Update: Democrats continue their bold demands for incremental change in an unusual bid to capture the youth vote, notes Henry Redman in the Wisconsin Examiner. See also Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti: Biden Accepts Nomination at Most Substance-Free DNC in History.
Madison, Wisconsin — Joe Biden's address to the convention last night hit expansive themes with a manichaean sensibility.
For a speech that laid out the fantastic scope of crises amid the lunatic in the White House and suicidal congressional Republicans, Biden left his audience doubting he will pursue comprehensive solutions.
This Convention address is intended for Republicans.
Police and Racial Justice — Vague formulations of problem, even more vague solutions referenced
Medicare for All — Biden said he would "protect" existing Social Security and Medicare, keeping privatization of health care
Green New Deal — Nothing. Several mentions of Climate Change, but no solution
Canceling Student Load Debt — No, Biden mentions student loan debt, that's it, no commitment
Abolishing ICE — No mention
Massive Jobs Program —No, just Republican-Clinton use of buzzwords, dignity, respect
You get the picture.
What Biden does do is set a tone.
The speech offers the word, light, one dozen times; hope, eleven times; and love, 10 times.
The address is certainly cheerful and up, but I have no expectation Biden, Pelosi and Schumer will pursue critical solutions.
If Biden intended to reach under-40 voters and those for whom public policy matters, he failed miserably.
This is a Republican platform, and Biden is attempting another sleazy deception.
That's why Biden and the Convention ignored popular policy initiatives, and that's why there is no doubt progressive change will not happen under Democratic Party stewardship of our republic.
By the way, what genius contrived Build Back Better?
No comments:
Post a Comment