President Biden may have received a rapturous welcome in Ireland yesterday, but Democratic strategists in Washington will have taken little notice. With next year’s election looming, they increasingly look like they are stuck with a candidate who most in the party do not want and whose poll numbers remain consistently underwater. And these foreign forays won’t do much for this. While media baths can be helpful, the key challenge for Biden and the Democrats lies not in promoting his leadership profile, but in finding ways to distance the party from the divisive agenda associated with progressive politics.
To an extent, this shift is already taking place, as leading Democrats, from Biden to California’s Gavin Newsom, start to inch away from orthodoxies of 2020. Take the movement to “defund the police”, which, observes former Clinton advisor Bill Galston, “is now over”. Even the increasingly Left-leaning USA Today admits the slogan has little support and that it is particularly resented among Latinos and African-Americans.
Aware of this change, Biden has correspondingly worked to bolster his crime record. He recently dropped his opposition to a Congressional initiative to clamp down on a lenient sentencing bill that would have lessened penalties for property crimes and even carjacking in Washington D.C. — to the great agitation of his progressive media allies. On the southern border, meanwhile, the administration has begun revamping its stricter asylum policies, particularly in border states with large Hispanic populations.
Perhaps more remarkably, the Democratic “post-woke” turn has also extended to climate policy. Of course, the spectre of ecological crisis still obsesses many on the Left. But barely 3% of the broader population consider it America’s most pressing concern, something some Democrats appear to have finally registered. Biden, for instance, recently stopped echoing the extreme predictions of the climate lobby. Instead, he appears more relaxed about fossil fuel development than early in his term — to the chagrin of green activists — and has taken tentative steps to restart the US’s largely moribund nuclear industry. Such changes are critical, notes long-term Democratic strategist Ruy Teixeira, to winning over the increasingly diverse working class.
Even in the bluest of states, political reality is reasserting itself. California’s Gavin Newsom has kept nuclear and natural gas operating (in large part to prevent politically unpalatable blackouts) and has even suggested amending the state’s landmark environmental law. Newsom and other Democratic governors are also having to revise their free-spending ways. Faced with an economy weakened by Silicon Valley’s meltdown, Newsom has tried to reinvent himself as a fiscally conscious moderate in the mould of Bill Clinton, making budgetary trims while avoiding the large wealth taxes which could prompt a brain drain from his state.
After all, it is increasingly embarrassing that the two rival states Newsom likes to criticise — Florida and Texas — enjoy large budget surpluses, and that several red states are initiating tax cuts. Aware that disorder in Californian cities is becoming a potent talking point on the Right, Newsom has also abandoned several other progressive shibboleths. Last year, for example, he even vetoed a bill that would have legalised “shooting alleys” — so-called safe drug-injection sites — in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Oakland.
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SubscribeAnother 4 years of Biden…good grief. That this is a serious proposition tells me how terrible the Republicans are.
Not that America is that good a friend to the UK, but I’m sure the good people of Britain will be quite happy to send God over to the US once He’s done saving the King because I think the Yanks need saving more right now.
Another 4 years of Biden…good grief. That this is a serious proposition tells me how terrible the Republicans are.
Not that America is that good a friend to the UK, but I’m sure the good people of Britain will be quite happy to send God over to the US once He’s done saving the King because I think the Yanks need saving more right now.
I’d love to believe the author is correct, but the Dems recently won the midterms despite being as woke as ever. The problem is the lack of a compelling alternative. The Republicans are in disarray and if that situation continues through 2024 all Biden has to do for reelection is hide in his bunker while the Republicans implode, just as he did for 2020.
Abortion, Medicare, and Social Security are the words you are looking for. The Republican party leadership picked the massively unpopular sides of those issues and got crushed. If the Democrats had anything close to good approval ratings, the midterms would have been a blow out (the GOP not having a real platform did not help). These issues motivated many to go to the polls who would not have voted otherwise. Exit poll after exit poll shows this to be the case but Republican leadership will not listen. Now it looks like DeSantis is just going to destroy his presidential run by signing a 6 week abortion ban in Florida. It seems Trump’s political instincts are back (after being completely absent for his 2020 run) and the GOP is still clueless. In almost every way other candidates are trying to dethrone him they are picking the worse position. It turns out the American public as a whole does not want abortion bans (even in places like Kansas), or touching Social Security or Medicare.
No, it was Trump. He essentially picked many of the R candidates, and they were awful and seen as his surrogates. Trump is reviled even among sensible Rs. Get rid of Trump and the Rs will waltz to victory because the Ds are on the wrong side of most important issues – economy, immigration, climate, gender, schools – and apart from Trump only abortion keeps the Ds engaged.
No. Honest elections are over. The GOP may be allowed to “win” a few here and there for form’s sake and to keep the pretense going, but the Great Experiment is well and truly over. The odious won.
No. Honest elections are over. The GOP may be allowed to “win” a few here and there for form’s sake and to keep the pretense going, but the Great Experiment is well and truly over. The odious won.
