Same Old, Same Old Is the Wrong Answer for Our Time

There’s a national election coming in November. A new president might be chosen. This thrills millions of people. Meanwhile, millions of other Americans are not moved.

Progressives are one group on the left that is not impressed by the available choices and Rebecca Traister has some things to say about it.

To some degree, the appeal of Biden makes sense. Disruption of social order is scary, eruptive, discombobulating. Middle-of-the-road white men feel safe to a country that was built by and around them. But the lasting power of a politician like Biden shows what happens when a period of reflexive comfort stands for too long. Because when you behave as if your party isn’t actually committed to fighting on the side of the disenfranchised, you don’t fight on the side of the disenfranchised.

Traister ain’t playin’. Here’s another thing about her: she isn’t on TV. She’s a writer.

Somehow the real story gets missed on TV. On TV it’s all bleached teeth and casual deflections. Whatever criticisms I or you or reporters have for Biden will roll off his back just as easily they roll off of Don’s. These men are characters. One is the guy you have a beer with at the corner tavern. The other is the guy you beat up outside the corner tavern. Naturally, the beer drinking guy is more pleasant to…