That smiling photo was an attempt to appeal to Trump's ego, the way the North Korean dictator (and so many others, including Putin) did during Trump's first term. It's a delicate balance -- not bending a knee, but treating Trump as an equal who deserves respect and regard (whether he does or not). I suspect that Biden didn't even have to swallow bile. He's dealt with reprehensible national leaders for decades.
I appreciate that you pointed out that Trump didn't meet with Biden for the last transition. By acting as if the last transition went just as smoothly -- that is, by pretending that he is just continuing precedence -- Biden is actually mocking Trump. But the orange man won't catch on, or at least won't acknowledge publicly.
Gabe the media did sanewash the orange guy’s hateful and violent speech. Joe Biden is simply biding by our 200+ year policy of a peaceful transfer of power. Obviously you fail to recognize Biden’s basic decency and d respect for our institutions. Trump is a fascist and you’re seeing his obscene Cabinet take shape— few if any with little to no qualifications for the jobs he has nominated them for. People are going to suffer. It may not be you or me but so many refugees who have come here at great risk so their kids will have a better future (like my ancestors and probably yours) are going to live in terror and maybe be thrown in to concentration camps because of this election. Many of the LGBTQIA community, especially trans kids are also going to suffer. And women except maybe old farts like me will not only risk their lives to have a child but will probably die in many states that have laws that are so vague and or so prohibitive that docs won’t treat their miscarriages. Wake up Gabe. Your analysis is so flawed that you apparently are totally without imagination what a AGs office headed by Getz or a Health dept headed by Kennedy or Gabbard as DNI or Musk and Rammaswami making govt more “efficient” or Noem running DHS will be like or are you a MAGA under the skin? Stop. Just stop obeying before hand.
We have to keep asking our journalists do better. Good grief, we are in the midst of a crisis even Hollywood couldn't have dreamed of. Thanks for posting this. Keep up the good work and call bullshit when you see it.
Always appreciate the history. The job of the U.S. president is unique, It is unfortunate for the country that Trump has systematically burned bridges with respect to prior presidents and previous high ranking officials in prior administrations.
Gabe, how are you defining ‘era’? I disagree with your statement that Trump is the ‘unquestionably dominant figure of our era’. If you are talking about the last decade, then maybe an argument could be made for his negative domination of the media for the last decade. But to call him the dominant figure of our political era dismisses Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Hilary Clinton, John McCain, Joe Biden and many others. Perhaps you did mean decade.
Hi Gabe, not sure how to take this morning's report. President Joe Biden is a man who cares about his country and it's constituents. The President Elect is more concerned with himself and not the people who elected him.
I do appreciate the past history lesson. I wonder where the future with this President will bring us.
Another thought on the Cheshire Cat photo: I felt a strong dissonance when viewing the photo; Melania is missing. Biden could be thinking that Trump is so disgusting that even his wife shuns him.
The idea of condoning the media sanewashing a climate denialist (when respected climate scientists keep urging otherwise) is ‘smart politics’, is that what I’m reading? Many in the activist left may have endangered their long-term political capital by over-emphasizing the Palestine issue and coming off as dour and somber, but they still take these stances for moral reasons.
Gave, this was a really interesting column. I appreciate the focus on the history of the meetings of Presidents. Well done. And as you mentioned upfront, which more than a few commenters seem to have missed, I’ll look forward to your thoughts on Trump’s announcements of his future Cabinet nominees in due course. Keep up the good work - it’s well worth the cost of my monthly subscription.
I don't find the photos anywhere near as interesting as Trump's last two nominations, to which you gave only a few sentences in a long post.
Tulsi Gabbard may be a traitor, at the very least. Matt Gaetz has no professional qualifications for AG and may be a pedophile. He most certainly was bold enough to share photos and stories about his exploits with underage women on the House floor. He once faced a sex trafficking investigation. An Ethics committee report is imminent, although Gaetz may believe he's out smarted that by resigning. But I hope the House releases it anyway, because he's suspected of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. But sure, he'll do a great job as AG.
We are now shortly expecting to hear that RFK Jr. -- an anti-vaxxer who's opposed to fluoride and, well, science -- may be Trump's nominee for HHS. Will that too receive short shrift? Maybe there will be more photos to tsk over.
Please do better. I know you can. The country needs you.
Joe Biden is a decent man and respects the Office. Something this country obviously does not appreciate.
That smiling photo was an attempt to appeal to Trump's ego, the way the North Korean dictator (and so many others, including Putin) did during Trump's first term. It's a delicate balance -- not bending a knee, but treating Trump as an equal who deserves respect and regard (whether he does or not). I suspect that Biden didn't even have to swallow bile. He's dealt with reprehensible national leaders for decades.
