"Regret And Anxiety": Dems Quietly Panicking, Don't Want Biden To Face Trump In 2024
The New York Times - the establishment mouthpiece of record - has thrown President Biden under the bus.
After interviewing "50 Democratic officials, from county leaders to members of Congress, as well as disappointed voters who backed Mr. Biden in 2020," the Times reports that the Democratic party is "alarmed about Republicans’ rising strength and extraordinarily pessimistic about an immediate path forward."
In short, time to bench Biden - who "should announce his intent not to seek re-election in ’24 right after the midterms," according to Steve Simeonidis, a Democratic National Committee member from Miami.
"To say our country was on the right track would flagrantly depart from reality," he said. And top Democrats in general are feeling the same, it would appear.
Midway through the 2022 primary season, many Democratic lawmakers and party officials are venting their frustrations with President Biden’s struggle to advance the bulk of his agenda, doubting his ability to rescue the party from a predicted midterm trouncingand increasingly viewing him as an anchor that should be cut loose in 2024.
As the challenges facing the nation mount and fatigued base voters show low enthusiasm, Democrats in union meetings, the back rooms of Capitol Hill and party gatherings from coast to coast are quietly worrying about Mr. Biden’s leadership, his age and his capability to take the fight to former President Donald J. Trump a second time. -NYT
Sounds pretty dire, no?
Adding to Democrats' undoubted frustration is the fact that just 19 million Americans tuned in to watch this week's professionally-produced January 6th Committee hearings - the establishment's current Hail Mary against the president they threw two impeachments and a Russia hoax at, yet still remains the Republican front runner (unless DeSantis makes a serious move).
For reference, an estimated 38 million people tuned in to Trump's inauguration, 20 million watched Christine Blasey Ford's testimony against Justice Brett Kavanaugh, while Trump's impeachment second impeachment hearing, as well as testimony by Russiagate investigator Robert Mueller, drew just 13 million or so viewers.
In short, the J6 hearings are unlikely having the anticipated impact as Democrats (and RINOs) once again attempt to hobble Donald Trump's image going into an election year.
According to the Times, the Biden administration's repeated failures to pass big-ticket legislation on signature Democratic issues - on top of his "halting efforts to use the bully pulpit of the White House to move public opinion," have resulted in terrible approval ratings and "a party that, as much as anything, seems to feel sorry for him."
Biden's failures have left Democratic leaders struggling to explain why nothing is his fault - from inflation rates not seen for 40 years, surging gas prices, a botched pandemic response, a Supreme Court about to strike down the right to abortion, and a complete fail on gaining party consensus to pass meaningful provisions of their Build Back Better agenda.
Democrats are also worried because Biden, 79, is ancient - and would be 82 by the time he might win reelection in 2024. The Times relays Democrats' concern over "political viability."
They have watched as a commander in chief who built a reputation for gaffes has repeatedlyrattled global diplomacy with unexpected remarks that were later walked back by his White House staff, and as he has sat for fewer interviews than any of his recent predecessors.
"The presidency is a monstrously taxing job and the stark reality is the president would be closer to 90 than 80 at the end of a second term, and that would be a major issue," said David Axelrod, former Obama strategist and Democratic operative.
Kamala who?
And while Democrats are sick of their embarrassment-in-chief, Vice President Kamala Harris isn't 'polling' much better within the party due to "a series of political hiccups of her own in office."
So who will they turn to? What does anyone do when you've got a terrible hand? Since there's no folding, Democrats are just going to play the cards they're dealt.
Democrats mentioned a host of other figures who lost to Mr. Biden in the 2020 primary: Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey; Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; and Beto O’Rourke, the former congressman who is now running for Texas governor, among others.
Who knows, maybe they'll wheel Hillary back out - or activate Gavin Newsom for a longshot?
"The generation after me is just a complete trash heap," said Howard Dean, the 73-year-old former Vermont governor and Democratic National Committee chairman who ran for president in 2004. "We need to have specific examples of how we’re dealing with things; it can’t just be pie-in-the-sky and kumbaya."
