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NNadir

(33,368 posts)
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 01:22 PM Jun 2020

Chicago Tribune: Joe Biden Isn't Behaving Presidentially.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/rex-huppke/ct-biden-george-floyd-funeral-trump-protests-black-lives-matter-huppke-20200609-w64wcywgubchrdg2qhq4mgjq4a-story.html

As an astute observer of present-day presidential politics, I’m baffled by the way presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is behaving.

The most immediate example, of course, is that he spent time Monday traveling to Texas to meet in person with the family of George Floyd. He was the black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer, setting off nationwide protests over police brutality and racism.

What kind of modern-day leader shows empathy during a time of national crisis? If Biden had an ounce of presidential timber he would have been in a secure location, surrounded by armed guards and newly erected fencing, tweeting about his own “GREATNESS” and calling his political opponents “Crazy!”

Even worse, Biden has yet to tweet the words “LAW & ORDER” accompanied by no specific context or policy proposals. Donald Trump, our current president and the model for cutting-edge presidential behavior, has tweeted those words a dozen times in the past week. That, former Vice President Biden, is a thing we Americans have come to recognize as “leadership.” Maybe try it some time.

Indeed, while Biden spent time meeting privately Monday with Floyd’s family before the 46-year-old man’s funeral in Texas, he failed to label Americans exercising their right to protest as “thugs” or “terrorists.” He didn’t attempt to paint people appalled by systemic racism as part of a shadowy group known as antifa, which isn’t actually an organized group but sounds scary and is probably coming to destroy your family farm or rage-stomp your begonias...


The full text is pretty good I think...
72 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Chicago Tribune: Joe Biden Isn't Behaving Presidentially. (Original Post) NNadir Jun 2020 OP
The Tribune is a conservative paper! murielm99 Jun 2020 #1
I didn't know that. Thanks! NNadir Jun 2020 #2
Did you think it was satire? nt littlemissmartypants Jun 2020 #3
It clearly is satire. NNadir Jun 2020 #11
You're sure about that? nt littlemissmartypants Jun 2020 #12
It's definitely satire. nt coti Jun 2020 #16
Of course it is. Tipperary Jun 2020 #23
It skates very close to the mind of the Trump* voter, soldierant Jun 2020 #67
Yes. There are now, clearly Republicans who are facing the reality of who Trump is. NNadir Jun 2020 #17
only confused by the extremely literal. would that include ..? (nt) stopdiggin Jun 2020 #27
The Author Is Referred To As A Satirist... ProfessorGAC Jun 2020 #36
Having linked to the piece, read the headline, the piece, and the author 's bio, yes, satire. niyad Jun 2020 #13
Of course it's satire Warpy Jun 2020 #24
It was ironic and sarcastic. Satire. n/t sarge43 Jun 2020 #39
Yes it is satire. Demsrule86 Jun 2020 #65
But the piece was very good satire. niyad Jun 2020 #8
It's been a conservative paper since I learned to read. And that's a long time ago. n/t Eyeball_Kid Jun 2020 #31
They Endorsed Obama Twice ProfessorGAC Jun 2020 #35
I did a Google search to see murielm99 Jun 2020 #37
I'd Buy That ProfessorGAC Jun 2020 #38
Actually, I think a better term is "Schizophrenic" carlvsam Jun 2020 #46
Their editorials lean very conservative but they have several good liberal columnists-- like Hupke. Gidney N Cloyd Jun 2020 #51
They endorsed gary johnson the libertarian in 2016 refused to endorse Hilary mucifer Jun 2020 #64
"rage stomp your begonias" leftieNanner Jun 2020 #4
That line cracked me up as well! smirkymonkey Jun 2020 #32
Trump has taken to tweeting random ALL CAPS ! slogans. dawg day Jun 2020 #5
Does he ever do any work? Consider this........ KS Toronado Jun 2020 #30
All true, however FakeNoose Jun 2020 #49
We're safer is Dolt45 spends his time tweeting csziggy Jun 2020 #59
Whatever the leanings of the paper matt819 Jun 2020 #6
My dad was a railroader. murielm99 Jun 2020 #7
Chicago Tribune, Chicago American, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Daily News. n/t Eyeball_Kid Jun 2020 #33
Snap! /nt frazzled Jun 2020 #9
Judging By Replies Here, Sir The Magistrate Jun 2020 #10
Rex Huppke is taking a page from Andy Borowitz there. GoCubsGo Jun 2020 #14
Huppke is a VG satirist splunge63 Jun 2020 #15
Excellent piece with shades of Mike Royko, or at least Slats Grobnik yonder Jun 2020 #18
Whew...so glad this is satire Dopers_Greed Jun 2020 #19
True! That's the first thought that crossed my mind. calimary Jun 2020 #25
Indeed. After Biden met with protesters Grokenstein Jun 2020 #53
This is a well done article Gothmog Jun 2020 #20
Rex Huppke LiberalArkie Jun 2020 #21
Great piece and gave me a laugh mvd Jun 2020 #22
Very good article. gademocrat7 Jun 2020 #26
Took me a while to recognize it was parody... Wounded Bear Jun 2020 #28
Not at all. I had to read it a bit to get it. NNadir Jun 2020 #29
He is a true progressive snowybirdie Jun 2020 #34
Writer left out another lack of leadership. Biden told Floyd's family that he wouldn't attend the Karadeniz Jun 2020 #40
Um... has this guy seen the competition? Initech Jun 2020 #41
It's satire MustLoveBeagles Jun 2020 #43
Headline hooks in confirmation-bias trumpanzees, which is most of them. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2020 #42
Worth posting elsewhere. :) LiberalFighter Jun 2020 #44
Whoa, I was ready to be really pissed off! PatSeg Jun 2020 #45
Rex Huppke is trespassing on Andy Borowitz' territory. tclambert Jun 2020 #47
"Trump lashes out..." Awsi Dooger Jun 2020 #48
I have a feeling that we'll appreciate having a classy intelligent President much more than... NNadir Jun 2020 #50
Wow... good job, Rex Huppke of the Chicago Tribune! Cha Jun 2020 #52
I've heard that his staff have often found him sleeping... Dr. Strange Jun 2020 #54
kick Demovictory9 Jun 2020 #55
Endorsement? mdillen Jun 2020 #56
I was all ready to tear someone a new asshole... SergeStorms Jun 2020 #57
Wasn't it the Sun Times owner that sold Trump the site for his tacky-ass tower? maxsolomon Jun 2020 #58
Rex Huppke is a columnist who often writes satire Martin Eden Jun 2020 #60
ugh, Kass is terrible splunge63 Jun 2020 #70
He took Mike Royko's spot on page 2 of the Tribune Martin Eden Jun 2020 #71
I admit it. I was ready to come unglued. marble falls Jun 2020 #61
Lol - I was just about to take off my shoes and earrings ... StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #62
This is satire that is good enough that Trump will believe it is a real take-down of Biden DFW Jun 2020 #63
"antifa is probably coming to...rage-stomp your begonias..." SunSeeker Jun 2020 #66
Kick burrowowl Jun 2020 #68
Trump would not know this was sarcasm unless a handler told him. Rainbow Droid Jun 2020 #69
Yeah I was putting my battle pants on until I actually read the article 47of74 Jun 2020 #72

