The curtain has come down on Act 1 of The Great American Melodrama. US President Joe Biden is finally leaving the White House. As a result, the whole world is breathing a sigh of relief.
There is renewed hope that things will return to “normal”. But they won’t. We still have Act 2 and Act 3 to live through.
President Joe Biden’s “illness” is not new. And it is not his old age either. Nor is the problem COVID. Joe Biden is suffering from advanced and serious Parkinson’s Disease.
With the end of US President Joe Biden, the commander-in-chief of the US empire, the vacancy will need to be filled. Who will it be? And can the world avoid being plunged into a nuclear war?
President Biden’s medical staff diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease over six months ago.
His White House staff reached the same conclusion a year ago.
In other words, President Biden was shuffling around the world while influential Democratic Party loyalists Nancy Pelosi (California) and Chuck Schumer (New York and Israel), former US Presidents Clinton and Barack Obama, and White House staff knew he was gravely ill. No cure in sight.
Rusted-on Democratic Party loyalists regarded any reference to President Biden’s condition as a heresy. They stamped it out with a vengeance while his symptoms became blindingly obvious. Biden suffered mood swings and depression. He had no one to talk to about his worsening condition, so he was forced to suffer in silence. Act 1 of The Great American Melodrama began with a crowded war agenda and a gravely ill leader of the so-called “Free World”.
President Biden’s job was to hose down wars in Palestine, Ukraine, Iran and Yemen. He did a passable job of pretending to do “something” while doing “nothing”.
The press was an active and willing ally in perpetuating this massive deception. Major media groups sent teams of reporters to war zones where they were fed hand-outs from US Embassy staff. While a few notable exceptions became refuseniks and declined to work under these crushing conditions, others clamoured to travel abroad and join the Bandwagon of Deception. The shameful media had their own Scoundrel Time. Lest We Forget. No, we won’t forget. Nor we will forgive!
Jake Tapper, CNN’s leading Washington mouthpiece, deserves a special mention. His colleagues say that Mr Tapper is a brilliant news-gatherer and news-breaker, and I can believe it was so.
But Mr Tapper reminds me of the story told many decades ago by political commentator Eric Walsh. The great “EJ” Walsh said of one of his contemporaries: “He used to be a good journalist who claimed many scoops. But now, the only scoops he can claim are cones from Baskin Robbins.”
Act 2 of The Great American Melodrama was how to get Kamala Harris, the Democratic Vice President in Joe Biden’s administration, into the White House. It will be easy-peasy.
Ms Harris will collect much-needed money, the women’s vote, the black vote and the ABT (Anyone But Trump) vote. These votes will carry her to the White House in January 2025.
The fact that Ms Harris had an Indian mother and a Jamaican father is irrelevant. She is not African-American. It won’t stall her appeal. Nor should it.
Her previous criticism of Democratic movers-and-shakers has been done to death and are no longer an issue. Former US President Trump will welcome her as his Democratic opponent but he will not win. In return, Trump and his family will be given a lifetime amnesty for all criminal charges.
Does that mean the Trump family are banned from ALL future presidential elections? Not necessarily. The US Supreme Court and public opinion will decide.
Act 3 is when the fat lady finally sings.
*Alex Mitchell has reported all over the world, including New York, Washington DC and California. He joined the London Sunday Times in 1967. He regards his work on the paper’s investigative unit, INSIGHT, under the leadership of Sir Harold Evans as the most exciting and intriguing time of his 50-year career in journalism. Alex Mitchell can be contacted through this website.
The US is a mess – especially at the Federal level of politics – I think no one can deny that. From its gerrymanders and the Electoral College nonsense to the ownership of the Congress by vested interests – Big Media – Big Pharma, the WMD corporations – the Prisons systems – its cruelties to its citizens…its censorship of books, its wars abroad along with its 800 at least military bases around the world – the bullying of friends and foes alike…its exceptionalism… its provocation of wars via the dead of Ukraine – against Russia, its complicity with the criminally Zionist state of Israel in the genocide of Gazans, its belligerence against Iran and China – and so on and so forth. There is never any end to the deviousness of the US government so far as I can see. But in the US the censorship system (the self-censorship so as not to draw the CIA evil eye means that most citizens remain unaware of their ignorance. My wife and I spent two months a ross Canada and the US towards the end of last year. Eating drinking and being merry without any real thought for the morrow – the world seemed totally benign – for most. In upstate New York and in south-west Florida – with different kinfolk connections it was made clear to us that speaking “outside” while with our hosts that one had to be careful – not to discuss politics. We followed “the rule”. Two entirely different demographics – both wary of speaking up. To me it felt like a return to 1950s/early 1960s Australia and the rule of public intercourse – no discussion of sex politics or religion. I don’t mean I am someone who likes to challenge for the sake of challenge but I am also going to speak up if someone utters racist or classist or warmongering drivel. All that said – otherwise – we found state level politics relatively peaceful – as visitors passing through – visiting museums, galleries, restaurants – in Philadelphia, Washington DC, Denver – Colorado and Salt Lake City in Utah – places we had never before visited. Their Capitols told other stories of colonisation and dispossession – the Australian story little different – and then of striving for betterment and social reform – like Australia generally speaking – though we noticed lots of the unhoused – sadly. Like in Australia… no finger-pointing from me. The current circus which is the 2023 Presidential election – you have it covered. Thanks for your perspective! The cards have been thrown or are being thrown up into the air – let’s watch and see where they will fall.
Dear Jim, Many thanks for your very interesting comment which Judith and I have read with great interest. – Alex
You were always spot on Alex. Age has not diminished this insight and skill that you are blessed with. Many thanks for sharing and please continue to do so in these very dangerous times. Blessings
Dear Jo, many thanks for your kind comments. It is always great to hear from you. Like Biden, I have developed Parkinson’s and so my life has been turned upside down. But there are always things to say and Judith encourages me to keep writing and exercising. Wishing you all the best. – Alex
The finest optimism i.ve heard for weeks.
Dear Maurie, Alex says many thanks for your kind remarks. Always a pleasure to get a message from you. History will reveal whether my speculation is correct or not. So far I am in front. We hope that you are in robust good health. We are doing fine but the Parkinson’s has ender our plan to travel to see you and our friends in Sydney. Cheers.
You gotta feel sorry for Joe. Neurological illnesses are no fun, as Alex and I appreciate. But kidding yourself is no fun either. Joe nearly destroyed his reputation as a pretty solid guy and an FAQ president when he suffered a late life ego attack. And he was surrounded by people, including his wife, who knew better but put their own selfish goals ahead of Joe’s well-being and the small matter of the future of the USA.
On such human frailty lies the future of a populated planet.
Fortunately the inimitable Alex can still slice and dice a story with consummate skill.
As usual Alex, insightful analysis embroidered with your usual cheeky turn of phrase. Look forward to more posts as the election unfolds. Hope to see you both soon up north – been too long.
Alex…good to have your excellent commentary again…truthfully, I thought that we’d lost you. Keep-A-Goin, Good Man. In closing, I’m afraid I cannot go along with your opinion apropos Kamala Harris and her prospects. She’s a Loser like Hillary Clinton was ‘cos America is not yet ready for a female Prez. Perhaps Nikki Haley in 2028/9. Cheers, Ol’ Chum: PETER CONSANDINE