I wrote this earlier this year, and mistakenly thought I’d published it. With the recent convictions in the Manhattan election interference trial, I decided that now might be a good time for an update and publication.
For some time now, I have been struggling to understand why President Biden’s accomplishments and demeanor don’t get much positive attention, while his predecessor seemingly gets plenty of it. In a past essay, I’ve attributed it to expectations. But recently, I’ve come to realize that it’s more about respect. President Biden has earned it, while his predecessor demands it. It’s up to us to realize the difference. We can start by using the honorific title, “President,” appropriately, and by giving President Biden top billing when comparing him to his predecessor.
A while back, I consciously adopted the policy of referring to our current elected leader as “President Biden” whenever I mentioned his name (without overdoing it). Conversely, I consciously dropped the title, and even the name (for the most part) of his predecessor. I wasn’t even referring to him as “ex-,” “former-,” or “failed-.” Unconsciously, I was differentiating my level of respect for them. As I’ve watched the media coverage of both men, and seen how they are shown on the same level, I’ve wondered how it was possible that they could be on the same plane when they’re not even on the same runway!
For the record, I believe that Trump (there, I said it once) was elected in 2016 by a majority of electors chosen by majorities of voters in their respective states. I won’t get into how he did it or with whose help, but I believe the votes were there. Once he was elected, I accepted the results even though I wasn’t happy with them, and vowed to give him a chance to succeed. In fact, I posted a piece last July that I wrote in the middle of 2017 where I discussed that (https://open.substack.com/pub/bobmorgan/p/the-new-chaos-theory). Even then, I was open to seeing him pivot, but not in the destructive and chaotic directions he chose.
President Biden has methodically and quietly gone about the massive job of the presidency by first restoring some guardrails, then by building a Cabinet filled with qualified and capable people, and then by re-engaging the rest of the world’s leaders. He did those things because they were destroyed by his predecessor. He restored a dedication to the separation of powers, refusing to step on Congress or the Supreme Court, although he’s had to take a more aggressive approach due to their intransigence and corruption. He got rid of his predecessor’s “Tool” Cabinet, and replaced it with a Cabinet whose members are generally respected and able to speak truth to power. He stood up to the adversaries that his predecessor embraced, and made peace with those allies who had been marginalized or demonized.
The news these days is replete with stories that seem to treat both men as equals. They are not. President Biden, by any objective measure, is focusing on the job of the presidency and what he perceives to be in the best interests of the country and indeed the world. His predecessor, by any objective measure, is focused only on what he perceives to be his own self-interest, and constantly feeds his “echo”lytes and “sicko”phants a diet of irony-rich, fact-free word salad that makes them think he’s on their side.
President Biden’s accomplishments and policy positions are generally looked upon favorably by the majority of Americans. Conversely, his predecessor’s accomplishments and policy positions, such as they are, do not enjoy much support among the majority. Comparing and contrasting them, and giving President Biden top billing, should help to dispel the false equivalency that they seem to otherwise be assigned.
Until his conviction, I’d taken to referring to President Biden’s predecessor as, “Quadefendant,” or “Defendant.” I now refer to him as “Convicted Felon.” All adequately and accurately identify him, and don’t convey more respect than he’s earned. I’ve also tried to avoid referring to him as President Biden’s “predecessor,” as I have here. For that, I prefer, “previous White House occupant.”
While these distinctions may seem minor, and I doubt that they will turn any hardcore votes in the 2024 election, they may have a subtle impact on readers and listeners, who in turn may influence others. If nothing else, though, they remind me of the wide disparity between the two candidates, and help maintain my own sanity.
Leading up to the 2016 election, PBS Newshour talked about Trump incessantly! Every day he said or did something shocking! So much so, that he didn't have to pay for ads--he got "free press" every single day! Well, the same thing is happening today! He says something egregious, and the press jumps all over it--with GLEE--if it's a "right wing" news source! I can't STAND to hear T's voice or see his face, it is unbearable to me (I've always been overly sensitive). I wish I could just go to sleep and wake up in December.
I now refer in my writings when mentioning “TFG” (as President Biden has so often used the abbreviation) as Convicted Felon DJT.
Of the many issues President Biden (and his staff) has had to deal with beyond “first restoring some guardrails, then by building a Cabinet filled with qualified and capable people” is the replacement and filling of appointed government positions previously and still some currently occupied by loyalists and appointees of Convicted Felon DJT. Many were entrenched in the DOJ, which handicapped Garland’s first two years. DeJoy is still Postmaster General and President Biden only recently filled vacant positions in the Postal Board of Governors.
Other federal departments and agencies were decimated by dedicated career civil servants leaving in disgust or being forced out from 2017 through 2020. The DOI and EPA were especially hard hit.