Joe Biden and his Presidency deserve their own thread....

[Gravity Aided]

I can see why it would be offputting. The meme has already reached oversaturation. Possibly the first meme to burn out in under 48 hours.

However, to try to explain why it was popular, he looked cold, uncomfortable, and isolated. Who among us can't relate to that?

As for the apparent demeanour and lack of formalwear for the occasion? He's nearly 80, it was 2'C and rather windy, comfort takes precedence over turning out well. A lot of the appeal comes from the contrast between his expression and his giant goofy mittens, which is what kids nowadays would describe as "Big Mood".

Let's not forget that Socialists in The States aren't really big on formal wear.

 

[Gravity Aided]

This is a very fair point. I'm not convinced that Sanders could have beaten Trump. If it was a fair fight, perhaps, but it would have been all to easy to play the "reds under the bed" card and as we've seen over here in Plague Island with Corbyn it's a difficult perception to shake, particularly if the enlightened centrists are actively against you.

Post McCarthy, America's Overton Window is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over there ------------------------------------------------------>
Short of inventing a time machine and going back to kill McCarthy before he gets to spout his gibberish I'm not sure what can be done to realign America with reality. There are some things about US voting demographics that I simply don't understand, like the sizeable pro-Trump Latino faction.

And the fact that it took the Republicans, and President Eisenhower, so long to curb McCarthy was shameful. Only when "Tail Gunner Joe" went after the military, and the military hired an excellent attorney named Joseph Welch, did things get under control. Joseph Welch made McCarthy look like the lying bully that he was. Right on national Tv.

 

[MntnMan62]

Two ocean navy. Overseas commitments and treaty obligations. It costs a dime or two.

Yep. Massive undertaking.

 

[matticus]

Finally found a pic showing (un) social distancing at the Inauguration:

 

[Archie_tect]

It's inevitable that every decision Biden makes will upset someone somewhere... but for the common good this time- not for himself.

 

[Archie_tect]

Wouldn't it be better to work these things out first, before ending single sex exemptions at a stroke? Which is what it is being suggested that this order will do.

True... but then UK politicians have had over four years to get basic rules agreed for leaving the EU, so we aren't any better. Joe Biden's administration has had 3 days, the detail is what matters.

 

[AndyRM]

@Skibird , I'm sorry that the efforts, being suggested by US Democrats, to try to reach an understanding about what it is to be male or female in the 21st Century tips the balance in favour of sports people who identify as women but are biologically men, but in recognising that sexuality has many different forms you have unintended consequences. It then requires rules to be set and where you have rules there are exceptions which have to be legislated for, sometimes it takes time to work those out- this situation is probably one of them.

Exactly this. Gender identity is complex, requires proper discussion and consideration.

And that's not easy, but it's absolutely vital.

Unfortunately, opinions are all too quickly entrenched due to the barrage of information and instant versions of communication we have available these days. And I'm guilty of making my mind up about things too quickly too I suppose. But I think the trans issue with sports people has been sensationalised and takes away from constructive discussion.

 

[Archie_tect]

Eddie Izzard's career has often been based on being a transvestite when he felt like it, but now he's decided to be she/her... you might be cynically motivated to suggest that it's a publicity stunt, or you may defend 'her' right to be who 'she' wants to be without the added complications of legal status.

But isn't Skibird right to say that attempting to gain from competing as a woman taking biological physical advantage too far?

Isn't Joe Biden right to bring this debate out in the open to formulate policy from the outset?

 

[AuroraSaab]

True... but then UK politicians have had over four years to get basic rules agreed for leaving the EU, so we aren't any better. Joe Biden's administration has had 3 days, the detail is what matters.

The equivalent to what Biden has done would have been the UK leaving the EU on the day after the referendum and sorting out the details later. He could have held off pushing this through until it's scope and limitations were made clear, but chose not to. There is already talk of withholding State funds from those states who are insisting on maintaining Title 1X exclusions, ie same sex sports.

I think it was a mistake to this vague but potentially injurious section to an otherwise laudable attempt to prevent discrimination in housing, employment etc for trans gender people.

 

[AuroraSaab]

Isn't Joe Biden right to bring this debate out in the open to formulate policy from the outset?

The debate has been out in the open for some years now, especially amongst women and feminists. To be honest, many men aren't bothered because it doesn't affect them. No trans man is going to be winning a college football team place on the men's team. What Biden has done is end the debate by bringing in legislation - when there are still huge issues to be resolved.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Mod Note:
I have moved the posts related to Biden's alleged transgender policy here:
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/transgender-world-cycling-champion-is-it-right.241619/
because they seem more on topic in that thread.
I say alleged because the link posted by @Skibird is not from a reputable source.
Please try to stick to the topic, and try to link to reputable sources in your posts.
Cheers!

 

[Archie_tect]

The equivalent to what Biden has done would have been the UK leaving the EU on the day after the referendum and sorting out the details later. He could have held off pushing this through until it's scope and limitations were made clear, but chose not to. There is already talk of withholding State funds from those states who are insisting on maintaining Title 1X exclusions, ie same sex sports.

I think it was a mistake to this vague but potentially injurious section to an otherwise laudable attempt to prevent discrimination in housing, employment etc for trans gender people.

If it's so ill-conceived it will almost certainly get amended very rapidly- certainly sounds like it needs to be!

 

[theclaud]

This is good, from the new Secretary of the Treasury. I know it's rhetoric, not action, but nothing is going to happen unless there's some vision. Take note, Starmer...

 

[srw]

This is good, from the new Secretary of the Treasury. I know it's rhetoric, not action, but nothing is going to happen unless there's some vision. Take note, Starmer...

I look forward to Starmer's new Chancellor saying something similarly inspiring on the day they are elected...

 

[theclaud]

I look forward to Starmer's new Chancellor saying something similarly inspiring on the day they are elected...

Optimistic on several fronts, but I guess that's not a bad thing.