Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
The Biden Legacy in One Photo
President Joe Biden just concluded his Thursday press conference on the deadly suicide bombing in Kabul. With 12 Marines and more than 90 Afghans confirmed dead, the mood should have been somber. This was beyond somber; it was funereal.
Biden quietly mumbled his way through the speech at a glacial pace, expressing sadness at the deaths. The words promised vengeance but his tone was complete resignation. The loudest moments were the repeated clearing of his throat. An exhausted 78-year-old incapable of performing his duties and failing miserably when he tries.
To his credit, the President actually took questions from three handpicked journalists then two others. During the last question, he bowed his head on his hands for several seconds in silence. He briefly finished his remarks and wandered off the dais peppered by shouted questions left unanswered.
This is the state of American leadership at all levels in Washington. Complete and utter defeat.
Something has to give. Soon, one way or the other, it will.
Published in Foreign Policy, Islamist Terrorism, Military, Politics
While watching the speech live, this is what I said to a group of friends in a text thread:
“All he is doing is showing weakness to everyone around the world….our countrymen, our allies, and our enemies. And know this, our enemies will take advantage of this presidential weakness. Our enemies are licking their chops. Our poor allies must be shaking their heads in disgust. Taiwan leaders must be shaking in their boots. How long before China moves in?
We must be at our greatest moment of weakness since the day the British burned down the White House. This is without modern precedent.”
I won’t add much except one more question to ponder: How long will it take, if it is possible at all, for the United States to restore our credibility in the world and regain the trust of our allies which must surely be frayed to the breaking point at best?
At least our norms are restored and we don’t have to deal with mean tweets.
Mr. Editor-In-Chief:
A question, posed in all good faith and with the utmost of respect:
Is it time for another post entitled:
Impeach. Remove. Bar from Office.
I take no pleasure in noting that I do not expect a reply.
God Bless America!
Sincerely, Jim George
Every. Single. So called Republican who voted for this man should be bowing their heads in shame.
We’re obviously in the hands of the Chinese and their US street goons. The front man is a senile old fool. Other than that what’s to complain about.
Already agreed with that in another thread.
There are a few thoughts, but this first.
How is it that journalists/pundits on the right often “give credit” for something any President should do? It’s not the way you should raise your child or your dog ( cats?) . I mean basics. Like take random questions. Did Jon ever praise Trump for it his unprecedented transparency?
Oh, that was ego and narcissism according to most journalists on the beat. They got attention by attacking him. It was almost comical in retrospect. As far as I can tell, they were contemptuous of each other because they were so alike, projecting and escalating.
But, to his credit, in an international crisis, being generally non compos mentis ( phonetic Latin) with conflicting reports hiding on the Chesapeake, while his VP in in Viet Nam, the other side of the world, gets credit for taking 5 questions, three of which were scripted?
However, I don’t think I want to see more video of this doddering fool President, so that’s prudent.
Because he’s refused to take questions before today.
Maybe we don’t agree on the term credit? Does the President deserve credit for walking to the podium unattended? No.
And specifically, because he has not answered questions, he should be taking more questions to assure the country of efforts and competency of our military and diplomatic efforts.
I just don’t understand the reward the other side proactively and then beg for compensation is a viable model for advancing anything including ideas.
Great job there, Jon, helping to get Trump replaced with this boob.
Biden is one failing and failed leader. But unfortunately, he’s surrounded himself with failures. I don’t know if there’s anyone in this administration, perhaps not anywhere in Washington, who would be capable of leading us right now. God help us, if we came under attack right now, who would be able to take charge and unite the country against our foes?
We are leaderless.
Nobody anywhere in the current order, that’s for sure.
Maybe it wasn’t August, maybe Trump gets reinstated in September?
I voted for Trump.
Your one vote doesn’t outweigh the rest.
Oh, okay.
You’re right, part of the problem is that too many that are in positions of power right now (even many in unelected bureaucracy) don’t even see themselves that way. They don’t want to be leaders, they want to be rulers, and see the rest of us as too stupid to rule ourselves.
