At first, I didn't want to read this, Michael, because I am a feelings person. I want warm fuzzy feelings and I thought Dr. Biden's note was warm and fuzzy. I didn't want to doubt Biden's abilities because it would make people I disagree with online "right", and I don't like it when hateful people are correct. I was being narrow minded and I see that now. When our democracy is on the line, personal feelings and petty fights do not matter. It can't always be warm and fuzzy. And doubt does not have to be a malicious thing, either. Doubt is just that: being unsure. It's not hateful or purposely hurtful, it's truthful. Just when I think I'm doing some better at thinking, something like this comes along, lol. Oh well, learning is a good thing!
Can everyone stop bashing Jill Biden now? Seriously. First she was blamed by lots of people for not convincing her husband to step aside, as if that's her job, now you're pissed off and completely over thinking a brief thank you note, which has a vague audience.
Biden said he'd be the bridge, then, silly man, changed his mind. His age was a factor in 2020, especially amongst younger voters, he and the Dems had four years to plan a smooth succession. But, that's some other universe.
Maybe now there'll be some consideration to the equally obvious and disturbing cognitive decline in Trump.
As always, thank you for the comment. I don't think I was bashing the First Lady; I thought the note was kind of shady and said so. To be honest, I don't have much of an opinion about her one way or the other, except for a vague positive impression because she seems cool and does good work. Agree that they should've gamed out this scenario better and yes, I think we'll see a lot of people turning their attention to Trump's obvious mental deficiencies, which have become more pronounced over the last four years. Not that he was a paragon of clear thinking before.
I don't know, Jill doesn't seem a shady type. Maybe she should have said nothing, there wasn't any need.
As with Biden, there's a long time line with Trump, compare 8 years ago with his current rally rants, or any situation where he has to use his words, and the difference is both obvious and shocking, as much so as it is for Biden. Combine that with his revenge and retribution for all rhetoric, and it's genuinely scary - except for the 75 million Americans who think he's the Messiah. (I'm Australian, so I don't get it. We tend to call a tool a tool.)
I like to think that she was expressing gratitude to those who never doubted that President Biden would always do what’s best for the country. It was a monumental decision which required a lot of thought and timing. I think they handled it well.
I’m sure my wife would have done the same. Love and loyalty go hand in hand. To see our beloved in decline is difficult to bear. She sees him in his truest form and because of that will forgive his lapses.
From a political standpoint, I agree with you. As an old married man, I agree with hers.
Now let’s join ranks and kick the tar out of the fascists.
You’re right, there was gentle polite shade in that note! The gratitude should have been to ALL, not just “to those”—that’s what her husband said, and rightly so. You’re absolutely right.
And PS: Dr. Biden should be grateful to the doubters and waverers bc we spare Mr. Biden a world of stress and indignity if he continued to campaign and a possibly devastating loss. As it stands, our rabble rousing helped preserve his well-being and his legacy. So, like, you’re welcome, Dr. Biden.
beautiful piece. thank you for sharing! some passages i love in particular:
"What is doubt, anyway? To me, it means using one’s own cognitive abilities to question, to probe, to seek truth. Doubt is the bedrock of philosophy, scientific inquiry, and spirituality. Doubt is one of the higher expressions of our humanity because doubt represents the uniquely human ability to question. Doubt isn’t disloyalty. In fact, it’s an expression of faith. The faith it expresses is our faith in reason."
"All politicians should be doubted at all times. Not necessarily because we think we are being lied to or do we not “trust” that person, but because we recognize that all people are flawed. We are all fallible creatures prone to error. Even very smart people surrounded by other, very smart people sometimes make very dumb decisions"
"Every single social movement is predicated on doubt. What was the Abolition Movement if not an expression of doubt - is this how we should be treating our fellow humans even though the law accepts it? How do women secure suffrage without doubt? How do we protect our rights without doubt? Or fight oppression? Doubt is written into our founding documents. What is the Declaration of Independence if not doubt finding its highest expression?"
"Most Americans are a good people, just as President Biden said in his Oval Office address last night. But goodness is not gullibility. Blind loyalty is not love. “My country right or wrong” is an inherent contradiction to the values I love most about America."
I agree that democracy requires doubt and reflection, and willingness to change. But to use Jill's note rhetorically, to launch the discussion, was not the best way to frame the argument. Her words were heartfelt thanks for personal support in a difficult time, not a call for blind loyalty.
I love your writing. On this we must agree to disagree. I did not take her note to be as you have interpreted. I still like you and no two people will see eye to eye on everything. Keep up the good writing!
It’s a great meditation on the dangers of sycophancy and how even (especially?) our language is part of that battle. “Never doubting” is the language of sycophants and the Dem Party cannot be the party of sycophancy. And now I’ve used that word enough for this year.
We really don’t know what happened behind closed doors, but it seems very likely that Biden and his team deliberately waited until after the Republican convention to step down, thereby totally overthrowing DT & co.’s plan to keep attacking Biden on age and cognitive failings. And after picking his now ill fated choice of Vance as his VP candidate. I’d say that was brilliant timing.