Therein lies the key to winning. Completely lie about your views and then force your agenda through. It’s called Idiocracy.
No, it was Trump. He essentially picked many of the R candidates, and they were awful and seen as his surrogates. Trump is reviled even among sensible Rs. Get rid of Trump and the Rs will waltz to victory because the Ds are on the wrong side of most important issues – economy, immigration, climate, gender, schools – and apart from Trump only abortion keeps the Ds engaged.
Therein lies the key to winning. Completely lie about your views and then force your agenda through. It’s called Idiocracy.
Abortion, Medicare, and Social Security are the words you are looking for. The Republican party leadership picked the massively unpopular sides of those issues and got crushed. If the Democrats had anything close to good approval ratings, the midterms would have been a blow out (the GOP not having a real platform did not help). These issues motivated many to go to the polls who would not have voted otherwise. Exit poll after exit poll shows this to be the case but Republican leadership will not listen. Now it looks like DeSantis is just going to destroy his presidential run by signing a 6 week abortion ban in Florida. It seems Trump’s political instincts are back (after being completely absent for his 2020 run) and the GOP is still clueless. In almost every way other candidates are trying to dethrone him they are picking the worse position. It turns out the American public as a whole does not want abortion bans (even in places like Kansas), or touching Social Security or Medicare.
I’d love to believe the author is correct, but the Dems recently won the midterms despite being as woke as ever. The problem is the lack of a compelling alternative. The Republicans are in disarray and if that situation continues through 2024 all Biden has to do for reelection is hide in his bunker while the Republicans implode, just as he did for 2020.
“Irish” Joe Biden, steeped in dreamy emerald-green nostalgia, badly needs a history and geography lesson, but given his supposedly “Irish roots” he no doubt thinks he already knows it – and thus blunders into the fray trying to exert pressure over the UK/EU’s Irish border negotiations and talking about the GFA as though the DUP were not a part of it.
His total lack of understanding is only likely to embolden Republicans and EU negotiators against the UK Govt and Unionists, once again turning the border into a potential flashpoint for trouble.
As for Biden’s attitude towards Britain, you’d think even in his addled state, he’d go to the trouble of learning the name of the leader of his nation’s most stalwart ally. But no, Joe publicly congratulated “Rashid Sanook” on becoming PM.
Rishi would have won my vote in perpetuity if, in response, he’d thanked President Jim Bowen for his kind words.
You’ve hit the bullseye there, Paddy.
Smashing, great, lovely, suuuper.
Okay Steve, let’s see what you could’ve won ….
Smashing, great, lovely, suuuper.
Okay Steve, let’s see what you could’ve won ….
What about President Brendon.
You’ve hit the bullseye there, Paddy.
What about President Brendon.
“Irish” Joe Biden, steeped in dreamy emerald-green nostalgia, badly needs a history and geography lesson, but given his supposedly “Irish roots” he no doubt thinks he already knows it – and thus blunders into the fray trying to exert pressure over the UK/EU’s Irish border negotiations and talking about the GFA as though the DUP were not a part of it.
His total lack of understanding is only likely to embolden Republicans and EU negotiators against the UK Govt and Unionists, once again turning the border into a potential flashpoint for trouble.
As for Biden’s attitude towards Britain, you’d think even in his addled state, he’d go to the trouble of learning the name of the leader of his nation’s most stalwart ally. But no, Joe publicly congratulated “Rashid Sanook” on becoming PM.
Rishi would have won my vote in perpetuity if, in response, he’d thanked President Jim Bowen for his kind words.
“Rescuing Ireland won’t save Biden”President Plastic Paddy won’t save Ireland either.
I’m sure that decent Americans and decent Irish folk don’t deserve this man but, sometimes, what you deserve don’t come into it. Perhaps Tony Blair could lend a hand – That would be the icing on the cake..
I suppose Blair and Biden would make good bookends… Not much use for anything else.
The Plastic Paddy who claims he’s Irish because of his great grandparents, yet neglects to mention a different set of great grandparents (and the ones from which he gets his surname) are from Sussex.
Precisely! Well said BB!
The personification of the ‘Plastic Paddy’ like so many other US morons it must be said.
There is no internal political mileage in the US by being a “Bakelite Brit” / claiming to be “British American”. British American de facto is the Republican party.
Word you are looking for is WASP – and you find them in both parties. TBH, I wish Biden was honest and admitted he is neither Irish nor Catholic in any meaningful sense. Because the US Dems very much want Ireland under its own terms as is clear from the last couple of decades of culture wars and the current hand wringing on the issue of neutrality among the Irish establishment.
You wish Biden was honest? Honestly? Baaahaahaaaa! Bahaaahaa! The man has been a pathological liar for his 50+ years as a public
servantgrifter.At last an accurate description of the most powerful man in the world.
God help us, for no one else can,
Well, Sir, if you are suggesting only God can help, we really don’t have any hope.
