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Old enough to remember 1984 although 1988 was my first as an adult. I have never seen such celebrations.
Something feels different. And that is good
Something feels different. And that is good
And I think I know what is different. It came to me as I was watching @JoeBiden.
US presidents have been flamboyant or calm or statesmanly or some combo of these. But they have always been marked by arrogance. Even the charm, glamour, suavity is marked by arrogance.
US presidents have been flamboyant or calm or statesmanly or some combo of these. But they have always been marked by arrogance. Even the charm, glamour, suavity is marked by arrogance.
And it is a double whammy: the power of being of the most powerful nation in the world and the leader of the nation.
Biden’s was the most humble(-ed) speech I have heard from a US president.
Biden’s was the most humble(-ed) speech I have heard from a US president.
Some of it Biden himself. He served as VP to USA’s first Black president, and a man much younger than himself without explicit issues. He has picked a VP with more charisma - and future - than himself.
But this isn’t just individual humility
But this isn’t just individual humility
This was a leader of a humbled nation. Thankfully rational and clear eyed about the truth but also cognizant that in 4 years simce he was VP, the world gas changed, that USA is much diminished in hard and soft power
There was - and I realise it is an odd comparison - something Gorbachev like about this speech.
This is not a leader of the free world. Nor the head of a global superpower. This is a leader of declining superpower who is cognizant of the realities
This is not a leader of the free world. Nor the head of a global superpower. This is a leader of declining superpower who is cognizant of the realities
I am conflicted.
I prefer a humbled USA that is part of a community of nations. At the same, I do not know what this may mean for the post-war order.
I prefer a humbled USA that is part of a community of nations. At the same, I do not know what this may mean for the post-war order.
Also I still think HRC should have asked for recounts. That 2016 was a stolen election. And I HATE that thd tangerine monstrosity has got away with the theft.
But then the damage done in the past four years to USA and the post-1945 world order by the tangerine monstrosity has also meant this unprecedentedly humbled president-elect
And then I compare Biden to UK politicians. The PM is a feckless fool with more arrogance and less reason than 45. Leaders of thd opposition are too insular and limited to even realise that UK isn’t a major power.
This country’s leaders have more reason to be humbe but aren’t
This country’s leaders have more reason to be humbe but aren’t
So I look back across the pond and think that perhaps a humble leader of a diminished nation is the best way forward l
No answer to these questions but I am glad it is Biden. And I am delighted it is Kamala.
End thread 