soldierant

(6,647 posts)
67. It skates very close to the mind of the Trump* voter,
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 09:46 PM
Jun 2020

but there are a couple of word choices which give it away as satire, For instance, "schoolyard" insults, instead of "stinging" insults or the like. There are others.

Warpy

(110,900 posts)
24. Of course it's satire
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 02:09 PM
Jun 2020

The last paragraph quoted gives that away.

The Tribune is a conservative paper, but that doesn't mean they're dead above the neck or that they will endorse 4 more years of chaos. It means if the Republicans ever manage to dig up a sane candidate who isn't ignorant, bone lazy, or a Russian agent, they will back him.

ProfessorGAC

(64,413 posts)
35. They Endorsed Obama Twice
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 02:45 PM
Jun 2020

I think they lean L, because "bizness" or something.
But, they've not been socially conservative to any great degree since Murdoch bought the Sun-Times. (Since sold to a local consortium.)
They crazy territory was taken. (Although ST endorsed BHO in 2008, they dropped national endorsements in 2012.)
I actually think both papers are middle of the road. The "conservative" tag is a long term hangover from the MacCormick craziness.

murielm99

(30,655 posts)
37. I did a Google search to see
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 02:47 PM
Jun 2020

the consensus on their slant. They seem to be called center-right these days.

carlvsam

(21 posts)
46. Actually, I think a better term is "Schizophrenic"
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 03:31 PM
Jun 2020

If one compares the News content to the Editorial section, you would think sometimes that you are reading two different papers ...

Gidney N Cloyd

(19,780 posts)
51. Their editorials lean very conservative but they have several good liberal columnists-- like Hupke.
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 04:43 PM
Jun 2020

Zorn's my favorite. Mary Schmich is also great (she wrote the famous "always wear sunscreen" commencement speech).

dawg day

(7,947 posts)
5. Trump has taken to tweeting random ALL CAPS ! slogans.
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 01:28 PM
Jun 2020

Does he ever do any work? I mean, really, didn't presidents used to do things? Read policy papers, call congresspeople, negotiate ???