And I don’t mean the votes of other people. I mean the other stuff you did that render your vote pretty much meaningless. For example, if you convinced two other people that they shouldn’t vote for Trump because he’s a narcissist or shouldn’t tweet or something, then you voting for him is outnumbered 2 to 1 by your other actions and you don’t get excused for that.
In a way it’s a compliment, surely your influence as a pundit outweighs your single, and I would claim, diluted vote. Your opinions and writings mean something! So people who, in some cases and instances, vehemently disagree with you, call you out for your predictions, accusations, speculations, mischaracterizations and see that all as more effective than your vote.
Again, a high compliment!
We all want to make a difference.
I understand. You decided long ago that I’m some cartoon NeverTrump villain and facts won’t change your mind on that. Even when I savage Biden, you insist in the comments that I’m the one who should be blamed, not him. What’s odd is that the Twitter NeverTrumpers use the same strategy when I criticize Biden. Regardless, I will keep criticizing him.
Our comments crossed.🤪
The important thing is that I’m the bad guy, not Biden. I hereby apologize for stranding Americans in Afghanistan, getting more people killed, and destroying America’s standing in the world.
Long ago, like your scathing argument before any facts could be gathered wanting to impeach and remove a President in ignominy for believing the narrative-at best, who has still not acknowledged or retracted.
Savaging Biden is easy. Defending Trump is ‘hard’ or uncomfortable or awkward. I understand completely. Any idiot can savage Biden while Rome burns. But what good is the advice. We are all pushing forward with our perspectives and opinions. You guys are great on offense, the easy part, and deficient on defense, the hard part.
The much-reviled article did not change a single vote; the election was over two months earlier. I repeatedly defended Trump throughout his presidency, vastly more than I criticized him. Again, I am not a NeverTrump cartoon caricature. The day he was elected, I congratulated all of his supporters on Ricochet and Twitter and hoped for the best. From that day on, I considered the continuation of NeverTrumpism to be a grift and thoroughly counterproductive. Also, Trump turned out far better than I expected.
If people want to believe, on today of all days, that I’m more of a menace than Biden … well, I respectfully disagree.
What we see in that photo is an angry, nasty, prideful, racist, corrupt, entitled old man who got his deepest desire but has lost his mind and failed his country . . . and now Nemesis has come to exact her price.
I am almost sympathetic.
Not at all. You are no worse or better. You are not bad. Some of your writings, which are very accusatory are, I guess ‘offensive’, to some of us. The crude references, to stark, almost paranoid conclusions of an event that any sane person saw as an absolute nothingburger with pickles were preposterous. All of these claims legitimized – obliquely- the demonization of all Trump supporters.
I feel personally harmed by your rhetoric.
But more importantly, it’s false and destructive narrative Democrats want to promote. So forgive if I have little respect for your feelings.
Fox has a video of the end of the speech when Biden clearly says that he was “instructed” to call on a specific reporter. This doesn’t come as a surprise. Every presser he had given it has been obvious that he is operating from a script and answering prearranged questions. However, his admission that he is “under orders” is a true statement of exactly how addled he has become. This farce needs to end. Either the 25th Amendment needs to be invoked or he needs to be impeached and removed from office. He is more than an embarassment and his administration is a puppet show on par with Punch and Judy.
So, I demonized myself. Got it.
You mean a compliment in maybe the same way as Joe Biden having been wrong about every major issue (they say foreign policy, but I suspect it applies to everything) for about 50 years now? You can say it’s a “compliment” as to his “consistency,” but…
Your conclusion of my comment needs expansion for me to understand the reference or the meaning. Sorry, not on the six-word pithy retort wavelength.
It is painfully obvious isn’t it? Can you imagine what any of us would have said if even three years ago someone told you that the next president would show obvious signs of mental decline, obviously be taking prescripted questions at pressers, call ‘lids’ for days at a time, have a son that had been kicked out of the navy on video talking to a hooker saying Russians had his personal laptop, the same son be openly selling “artwork” for cash in exchange for influence, all while having an illegitimate child that the president pretends doesn’t exist and nearly everyone just kind of shrugs? It’s nuts.
(edited in order to not leave out Hunter)