Seizing the Narrative

So, the first day after the weekend celebrations for Joe Biden being elected president, the very start of the work week -- the stock market goes up 834 points, Pfizer announces a vaccine they say their tests show is 90% effective, after Mike Pence tried to take partial credit for their government participation the head of Pfizer told the New York Times that the company did not participate in the Operation Warp Speed program and took no government money, HUD Secretary Ben Carson tests positive for the coronavirus on the heels of Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Rep. Matt Gaetz testing positive, Trump has to fire his Defense Secretary before he releases his letter of resignation, and when Attorney General Bill Barr approves an investigation into voter fraud, the longtime head of the Justice Department's voter fraud investigation division quits in protest, after 29 years with the department.

Boy, when the wheels come off your car, they go flying all over the place.

To be clear, I wish Carson and the others well, but it was just a really bad day for the Trumposphere.  But I think what leaped out the most because of the profound contrast it show was Joe Biden announcing his COVID Advisory Board with 13 respected scientists and doctors, along with initial plans and an honest appraisal to the public, including an admonition to wear face masks, which are not a political object -- and at the same time, the White House announced Trump and nothing on his schedule for Monday, and Mike Pence would finally hold another coronavirus task force meeting the next day.

It was a day when Joe Biden took control and lead the narrative for the political future.  And Trump flailed and whined and seemingly watched TV.

By the way, what I most loved about Biden's press appearance was that among the 13 experts named to his advisory board was Rick Bright, the highly-respected doctor who Trump got rid of for being a whistelblower.  I loved it not only for having his expertise back, but also for what it says about how Biden appears likely to deal with those highly qualified people who get fired and trampled by Trump.  People like Alexander Vindman, Marie Yovanovitch, Sally Yates, and others.

I was trying to figure out if there was more to say on this particular subject, and while there are drips and drabs, what I realized is that it's fine to leave it here because I don't have a need to vent and tie a mountain of abuses together.  Just make the point, wave to the crowd and run off-stage. It's quite a refreshing feeling.  

To be clear, there's obviously a lot more going on and a great deal to address.  But here?  It's pretty basic -- ever since he held his acceptance gala with fireworks, Joe Biden has ceased the narrative, begun to lead and left Trump looking even smaller and pettier and more irrelevant as a national leader than before.  The only reason to watch Trump at this point is to see what harm he causes -- and he will cause harm.  And while we're at it, we can also watch Republicans still obsessively enabling him and their fascist efforts to try and shred democracy.

​But Joe Biden is the President Elect, and he's setting the agenda.