Biden's allies have offered totally not-delusional support for the president - insisting he's kept the country on the right track despite the obstacles, and no other Democrat would do better than him in 2024.
"Only one person steered a transition past Trump’s lies and court challenges and insurrection to take office on Jan. 20: Joe Biden," said Anita Dunn, a senior adviser to the president, citing strong jobs numbers and efforts to combat the pandemic.
"I am worried that leaders in the party aren’t more aggressively touting the success of the administration," said Cristóbal Alex, who was a senior adviser for the Biden campaign and was the deputy cabinet secretary in the White House until last month. "The narrative needs to shift, and that can only happen with a powerful echo chamber combined with action in Congress on remaining priorities. The American people feel unsettled."
Meanwhile, Biden's approval ratings hit a new low last week. According to a Wednesday poll by Quinnipiac University, Biden's overall job approval is just 33%, and 22% among those aged 18-34. What's more, just 24% of Hispanic voters and 49% of black voters say they think Biden's doing an ok job.
Across all major polls, Biden's approval rating has sunk to 39.4% according to RealClear Politics.
Other Democrats, such as freshman Texas state Rep. Jasmine Crockett are keeping their mouths shut. "I’m not allowed to have feelings right now" she said, referring to thoughts on Biden. "When you’re an incoming freshman, you just don’t get to."
Except, then she went on...
"Democrats are like, ‘What the hell is going on?" Crockett said, referring to a "stark enthusiasm gap" between Texas Republicans and Democrats, who "have not used their narrow control of the federal government to advance a progressive agenda."
"Our country is completely falling apart. And so I think we’re lacking in the excitement."
How is the average Democratic voter feeling?
"I need an equivalent of Ron DeSantis, a Democrat, but not a 70- or 80-year-old — a younger person," said Alex Wyshyvanuk, 33, a data analyst from Annapolis, Md. "Someone who knows what worked for you in 1980 is not going to work for you in 2022 or 2024."
The Times also notes the party's "Regret and anxiety," over "Biden’s inability to persuade centrist Democratic senators to back his agenda."
With the prospect looming of a Republican majority in at least one chamber of Congress next year, Democrats who have been in a similar position of holding fleeting control of government are nervous that past mistakes will be repeated.
Elizabeth Guzmán, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, said Democrats in her caucus regret not passing a sweeping abortion rights law last year before they lost control of the state House and governor’s mansion to Republicans.
“We wanted to codify Roe v. Wade, and look what happened,” she said.
Judy Vidal, 58, a retail worker from Cape Coral, Fla., echoed that sentiment.
“I just wish that since we have the majority now they would have behaved the way Republicans did and push things through,” she said. -NYT
The anxiety "extends to the core of his political base," such as Adrianne Shropshire - executive director of BlackPAC.
"Does this frustration and the malaise and the worry and the fear, does that translate into an ongoing enthusiasm gap, and does that cause people to feel like their participation doesn’t make significant change?" she asked. "That’s the real question."
"Democrats need fresh, bold leadership for the 2024 presidential race," said Shelia Huggins, a lawyer from Durham, N.C., who is a member of the Democratic National Committee, adding:
JMIR Neurotechnology, published by JMIR Publications, welcomes submissions from researchers, clinicians, caregivers, and technologists that explore novel…
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fMRI study finds correlated shifts in brain connectivity associated with overthinking in adolescents
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new study from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine, University of Utah and University of Exeter…
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new study from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine, University of Utah and University of Exeter (UK) substantiates previous groundbreaking research that rumination (overthinking) can be reduced through an intervention called Rumination-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RF-CBT). In addition, the use of fMRI technology allowed researchers to observe correlated shifts in the brain connectivity associated with overthinking.
Credit: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new study from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine, University of Utah and University of Exeter (UK) substantiates previous groundbreaking research that rumination (overthinking) can be reduced through an intervention called Rumination-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RF-CBT). In addition, the use of fMRI technology allowed researchers to observe correlated shifts in the brain connectivity associated with overthinking.
