It is hard to believe that President Biden abandoned his race for a second term more than two and a half months ago.
As we noted last week, the 46th president is having the time of his life. He takes extraordinarily long vacations on Delaware beaches (a constituency far more supportive of him than the various Brutuses back home) and rubs shoulders with world leaders.
Julius Caesar had one Brutus. Biden had so many that it is hard to keep track: the master puppeteer Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Adam Schiff, and the most significant beneficiary of the coup that they all plotted, Vice President Kamala Harris.
The public memory of our presidents has a strange way of becoming fonder and more nostalgic as years pass. So enormous is our respect for them after they leave the Oval Office that President Carter’s family sought to bring the fragile old man, who had just turned 100 and looked almost passed out, in front of the cameras. In an ode to the Harris campaign, they let it be known that Carter supports Harris for President. In razor-tight Georgia, every vote counts.
The strange thing is that Biden is still very much in the White House. Unless his health deteriorates markedly and the cabal that threw him out of the race forces the 25th Amendment on him, Biden will remain president for 108 days more, in whatever capacity he chooses.
Ever since campaigning for a third time for president in 2020, Biden- already 78 at the time and using the raging pandemic as an excuse- has mastered the art of delegating everything that a Chief Executive does, and never demanding accountability when things go wrong.
The world is literally on fire now, with Ukraine losing its eastern strongholds to a barrage of attacks from Russia. But it doesn’t matter. Biden dutifully listens to the worst foreign policy team – Blinken and Sullivan – and signs off on everything they ask for.
Blinken is such an incompetent leader of the State Department that he penned an article that appeared in Foreign Affairs magazine on October 1 praising American leadership around the world. It appeared the same day that Iran fired over 200 missiles into Israel in a novel attack that was only threatened until then. It brought to memory another article by Jake Sullivan, the National Security Adviser, who wrote last October that the Middle East was relatively peaceful. Exactly seven days later, Hamas attacked Israel.
So, why was Biden back in Washington, and why did he make time to go to the press briefing room, a place he rarely visits? He wanted to boast. He is the only president in American history who can claim credit for whatever good happens, but indirectly point the finger at Harris for anything that goes wrong.
To his credit, Biden doesn’t accuse Harris of weak performance. Instead, he reminds everyone that she was with him at the table every step of the way—for the good and bad. Harris’s position is precarious. If she talks fondly about Biden’s policy successes, she will legitimately get pummelled for his failures. So Harris does what she does best: avoid reporters, press conferences, and hard-hitting interviews altogether.
On Friday, Biden was crowing about how the port strike ended quickly (some say because of Mayor Pete) – and how the jobs report showing 245,000 new jobs was an indicator that his economic policies are working. We are not very sure how accurate this report is given that the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a correction earlier this summer saying that they had overcounted 845,000 jobs. With the election just 32 days away, there was good news on another front. The Federal Reserve would probably not abandon their promised rate cut – by 25 basis points, perhaps even 50.
Speaking of the election 32 days away, where was Kamala Harris in Biden’s spotlight-stealing act? She was out campaigning in Michigan after spending the previous day in Wisconsin peddling Liz Cheney and Dick Cheney, the latest RINO converts to her movement, as political superstars.
Two things happened at the Harris campaign event. First, the Teleprompter froze, and our vice president, who needs the Teleprompter as badly as a critically ill patient needed oxygen, froze as well.
“Remember his number 32 today? We got 32 days until the election.”
[Teleprompter stops]. [A pregnant and uncomfortable pause for six long seconds].
“So 32 days… 32 days… Okay. We got some business to do. We got some business to do… All right. 32 days… and we know we will do it, and, and this is gonna be a very tight race until the very end.”
“This is gonna be a very tight race until the very end. We are the underdog and we know we have some hard work ahead.”
After Biden began to speak at the White House, network cameras cut away from covering Harris. When a president speaks, it is still far more newsworthy than covering a teleprompter reader.
It was a poignant reminder of how uncomfortably close America is to potentially crowning an inauthentic person as the 47th president. The sense must have been palpable even among liberal journalists back in that small White House press briefing room.
According to the New York Times, a reporter, with his voice rising above questions about Ukraine and other weighty topics, asked Biden, “Do you want to reconsider dropping out of the race?”
The president paused, then turned around and declared, “I’m back in!” before cracking a smile and waving his hand as if to say, “I wish.” But as he walked out of the briefing room on Friday, it seemed he could not resist having some fun.
TIPP Picks
Selected by tippinsights
Kamala Harris Has Repeatedly Advanced An Anti-Faith Agenda – Callista Gingrich, DCNF
Despite What Biden-Harris Say, Price-Controlled Drugs Are Awful News For Seniors – Saul Anuzis, via Issues & Insights
Why The Fed’s Two-Percent Inflation Target Is Meaningless – Ryan McMaken, Mises Institute
National Socialism Was Socialist – Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr. via Mises Institute
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. U.S. Warships And Planes Strike Houthi Targets In Yemen – BBC
The U.S. military says it has launched strikes on the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen, hitting 15 targets.
The Pentagon said it used aircrafts and warships to launch the attacks “to protect freedom of navigation.” Several explosions were reported in some of Yemen’s main cities, including the capital Sanaa. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, said the attacks targeted weapons systems, bases, and other equipment belonging to the Houthis.
2. What Russia Wants From Israel-Iran Escalation: Chaos Good, War Bad – Al Jazeera
Russia’s foreign policy under President Vladimir Putin has revolved around a “multipolar world,” an alternative to the U.S.-led world order.
