Staying Too Long
Why Those Who Should Know Better, Don’t
There comes a time in everyone’s life when they should step aside and pass the torch to a new generation. The first example that comes to mind, of course, is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who by remaining on SCOTUS long past the time when she should have resigned and retired, diminished her legacy. The same can be said about President Biden, who having achieved his lifelong dream of becoming President of the United States, and presided over a pretty decent, albeit far from perfect, presidency, should not have even considered running for re-election. To be clear, I understand that given the way our politics work, it was not feasible for him to announce that he would only serve a single term, as that would have immediately put him in “lame duck” territory and would have made it very difficult if not impossible to accomplish anything. That said, however, President Biden was Vice-President for eight years to former president Barack Obama, and knew “up close and personal” just how stressful the presidency could be, and he most certainly was aware that he was not a young man and that age takes a toll on everyone. Instead of declaring himself a candidate for re-election, that was the time to pass the baton, whether to his Vice-President, Kamala Harris, or to another candidate. However, President Biden did not do that and as a result subjected himself, and those of us who respected him, even grudgingly to the horror show that was watching his decline in real time.
Much the same can be said about the Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, a woman in the autumn of her life, and who could and should be a wise counselor or mentor, by retiring from public service, and employing her not inconsiderable skills to bring into public service younger, qualified persons who are willing to serve. Instead, she clings to power, like a parasite to a host, and continues to seek relevance, even if her search for relevance, requires lying and hypocrisy, not to mention stabbing those she claims to respect and love - Joe Biden ring a bell? - in the back or attempting to influence the Vice-Presidential choice, and even worse, taking credit for it! I don’t know who the hell she thinks she is, but, for the love of God and all that is holy, Nancy, go home! Whether you realize it or no, many, if not most, of us have had it with your machinations and duplicity. Enough is enough!
Last, but not least. Mainstream Media, yes, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, and FOX News, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, I mean you! You ARE entitled to your opinion and your point of view; you are NOT entitled to impose your viewpoint on me. If you choose to call yourself a journalist, then report the facts, and please, make sure they ARE the facts. If you claim to be an investigative reporter, then state the parameters of your investigation as well as the results, and please, investigate to find the truth and not just to dig up dirt. You may be surprised to know that Most of us don’t really care or want to know the sordid details of every peccadillo committed by a public official or parking ticket a candidate or public official has ever gotten. What you actually achieve in your unrelenting quest for something, anything, that will diminish a candidate, is to drive away from public service, the kind of people that should be serving.