September 14, 2020--Empathy

When it comes to running for president of the United States, being empathetic can get you quite far. Though likely not elected. Even when running against a narcissist such as Trump.

Let's think, then, about candidate Joe Biden who is about as empathetic as it gets.

The contrast between the two was on vivid display recently when a day apart they visited Kenosha, Wisconsin, because of the protesting and violence there that was a response to an African-American man being shot seven times in the back by the local police.

Without evidence that would justify this, Trump supported the police more than the victim, even going out of the way, while there to comment about another shooting--a 17-year-old self-described white supremacist "vigilante" who, without provocation, used an assault weapon to shoot and kill two unarmed protestors.

Trump did not visit Jacob Blake's family whereas Joe Biden spent time with them, spoke with Blake on the phone, and attended a church service with the family.

Politically, anyone who wants a president who can "feel one's pain" has, in Biden, someone who from his life experience has faced a lifetime of loss, and is exceptionally good at sharing what he has learned from it and is comfortable literally embracing people who are struggling with grief.

Many of Biden's supporters say they will vote for him because of what this reveals about his character.

Others, who have national security concerns, are looking for more, something additional from the former vice president. They are seeking someone who they feel will also be a formidable commander in chief. A strong leader for times of peace and a courageous and effective leader when we are directly threatened. When more than empathy is required. 

They may have questions about Biden's ability to assume that role. Recall, he was the only senior staff official during the Obama administration who did not support the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. From this example alone some are concerned that he does not have the chops to protect us from the world's bad guys. 

What he needs to do then, and soon, is include in his stump speech and in more formal settings how he would deal with ongoing threats such as those represented by Iran, Syria, and of course, best for comparison purposes, Russia and North Korea. The content needs to be tough minded and the presentation muscular. 

Joe can and should remain the empathetic Joe (as if he could change his nature) but he needs also to show his steely, self-confident side.

September 3, 2020--Couscous

Since late June we haven't been able to find any boxes of Near East couscous at our local food markets. It's one of our staples and we've been feeling frustrated. 

The absence of couscous has been a mystery. Couscous? We're in Maine, not Manhattan. It's hard to conjure that many Mainers craving this exotic grain. Frankly we've been surprised and delighted that it in the past has been so available. 

So, what's the story? In a pandemic running out of toilet paper I get, but couscous?

I finally figured it out thanks to our president. Yes, him. 

You ask what does he know from couscous? Fair question. He's more a Big Mac kind of guy. Not some effete sophisticate.

But lately he's been talking about supermarket items.

Here's what he said at a press gaggle on Tuesday about the rioting in Kenosha:

In cities across the nation, we've also seen police officers assaulted with bricks, rocks, bats, Molotov cocktails, frozen bottle of water. 

Somebody said last night, one of the protesters--I saw it--he said, "It's only water. How can water hurt you?" Yeah, they don't say it's frozen, in a bottle the size of a football. And they throw it at the police. It's unbelievable. It's water." 

And then they have cans of soup. Soup. And they throw the cans of soup. That's better than a brick because you can't throw a brick; it's too heavy. But a can of soup. You can really put some power into that, Right?

So that's what's been going on. Trump weaponized soup and couscous and the shelves are picked clean.

Also, at some point he referred to Campbell soup. Tomato soup. The kind, he said, Andy Warhol painted.

Trump? Andy Warhol? I've got to get a grip.

September 1, 2020--Biden Spotting

A welcome change of plans--Biden is not waiting until after Labor Day to begin in-person campaigning. 

Here he is Monday, arriving in Pittsburg for a talk at Carnegie Mellon's Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute. 

Trump, in the meantime, is trying to bully his way into an invitation to visit Kenosha. The governor and mayor have thus far asked him not to come.

Biden's comments, by the way, were excellent. Just what he should be doing every day.

August 31, 2020--Dukakis Redux

The Republican convention behind him, Trump immediately took to the road.

First stop, all in one day, New Hampshire then Louisiana and Texas hit hard last week by Hurricane Laura. This was not going to be his Katrina.

Then, he announced, that on Tuesday, tomorrow, he plans to visit Kenosha, Wisconsin where Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times by local police. 

God knows what he'll say and do while there.

Next, he'll probably make his way to Portland, Oregon, where over the weekend a Trump supporter was shot and killed during a confrontation between far-left and far-right demonstrators. Trump's visit will likely be inflammatory.

All the while where was Joe Biden and what was he up to as Tump was making these telegenic stops?

In his basement, delivering a speech remotely to the American Legion convention.

Oh yes, he also announced he'll resume in-person campaigning after Labor Day.

After Labor Day? What's wrong with today? What was wrong with last week?

Does he want to be president? Is he aware of what his absence from the campaign trail suggests about his 77 year-old stamina? 

Trust me, nothing good.

This reminds me of Michael Dukakis's ill-fated 1988 run for the presidency. His opponent was the not-very-popular or charismatic George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan's vice president. 

For a while Dukakis's's strategy seemed to be working. A few months before Election Day he built a 17-point lead in the polls. And so, what did he do? Sat on his lead while he effectively stopped campaigning, he said, so he could concentrate on his day job--governor of Massachusetts. And I assume, practice his inaugural speech. 

But every once in a while Dukakis did get out to participate in a campaign stunt. The best known of these was his ride in a military issue 68-ton M1-A1 Abrams Tank. 

Pictures of the diminutive governor with his head barely visible above the armor plate made H.W. by comparison look like a super hero. And from the minute pictures of this began to circulate, Dukakis's poll numbers began to plummet and a few months later George H.W. Bush was the one measuring drapes for the Oval Office.

(Of course it didn't help that Republicans played the race card when  they circulated pictures of the very black menacing murderer, Willie Horton, who Governor Dukakis ordered released on weekend furlough and while free committed armed robbery and rape.)

Unless Biden gets mobilized, a few weeks from now I suspect that he and Trump will be in a statistical dead-heat and who knows where things will wind up.