It’s been a minute.
Actually, it’s been about seven months since I posted anything on this blog. And for that, please let me apologize to those who follow, read, or comment. I appreciate all of you so much.
That said, I owe you a bit of an explanation and a promise to stay in the fight. That fight, by the way, prompted my good friend Greg and I to launch this blog in the first place. More on that later.
But first, a few housekeeping issues.
I was in a bad place about a year and a half ago. The posts were becoming less frequent. My personal life was at a low point. Something just wasn’t right. Writing posts, which I’d been very passionate about at one time, began to become less and less important. What the hell was happening to me?
I used to live and breathe politics, but it became a burden. When I think back, I can only come to one conclusion: I was burned out.
My better half suggested I get back into the workforce. It took me a while to realize it, but she was spot on. That could be what was missing in my life. I knew something had to change.
After months of looking for the right opportunity, I found a gig that was right up my alley. I saw an ad on Indeed, the employment website, for a delivery driving job. It said 20-25 hours a month. I thought, why not?
That 20-25 hours per month has turned into about 20-25 weekly. I’m now the distribution coordinator for a travel magazine here in Oregon. I drive around to about 650 businesses throughout roughly half the state of Oregon and a portion of Northern California. I answer to one man, the owner and publisher of the magazine. We’re good friends, and he’s the nicest boss I’ve ever had.
It’s amazing sometimes when I think about it. I couldn’t wait to retire from my years of driving for FedEx. And now, seven years later, I’m doing the same thing. Only this time, there’s less pressure, the physicality is not as bad, and I get to drive around some of the most beautiful places in America.
A good gig. Finally, I’m in a much better place – mentally.
So now that you know where I’ve been these last several months, what does that mean for this blog moving forward?
The short answer is that I’m not giving up the fight. I’m on a break now with my new job. The fall and winter months aren’t quite as busy as the spring and summer, which, as you might have figured out by now, has allowed me to take a breather and write this post. I’m hoping to do more of the same in the future.
While my posting has been primarily non-existent this past year, I still pay attention to what’s happening in the world. That part will never change. I still have politics in my blood. I can’t NOT pay attention. It’s virtually impossible because my life’s always been that way. Owning this blog allows me to write what I want when I want. I’m not giving up on it. Not now.
And here’s why.
I care. It’s as simple as that. Right now, our democracy is on life support. One party wants it protected and preserved. The other? Let’s say that Abe Lincoln and Dwight Eisenhower are turning over multiple times in their graves. They would not recognize the current iteration of the GOP. They’ve lost their collective minds – and their morality. Somehow, we need to destroy this version of the GOP. Defeating them, and all aspects of the MAGA movement must be the number one priority. It will not be easy.
So much has happened in the months I haven’t been posting. We now have a twice-impeached former president and a four-time indicted one. You’d think those facts alone would disqualify anyone from ever running for political office, let alone being the leading GOP candidate.
Only in America, with the ridiculous Electoral College, could this even be possible. Donald Trump lost the popular vote in 2016 and 2020, yet he was able to inhabit the White House for four years. He still has his rabid cult, and they continue to throw money at him. Amazingly, he leads his nearest challengers for the GOP nomination by over 30 points.
But America would not elect such a man again. Right? I’m sorry to break it to you; yes, they could very well reelect the man – even if he’s found guilty in every one of the cases he’s charged in. Let that sink in for a moment. It’s utterly preposterous. Yet, it’s a scenario we could see ourselves in next year.
And that brings me to the next delicate and sobering reality: Americans do not want Joe Biden to run for president in 2024. They also do not want Trump. But this is the seeming reality of what will happen next year. Currently, these two will be our choices, like it or not.
I like Joe Biden. His accomplishments are more than impressive, considering his narrow majorities in Congress since he became president in 2021. All jobs lost during Trump’s disastrous term have returned, plus about 4 million. Wages are up; unemployment is down. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare can now negotiate for lower drug prices. Insulin is now $35 for seniors. Billions are now flowing toward infrastructure projects. He’s invested more in the green economy than any previous president. There’s more, of course.
But it doesn’t matter. Most Americans disapprove of Joe Biden. There are reasons for this, not the least of which is the lack of effective messaging from the Democratic Party. We can also lay much of the blame on the national media. The chaos and criminality surrounding Trump is too juicy to adequately cover what Biden has done. Chaos, division, and breaking news drive eyes and ears to television sets. Biden showing up at an infrastructure event isn’t newsworthy enough, unfortunately.
In order to be honest with ourselves, however, we must mention the massive elephant in the room: Joe Biden is an old man. If reelected, he’ll be 82 years old on inauguration day – 86, if he makes it to the end of his second term. The narrative in America is that Joe is too old to run. And that includes a vast majority of Democrats. Most would like a younger alternative. You can count me as one of those folks.
Let’s be honest on another topic, though. Trump is an old man as well. Joe Biden is in twice the shape that Trump is. He still rides his bike, hikes, and always works out. Other than slogging around on a golf cart, there’s nothing else the disgraced former president does physically – unless you count the exercise of flapping his jaws 24/7 on social media and the public airways, for which he has no equal.
The bottom line is that Joe Biden will most likely be the nominee. Yes, I’d like new blood. But I will do my level best to make sure he wins reelection. Regardless of my concerns about his age, I will proudly vote for him again. Besides, the old guy in the White House does know how to get things done. He’s got the record to prove it.
Will Democrats be there for him in 2024? Most will likely. I certainly will be there. But deep down, I do wish we had a younger candidate. In a perfect world, we’d have two different candidates entirely – much younger than the two we’re most likely to have.
You cannot argue with Biden’s accomplishments. The facts are what they are if you wish to see them. Some will never give him credit. Yes, inflation is still an issue for folks, although it’s come way down since the immediate aftermath of our painful recovery from the Covid nightmare.
But it’s still a struggle for so many. Gas prices are rising again, and the Saudis and Russians have announced production cuts that will keep the price of oil high. This is by design, in my view. Both of the rogue countries want Trump back in the White House. I wouldn’t be surprised if gas were close to $6 per gallon by the time the election gets here next year.
Yes, there is a pessimistic tone to this post. It’s in my blood to worry about such things. We have over a year before we place our votes for president in 2024. I should calm down and recognize that so much can happen between now and then.
Many of you will capitalize on the ageism I’ve engaged in regarding Joe Biden. I apologize to anyone who might be offended. I’ve always prided myself on being as honest as possible on this blog. Today is no exception.
But let me be clear: An old Joe Biden in the White House for another four years would be a million times better than the alternative. We’ve seen the alternative, and that person, when he was in office, nearly upended democracy in the United States of America.
On The Fence Voters 
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