He has, of course, called Putin, and apparently coordinated a withdrawal of our troops from Germany to clear a path for Russia or something.

https://dailysoundandfury.com/trump-pulled-troops-out-of-germany-because-putin-told-him-what-why/?omhide=true&utm_source=newsletter-1521&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tti

KS Toronado

(16,900 posts)
30. Does he ever do any work? Consider this........
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 02:33 PM
Jun 2020

Let's say the average tweet takes 5 minutes to study what's being said, compose & post a tweet w/o spell check.

He averages 75 tweets a day, 125 on weekends when not golfing, 6 hours a day just tweeting & watching Faux news
just so he knows what he should be tweeting about to rile up his base, 10 hours on a busy twitter day.

But all is not lost because he claims he works 24/7 for us with no time off to sleep because he's so busy.

So he's working hard for us about 18 hours a day according to twitter, I'm sure he would never lie to us.

FakeNoose

(32,328 posts)
49. All true, however
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 04:29 PM
Jun 2020

... many of Chump's tweets are written by staff.

For example Stephen Miller and Brad Parscale are known to be frequent "ghost" authors of the more intelligent tweets that are published under Chump's name. We can usually tell when something is written in complete sentences and the misspelled words are held to a minimum. I'm sure there are several other ghost-tweeters, but maybe they have to check for permission first.


csziggy

(34,119 posts)
59. We're safer is Dolt45 spends his time tweeting
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 07:29 PM
Jun 2020

That diverts him from venting his rage in other, more destructive ways - at least I hope so.

murielm99

(30,655 posts)
7. My dad was a railroader.
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 01:29 PM
Jun 2020

Every day, he would bring home a copy of each of the Chicago newspapers. There were about four of them back then.

The Tribune had a cartoon on the front page every day. My dad would always denounced the cartoon, and make a big deal about the Republican ownership of the paper. I started reading all of the papers at an early age. I learned the difference, and figured out how newspapers can slant the news.

When I was in college, I became acquainted with a teacher who burned a copy of the Tribune every day. He was quite flamboyant, and it was fun to watch.

The Magistrate

(95,237 posts)
10. Judging By Replies Here, Sir
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 01:32 PM
Jun 2020

Mr. Huppke gets four Poes out of a possible five, and deserves them all....

GoCubsGo

(32,061 posts)
14. Rex Huppke is taking a page from Andy Borowitz there.
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 01:38 PM
Jun 2020

I think he may be auditioning for a job "The Onion." The Tribune has been gutting their staff under their new ownership, so his current job is probably not secure.

splunge63

(102 posts)
15. Huppke is a VG satirist
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 01:38 PM
Jun 2020

Sadly, one of a very few good writers left at the Trib (looong time subscriber here, or more accurately, ex-subscriber. Can't stand their editorial board: Rauner was the last straw).

yonder

(9,631 posts)
18. Excellent piece with shades of Mike Royko, or at least Slats Grobnik
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 01:42 PM
Jun 2020

That column seemed to be channeling bits of Mr. Royko, R.I.P.

Dopers_Greed

(2,640 posts)
19. Whew...so glad this is satire
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 01:52 PM
Jun 2020

I thought it would be another instance of us raking Biden over the coals for everything, while letting Repugs get away with actual murder.

calimary

(80,693 posts)
25. True! That's the first thought that crossed my mind.
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 02:09 PM
Jun 2020

I had to read down into it to realize what was really being communicated here.

I was all set to take umbrage. But I soon realized otherwise.

Grokenstein

(5,707 posts)
53. Indeed. After Biden met with protesters
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 05:42 PM
Jun 2020

and the riots were still going on, rightwank media hustled out "BIDEN FAILS" articles that completely ignored Generalissimo Corpulente's utter lack of leadership. One of them got reprinted in my local neocon-posing-as-glibertarian-run free fishwrapper (San Mateo Journal) and I was fully expecting this to be more of the same.

LiberalArkie

(15,686 posts)
21. Rex Huppke
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 01:58 PM
Jun 2020

Rex Huppke writes a humor(ish) column. He is considered (by himself) to be America’s most-beloved columnist, though there is no empirical evidence of that. Before becoming a columnist he spent a decade reporting on social justice issues, from poverty and gang violence to the gay civil rights movement. He previously worked for The Associated Press.

