We don’t know if you stayed up for the event last night. We felt obligated to do so, since the coverage of everything has been as much the topic under discussion as the discussion of the topics that are supposed to be under discussion.

Confused yet? We are.

That was the point on tuning in the broadcast, though that term is a euphemism for something we no longer actually do. Things are now pre-tuned digits and no control knobs required. Like the NATO Summit here in Washington. We are embarrassed by the display we presented to our friends on the world stage. And a little nervous about the reaction of our adversaries on the same global platform.

If you have not been following things, this has been a curious time in the campaign to determine the next “Leader of the Free World.” That has been a little embarrassing as a feature of our national life. The pivotal moment occurred in the Debate disaster. That was the moment in which some fairly obvious deficiencies were evident even to 51-million casual observers. That caused an abrupt change in the messaging about the health of those who participated. There were the first public mutterings that perhaps it was time for someone to stand aside, then the equally stark realization that there were problems with that option as well.

So, this week’s NATO Summit here in town, long-scheduled, would be the means to demonstrate continued competency and vigor that would dispel the Debate disaster as a “once-off” event. The people who organized it demonstrated

There were some mistakes along the way, the ones we have been told to call “gaffes” rather than evidence of cognitive malfunction. The problem appears to be the insulation under which the individual has been kept, and what must be obvious to those around them. The minor gaffes this week were impressive. There was the one about being the first black female Vice President, which was certainly a weird but understandable mistake. Or introducing the President of an embattled allied nation by the name of his implacable foe. Another understandable misnomer, since the name has the same number of letters as another implacable (but domestic) opponent.

This occurred in a controlled environment billed as a “Big Boy” press conference in which there were no teleprompters, but rather actual scripts directing who was to be called upon and in which order.

So, embarrassment best summed up our reaction to an event that occurred 90-minutes late.

This is not a partisan observation, but in the other 360-million Americans, there must be someone who can show up on time to meetings and remember who they are talking to, isn’t there? We spent a few minutes just now looking for the list of inner advisors who are doing the scripts for these events, and in the first thicket of articles from CNN and the New York Times could not find one. The next outer ring is know by the titles of the offices they hold and it is clear they are nervous.

But the ones who are actually running the country, buffered by the spouse and son who each have their own unelected issues, is still a mystery.

In the old days, there would have been a reasonable discussion of the relative weaknesses of those standing for election. We are now confronted with a dramatic new sort of decisions, which amounts to “Sure, there are some issues with our guy but you should see the dramatic and evil nature of our also-old and infirm opponent!”

And we are not completely sure who is saying it.

Anyway, this does not appear to be a sustainable course of action for anyone concerned. It would at least be a rational choice if the campaign was transformed to something understandable. Like: “You my not know who we are, but we have brought you the recent success on our economy, grocery prices, gas, the border and those two wars overseas. If you return us to office we promise we will continue the revolution once we are sure the new person is responsive to our direction.”

That is a campaign bumper-sticker we can get behind, you know? Or at least have a chance to see momentarily, if it is plastered on the front bumper. The one headed our way.

Copyright 2024 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com