Democratic Primaries

of all places. Wow. But a unique experience. "Fortunately the unit is not in demand."

I'm in an ancient mobile home bounded by freshwater marsh in Florida, our "winter home." We definitely chose it for the views. My husband strolls out in his bathrobe most mornings to fish before breakfast and Harry, our neighbor's cat, joins him. Kinda different.

As for putting all one's chips on a vague notion, no. There's nothing vague about the need to save our nation from RW authoritarian takeover or the shocking reality that large portions of he populace, including some on the left!, including too many young people!, would support that. The battle takes place in people's minds, and influencing those by taking dynamic action to restore confidence in democracy and hope for the future is a huge part of it. Projecting decency, not dynamism, is Biden's strong suit, but if we get the power in congress we must have for big action, it will happen. Our next president has a huge job with a long list of things that must be gotten to and little time to do it.

Btw, think what it means that in 2015, while considering a run then, Biden wanted iconoclastic Elizabeth Warren to be his "assistant" president as he was for Obama. That choice completely contradicts the narrative the MSM push. Who are all the people Biden has on his lists this time and has already been talking with?

Of course an excited energy that lifted the nation whenever he walked on a stage would be helpful right now, but for most people belief has to develop over time. FDR was not an exciting candidate at first ("He is a pleasant man who, without any important qualifications for the office, would very much like to be president." Walter Lipman's take) and owed his 1932 win above all to Republican disasters during Hoover. In fact, his campaign mainly tried not to make any of the mistakes Hoover badly needed and went overboard hiding his disability. Roosevelt already had the "New Deal" slogan whomped up but gave only vague clues to what that was supposed to mean, careful not to provide any interesting detail to attack. And he came across as so bland and good natured that many believed he really didn't have the right stuff. Neither of us would have been impressed, and I would have been offended by his background, the most exciting (for some others) thing about him.

It's not that Biden's supposed to be FDR, but that Franklin Roosevelt wasn't FDR either. He was the reassuring face of the very redoubtable team of New Dealers he put together and turned loose, PLUS Democratic majorities in both houses of congress over his entire administration--who accomplished much of what he is credited with. FDR was a big team, fronted by him and his fireside chats.

Anyway, at one time I hoped one of our experienced governors would also catch fire, but you work with what you have, and watching this progress I think we caught a break we badly need with Biden. We now know that in the face of continual attacks his broad support is real, and there's reason for that. He brings something the nation needs and wants, something none of the other candidates succeeded in getting across The Great Wall of Media, although my own notion is that Warren in an extremely different style succeeded more than the others. But she's a woman.

Have a good, comfy day.