Brilliant timing, agreed. The published “doubt” from Clooney, Carville etc. was so unusual and so carefully, perfectly paced and seamlessly rolled out, this all seems very well planned. It has Nancy Pelosi cosmic political genius dust all over it. See Jamelle Bouie’s recent TikTok.
In this sense, Jill Biden seems to be thanking voters and supporters who remained steadfast, on almost a personal level, to Joe Biden’s integrity, commitment, and service while so many others were quick to judge and run based on age, GOP “old” messaging, and one very bad debate performance, once the NYT suggested it.
The Bidens’ famous loyalty and empathy is real. At least despite all the psychotic GOP propaganda obscuring this administration’s accomplishments, it does seem that a lot more people have a sense of this loyalty and empathy now.
And that is what Jilly from Philly meant, imho, with that message: she’s thanking people who connect on a level of integrity, loyalty, honesty and seeing past the facades/political winds, rather than the sort of glib, pundit-chatter level.
I've always liked Clive James' description of liberalism as a philosophy of doubt, which I think is very much in keeping with your piece. In his fantastic essay collection, Cultural Amnesia, he contrasts this liberalism of doubt with the seductive, totalitarian certainties of communism and fascism that threatened liberalism throughout the 20th century. It often feels like weakness, but as James and you illustrate, liberalism has its own kind of (democratic) strength and is worth defending against those who offer illusory certainty.
If nothing else, Biden's decision not to seek re-election (more accurately, the larger Democratic Party's refusal to enable Biden's misguided self-certainty) demonstrates that this liberalism of doubt still stands a fighting chance in the United States. And (to get just a bit grandiose) that the United States itself remains worth saving.
Great post, with many important points. But I do think you, and others in your camp regarding Biden, don't have to be "pissed". Joe and Jill have always made sure to generously thank and show gratitude to their supporters, even in disappointing developments. I don't think she meant anything other than to show their die-hard supporters that they appreciate them. And then she tells them to move on to Kamala. Was she supposed to say, "thanks to all those that doubted Joe"? You took it as a slight, but it wasn't.
At first, I didn't want to read this, Michael, because I am a feelings person. I want warm fuzzy feelings and I thought Dr. Biden's note was warm and fuzzy. I didn't want to doubt Biden's abilities because it would make people I disagree with online "right", and I don't like it when hateful people are correct. I was being narrow minded and I see that now. When our democracy is on the line, personal feelings and petty fights do not matter. It can't always be warm and fuzzy. And doubt does not have to be a malicious thing, either. Doubt is just that: being unsure. It's not hateful or purposely hurtful, it's truthful. Just when I think I'm doing some better at thinking, something like this comes along, lol. Oh well, learning is a good thing!
"Jill Biden kind of pissed me off last night." is a great opening line, Michael. Well done with that.
But for God's sake, she's his wife. Right now, especially now, she's allowed to express blind love for him.
Can everyone stop bashing Jill Biden now? Seriously. First she was blamed by lots of people for not convincing her husband to step aside, as if that's her job, now you're pissed off and completely over thinking a brief thank you note, which has a vague audience.
Biden said he'd be the bridge, then, silly man, changed his mind. His age was a factor in 2020, especially amongst younger voters, he and the Dems had four years to plan a smooth succession. But, that's some other universe.
Maybe now there'll be some consideration to the equally obvious and disturbing cognitive decline in Trump.
As always, thank you for the comment. I don't think I was bashing the First Lady; I thought the note was kind of shady and said so. To be honest, I don't have much of an opinion about her one way or the other, except for a vague positive impression because she seems cool and does good work. Agree that they should've gamed out this scenario better and yes, I think we'll see a lot of people turning their attention to Trump's obvious mental deficiencies, which have become more pronounced over the last four years. Not that he was a paragon of clear thinking before.
I don't know, Jill doesn't seem a shady type. Maybe she should have said nothing, there wasn't any need.
As with Biden, there's a long time line with Trump, compare 8 years ago with his current rally rants, or any situation where he has to use his words, and the difference is both obvious and shocking, as much so as it is for Biden. Combine that with his revenge and retribution for all rhetoric, and it's genuinely scary - except for the 75 million Americans who think he's the Messiah. (I'm Australian, so I don't get it. We tend to call a tool a tool.)
Time for this librarian to recommend a book: https://www.jennifermichaelhecht.com/doubt
Also sharing one of my mottos: My country, right, and when wrong, to make her right.
I like to think that she was expressing gratitude to those who never doubted that President Biden would always do what’s best for the country. It was a monumental decision which required a lot of thought and timing. I think they handled it well.
I’m sure my wife would have done the same. Love and loyalty go hand in hand. To see our beloved in decline is difficult to bear. She sees him in his truest form and because of that will forgive his lapses.
From a political standpoint, I agree with you. As an old married man, I agree with hers.