Well, Sir, if you are suggesting only God can help, we really don’t have any hope.
At last an accurate description of the most powerful man in the world.
God help us, for no one else can,
You wish Biden was honest? Honestly? Baaahaahaaaa! Bahaaahaa! The man has been a pathological liar for his 50+ years as a public
servantgrifter.Word you are looking for is WASP – and you find them in both parties. TBH, I wish Biden was honest and admitted he is neither Irish nor Catholic in any meaningful sense. Because the US Dems very much want Ireland under its own terms as is clear from the last couple of decades of culture wars and the current hand wringing on the issue of neutrality among the Irish establishment.
https://twitter.com/BeattieDoug/status/1646160395390930945?t=s_slXLbKSYtVTcrse8r9Hw&s=19
Precisely! Well said BB!
The personification of the ‘Plastic Paddy’ like so many other US morons it must be said.
There is no internal political mileage in the US by being a “Bakelite Brit” / claiming to be “British American”. British American de facto is the Republican party.
https://twitter.com/BeattieDoug/status/1646160395390930945?t=s_slXLbKSYtVTcrse8r9Hw&s=19
I suppose Blair and Biden would make good bookends… Not much use for anything else.
The Plastic Paddy who claims he’s Irish because of his great grandparents, yet neglects to mention a different set of great grandparents (and the ones from which he gets his surname) are from Sussex.
“Rescuing Ireland won’t save Biden”President Plastic Paddy won’t save Ireland either.
I’m sure that decent Americans and decent Irish folk don’t deserve this man but, sometimes, what you deserve don’t come into it. Perhaps Tony Blair could lend a hand – That would be the icing on the cake..
It wasn’t that long ago that US schools and universities educated students. Now you’ve got multiple counties around major cities that don’t have one student regarded as ‘proficient’ in maths and reading in the public schools. I don’t hold out much hope. They continue to spend more and to deny access to alternative schools, while holding down the populace.
Yes, we are quickly turning into an Idiocracy.
Don’t despair the ’Darwinian Imperative’ will soon assert itself, and all will be well.
How then did you manage to survive this long?
How then did you manage to survive this long?
Don’t despair the ’Darwinian Imperative’ will soon assert itself, and all will be well.
Yes, we are quickly turning into an Idiocracy.
It wasn’t that long ago that US schools and universities educated students. Now you’ve got multiple counties around major cities that don’t have one student regarded as ‘proficient’ in maths and reading in the public schools. I don’t hold out much hope. They continue to spend more and to deny access to alternative schools, while holding down the populace.
Maybe wise heads in the Democratic Party know that things have to change, but can anyone get through to the “activists?”
My line is that the modern Activist Culture is very similar to the Medieval Romance culture. Noble knights on their chargers rescuing damsels in distress on their palfreys are just as fantastical as the idea that activists are compassionate Allies doing activism to rescue the Oppressed from the vile oppression of the White Male Oppressors.
Maybe wise heads in the Democratic Party know that things have to change, but can anyone get through to the “activists?”
My line is that the modern Activist Culture is very similar to the Medieval Romance culture. Noble knights on their chargers rescuing damsels in distress on their palfreys are just as fantastical as the idea that activists are compassionate Allies doing activism to rescue the Oppressed from the vile oppression of the White Male Oppressors.
The progressive embrace of critical race theory, overwhelmingly opposed by most Americans,
This link doesn’t appear to say what the writer says it does, the headline is:
A GOP war on ‘woke’? Most Americans view the term as a positive, USA TODAY/Ipsos Poll finds.Is the writer trying to lead us astray or am I misinterpreting the article? It may be a disappointing finding, it may be even a biased finding, but, as it stands, it doesn’t seem to support the writer’s argument.
You can find a manufactured poll to augment any position if you ask the right questions.
Perhaps, but why does the writer reference this article?
Perhaps, but why does the writer reference this article?
My son’s work mate just moved with his young family from a Blue to a red State, just to avoid Critical Race Theory. I know of many more examples like this. Tennessee, Texas and Florida are the aim for many families, trying to get away from woke and high taxing blue States. I would be careful with statistics coming from USA Today.
You can find a manufactured poll to augment any position if you ask the right questions.
My son’s work mate just moved with his young family from a Blue to a red State, just to avoid Critical Race Theory. I know of many more examples like this. Tennessee, Texas and Florida are the aim for many families, trying to get away from woke and high taxing blue States. I would be careful with statistics coming from USA Today.
The progressive embrace of critical race theory, overwhelmingly opposed by most Americans,
This link doesn’t appear to say what the writer says it does, the headline is:
A GOP war on ‘woke’? Most Americans view the term as a positive, USA TODAY/Ipsos Poll finds.Is the writer trying to lead us astray or am I misinterpreting the article? It may be a disappointing finding, it may be even a biased finding, but, as it stands, it doesn’t seem to support the writer’s argument.