Two-and-a-half quick political bits (sorry)

Is it morning in America, or mourning in America?

1. Any Democrat would have won in 2008.

No Democrat other than Biden would have beat Tangerine Palpatine in 2020.

This is not to say the Obamas aren't great*. Just that Joe will never fully get the respect or credit he deserves.

2. I hear social psychologist Jonathan Haidt is still criticizing liberals for "failing to take conservative values seriously," even though his thesis has been disproven for years now. 

Donald Trump has zero values. Not any conservative values, not any liberal values. He doesn't believe in any god (other than himself). He can't even fake knowing the bible and uses it to fleece his followers. He is an anti-family man. He is a convicted criminal and a con. He literally badmouths veterans and the United States. He loves dictators and disdains democracy. (Much longer, more detailed analysis.)

Trump has the support of 40+% of the United States because humans are tribal. It has nothing to do with values. It isn't liberals' fault. It isn't because Colbert mocks TFG or because Stephen King is "mean" on Twitter.

Trump is the head of one team. He took over the party by explicitly preaching hatred and fear. That is all it is. 

The reason Haidt remains popular is that many, if not most, liberals will fall all over themselves to seem 'fair' and badmouth 'both sides.' 

Trump is right that he could kill someone and not lose support. Many liberals wouldn't support Joe because he is old. Values have nothing to do with it. 

2.5. From Matt Y:

“When we fight, we win” was one of the key catchphrases of the convention. But I’m often reminded of Frederick the Great’s dictum that “to defend everything is to defend nothing.” When Democrats genuinely fight to win, they choose their battles. When Democrats try to advance on all fronts simultaneously, they actually aren’t fighting at all, they are flailing.

* Sadly, there is no honest way to get past the fact that MAGA is Barack's primary political legacy.

And "Obamacare" would never have passed w/o Joe working Congress.