Joe Biden and Rudy Giuliani
In the summer of 2007, Rudy Giuliani was well out in front of all other candidates running in the Republican primaries, and he stayed there all the way until the beginning of December when his poll numbers began to sink. Then came his disastrous early-January showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, where the conventional wisdom says that his liberal views on abortion were at odds with what conservative primary voters wanted. But if you ask me, I think he didn’t do especially well in the debates.
John McCain, who perhaps won because he was the most famous candidate running against Rudy who said the correct conservative things about abortion, lost big-time against Obama.
Could Joe Biden be the Rudy Giuliani of this election cycle? Like Giuliani, he’s the most centrist candidate in a party that seems to want hardcore leftism. Like Giuliani he does poorly in debates. Actually, a lot worse than Giuliani. Like Giuliani, Biden does especially poorly in Iowa, but is banking on a big showing in South Carolina (and Giuliani was banking on a big showing in Florida, which never happened).
Also, and I don’t throw this accusation around lightly, but I really do think that Biden is in the early stages of some sort of dementia and maybe just five more months is enough time for it to become more noticeable.
In 1992, when Barry Goldwater was 83, I saw him give a talk at my law school, and my reaction was that Goldwater was going senile. Even though I nevertheless enjoyed hearing from him, it was obvious that the man who ran for President many years before was no longer the same person. And I was right. Approximately five years later, in September 1997, it was officially reported that Barry Goldwater “is suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.” But notice that there were five years between it being noticeable to me, someone who didn’t know him and never even heard him speak before, that there was something wrong, and the official public acknowledgement. And this isn’t just Monday morning quarterbacking. I remember telling several people afterwards that I thought Goldwater was going senile, and that I thought it was very sad.
Lion of the Blogosphere 
Why the sudden turn against Biden’s chances?
For me, this new video shows that Biden has done too much to alienate the NRA. The NRA holds a lot of sway with swing state prole whites, who Biden would have been positioned to steal from Trump.
I think this is generation gap related. Joe Biden of the silent generation is a double barreled shotgun man, and wants to take away even remotely modern boomer favorite guns like the Springfield M1A with wood furniture and a 20 round magazine.
Also, I’ve sensed that some of the Sanders supporters from the last cycle think he’s getting too woke. Thoughts on this?
MoreSigmasThanYou
August 23, 2019 at 4:18 PM
Hey, I’m a big fan of double barreled shotguns. I currently have one (actually, an over/under, same concept) and like it a lot. What’s more, you can buy rifled adapter tubes that fit inside the barrels (www.gunadpaters.com) and use the shotgun as a surprisingly accurate rifle.
Peter
ironrailsironweights
August 23, 2019 at 5:13 PM
Yeah, If I ever get back into playing double trap, I’ll get an over/under.
I wouldn’t have a problem using one to hunt dangerous game, and I’d be pretty okay with it for home defense. Someone with questionable ability to hit targets under adverse conditions needs more than two shots. The over/under isn’t a perfect gun, but can still be a pretty useful one.
MoreSigmasThanYou
August 25, 2019 at 12:50 AM
“I wouldn’t have a problem using one to hunt dangerous game, and I’d be pretty okay with it for home defense. Someone with questionable ability to hit targets under adverse conditions needs more than two shots. The over/under isn’t a perfect gun, but can still be a pretty useful one.”
Safari hunting guides in Africa traditionally used double barreled rifles in huge Nitro Express calibers to back up their customers hunting dangerous game. If the hunter shot a cape buffalo but didn’t stop it, and the buffalo charged, the idea was that the guide would drop it at very close range with the double rifle. While the rifle may have offered only two shots, it would work with 100% reliability, unlike a bolt action that could jam. Today the double rifles have gotten scarce, as they often cost as much as a new Mercedes, and the guides themselves have switched to bolt actions.
It’s even more true in a sense with double barreled or over/under shotguns. Semiautomatic and pump shotguns can jam, doubles never do.
