In the early days of cinema, studios feared that the immoral behavior of many of the performers would be bad for the image of the industry. It turned out people actually enjoyed the entertainers’ off-screen antics. Jack Warner, the head of Warner Brothers, quipped “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” He recognized that the main point of advertising is name recognition, regardless of what it is recognized for. Bonnie and Clyde were folk heroes (Never mind the 13 murders). We seldom see much news about Joe Biden because he never does anything cringe-worthy like bragging that he could shoot somebody on Fifth Avenue. He wouldn’t even think of it. He’d negotiate, and make a new friend.
What do we need in a president? Experience would be good. “Experience counts,” said Bob Dole.
Joe Biden has spent almost his entire life gaining experience. He has been exposed to and involved in every part of the government. He has learned how things really work. As well as the civics class version. He has seen what worked, what didn’t work and what backfired. He has learned from his few mistakes and knows where the skeletons are. He knows that you can’t always get what you want, but if you give little, you can get what you need, it’s called compromise.
“Politics is the art of compromise,” said Baron Otto von Bismarck. Compromise does not make headlines, but it often is the way to get most of what you need. Arm Israel, but withhold indiscriminate weapons that cause collateral damage. That leaves both sides equally unhappy but fewer people suffer. Bismarck, who united multiple feudal states into Germany, is better known for the cliché: law and sausage. “Those who love the law and sausage, should not watch either one being made.” Sometimes making laws requires some sacrifice.
We need a president who tries to understand all sides of an issue, one who spends more time listening than talking, but again listening does not entertain the voters.
Americans admire a maverick who bends the rules, but one who gets things done without collateral damage. We expect a smooth transition between presidents, with consistency in policy. Biden has restored the ship of state to its normal course. With the stock markets up 65% so far. Unemployment the lowest in a decade and the lowest inflation in the free world. Consistency in policy while working with all parties to fine tune government service.
He’s 81, so? His bike fell over (darn toe clips) but he still rides. Age is just a number. The Senate is full of octogenarians, and the Supreme Court has had 10, two served into their 90s. President is not an athletic position. We no longer base leadership on hand-to-hand combat. FDR served from a wheelchair.
His working-class upbringing helps him understand the majority that have one house and no yacht, but maybe a bass boat. Biden has learned to walk softly and only use the president’s big stick when nothing else works. He knows when to hold them, knows when to fold them, knows when to walk away and resist the extremists in his own party. He knows how tragedy feels, having lost a wife and two children. His administration has been squeaky clean like most Democrats’. You can judge a leader partly by who he appoints or admires. Machiavelli.
Biden has been faithful to the same wife for 47 years, and they go to church together regularly. He does not let his faith come in the way of supporting women’s rights, minority rights, all our rights. He will do the right thing even if it costs him some votes.
Biden has signed more popular bipartisan bills — on gun violence, infrastructure, semiconductors and the electoral process — than any president in recent memory. Four years ago, people were writing off Biden for being mostly out of sight; then he entered the debates and overwhelmed all the others. Thursday his reaction time was slow, but he stayed true to principals.
Lastly there is continuity. A functioning team that can continue the work already started. Do we want another four years of domestic tranquility and functional government services or return to chaos of 2019?
Ken Obenski is a forensic engineer, now safety and freedom advocate in South Kona. He writes a biweekly column for West Hawaii Today. Send feedback to obenskik@gmail.com.