Now let’s join ranks and kick the tar out of the fascists.
BOOM)))
Nailed it.
You’re right, there was gentle polite shade in that note! The gratitude should have been to ALL, not just “to those”—that’s what her husband said, and rightly so. You’re absolutely right.
And PS: Dr. Biden should be grateful to the doubters and waverers bc we spare Mr. Biden a world of stress and indignity if he continued to campaign and a possibly devastating loss. As it stands, our rabble rousing helped preserve his well-being and his legacy. So, like, you’re welcome, Dr. Biden.
You should write presidential speeches. I’m serious!
dear michael,
beautiful piece. thank you for sharing! some passages i love in particular:
"What is doubt, anyway? To me, it means using one’s own cognitive abilities to question, to probe, to seek truth. Doubt is the bedrock of philosophy, scientific inquiry, and spirituality. Doubt is one of the higher expressions of our humanity because doubt represents the uniquely human ability to question. Doubt isn’t disloyalty. In fact, it’s an expression of faith. The faith it expresses is our faith in reason."
"All politicians should be doubted at all times. Not necessarily because we think we are being lied to or do we not “trust” that person, but because we recognize that all people are flawed. We are all fallible creatures prone to error. Even very smart people surrounded by other, very smart people sometimes make very dumb decisions"
"Every single social movement is predicated on doubt. What was the Abolition Movement if not an expression of doubt - is this how we should be treating our fellow humans even though the law accepts it? How do women secure suffrage without doubt? How do we protect our rights without doubt? Or fight oppression? Doubt is written into our founding documents. What is the Declaration of Independence if not doubt finding its highest expression?"
"Most Americans are a good people, just as President Biden said in his Oval Office address last night. But goodness is not gullibility. Blind loyalty is not love. “My country right or wrong” is an inherent contradiction to the values I love most about America."
thank you! love,
myq
I agree that democracy requires doubt and reflection, and willingness to change. But to use Jill's note rhetorically, to launch the discussion, was not the best way to frame the argument. Her words were heartfelt thanks for personal support in a difficult time, not a call for blind loyalty.
I love your writing. On this we must agree to disagree. I did not take her note to be as you have interpreted. I still like you and no two people will see eye to eye on everything. Keep up the good writing!
My gosh, I would be despondent if a disagreement made us stop liking each other! We're excellent people over here!
It’s a great meditation on the dangers of sycophancy and how even (especially?) our language is part of that battle. “Never doubting” is the language of sycophants and the Dem Party cannot be the party of sycophancy. And now I’ve used that word enough for this year.
We really don’t know what happened behind closed doors, but it seems very likely that Biden and his team deliberately waited until after the Republican convention to step down, thereby totally overthrowing DT & co.’s plan to keep attacking Biden on age and cognitive failings. And after picking his now ill fated choice of Vance as his VP candidate. I’d say that was brilliant timing.
Brilliant timing, agreed. The published “doubt” from Clooney, Carville etc. was so unusual and so carefully, perfectly paced and seamlessly rolled out, this all seems very well planned. It has Nancy Pelosi cosmic political genius dust all over it. See Jamelle Bouie’s recent TikTok.
In this sense, Jill Biden seems to be thanking voters and supporters who remained steadfast, on almost a personal level, to Joe Biden’s integrity, commitment, and service while so many others were quick to judge and run based on age, GOP “old” messaging, and one very bad debate performance, once the NYT suggested it.
The Bidens’ famous loyalty and empathy is real. At least despite all the psychotic GOP propaganda obscuring this administration’s accomplishments, it does seem that a lot more people have a sense of this loyalty and empathy now.
And that is what Jilly from Philly meant, imho, with that message: she’s thanking people who connect on a level of integrity, loyalty, honesty and seeing past the facades/political winds, rather than the sort of glib, pundit-chatter level.
I've always liked Clive James' description of liberalism as a philosophy of doubt, which I think is very much in keeping with your piece. In his fantastic essay collection, Cultural Amnesia, he contrasts this liberalism of doubt with the seductive, totalitarian certainties of communism and fascism that threatened liberalism throughout the 20th century. It often feels like weakness, but as James and you illustrate, liberalism has its own kind of (democratic) strength and is worth defending against those who offer illusory certainty.
If nothing else, Biden's decision not to seek re-election (more accurately, the larger Democratic Party's refusal to enable Biden's misguided self-certainty) demonstrates that this liberalism of doubt still stands a fighting chance in the United States. And (to get just a bit grandiose) that the United States itself remains worth saving.
Great post, with many important points. But I do think you, and others in your camp regarding Biden, don't have to be "pissed". Joe and Jill have always made sure to generously thank and show gratitude to their supporters, even in disappointing developments. I don't think she meant anything other than to show their die-hard supporters that they appreciate them. And then she tells them to move on to Kamala. Was she supposed to say, "thanks to all those that doubted Joe"? You took it as a slight, but it wasn't.