Notebook: A grand strategy

EDITORIAL MUG: Larry Anderson

With the 2024 election nearly a year away, it is impossible to predict outcome. It isn’t, however, too early to comment on Democrats’ election strategy as it pertains particularly to Joe Biden, assuming he remains his party’s candidate.

Liberal cards will be placed on the table next year. Much will be determined by what lefties have practiced already, but some will be introduced on the basis of what they think they can get away with. Little will reflect honesty or integrity.

It seems certain Joe Biden will not engage in any debate during the campaign. This is controlled internally, and the last thing the party wants is Joe on a stage trying to defend policies that he may not even fully comprehend or attempting to back decisions that are indefensible. Reluctance to engage tells us much about his capability.

Last election Biden hung out in his basement and let his handlers run the show. That worked out well for the old man, so there’s no reason to expect something different even though COVID cannot be used explanatorily this time. Biden, I doubt, will do little real campaigning for the same reason he will avoid debate. A well-prepared competitor could eviscerate him if he should make critical errors. Instead Joe will be wrapped up like a mummy. Excuses will be made by his puppet masters. Personal contact will be minimal.

Expect to see the left run to the center as the campaign warms up. This is as old as liberal sin. Politicians like Biden behave like liberals until a few months before the election when they morph into moderates. Media propaganda pouring forth will ape the same. Biden’s people will be aghast if anyone questions Biden’s insistence he is anything other than middle of the road.

We know better, don’t we? Uncle Joe is nothing but a liberal through and through. Any other promotion is phony.

Biden and the liberals will inform us the greatest existential threat to “our democracy” is Donald Trump and his MAGA supporters. The trick is getting people to blame the right for what the left is actually doing and to identify an enemy for everyone to fear and hate. It’s an old tactic and one that works on those who can’t tell when they are being manipulated.

But we can tell, can’t we?

You may have noticed liberals love to use “existential” with “threat.” It’s a deflection term that sounds mighty important. It isn’t. Ignore it.

There’s always the reliable “look over there” tactic. See how corrupt the Biden family is? Well, look over there! Isn’t Trump worse? See how horrible the border is? Well, look over there! Isn’t it worse to use an offensive pronoun? See how bad rising crime and inflation are? Well, look over there! Isn’t a one degree rise in temperature over centuries much worse?

You know how it works. The left are masters of deflection, blame and fear

The left will trot out a few reliable planks that don’t get discussed much except during election years. For instance, you can expect reparations for black Americans to come up again next year as if the Dems are really serious about following through. They have done this for decades too.

One would think all voters would see that Democrats have no real plan for this massive redistribution of wealth as advanced by calculated guilt. To complete it would be to end it. They don’t want that. It is the muscle the left uses to hold an important voting bloc in place. They desperately count on it.

Finally, when liberals realize they have reached critical public disapproval on a certain issue, they simply stop talking about it. That’s where we are right now with the border. The polls are negative; therefore, the left hopes we will forget the situation if they don’t mention it or, god forbid, they explain it.

Don’t let that happen when it comes time to vote. The Democrats are absolutely responsible for the border and much, much more. Hold them accountable by not falling for their tricks. Then let them know so emphatically even they will get it.

Larry W. Anderson is a retired educator.