Peter
ironrailsironweights
August 25, 2019 at 9:36 AM
Biden’s campaign knows he won’t get any red states where the NRA is strongest. But the msm’s years of gun bashing is starting to have an affect. It used to be a winning issue for the GOP. Now, it might be a losing one. So bashing guns might actually pick up votes in swing states. They know they can’t pass anything serious because SCOTUS will overturn it. But they’ll still campaign on it.
destructure
August 25, 2019 at 10:48 AM
Well-maintained semi-autos and pumps from quality manufacturers are very reliable. And I’ve read that 12ga shotguns with slugs are popular among guides as well fish and wildlife officers in bear country. I doubt they’re carrying double barrel shotguns. Most likely Remington 870 pumps. That’s what most law enforcement used before they switched to AR15’s. So I’m pretty sure that’s what officers in bear country are still using.
destructure
August 25, 2019 at 11:05 AM
Jams in pump actions usually happen when people fail to pull the slides all the way to the rear (“short shucking”). This is something that becomes less likely with experience, but can happen to anyone in a panicked moment. Most semiautomatic jams are the result of poor cleaning.
Public agencies in Alaska customarily equip outdoors workers with slug-equipped shotguns because they’re less expensive that powerful rifles. In Svalbard, people who travel outside the town of Longyearbyen are required to be armed, given the constant threat of polar bears. People without guns can borrow them from the police, with appropriate paperwork. Rifles of 30-06 or greater are preferred, and are all that the police supply, although 12 gauge shotguns with slugs or handguns of 44 magnum or greater are allowed.
Peter
Peter
ironrailsironweights
August 25, 2019 at 2:42 PM
I’ve actually seen a bear in Jersey, at a stop on the AT. It was cute and shy, but I wouldn’t want to accidentally get between her and a cub (if it was a she).
gothamette
August 25, 2019 at 7:20 PM
I’m actually well aware of the double rifles, and what Peter said is 100% correct. If I worked as a Professional Hunter, I’d ditch the bolt action for one of the sanely priced double rifles from Sabatti.
I don’t want to get into a big long debate about caliber and action type. You’re basically all right.
MoreSigmasThanYou
August 26, 2019 at 5:31 PM
When Biden ran in 2008, he got very low percentage of primary votes because he was a ditzy old goof. But the other candidates were more normal folk. Now 12 years later, the other candidates are loose from the asylum and off their meds which makes senile fossils like Bernie and Biden seem much better by comparison. But they aren’t really much better. Anyway, if anyone has his social security mortality rate table of life expectancy by age handy, you can tell us all the likelihood of Biden or Bernie even being alive by inauguration day.
not too late
August 25, 2019 at 11:11 PM
They’re both likely to still be alive, Bernie more so than Biden because Bernie seems in better shape.
Lion of the Blogosphere
August 25, 2019 at 11:18 PM
My prediction is that one of these geriatrics has an ‘event’ and that ends up shaking up the whole field as the Press suddenly realizes that people in 70’s have issues. A lot of issues.
I think Biden/Bernie/Warren all go down like ten pins.
This Ginsgurg news might be enough to start off the muttering. Then people will be forced to release their health records and its not going to look good.
And with any luck Trump decides to retire to grow root marrows with Barron.
Lion of the Turambar
August 23, 2019 at 4:21 PM
Warren seems to be in good shape at 70. That’s several years younger than Biden and Sanders, and women age more slowly than men.
Peter
ironrailsironweights
August 23, 2019 at 5:10 PM
Warren will be the nom for the dems, I’m almost certain
driveallnight
August 23, 2019 at 9:44 PM
If Warren is the democratic nominee, then the Republicans retain the White House.
E. Rekshun
August 24, 2019 at 1:30 PM
Yep
driveallnight
August 24, 2019 at 5:46 PM
If Warren is the nom, and there’s no recession, 2020 will be a slam dunk.
MoreSigmasThanYou
August 25, 2019 at 12:31 AM
“Warren will be the nom for the dems, I’m almost certain”
Ya know I agree. I thought it would be Biden/Warren but he really does look awfully silly nowadays. I guess there was a reason Obama has said nothing so far.
gothamette
August 25, 2019 at 7:21 PM
I don’t necessarily see that Ginsburg’s health issues will reflect on the candidates. She’s years older than any of them and has a lengthy history of poor health.
