Cancer sucks

"No Democrat should ever again answer a single question about Joe Biden except, when the time comes, 'Are you going to the funeral?'"

I wrote those words in a post titled "Biden Derangement Syndrome" which I published on Sunday shortly before the news of former President Biden's cancer diagnosis broke. 

I was referring to Biden's age, but now the sentence in isolation feels gratuitous and cruel. It's not meant to be. That's why I decided not to go back and edit. Cancer sucks and it touches almost all of us in one way or another. My thoughts and sincere sympathy are with the Biden family as they fight this battle.

Of course, Republicans have done what Republicans always do: they ridicule the misfortunes of others and twist those misfortunes into avenues of attack. Thus we get this beauty from number one son:

who responded to pushback with extra more conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Don Sr. was just asking questions--about how long it takes to get to a "stage nine" cancer, about the doctor's honesty and/or competence, and about AUTOPEN!

And of course, afraid they might be left out if they don't loyalty hard enough, the legion of flying monkeys has gotten in on the action. Same as it ever was.

I still think it's important to understand that it's not necessary to answer questions about former President Joe Biden, and it's not smart politics. The media strategy, now that the terrible news has broken, should be well wishes for Biden and his family, then pivot. Don't get caught up in responding to lunatic fantasies of subterfuge. 

And fer gawd's sake don't follow the advice of the same squishy establishment Dems and their army of consulting strategists that got us into this fucking mess. Do not David Axelrod yourselves into "Those conversations are going to happen but they should be more muted and set aside for now." That is an open invitation to ask about "who's to blame for the Biden cover-up?" from now until the end of recorded time, and Bidengate will still be the story as Trump is named emperor for life. 

Again, you don't have to lie like they do, but you don't have to answer every question either. It is a new day in a new kind of world, and we need you to develop a new game plan. Don't get trapped in your reverence for one man or for the political culture he represents and which supported him. Don't look back. Our adversary is right in front of us. 

In his excellent "Voters want Dems to stand up to Trump, not self-flagellate," Noah Berlatsky @nberlat.bsky.social‬ puts it this way:

Should Democrats spend time and energy focusing on the fact that Joe Biden is old?

I think you’ll agree, after some serious thought, that the answer here is NO, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!