Quick Takes #2 12/10/22

 Quick takes recently on current events:

- Senator Raphael Warnock wins his re-election in the run-off in Georgia against sometime werewolf and former football star Hershell Walker. It's a victory but it is a sad state of political polarization that the margin of victory is barely 3%. It seemed everyone was piling on Walker I almost felt sorry for him, almost. He was woefully underqualified and it's apparent his background was never checked and perhaps purposely ignored.  He may have been a star football player but he was possibly one of the most unqualified candidates for U.S. Senate in recent memory, that's even counting Roy Moore in Alabama a few years ago in Alabama. As comedian Dave Chappelle described him as "observable stupid" I think was the most accurate description. 

- Arizona Senator Kirsten Sinema switches affiliation from Democratic Party to independent. Despite many headlines and pundits making hay of this in really changes nothing. Although she's been a thorn in the side of Biden and the Democrat's agenda the last couple of years it really just confirms what we already kind of knew. She still voted with Biden 90% of the time and hasn't given indication that's going to change. She still leans Democratic which still gives Democrats the new 51-49 edge in the Senate. It still means she and Senator Manchin can be a pain in the ass they have been but a little less so than before.

- With both the House and Senate approving The Respect for Marriage Act it will now go to President Joe Biden for his signature. Long overdue. 

Brandon Underestimated

 There seems to be a continual underestimation of President Biden. It seems in the wake of the midterm "Red Wave" that wasn't, Joe Biden stood confident but not arrogant in a surprising midterm results that surprised punditry and media.He even held the Senate to status quo with the possibility of picking up a bonus seat in a Georgia run-off early next month. It seems baffling to some that Joe Biden still manages to get things done. Maybe he knows what he's doing. 

 

I remember early in the 2020 state primaries that the press made issue with Biden's lack of crowds at rallies and was then stuck at home because of Covid-induced shutdown. Then despite this seeming lack of enthusiasm from voters he won the nomination and beat the incumbent President Trump(aka: Florida Man per New York Post). 

 

 I think we go so used to President "Florida Man" being an in your face and trying to own every news cycle. Even after 2 years it seems we are still getting used President Biden's behind the scenes approach. He doesn't try to own the news cycle or every headline. He seems to let the process do it's thing and not insert himself into the story or process more than we have to. It still seems we haven't learned anything about President Biden and many continually underestimate him. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Further Reading:

What Joe Biden Knows About America by Franklin Foer

Florida Man Makes Announcement

Florida Man Makes Announcement, Page 26

Florida Man Make Announcement, Page 26...reads today's New York Post's front page. Rupert Murdoch has apparently broken up with "Florida Man". It reports a "Florida retiree" has recently announced plans to run for President of the United States. Where does one find the story on.... page 26. 

 

 

Perhaps Rupert is on to something that other publications should do also, put "Florida Man" on page 26(or the equivalent). Other publications probably had made this there headlines, let's not feed him. Put him on page 26.

Quick Takes This Past Week #1

 Just some quick takes this week:

1. Elon Musk, considered a billionaire genius by many, is finding out it's different running Twitter than just being a fan of the social media platform. It didn't bode well firing half the workforce and then realizing you need many of them back to run the place. I guess he got tired of taking out his own trash. Still baffles me how many who worship Elon who rose to be a celebrity by being born rich.

2. Another tech wonder, Mark Zuckerberg, is also letting people go cause his "Metaverse" isn't catching on quickly after pouring a fortune into it. It seems even billionaires aren't always geniuses. 

3. It seemed for once the polls bit the backsides of GOP instead of the Democrats in the recent midterms. The red wave predicted by many pundits never materialized. As of this writing, Democrat's retained control of the Senate and it still looks like Republicans will control the House of Representatives it will be a much narrower majority than expected. There now seems to be some doubt as to Donald Trump's future for another run in 2024. Trump seemed poised to announce his run in the next week but some have hinted at possibly waiting. We will will see if these second thoughts last long. Other moments the GOP could have turned away from Donald(Access tapes in 2016 and Jan. 6th, 2021) were only fleeting moments of clarity. 

Have a great week.

New Rule: The War on Democracy | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)