Peter
ironrailsironweights
August 25, 2019 at 9:38 AM
There was a similar gap between people noticing Reagan’s dementia (approx. halfway through his second term) and the public announcement that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s (by handwritten note in 1994).
Gilbert Ratchet
August 23, 2019 at 5:56 PM
CBS reporter Lesley Stahl covered the White House for most of Reagan’s presidency. One time, she, her husband, and her daughter were granted a private audience with him. She wrote in her autobiography that, at first, he appeared completely senile – a “doddering space cadet.” But then she happened to mention that her husband was a screenwriter, and he suddenly came to life. Evidently this was not an uncommon occurrence in his second term – he would droop off into la-la land, but then he would recover:
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/01/reagan-alzheimers-family-feud-lesley-stahl/
In ‘84, Reagan completely botched the first debate, but made a strong comeback in the second one:
Stan Adams
August 24, 2019 at 11:44 PM
I kinda get the same feeling about Giuliani, who hasn’t been the sharpest advocate for Trump. But why would we expect near octogenarians to be intellectually nimble?
Brendan
August 23, 2019 at 6:03 PM
IIRC Rudy had the whole Comey thing figured before anyone else.
Re: Rudy’s campaign, it was a real bummer. His strategy of waiting until Massachusetts to actually campaign blew up in his face. That, combined with his ex wife’s performance in The Vagina Monologues really did a number on him. The hideous influence of feminism and feminists in our culture cannot be overstated.
That he had one of those predatory film-flam conservative Inc consultants working for him only made matters worth.
I despised Romney even then and couldn’t stand McCain so Rudy was definitely my guy.
His campaign implosion was a real disappointment.
Curle
August 23, 2019 at 11:23 PM
Just a personal observation, but older people who have cancer treatments or major surgeries almost never fully recover; hardest hit are stamina and cognitive ability. Biden, a cancer survivor, is clearly in a mental decline. Which would be perfectly fine if he were rocking on the front porch with his grandkids, not running for President.
Guliani, another cancer survivor, also seems to be suffering some cognitive decline as well. His TV interviews during Russia-gate have been an embarrassment, which is why he’s been about the only administration representative to be allowed on National and cable news shows. NBC ran his Truth isn’t truth promo for months.
Of course NBC won’t be running Biden’s Truth over Facts line. They are still on Team Biden.
Mike Street Station
August 24, 2019 at 7:05 AM
Biden never had cancer. Thirty years ago he suffered a brain aneurysm that required emergency surgery, and recovered fully. You might be thinking of his son Beau, who died of brain cancer a few years ago.
Peter
ironrailsironweights
August 24, 2019 at 9:56 AM
Great point about “chemobrain”. It’s a real phenomenon.
A Dilettante
August 24, 2019 at 12:24 PM
“There is a very important first on the Supreme Court this term,” Ginsburg said. “It’s thanks to our new justice, Justice Kavanaugh, whose entire staff are all women and all of his law clerks are women.”
Kav is truly revolting.
Yakov
August 23, 2019 at 6:24 PM
Yeah… after his nomination hearings, I wouldn’t be inclined to hire another woman again.
Gilbert Ratchet
August 23, 2019 at 7:43 PM
Well, what Ginsburg said might be technically true. The “male” clerks are usually gay, so whatever.
Marty
August 23, 2019 at 10:00 PM
“Kav is truly revolting.”
If he’s a good vote I could care less if he hired all drag queens as clerks.
BTW – City of Boise filed a writ for cert. appealing the 9ths execrable Martin v. Boise decision regarding homeless encampments. Former US Solicitor General Ted Olson wrote the writ. Calls the 9ths decision nonsensical. He’s right. The following link has a link to the writ. Worth reading for those interested in watching a court jump down the rabbit hole.
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/boise/article234271652.html
Curle
August 23, 2019 at 11:34 PM
Lion should do more posts on this phenomenon of bums taking over our cities. The MSM doesn’t care.
Hermes
August 24, 2019 at 11:38 AM
The legal commenter community has ignored this groundbreaking decision. Mostly, I suspect, because they figure that the 9th is so crazy so often they just don’t have time to cover all their nonsense.
