President Joe Biden

[Coatigan]

This geezer is 78!!. 78!!
I'm not saying he's going to do a bad job but isn't he a bit too old to be running a country and making huge decisions?
I didn't realise his age until now.

The way things are going, chances are, many of us will be still working when We are 78, with retirement slipping further and further away.

Besides, what is he, 3 years older than Trump?

 

[FantasyIreland]

The way things are going, chances are, many of us will be still working when We are 78, with retirement slipping further and further away.

Besides, what is he, 3 years older than Trump?

Apparently,he has a very able deputy ready to step up when required.Its all good.

 

[urban genie]

Don’t think anyone expects a great force, just a sensible hand on the tiller after the storm of Trump. And much safer than an unbridled re- elected Trump.

And we are all glad of that.

 

[lightning Rodri]

he has a very able deputy

Unlike Trump, so another great outcome of the election.

 

[Vic]

This geezer is 78!!. 78!!
I'm not saying he's going to do a bad job but isn't he a bit too old to be running a country and making huge decisions?
I didn't realise his age until now.

Probably not too old if you didn't realise how old he is.

 

[manimanc]

The way things are going, chances are, many of us will be still working when We are 78, with retirement slipping further and further away.

Besides, what is he, 3 years older than Trump?

Is he? That blonde syrup trump is wearing knocks years off him.

 

[manimanc]

Probably not too old if you didn't realise how old he is.

I wouldn't have guessed he was that old at first glance, that's what surprised me.

 

[Alex - City Matters]

I've been thinking about this over the past few days as things panned out. I have just finished a History degree at the University of York, where I mainly specialised in the concept of 'state power' and how there were different visions of that in the Medieval period. Now, this is obviously something that is still relevant to this day.

Conceptually, there are two elements to the sense of 'power' which states use to legitimise themselves. The first is what can be called the common sense "good governance" - in effect this is the semblance that the people in charge are the experts, who are best able to look after me and give me a return for the services I give to them (taxes, obedience). The second, is what I call the magic side of legitimacy. This is through things that do not really exist, but also create a notion of legitimacy. Think back in the day, divine right to rule, or more recently by winning an election. Having the most ballots does not actually give you anything, but it does create a special power that people buy into that you now have the legitimacy to rule.

Now, relating this to the current day. Let's ignore the good governance side of things. The rise of populist movements across the globe has seen another idea added to the 'magic' side of legitimacy - the sense that the leader is representing the views of a forgotten/downtrodden majority that is somehow being ignored or suppressed by one elite (whether that be the media, liberals etc). For populists, this will always be their cornerstone of legitimacy; their most prized possession. They need this part of their legitimacy more than any other, because without it, they are seen to just be a normal politician who does not actually represent this silent majority.

If the idea that the populist leader is leading the downtrodden and surpassed majority begins to falter, then the populist political has proven themselves quite willing to throw the more traditional 'magic' elements of legitimacy under the bus so to speak. This is where Trump's electoral fraud comes in; it allows him to maintain that there is a liberal, media plot to suppress the majority of Americans, but it also comes with an attack on the bastions of American democracy (the source of magic power). Notice how at times, Trump and notable Ivanka have tried to wrap up his electoral coup as an attempt to conduct a legitimate election (although essentially no one of credit has accepted that). For a comparison to home, look at Johnson shut down Parliament in order to let the "will of the people" go through.

Of course, the 'magic' elements that populists are willing to destroy should it be in their interest very often form the basis of the modern nation-state. The very institutions and principles that franchise everyone and strive to treat everyone with respect and aim to create unity (with varying degrees of success, evidently, but the basis is there). That is why so many even aligned with the party of the populist are willing to stand-out against the leader (others are happy to advance themselves and their ideals ahead of protecting their state).

The interesting thing that I have noted so far, however, is that Joe Biden has really hammered home a return to the traditional 'magic' legitimacy in all of his rhetoric so far. His talk bringing all Americans together (ie, not pandering to this suppressed majority), but most importantly of abiding my the constitutional, republican norms that the United States was built and founded upon. I know that last night's speech was the more notable, but there was a particular element of the one that he delivered on Wednesday in Delaware that's good out to me:

"Democracy is the heartbeat of this nation, just as it has been the heartbeat of this nation for two centuries. Even in the face of the pandemic, more American voted in this election than ever before in American history. Over 150 million people cast their votes - I think that that is extraordinary. And if we had any doubts, then we shouldn't any longer; about a government of, by, and for the people. It is very much alive; very much alive in America. Here, the people rule. Power can't be taken or asserted; it flows from the people and it is their will that determines who will be the President of the United States and their will alone."

You might think that the rhetoric on display might seem like pretty average stuff for a politican and I think you would be correct. However, we are not living in usual times. Biden's rhetoric is a clear, if a little hidden and nuanced, repudiation of the Trumpist populist rhetoric. It is a clear and hard return to the political power norms that have governed the United States for almost two-hundred and fifty years. I think, for that, we can all sigh a little bit of relief.

Posted this in the US Election thread, but it is also really relevant here.

 

[urban genie]

CNN reports Dick Cheny, Bidens long time friend will help advise him on foriegn policy.

That's when you remember that mainly Dems and Republicans dance to the beat of the same drum on many issues.

 

[mat]

Which Republicans will get jobs in his cabinet?

If he's true to his unification policy there will be a couple.