I appreciate that you pointed out that Trump didn't meet with Biden for the last transition. By acting as if the last transition went just as smoothly -- that is, by pretending that he is just continuing precedence -- Biden is actually mocking Trump. But the orange man won't catch on, or at least won't acknowledge publicly.
Gabe the media did sanewash the orange guy’s hateful and violent speech. Joe Biden is simply biding by our 200+ year policy of a peaceful transfer of power. Obviously you fail to recognize Biden’s basic decency and d respect for our institutions. Trump is a fascist and you’re seeing his obscene Cabinet take shape— few if any with little to no qualifications for the jobs he has nominated them for. People are going to suffer. It may not be you or me but so many refugees who have come here at great risk so their kids will have a better future (like my ancestors and probably yours) are going to live in terror and maybe be thrown in to concentration camps because of this election. Many of the LGBTQIA community, especially trans kids are also going to suffer. And women except maybe old farts like me will not only risk their lives to have a child but will probably die in many states that have laws that are so vague and or so prohibitive that docs won’t treat their miscarriages. Wake up Gabe. Your analysis is so flawed that you apparently are totally without imagination what a AGs office headed by Getz or a Health dept headed by Kennedy or Gabbard as DNI or Musk and Rammaswami making govt more “efficient” or Noem running DHS will be like or are you a MAGA under the skin? Stop. Just stop obeying before hand.
We have to keep asking our journalists do better. Good grief, we are in the midst of a crisis even Hollywood couldn't have dreamed of. Thanks for posting this. Keep up the good work and call bullshit when you see it.
The dirty'ness of political campaigns have kept many able people from running.
Could use statesmen/stateswomen rather than politicians in government.
Always appreciate the history. The job of the U.S. president is unique, It is unfortunate for the country that Trump has systematically burned bridges with respect to prior presidents and previous high ranking officials in prior administrations.
Gabe, how are you defining ‘era’? I disagree with your statement that Trump is the ‘unquestionably dominant figure of our era’. If you are talking about the last decade, then maybe an argument could be made for his negative domination of the media for the last decade. But to call him the dominant figure of our political era dismisses Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Hilary Clinton, John McCain, Joe Biden and many others. Perhaps you did mean decade.
Hi Gabe, not sure how to take this morning's report. President Joe Biden is a man who cares about his country and it's constituents. The President Elect is more concerned with himself and not the people who elected him.
I do appreciate the past history lesson. I wonder where the future with this President will bring us.
Carroll
Another thought on the Cheshire Cat photo: I felt a strong dissonance when viewing the photo; Melania is missing. Biden could be thinking that Trump is so disgusting that even his wife shuns him.
It's sad when the real headlines (e.g. Gaetz and Gabbard nominations) are laugh-out-loud funnier than anything the Onion could produce.
The idea of condoning the media sanewashing a climate denialist (when respected climate scientists keep urging otherwise) is ‘smart politics’, is that what I’m reading? Many in the activist left may have endangered their long-term political capital by over-emphasizing the Palestine issue and coming off as dour and somber, but they still take these stances for moral reasons.
Gave, this was a really interesting column. I appreciate the focus on the history of the meetings of Presidents. Well done. And as you mentioned upfront, which more than a few commenters seem to have missed, I’ll look forward to your thoughts on Trump’s announcements of his future Cabinet nominees in due course. Keep up the good work - it’s well worth the cost of my monthly subscription.
I don't find the photos anywhere near as interesting as Trump's last two nominations, to which you gave only a few sentences in a long post.
Tulsi Gabbard may be a traitor, at the very least. Matt Gaetz has no professional qualifications for AG and may be a pedophile. He most certainly was bold enough to share photos and stories about his exploits with underage women on the House floor. He once faced a sex trafficking investigation. An Ethics committee report is imminent, although Gaetz may believe he's out smarted that by resigning. But I hope the House releases it anyway, because he's suspected of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. But sure, he'll do a great job as AG.
We are now shortly expecting to hear that RFK Jr. -- an anti-vaxxer who's opposed to fluoride and, well, science -- may be Trump's nominee for HHS. Will that too receive short shrift? Maybe there will be more photos to tsk over.
Please do better. I know you can. The country needs you.
That photo looks like they are trying to out-smile each other.
Thank you for this Gabe. You are such an instinctively brilliant political reporter. So glad I found you. Carol
Watch Gaeth if you want to - that’s the blood in the water to draw the sharks. Watch Gabbard more closely.
Unbelievable. In so many ways.