The decision is mostly unintelligible. The holding says that there shall be no ticketing of unlawful camping on public property as long as there is uncertainty about whether there is a shelter bed in the municipality for every homeless person on the night in question. And then qualifies the holding with a coda adding a practicability element. Nobody seems to have a clue as to what the court intended and, as a result, the thing is being interpreted a myriad of ways. Leftists are saying there shall be no ticketing for camping without knowing in advance each and every homeless person has shelter. Others, the City of Oakland, simply relies on making sure homeless are offered shelter before ticketing and discovered that most homeless don’t want to go to shelter.
The decision is rationalized as a violation of the 8th Amendment to the US Constitution (cruel and unusual punishment). The defendant, the City of Boise, had a reasonable working arrangement where they suspended tickets on nights all the shelters in town reported as full. As it turns out, that never happened, but one of the plaintiff’s was kicked out of a shelter and we don’t know if he tried the other shelters but this was sufficient to justify the court moving forward (which tells you how anxious they were to create new law no matter what the fact pattern).
Part of me wonders whether the sheer inscrutability of the case has put commenters off or whether they just figure homelessness is an west coast phenomenon not worth the commenting energy.
Curle
August 24, 2019 at 1:56 PM
“If he’s a good vote I could care less if he hired all drag queens as clerks.”
If he did, he wouldn’t be.
Piscataway
August 25, 2019 at 3:00 AM
It’s just more of the usual cucking: conservatives trying to prove to liberals that they’re good people by liberal standards. The cons never notice that it never works, and just keep on fruitlessly doing it.
Hermes
August 24, 2019 at 11:42 AM
Men in leadership or management positions that hire exclusively (or mostly) women do so because they feel that their power will be threatened by a male underling. Kav’s female law clerks are likely submissive people pleasers.
It doesn’t always work out as planned.
E. Rekshun
August 24, 2019 at 1:36 PM
Giuliani was a regional candidate. He did well in polls because people had a superficial respect for him for 9/11, but deep down people could never vote for him. His accent was too thick, his worldview too alien.
The media never noticed this because they are all New Yorkers.
Narg7
August 23, 2019 at 8:56 PM
In order for a NYer to make it to the White House it helps to have the name Roosevelt.
gothamette
August 24, 2019 at 5:13 PM
Or Trump!
Lion of the Blogosphere
August 24, 2019 at 6:11 PM
Yeah, forgot about him…
Still 2/5 of the NYers who made it to the WH were Roosevelts. 40%. Think of it.
gothamette
August 24, 2019 at 7:08 PM
OT: Dykes in Space!
https://www.foxnews.com/us/nasa-astronaut-identity-theft-bank-account-divorce-wife
gothamette
August 24, 2019 at 7:43 PM
Biden is like the rest of his rabbit cohort.
They are suffering from an amygdala dump. They can;t handle the stress Trump is putting on them because they know their path leads to Guantanamo.
map
August 23, 2019 at 9:15 PM
Bernie is the best Dem candidate. If Bernie wins the nomination I think I will vote for him. At least we may get national healthcare, and at least Bernie is tuned into how destructive mass migration is for the wage earner.Trump is a disappointment, I fear that he will support a big increase in immigration in a second term.
Daniel H
August 23, 2019 at 10:08 PM
Trump won’t do that, he’s genuinely anti-immigrant.
Lion of the Blogosphere
August 24, 2019 at 1:14 AM
Then why has he mouthed off about increasing the number of H1bs? I believe he has also said something to the effect of increasing legal immigration numbers.
Trump thinks like a businessman. He doesn’t think like a statesman, responsible for the patrimony of the historic American people, but he is better than the rest. He has an atavistic sense that things are spinning out of control but doesn’t have the intellectual fortitude to build a coherent political philosophy around this sense. Of course, if he did, the reaction from the left would be thunderous, overwhelming any of their previous tantrums, but this is precisely what we need. This is precisely what the times demand. The hour is late. Very late.
Daniel H
August 24, 2019 at 1:24 AM
“… and at least Bernie is tuned into how destructive mass migration is for the wage earner…”
He knows it intellectually, as he revealed in that 2015 interview with Vox, but he’s a weak man who has long since flipped on immigration because that’s where the Democratic Party and the left is. As President he would follow the same sort of open borders policies as any other Democrat. He hasn’t worried about the wage earner in years.
