Charles C.W. Cooke, writing for the reliably right-wing National Review, has issued a rather straight forward rebuke of President Biden’s character. Titled ‘Joe Biden is an *******,’ the piece argues that Biden is an unpleasant sort of guy.
Cooke doesn’t mince words.
“Biden is a decrepit, dishonest, unpleasant blowhard. He’s a nasty, corrupt, partisan fraud.” Cooke even enlists Shakespeare to demean the sitting president. “[Biden] is, as Shakespeare had it, “a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise breaker, the owner of no one good quality.” Cooke continued. “Biden is twice as irritating as he believes himself to be, and half as intelligent into the bargain. From the moment he arrived on the scene – nearly 50 years ago, Lord help us – he has represented all that is wrong with our politics. A century hence, his name will be set into aspic and memorialized under ‘Hack.’”
Joe Biden reportedly unpleasant
Okay, then. Cooke doesn’t like Biden. You know what, I don’t really like Biden either. I think I’ve made that clear to the reader here at 19FortyFive over the last year or so. Predominantly, the reason I’m not keen on Biden is policy-based. I don’t think he’s all that liberal. I’m happy to critique Biden’s character, or any politician’s character, but Biden’s character isn’t my primary concern.
That being said, I did relay some Axios reporting last week that suggested Biden is deeply unpleasant with his staff. Cooke relayed the same reporting to bolster his argument that Biden is not a nice guy.
As per Axios, “behind closed doors, Biden has such a quick-trigger temper that some aides try to avoid meeting alone with him. Some take a colleague, almost as a shield against a solo blast.” Biden’s favorite admonishments include:
“God dammit, how the **** don’t you know this?!”
“Don’t ******* ******** me!”
“Get the **** out of here!”
Seemingly, the language Biden uses in private stands in stark contrast to the sleepy uncle persona he has crafted for public use – an image that Cooke believes is only for “cretins and sycophants.”
“Joe Biden has never been a ‘kindly uncle,’” Cooke wrote. “For his whole life, Joe Biden has been a plodding mediocrity with a Delaware-sized chip on his shoulder. What about him, I wonder, would not lead him to shout stupidly at people? He’s a bully. Check. He’s insecure. Check. He’s senile. Check. He is hostage to his precarious record of lies. Check. His anger is as inevitable as the sunset.”
Treatment of staff important
Biden’s treatment of his staff doesn’t directly affect me – only the policies that his administration crafts and promotes. But I do grimace when I hear about a boss screaming at underlings. It’s unbecoming behavior, and apparently, Biden’s not the only executive in the administration employing similar methods. Vice President Kamala Harris allegedly treats her staff poorly, too – which is why she has had such high staff turnover. Again, not vital as far as the American public is concerned, but unbecoming.
I will say, as an employee of an elected official who treats his staff with dignity, the office runs more smoothly when the boss is a nice guy. I suspect the Oval Office would run more smoothly, too, were Biden willing to treat his staff with dignity.
Harrison Kass is the Senior Editor and opinion writer at 19FortyFive. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
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