Study findings are published online in the journal Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science.
“We know adolescent development is pivotal. Their brains are maturing, and habits are forming. Interventions like RF-CBT can be game-changers, steering them towards a mentally healthy adulthood. We were particularly excited that the treatment seemed developmentally appropriate and was acceptable and accessible via telehealth during the early pandemic,” said corresponding author Scott Langenecker, PhD, vice chair of research in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ohio State, who started this project while at the University of Utah.
RF-CBT is a promising approach pioneered by Ed Watkins, PhD, professor of experimental and applied Clinical Psychology at the University of Exeter. It has been shown to be effective among adults with recurrent depression.
“We wanted to see if we could adapt it for a younger population to prevent the ongoing burden of depressive relapse,” said Rachel Jacobs, PhD, adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University who conducted the pilot study in 2016.
“As a clinician, I continued to observe that standard CBT tools such as cognitive restructuring didn’t give young people the tools to break out of the painful mental loops that contribute to experiencing depression again. If we could find a way to do that, maybe we could help young people stay well as they transition to adulthood, which has become even more important since we’ve observed the mental health impact of COVID-19,” Jacobs said.
In the just published trial, 76 teenagers, ages 14-17, with a history of depression were randomly assigned to 10-14 sessions of RF-CBT, while controls were allowed and encouraged to receive any standard treatment. Teens reported ruminating significantly less if they received RF-CBT. Even more intriguing, fMRI illustrated shifts in brain connectivity, marking a change at the neural level.
Specifically, there was a reduction in the connection between the left posterior cingulate cortex and two other regions; the right inferior frontal gyrus and right inferior temporal gyrus. These zones, involved in self-referential thinking and emotional stimuli processing, respectively, suggest RF-CBT can enhance the brain’s ability to shift out of the rumination habit. Notably, this work is a pre-registered replication; it demonstrates the same brain and clinical effects in the Utah sample in 2023 that was first reported in the Chicago sample in 2016.
“For the first time, this paper shows that the version of rumination-focused CBT we have developed at the University of Exeter leads to changes in connectivity in brain regions in adolescents with a history of depression relative to treatment as usual. This is exciting, as it suggests the CBT either helps patients to gain more effortless control over rumination or makes it less habitual. We urgently need new ways to reduce rumination in this group in order to improve the mental health of our young people,” Watkins said.
Next, the researchers will focus on demonstrating the efficacy of RF-CBT in a larger sample with an active treatment control, including continued work at Ohio State, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, University of Exeter, University of Utah and the Utah Center for Evidence Based Treatment. Future directions include bolstering access to teens in clinical settings and enhancing the ways we can learn about how this treatment helps youth with similar conditions.
“Our paper suggests a science-backed method to break the rumination cycle and reinforces the idea that it’s never too late or too early to foster healthier mental habits. Our research team thanks the youths and families who participated in this study for their commitment and dedication to reducing the burden of depression through science and treatment, particularly during the challenges of a global pandemic,” Langenecker said.
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Mental Health and funds from the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and is dedicated to researcher Kortni K. Meyers and others who have lost their lives to depression.
# # #
Journal
Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science
DOI
10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.08.012
Method of Research
Randomized controlled/clinical trial
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Rumination-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Reduces Rumination and Targeted Cross-network Connectivity in Youth With a History of Depression: Replication in a Preregistered Randomized Clinical Trial
Article Publication Date
27-Oct-2023
COI Statement
Edward R. Watkins reports royalties from a treatment manual for RF-CBT published by Guilford Press and licensing of RF-CBT for Internet treatment packages. Sheila E. Crowell is a co-owner of the Utah Center for Evidence Based Treatment, an outpatient psychotherapy practice that is unrelated to this work. Scott A. Langenecker reports
consultant payments from Stony Brook University, Penn State University, and Johns Hopkins University (unrelated to this work) and payments from the Center for Scientific Review (unrelated to this work) and part ownership of Secondary Triad, Inc. (unrelated to this work). All other authors report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.