Mike Street Station
August 24, 2019 at 7:10 AM
Yes, I wish people would stop saying that about Bernie. That Vox interview was one event, and shortly after that he totally flipped and ever since has been 100% in line with woke SJW thinking.
Hermes
August 24, 2019 at 11:43 AM
At least we may get national healthcare
For my own self-serving reasons, I support Medicare-for-All, but it;s never get through Congress regardless of Presidential support.
E. Rekshun
August 24, 2019 at 1:39 PM
If Bernie wins the nomination I am definitely voting for Trump. First time ever voting a Republican for me.
Bernie is the worst ever.
Anybody but Bernie.
mpt
August 24, 2019 at 2:51 PM
I’m at the point where I would support any candidate espousing universal healthcare for citizens, as is my lifelong republican sister.
Trump has been a huge disappointment and is 90% bark and no bite.
toomanymice
August 25, 2019 at 2:02 PM
In no shape or form is Biden a Giuliani when it comes to his persona. He isn’t a technician, logician or rhetorician like Giuliani. Biden is also easy going and friendly with blacks. Giuliani comes across as a guido fascist, who is no friend of moolis. I’m sure you’ve seen Giuliani get confrontational and gets into his guido mode, “I’m going to throw you down the stairs” moment, except it’s very logic based and unemotional. It might have to do with the fact that he’s a lawyer.
Ok, what, who's this again?
August 23, 2019 at 11:00 PM
“In no shape or form is Biden a Giuliani when it comes to his persona. He isn’t a technician, logician or rhetorician like Giuliani. ”
Rudy is repellent. Really weird. Don’t dig too deep.
gothamette
August 24, 2019 at 5:14 PM
It doesn’t matter. Political parties would run the corpse from Weekend at Bernie’s if they thought it could win. It’s not about the person in office but controlling the office. That’s why they continued to run Robert Byrd until he died in office at 92!!! Do you think he was calling the shots? Heck no! It’s the donors, lobbyists, parties and staff who make all the decisions. The politicians are just talking heads.
As for Biden, yeah, he’s senile. But he’s also their best chance of beating Trump. So they’ll run him along with the person they really want as veep who’ll either take over if Biden takes a turn for the worse or just run for Biden’s 2nd term.
destructure
August 24, 2019 at 2:03 PM
2020 will be a very dramatic year. There will be a lot to lose for the liberals and another 4 years of Trump will just descend into violent chaos.
Make America Trump Again = MATA in Spanish, meaning to let’s kill
Ok, what, who's this again?
August 24, 2019 at 11:37 PM
If you think the 2020s will be tumultuous, wait for the 2060s.
gothamette
August 25, 2019 at 9:22 AM
It doesn’t seem like Meriprolestan will cease to exist as Meriprolestan in 2060 with our current climate of divisive politics. There is no end in sight.
Ok, what, who's this again?
August 25, 2019 at 12:42 PM
* It doesn’t seem like Meriprolestan will
cease toexist as Meriprolestan in 2060 with our current climate of divisive politics. There is no end in sight.Ok, what, who's this again?
August 25, 2019 at 2:22 PM
“John McCain, who perhaps won because he was the most famous candidate running against Rudy who said the correct conservative things about abortion, lost big-time against Obama.”
Abortion or any of the other social issues had nothing to do with it. By the time the ’08 election rolled around people wanted to fire Bush 43, but he was not on the ballot, so they did the next best thing. McCain also screwed up by calling off his campaign during the financial crisis, while Obama kept campaigning. McCain did everything he could to signal that he knew his role was to be a good loser, and he played the role to a “T.”
Sgt. Joe Friday
August 24, 2019 at 4:20 PM
OT but intriguing: a woman astronaut has been accused of illegally accessing her soon-to-be-ex-husband’s financial accounts while she was on the International Space Station. My question: can a woman who is working in the ultimate Alpha Male occupation still invoke the Pussy Pass to get out of a legal jam?
