Tag: Uncle Joe

Biden Gets Hilary Clinton’s Cabinet

By Bryan Williams

One of my favorite pastimes is watching a leader assemble his or her team. I know that sounds super-nerdy, but I wear the nerd badge proudly. Whether it is a starship captain like my hero Jean-Luc Picard assembling his senior staff for the USS Enterprise, or the President of the United States choosing the men and women who will help carry out his vision, this is sport to me. I was once part of a politician’s staff myself, so I know how important and gratifying this can be. While the president, like the captain, always has the final word, those who serve under the leader make it happen and bring unique qualifications and baggage with them.

Our outgoing President chose some controversial figures that I didn't always like or trust. He also chose some great people that I felt did a good job, most of them not from "the swamp."  Contrast that to Joe Biden's picks for his cabinet and other "czar" positions and well...we see a bunch of establishment figures and reruns from the Clinton and Obama years. The National Review says Biden's early picks look a whole lot like Hillary Clinton’s intended team for 2017.

A few observations:

  1. Lots of women. Which isn't a problem for me at all. My mother was the breadwinner in my family growing up, and I campaigned for a female elected official and then joined her staff as my first foray into politics. Women should be at the table and a part of any team. It just feels like a bit of overcompensation, and let's hope the version of Uncle Joe who rubs shoulders and violates physical bubbles doesn’t show up during cabinet meetings.
  • Most people expect that Biden, at his age, will be a one term President. It is difficult to see him running again at age 81 for a term that will end when he is 86. This was his chance to name some interesting figures to his cabinet and really fulfill the dreams of the Left. But perhaps after four years of the Left/media hyperventilating over the Trump Administration, these boring picks may be a salve.
  • John Kerry. Really? John Kerry? His political career should have ended with his failed 2004 presidential bid, but like a whack-a-mole, Kerry just keeps popping up. Now he is going to be the climate czar. Oh good. I can see the CO2 clearing already. What authority does he have on climate? What has he done, ever? Why does he deserve to be on the government payroll yet again? If I were a young liberal who voted for Biden I would be severely let down and darn near close to writing off Biden's presidency before it has even started. With all the calls to name women and people of color to high profile jobs within the government, why not some people in their 30s and 40s?

At least Biden adopted a dog and we'll have a First Pet again. I like dogs. The future looks bright.

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A Tale of Two Uncles

By Michelle Naranjo

The 2020 presidential candidates have become known as virtual “uncles” to many. 

Biden is known as Uncle Joe, while since 2015, Trump is the humorous, albeit a Chrome browser plugin, your drunk uncle at Thanksgiving.

The welcome final chapter of this election debate saga was lower-key, revealing a more subdued pair of uncles, and some absolute clarity about where each candidate stands on some of the issues facing Americans, increasingly exhausted by both the election and the pandammit. 

Both candidates appeared to have a more reined-in edition of their personalities this round. But the new debate “mute button” wasn’t entirely successful. 

Trump appeared to have been schooled by his handlers on how to behave better. He appeared as the uncle who was asked not to be drunk at Thanksgiving. Still, like a willful child (or a dry drunk), he came across as trying to stifle a temper tantrum, declaring that he is not a racist and yet referred to border refugees as having “the lowest IQ.”

Most of what Trump tried to impart was arcane stories that are the fodder of social media but have little context or meaning to most voters. There were unsubstantial sound bites: accusing Biden of harming the Black community with a crime bill from 1994, accepting foreign money, and of course, trying to drag Biden’s son Hunter into the mix.

Biden exercised adult-like stoicism and ironic approach, more akin to a caring uncle who has been around his share of unruly kids. He explained to Trump that it was a Republican Congress that delayed and even killed much of the eight years of the Obama/Biden team efforts. He apologized for the widely accepted yet long-gone crime bill, refusing to engage in unfounded claims proved to be untrue.

There was only a momentary blip of an angry Uncle Joe. And, not falling too far into the bickering, Biden elevated the conversation from pithy rumors to stating directly to viewers, “It’s not about his family and my family. It’s about your family.” 

When he wasn’t swatting away the foul balls, Biden presented sincere plans on what he called “Bidencare” and social and economic equity for all Americans while still giving short retorts to the salacious accusations.

Trump only offered that he has plans, but it sounded more like musing on a grand cruise based on seeing an ad on TV.

Some people enjoy having that one crass, rabble-rousing uncle at the table once for a few hours and then sending him away, so they can go on with their lives. 

Most people want an uncle who will take an interest, care, and be proactive with family when they are sick and hurting.

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