As the conflict spreads, especially to Iran, Russia’s goals are not just based on larger foreign policy principles, point out analysts. Russia is dependent on Iran for military support in Ukraine but has had complex ties with Hezbollah.
3. Nuclear Security Chief in Ukraine’s Russian-Occupied Zaporizhzhya Killed In Car Bombing – RFE/RL
Andrei Korotky (Andriy Korotkiy), the head of security at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine, was killed in a car bombing on October 4, according to Ukrainian and Russian authorities.
Ukrainian intelligence accused him of war crimes and organizing pro-Russian events during the occupation. The incident highlights ongoing tensions and resistance efforts in occupied Ukraine, where local officials cooperating with Russian authorities are increasingly being targeted.
4. U.S. Seizes Web Domain Names From Hacking Group Linked To Russian Intelligence – RFE/RL
The announcement was the latest in a string of moves by the United States and other Western governments seeking to choke out what they say is a wide-ranging cyber campaign by Russian hackers, many of whom are state-sponsored.
More than 100 website domain names associated with the hackеrs, known as the Callisto Group, were seized, the Justice Department said in a statement, an action that was coordinated with tech giant Microsoft.
5. Moscow Pushes For Lifting Sanctions On Taliban-Led Afghanistan, U.S. Remains Cautious – RFE/RL
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a session of the “Moscow Format” consultations that it’s necessary to engage with the Taliban administration despite Moscow’s lack of formal recognition.
Despite the Taliban being unrecognized internationally, the Taliban administration’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi participated in the forum, highlighting Russia’s ongoing engagement with the Taliban.
6. EU Greenlights Tariffs For Chinese Electric Vehicles – D.W.
The European Union voted to impose tariffs of up to 35.3% on electric vehicles imported from China, a move that could set the stage for a protracted trade war with the Asian giant.
The vote comes after a year-long anti-subsidy investigation by the European Commission, which proposed the tariffs to counter what it sees as unfair Chinese subsidies. Beijing opposed the tariffs calling them “protectionist” and threatening retaliatory measures.
7. Any Foreign Navy Can Visit Ream Naval Base: Cambodia’s Deputy PM – RFA
Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol said Cambodia’s Chinese-funded Ream naval base will be open for visits by all foreign navies, including the U.S. Navy, when its construction is finished.
“Ream Naval Base is not for the Chinese. The Chinese only provide assistance to expand the base for Cambodia’s national defense, not to be used by the Chinese or any military against another country,” the Cambodian deputy prime minister said at an event organized by the Southeast Asia Program in Washington.
8. U.S. Adds 2 More Chinese Companies To Uyghur Slavery Blacklist – RFA
Wednesday’s announcement by the Department of Homeland Security is the latest under the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and brings the number of entities on the blacklist to 75.
The UFLPA aims to eradicate forced labor and hold China accountable for its genocide and crimes against humanity against the mostly Muslim Uyghurs and other minority groups in the far western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the department said in a statement.
9. Analysis: Criticism Of Inaction Pushed Iran To Retaliate; Hezbollah Holding On – UPI
After months of restraint and mounting threats, Iran finally decided to attack Israel to avenge the killing of Hezbollah’s long-time leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, as well as that of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was targeted on July 31 while on a visit to Tehran.
Now, Iran is waiting for Israel to retaliate, warning it of severe consequences and even stronger strikes if it goes ahead with its plans. The Middle East is getting closer than ever to an all-out war.
10. South Korea Agrees To 8.3 Pct Increase In Cost Sharing For Hosting U.S. Troops – Yonhap
The foreign ministry said South Korea has agreed with the United States to raise its share of the cost of hosting American troops by 8.3 percent annually in 2026.
Under the five-year agreement, which will last until 2030, South Korea will pay 1.52 trillion won (US$1.14 billion) in 2026, up from 1.4 trillion won in 2025, for the upkeep of some 28,500 U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) personnel, the ministry said in a press release.
11. Google Threatens To Cut New Zealand News Site Links If It Has To Pay For News Content – UPI
Google said in a statement that if the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill becomes law, it will “stop linking to news content on Google Search, Google News, or Discover surfaces in New Zealand and discontinue our current commercial agreements and ecosystem support with New Zealand news publishers.”
New Zealand’s Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith said while the final number depends on negotiations, the bill could generate as much as $30 million “possibly being at stake around the Google agreement.”
12. WHO Approves First Mpox Test For Quick Diagnosis – BBC
The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the first diagnostic test for mpox where the results can be immediately known, saying it could prove pivotal in helping to stop the rising global cases of the deadly virus.
The new PCR test enables the detection of the mpox DNA taken from skin lesion swabs. Currently, samples are sent to a laboratory for testing, and the patient and medics wait days for the results.
13. Fluoride In Drinking Water Might Be Less Beneficial Today – HealthDay News
New research suggests that the health benefits of fluoridated drinking water may be waning as Americans increasingly use toothpaste and mouthwash that already contain fluoride.
The research, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, reached that conclusion after analyzing more than 157 studies that compared tooth decay in kids living in communities that added fluoride to their water supply with those that didn’t.
14. Colonoscopies Among Young People On The Rise – HealthDay News
Colon cancers are increasing among young Americans, so much so that experts advised in 2021 that colonoscopy screening begins at the age of 45, not 50, as had been previously recommended.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 11% of colorectal cancer cases are now diagnosed in people younger than age 50. That equals about 20,000 people in this age group per year.
Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