Peter
ironrailsironweights
August 24, 2019 at 11:15 PM
You didn’t read the article carefully enough. The woman doesn’t have a husband.
Lion of the Blogosphere
August 25, 2019 at 12:22 AM
“NASA astronaut Anne McClain told investigators she had accessed the bank account of her spouse while on a six-month mission aboard the ISS in preparation for her role in NASA’s anticipated first all-female spacewalk, the Times reported.
McClain’s spouse, former Air Force intelligence officer Summer Worden, brought a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission that McClain had committed identity theft, despite not seeing any indication of moved or spent funds.”
Peter
ironrailsironweights
August 25, 2019 at 9:10 AM
Yes, you said she has a husband, which she doesn’t, she has a “spouse.”
Lion of the Blogosphere
August 25, 2019 at 9:22 AM
First woman to … One more thing for the history books!
Piscataway
August 25, 2019 at 2:58 AM
I linked to it.
As soon as I saw that face, I knew the score.
The NY Times article delicately mentioned the “situation” about 46 paragraphs in. But they didn’t count on the fact that in this one case your eyes were glazing over so the reader is still engaged when the bitter truth came out.
Came out…. splutters coffee…..
gothamette
August 25, 2019 at 9:24 AM
weren’t glazing over
gothamette
August 25, 2019 at 9:25 AM
The main thing Biden has going for him is how crazy the other candidates are. Internet activism is creating a lot of false signals in today’s politics; that’s why you have 15 candidates fighting over 60% of the vote while the rest of the Democratic Party is just conceded to Biden, the only man willing to run in their lane. Voters will be forced to ask what’s worse, a guy who’s senile or a socialist race-baiter? As recently as 10 years ago nobody in as feeble condition as Biden would even be in the conversation.
Richard
August 25, 2019 at 1:16 AM
In 2008 there were concerns about John McCain and his history of cancer.
Peter
ironrailsironweights
August 25, 2019 at 1:18 PM
OT: prole or non-prole?
There’s a man I know, late 20’s, who muddies the distinction between proles and non-proles because he can’t easily be classified. He got a degree in 2010 from one of the state university campuses in a nonspecialized field. He graduated into a very weak job market with no immediate job prospects. A few months after graduation, he took a job as an overnight custodian in a high school. No, it was hardly what you’d expect of a college graduate, but he needed something and would stay there only so long as it took to find a college graduate-type job in an office.
Nine years later he’s still an overnight custodian and as far as I know seldom if ever looks for an office job. He earns a decent if not spectacular salary, has a full benefits plan with union job protection, and a vested pension. Most nights he works with one or two other people in a noncompetitive atmosphere quite unlike the cutthroat competition found in many offices. Even working nights isn’t a drawback because he’s used to it and it meshes well with his wife’s work schedule.
So, is this a hopelessly prole thing or not?
Peter
ironrailsironweights
August 25, 2019 at 9:54 AM
prole or non-prole?
He’s prole, but not dumb, just like a couple of my childhood friends who took my city’s civil service firefighter test with me back in 1983. But, unlike me, my friends were smart enough to forego college, accept the firefighter job, and retire at 45 with $50K+ pensions and healthcare.
Your acquaintance got comfortable, lazy, and lost any career ambition he may have had.
E. Rekshun
August 25, 2019 at 1:57 PM
I admire people who get in the arena, even if it means losing.
Lowe
August 25, 2019 at 3:46 PM
low testosterone
just a guess
not too late
August 25, 2019 at 11:31 PM
Giuliani suffered a severe headache in December 2007 for which he was hospitalized.
NPR:
MEH 0910
August 25, 2019 at 10:28 AM
“I really do think that Biden is in the early stages of some sort of dementia”
Libertarian blogger Tarl Warwick, who publishes YouTube content under the moniker Styxhexenhammer666, has been stating the same thing for a while now and I’m prone to believe it myself.
Roli
August 25, 2019 at 3:14 PM
[…] Yet it looks like Democrats may very well be stupid enough to give the nomination to Warren. Warren is the favorite at prediction markets, probably for the reasons I stated here. […]
Emerson New Hampshire poll | Lion of the Blogosphere
September 12, 2019 at 6:07 PM