sites, there are emotionally charged insults hurled at the opposition. There are relatively few people interested in meaningful discussion of the case or trial. I'm not much interested in arguing or insulting people I neither know or desire to interact with. I only plan to live to the age 125, and don't have ten seconds to waste on such nonsense.

I knew that a former DUer, who I haven't seen since about the time we switched candidates, had been saying that President Biden was too old to run again. Now, this brooklynite was intelligent, seemingly well-informed (I believe his spouse was/is a federal attorney.) He definitely traveled in very different social circles than me, more of a lace curtain type, versus my shanty, though he was not Irish.

I respected his intellect, and often enjoyed debating him. But I neither liked or disliked him. He didn't matter to me. He insulted one of my good friends here, so it made it much easier for me to know he was full of it. My confirmation bias and I agreed that President Biden was in outstanding shape for a man his age. Then I saw coverage of the Juneteenth celebration.

Next came the debate. And the next thing you know, all my family and friends were talking about the possibility of him stepping aside. None of them that thought that had been hoodwinked by Russians or republicans. It was what they thought based entirely on what they saw for themselves. Now, I like VP Harris, but at first I was opposed to Joe Biden stepping aside. A good DU friend and I spoke about how we wanted Biden to be our candidate.

But of course he stepped down. I fully supported VP Harris. The more I thought about it, the more I came to accept that President Biden had been too old. Being president takes a toll on all those (except one) who hold the office. It would be cruel for me to have wanted him to run and serve another term, though it is not certain he could have won in 2024.

It would be stupid of me to pretend he wasn't old. This is the only time I care to discuss it. Joe Biden is not the issue for the mid-terms, or 2028. And if, like me, you only plan to 125, I suggest that you don't have time to waste on this, either.