Republicans and Democrats both have misconceptions about the energy sector, with the former often downplaying climate change and the latter misunderstanding oil industry operations.
Oil prices are determined by global supply and demand, not by individual oil companies; thus, claims of oil companies causing inflation or gouging prices are misplaced.
Implementing policies like windfall profits taxes on oil companies doesn't address the root issues of supply and demand, and it's essential for policymakers to have a comprehensive understanding of the energy sector for effective governance.
Good energy policy starts with a good understanding of energy issues. But both major political parties have glaring blind spots when it comes to understanding the energy sector.
Let me preface this column by noting that I am a registered Independent. I have major disagreements with both political parties, and I strive to approach issues from a completely objective viewpoint.
I think Republicans get it mostly wrong when it comes to climate change, and the importance of transitioning to alternative energy. But they seem to understand the current critical role of fossil fuels in the economy, and they mostly get it right when it comes to supporting nuclear power.
Democrats never seem to understand how the oil industry works. For example, look at the list of Democrats who signed onto the “Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax” introduced last year by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). In announcing the bill, Senator Whitehouse said it would “curb profiteering by oil companies and provide Americans relief at the gas pump.”
The bill was cosponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Bob Casey (D-PA). Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) introduced the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In addition to claims of price gouging, this same cast of characters has sometimes blamed oil company profits for inflation.
These politicians do not seem to understand that oil companies don’t control prices. Oil is the world’s most valuable commodity. Oil prices are set by buyers and sellers in global markets, based on supply and demand expectations.
Firms like ExxonMobil produce such a small share of the world’s oil they couldn’t move prices much if they wanted to. They benefit from high prices, but don’t set those prices. If they did, prices would never fall.
Saying profits cause inflation confuses cause and effect. It’s like saying hospitalizations cause car crashes. It is true that a car crash can result in hospitalization, but hospitalizations do not cause car crashes. If you believe the latter — and you try to address the problem by focusing on the hospital — you are working on the wrong problem.
Likewise, high profits in the oil industry and inflation are both caused by high oil prices. But high oil prices are caused by supply and demand factors.
Outside of rare circumstances, it’s impossible for oil companies to gouge you, because they don’t set the price. An example of true price gouging would be if a local gas station that sets its own prices doubled them when supply is ample. But Chevron earning more from high global prices set by markets is normal capitalism. That’s how the entire global commodity markets work.
I can only imagine that in the minds of some politicians, executives of Big Oil are meeting in smoke-filled boardrooms, rubbing their greedy hands together, and deciding to raise prices because Russia invaded Ukraine. But that’s not how any of this works.
If politicians want to address oil prices, they need to address the supply side and the demand side. When politicians propose windfall profits taxes on oil companies, intending to give rebates to consumers, it might sound good, but it doesn’t address the core issue.
High prices should signal consumers to use less energy, but rebates would diminish the price signal — which wouldn’t alleviate pressure on demand. On the supply side, punitive taxes on oil companies might sound appealing, but that’s less money that can be allocated to projects, which affects future supplies. Former Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez learned this lesson the hard way, and Venezuela is still paying the price.
Some have expressed outrage that oil companies are using record profits to buy back shares or pay special dividends to shareholders. But it’s common for companies, not just in the oil industry, to buy back shares or pay dividends when profits are high. It’s a part of how our capitalist system works. If companies can issue shares, they should be able to buy them back.
For consumers worried about high oil prices, there are options. You can invest in an oil company. Thus, when oil prices rise, so do your shares. Or consider switching to an electric vehicle to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels.
In conclusion, understanding energy issues is crucial for effective policymaking, yet both major political parties often exhibit significant misunderstandings of the energy sector. By understanding the complexities of the energy sector, policymakers and consumers alike can make informed decisions that contribute to a more sustainable and economically sound future.
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