SOMEHOW A DEAD HEAT — The Weekly Opine

The president needs to regain the mojo he had following his stirring State of the Union speech. (Photo credit Council on Foreign Affairs)

Defeat from the jaws of victory?

Mr. President, we are pleading with you: Go on the offensive. Be aggressive. Display some swagger. Show toughness. Communicate your achievements like you did during your red-hot State of the Union address. For heaven’s sake, man, play to win! (Yesterday, Biden held a presser announcing Microsoft will build a $3.3 billion AI data center in Wisconsin. Great, now SHOUT it, i.e., do an Oval Office address to the nation and brag about your Infrastructure Act and Inflation Reduction Act and Chip Act. And remind undecided voters that Trump promised a $10 billion FoxConn plant in Wisconsin that never developed.)

Unfortunately, President Biden refuses, or is slow, to grab the reins of a presidential election right there for the taking. An election resting on a silver platter waiting for the incumbent to compel voters to coronate him. By now, considering the unprecedented criminal indictments levied against his depraved opponent, Biden should be sailing far ahead of the most destructive, ignorant candidate in the history of American presidential candidates.

But Biden pussyfoots, tossing occasional one-line barbs, when he should loudly remind voters of the criminally indicted, low-character individual that is Trump. This moment calls for a relentless, no holding back attack. Repeat over and over the felony charges (handed out in four separate jurisdictions). And hit it time and again that courts ruled that Trump owes half a billion dollars in civil judgments, which includes a judge saying Trump committed rape.

As we sit, instead of Biden holding a commanding lead, still-too-early polling shows the race is a dead heat. Regardless of which candidate is ahead in a particular poll the lead is slim, within the margin of error. According to multiple polls, a presidential race that by now should resemble Secretariat galloping away from the field at the Belmont Stakes, instead appears to be a Mystik Dan-like photo finish at last weekend’s Kentucky Derby.

Barely running deadlocked, even as your opponent carries more baggage than a Greyhound bus during the holidays, is not a confidence builder. Likewise, confidence – and voter support – erodes when Biden is slow to speak out regarding plainly obvious right versus wrong situations.

For Democrats to win big will require independents, youngin’s, normal GOPers, and real Christians to reject the Criminal, a.k.a. Trump. (Photo credit Axios)

Oblivious is a bad trait

What happened seven months ago in Israel, on October 7, was an obscene and diabolical terrorist massacre of innocent Jews by Hamas. It was and is inexcusable, no matter what grievances the perpetrators thought they were gaining revenge for. Nothing can ever justify the sickening acts Hamas carried out including murder, mutilation and kidnapping hostages.

There is no denying that Israel had every right to defend itself and respond forcefully against Hamas’ vicious attack. Regrettably, Israel chose the same unfortunate path America followed in the aftermath of 9/11. Israel’s response has been disproportionate and indiscriminate. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has evidently lost his mind, turning the Gaza Strip into his personal killing field. The deaths of so many Gazans, nearing 35,000 and counting – roughly half of whom are innocent children – has turned the tide against the Israeli government.

For too long Biden, speaking in what amounted to hushed tones, was hesitant to forcefully criticize Netanyahu. The Biden administration stood on a tightrope, gently appealing to the Israeli butcher to stop killing scores of innocent Gazans. Yet, at the same time, Biden shipped U.S. military equipment to Israel, used for the purpose of killing people in Gaza, many who are refugees migrating from North to South and back North again seeking safety.

The turning point for Biden may have been the April 1 deaths of seven humanitarian aid workers who worked for Chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen. Andres is trying to feed starving Gazans. Following the bombing that killed his aid workers, Andres described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “war against humanity itself.”

There is not a wiser, more sincere humanitarian than the formidable Jose Andres. Observing the anguish of Andres, as he mourned for his seven dead workers, maybe Biden was influenced to become more aggressive calling for an Israeli cease fire and release of hostages held by Hamas terrorists.

Last week, Biden temporarily halted shipment of U.S. munitions to Israel due to Netanyahu’s threat to invade Rafah. Falling in the better late than never category, yesterday Biden said he will no longer supply “the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah.” The president went on to admit that Gazan civilians have been killed “as a consequence of” U.S.-supplied bombs.

Deja vu

On the home front, anti-Gaza war protests have shown up on college campuses across America. Protests have become flashpoints as university administrators are tasked with allowing free speech protests but maintaining order on their campuses. Consequently, administrators have become pitted against faculty and students as the rules of free speech protests are debated. On several occasions violence occurred after the arrival of heavily armed police who used aggressive tactics not commensurate with peaceful protests.

Protests could become more widespread and expand beyond college campuses if Trump wins and proceeds with his authoritarian agenda. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

According to ABC News, more than 2,400 protesters have been arrested, many dragged violently away from protest sites. It is an all-time irony seeing college kids hustled off to jail when, on January 6, 2021, not a single violent rioter was arrested at the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection. Even though several cops were violently beaten by Trump’s goons, none of the MAGA thugs were handcuffed, tossed in a paddy wagon and taken to jail that day.

Today, on campuses, there are also valid protests against reprehensible displays of antisemitism. On several occasions passions escalated into violence as the two groups of protesters – anti-Gaza war and antisemitism – confronted one another.

While it is wrong to lay blame for the war in Gaza at the feet of the Biden administration, it is right to be perturbed by Biden’s Johnny-come-lately condemnation regarding the atrocities in Gaza. Atrocities that flirt with, if not already are, genocide. Early on, Biden mistakenly missed what Jose Andres understands; that this is a recognize-right-from-wrong moment. It requires setting aside alliances and asserting, without reservation or hesitation, what everyone can plainly see.

The same indignation Biden flashed during his State of the Union as he argued against the wrongheaded Trump/MAGA vision for America, and the same fiery denouncement of the wickedness Hamas perpetrated on October 7, should also apply to what is being done to Palestinians in Gaza.

Biden is missing a golden opportunity to connect with young voter protesters. The president has already alienated some young voters with repeated assertions that he will sign legislation banning TikTok in the U.S. (Who thinks TikTok is worse than Facebook and Twitter, at least when it comes to accommodating fascists intent on destroying American democracy?)

Biden’s missteps with young voters could turn November’s election result closer than it should be or, I shudder to consider, lead to a stunning defeat.

As it stands, the president may force me to hold my nose as I vote for him.