NNadir

(33,368 posts)
29. Not at all. I had to read it a bit to get it.
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 02:26 PM
Jun 2020

These lines sealed the deal for me:

Did Biden have peaceful protesters tear-gassed so he could walk across a street to a church he doesn’t attend and hold aloft a Bible he doesn’t read while people took pictures nobody wanted to see? No.

There’s no way Sleepy Joe would have the moral fortitude to pull off such statesmanship. In times like these, we need a leader unafraid to forcibly disperse Americans; appear uninvited outside a church whose bishop would later condemn him; and then have the White House press secretary equate his short, ignominious walk to Winston Churchill inspecting bomb-ravaged London during World War II.

snowybirdie

(5,190 posts)
34. He is a true progressive
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 02:39 PM
Jun 2020

Listen to him on the podcast Unpresidential with Cliff Schecter and John Aravosis

Karadeniz

(22,267 posts)
40. Writer left out another lack of leadership. Biden told Floyd's family that he wouldn't attend the
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 02:49 PM
Jun 2020

Funeral because it would be a distraction, what with the secret service and all. As if that's not damning enough, then he makes a video all by himself! That's immoral, wasting a perfectly good photo opportunity. Jeez!

MustLoveBeagles

(11,563 posts)
43. It's satire
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 03:07 PM
Jun 2020

He's on our side.

Rex Huppke writes a humor(ish) column. He is considered (by himself) to be America’s most-beloved columnist, though there is no empirical evidence of that. Before becoming a columnist he spent a decade reporting on social justice issues, from poverty and gang violence to the gay civil rights movement. He previously worked for The Associated Press.




 

Awsi Dooger

(14,565 posts)
48. "Trump lashes out..."
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 04:24 PM
Jun 2020

I can't count how many days I wake up to that headline, while merely trying to check my email.

I've mentioned to many friends that Americans have become so immune to that type of thing they don't remember what it was like to have a classy quiet president simply doing his job

NNadir

(33,368 posts)
50. I have a feeling that we'll appreciate having a classy intelligent President much more than...
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 04:32 PM
Jun 2020

...we would have come this January.

I do hope the country survives until then. This maniac is doing every last bit of destruction he can do, and he hasn't even been voted out of office yet.

Dr. Strange

(25,898 posts)
54. I've heard that his staff have often found him sleeping...
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 05:45 PM
Jun 2020

at three in the morning, instead of tweeting stupid shit.

Is this really what we want in a president?

SergeStorms

(18,880 posts)
57. I was all ready to tear someone a new asshole...
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 07:03 PM
Jun 2020

and then I read the article. I guess acting "presidential" is a matter of interpretation. I like Joe's interpretation much better than the Orange Hemorrhoid's interpretation.

maxsolomon

(32,975 posts)
58. Wasn't it the Sun Times owner that sold Trump the site for his tacky-ass tower?
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 07:16 PM
Jun 2020

3-story high "Trump" sign in every goddamn photo of the Chicago River.

Lawrence O'Donnell has it blocked out of his show's "Chicago" green screen.

Martin Eden

(12,802 posts)
60. Rex Huppke is a columnist who often writes satire
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 07:35 PM
Jun 2020

He is on our side, as opposed to rightwing hack John Kass.

Martin Eden

(12,802 posts)
71. He took Mike Royko's spot on page 2 of the Tribune
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 10:42 AM
Jun 2020

That makes it especially egregious. We used to get the Chicago Daily News, then it folded and Royko went to the Sun-Times. When Murdoch bought the times, he went to the Trib.

Once in a great while I'm enticed to start reading a Kass column, but rarely do I make it through the first few paragraphs. He really is a horrible RW hack.

DFW

(54,047 posts)
63. This is satire that is good enough that Trump will believe it is a real take-down of Biden
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 08:02 PM
Jun 2020

The MAGATs really won't get it.

Rainbow Droid

(722 posts)
69. Trump would not know this was sarcasm unless a handler told him.
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 02:01 AM
Jun 2020

No, really, he'd be praising this article on twitter tomorrow if someone didn't explain it to him.

Wait, what am I saying... he doesn't listen to advice, doesn't know anything, doesn't care to learn anything, and doesn't believe anything he's told unless it's what he's already thinking

He probably will be praising this on twitter tomorrow.

 

47of74

(18,470 posts)
72. Yeah I was putting my battle pants on until I actually read the article
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 11:32 AM
Jun 2020

I saw the headline I thought it was gonna be some Fuckopotomus boot-licker and was getting ready to get the nasty tweets ready. Once I saw the article though....that's a great article. If Fuckface von Clownstick is behaving Presidentially I sure as fuck don't want Biden or any other person running for that office the way said Fuckface does.

(Sorry for swearing so much)

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