In my dream I was Alice, and Joe Biden was the Chesire Cat. “But I don’t want to go among mad people”, I protested. Then Joe began to vanish leaving just his sneering smile “Oh, you can’t help that,” the porcelain veneers laughed, “We’re all mad here.” Alright, so it was just a day dream… but since the debate Thursday night, I’ve not been able to remove the image of Biden’s pearly whites from my mind.
After Obama’s dismal performance at the first debate, the Democrats were looking to the seasoned Vice President to stem the tide of changing momentum by turning in a good debate performance against the relative neophyte Ryan. His performance was adequate; he arguably won the debate, but his antics upstaged the substance of his argument. Once again, it seems, the Democrats seize defeat from the jaws of victory. Biden came off like the theatrical tough guy upset that his girl might be paying attention to the new guy. He bullies and picks a fight, wins the fight… but nobody cheers, and we’ve all seen enough movies to know who gets the girl. Obama may have feared coming off like an “angry black man”, but Joe just looked like the angry old man, “You kids get off my lawn!”.
The spin doctors explained Biden’s bizarre mannerisms as the mark of a man who was confident in what he was fighting for, the “Happy Warrior”. Wordsworth’s hero is based on a far more noble example. Inspired by Lord Nelson, a man famous for loving and inspirational leadership, who had lost his arm and the sight of one eye in battle, yet still joyfully pursued leadership. He finally lost his life to a sniper as he led his men to victory. Biden’s condescending smirking, derisive sneering, and dismissive chortles would find no place in the lines of Wordsworth’s epic poem. Democrats have tried to co-opt this imagery in the past, but this time it is an abomination.
These are serious times, never more so in my lifetime. Both the President’s performance, and now the Vice-President’s, show in different ways an oblivious disregard for just how serious things really are. As Obama prepared for his debate, he lamented, “It’s a drag… they’re making me do my homework.” This sounds more like a teenager wanting to be partying with his friends, than a candidate preparing to audition for the most important job in the world. No doubt he would have preferred to have been golfing, or hanging with his celebrity friends; but is it too much to ask that he take the time to adequately prepare to present his vision for the future, and defend his record, to the people who might or might not re-elect him? Does anyone doubt that Romney took this more seriously? Ryan may have come off as a little nervous, but as the debate progressed from The Libyan tragedy, to the financial malaise, unemployment, the Iranian Nuclear threat, and the impending crises of Social Security and Medicare, you had the sense that he recognized the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in. Biden, on the other hand, showed no signs of nerves, whether because of his experience, or perhaps he had tossed back a few before he came out? I only say that because he also showed no sign of the sobriety due such a serious function in such serious times.
Beyond the debates, this obliviousness permeates the posture and dialogue of this administration. “Everything is fine” they tell us, “We just need more time.” The similarity to Alfred E. Neuman goes beyond the President’s ears; “What, me worry?”. Everything is not fine! And they seem to have used the time to make things worse. The chief campaigning strategy is apparently mockery, and they insult the intelligence of the American people with advertisements featuring Mitt Romney’s garbage man and Big Bird. We expect a respectful contest of ideas, not shallow insults and bullying rhetoric more reminiscent of the characters from professional wrestling. We need solutions, not one-liners; ideas, not bumper stickers; humility, not hubris. Rome is burning; Nero fiddles, and Biden giggles.
IMHO: Times change. Four years ago the nation chose to make a symbolic choice for President. Barack Obama did not have the life experience or political qualifications of his opponents, but the American people wanted to believe that his election would demonstrate something good. Like his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize, Obama’s election was based less on what he had done as what we hoped he might do, or rather what we hoped his election might do. If then indeed was the time for a symbolic choice, now is certainly the time for a serious one.
“To everything there is a season,
And a time for every purpose, under heaven…
A time to laugh, a time to weep,
A time to dance, a time to mourn,
A time to cast away stones…”
And a time to “throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for our future security”. Turn, turn, turn.
As usual, your perception of our dilemma is right on. “Nothing to see here folks” and “what is everyone worrying about, we have everything under control”, or worse yet… “Trust me; there is nothing we can’t fix with a little more time”? Not this time! Reasonable people are awake and watching. Reasonable people know when they are being lied to. The childish behavior of our second in command and the ill performance of our leader in chief did not go unnoticed, but indeed made it much clearer. We now know the definition of “change”. How could we have been so blind? Doesn’t really matter, because now we can see! Question is, how long will it last?
Completely agree. Is it too much to ask that the leaders of our country act like adults? Joe Biden’s behavior was insulting, and I’m glad Ryan didn’t sink to his level. Not just the debate, but the negative campaigning and commercials, it’s just brutal to watch. I don’t want to vote for people who act like children.
I’ll admit, I voted for Obama/Biden four years ago, because I didn’t like McCain/Palin as an alternative. This year, my vote will be for Romney/Ryan. Well, maybe I should say that my vote will be against Obama/Biden. Other Democrats may have liked Biden’s aggressive style, but in my mind, acting like a petulent child should never get you anywhere in life, especially the White House.