OPINION: Biden Shines at State of the Union - GOP Cries Foul. Why is That?

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You gotta love Politics.

It’s one of the few places on earth where making sense is a disadvantage.

Where what’s important is what’s on your mind and the truth – the actual stuff that’s out there happening right now – can be ignored completely because heck, it keeps getting in the way.

History Versus Reality

When most of us went to school we were taught to be honest and truthful in our thoughts and conversations. Say what’s on your mind but keep to the facts. Don’t write about how we spent our summer on a yacht in the South Pacific when we spent it on our uncle’s farm.

Or if it is a piece of fiction then say it is.

We were directed to the history books and assumed that what was in them was also true. That Lincoln gave the Gettysburg address, Washington wintered at Valley Forge and the Wright Brothers flew planes.

Later on, we found out that there was a lot in our history that never made it into those books and we’re the poorer for those lapses.

The only way to know who we are is to hear the truth, however, it may pain us. But the truth. Not something made up for the occasion. Like the best man giving a speech about fun times spent in their youth that never happened, but were sure funny to listen to.

Sen. Britt Says

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Sen. Katie Britt, sitting in her kitchen somewhere in Alabama, seemingly with her finger on the American pulse, told all of us how bad things were out there. Not just in Alabama but everywhere.

· How the American dream was becoming a nightmare.

· She spoke with an understanding on Joe Biden that was either quite remarkable and astute or just repeating what was written on the prompter hidden out of view.

· But it made her appear wise beyond her 41 years, which I guess is why we were “sitting” in her kitchen across the table from her, sharing a cup of coffee and learning all those things about Joe Biden that none of us knew.

And as the words flowed and the picture she portrayed grew bleaker, we got to hear that even though America is at its darkest point in years (contrary to every major economic statistic that’s out there) there’s a solution just around the corner.

There’s hope and it comes in the form of a much younger man (four years is a long time to the GOP) ready to take back the reins.

To lead this nation in an un-dithered and un-diminished way. That he would handle immigration once and for all, just like he handled it once and for all when he was last in office.

And even though he opposes the bipartisan Senate immigration bill ready for implementation, it’s only because his bill, the one he hasn’t yet put together but will, is much better and younger, and has absolutely nothing to do with taking advantage of a bad situation for the American people, just to gain some votes.

Truth as an Accessory

In Politics, you can say something is bad and needs to be fixed, when it’s working just fine. You can say the days ahead will be filled with darkness, even when the weather forecast says sunshine for the next month.

Because in Politics, truth is an accessory.

It changes from day to day and what may go well with a summer suit, leather pumps, and a handbag, will look terrible when discussing the economy or immigration.

Biden at SOTU

President Biden did not come across as old or unsteady, quite the opposite. He came across as the statesman he is with over 50 years of experience. It’s the kind of experience we need right now. The kind of leadership that’s required to repair some of the problems created over the past few years.

And not those just within the country’s borders. Biden’s reach is commensurate with his grasp of world affairs and we need that right now because there is one thing that Sen. Britt alluded to that is correct. There is darkness out there. We’re seeing it in Israel and Gaza and in Ukraine.

We’re seeing it in pirate boats near Yemen, and in drones striking neutral ships.

We need someone in the Oval Office who has the breadth of experience to not look at dictators as ordinary family men trying to do right for their people.

In all fairness, his opponent has experience too, just of a different sort. His recent experiences since he left office, are those that many of us didn’t know he had but have become well acquainted with over the past three years.

Hopefully, Sen. Britt will in the coming months come to appreciate that Reality is very nuanced. It’s not what you say it is, it’s what's actually there. It’s not what makes winning easier, it’s what has to be dealt with when you do win.

When the attendant on the airliner remarks that today’s crew has over 60 years of flight experience, we don’t all go – oh my, they must be quite old. We’re thankful to have them there.

The same should be said about President Biden.