I say YES. YOU say NO....Numero Tre! Enjoy!
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Biden keeps low profile on vacation as Democrats aim to capitalize on DNC
Only a matter of weeks ago it seemed inconceivable that Biden would watch someone else accepting the presidential nomination from a TV screen some 2,000 miles away.
Abbie Cheeseman August 25, 2024
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif. — Shrouded by vines and rolling hills in the heart of a private 8,000-acre ranch in Santa Barbara’s wine country, President Joe Biden last week sealed himself away from the public gaze.Only weeks ago it seemed inconceivable that Biden would watch the balloons at the Democratic National Convention fall in celebration of someone else accepting the presidential nomination from a TV screen some 2,000 miles away.
His reaction to that moment — whatever it may have been — was firmly hidden.
The president has not spoken publicly or to the press since Monday night — after he gave an emotional speech, formally passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris — on the first night of the convention. With cease-fire talks for the war in Gaza resuming on Sunday, Biden’s low profile is notable.
With the talks threatened due to the worst escalation of violence between Israel and Hezbollah since the war began in October, Biden did not take questions from the press as he boarded Air Force One to Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Biden, did, however answer questions from reporters on the tarmac in Chicago on Monday night as he readied to board Air Force One for his vacation in Santa Ynez, just after he left the convention, and he has not been heard from since.
Biden usually makes public appearances during his vacations. Bike rides (sometimes ill-fated), spin classes, trips to the beach. But on his six-day visit to the Santa Ynez valley last week, he was seen just once as he attended Mass on Saturday afternoon.
In the foothills of the San Rafael Mountains, the secluded ranch where the first couple stayed, surrounded by children and grandchildren, is the home of Democratic megadonor Joe Kiani.
The press that traveled to California with the president was told by 10:30 a.m. on each of the first four days to stand down — that is, that there would be no public appearances.
When he attended Mass at the Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang on Saturday, reporters were kept — outside of normal routine — to the back of the motorcade and the family entered the church before their arrival. When the president, alongside his children Hunter and Ashley, left the church, he did not offer reporters time for questions and headed straight to his car.
One reporter shouted: “How are the cease-fire talks going?” Biden gave a thumbs-up. It was his only public interaction in five days.
White House staff has been equally as tight-lipped about how the president and his family have spent their vacation or how they reacted to the poignant moment in Biden’s political career. Only one moment was telegraphed to the public: the president and first lady Jill Biden, standing next to a TV broadcasting the convention shortly before Harris accepted the party’s nomination.
The only other snippet of information that was passed on from the inner circle was that local rumors of the president dining out were not true — the family ate together at the ranch every night.
On Sunday, the family traveled to Rehoboth Beach for another week of vacation.
While Biden has barely been seen this past week, no shortage of global crises meant his work continued throughout the vacation. He spoke with heads of state from Egypt, Qatar and Israel in an effort to get cease-fire talks back on track, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the White House. He also dispatching his national security adviser Jake Sullivan to China. The president is reported to have spent some time with aides prioritizing policy choices for the final months of his presidency.
Biden was also said to have been monitoring late on Saturday the escalation of violence in Israel and Lebanon and was ”engaged” with his national security team, according to Sean Savett, a National Security Council spokesperson.
The first lady, meanwhile, took advantage of the stay in the valley. She was spotted shopping and walking the dog, according to locals, in Santa Ynez, Solvang and Los Olivos.
The president would have struggled to find a vacation home farther away from the buzz and furor of the election cycle. White picket fences line the narrow country roads that dip throughout the valley leading to the gates of the sprawling ranch. Horses, cows and the “Golden Retriever Retreat” surrounding the homestood in stark contrast to the energy that coursed through the convention throughout the week.
The stay has drawn the ire of Republicans who have raised questions over the ethics of the Biden family’s record of vacationing at the homes of Democratic donors. Kiani — the founder and chief executive of medical technology company Masimo — whom Biden describes as a “close friend” — also sits on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Biden, however, is not the only president to have enjoyed vacations at the home of political donors.
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Divine, 'touché' indeed. I don't think FG isn't very aware of what he is REALLY saying. In his mind (what he has of one which certainly isn't much at all) I'm sure it sounds great. Off by much more than a country mile.
I think his label of Comrade Kamala (at least he pronounced it right) is not hitting home like he might think either. In my mind when I hear him say that is his great love of Russia — and nothing at all about the fear we once had about Russia. I don't think anyone fears now. People on the Loon's side along with a number of Reps. actually seem to have positive feelings about Russia — so now Loon turns and tries to instill fear. It just doesn't make sense at all.
I read that there are a new bunch of policy speeches as the Loon goes to some of the big swing states, but I'm not at all sure writing out a speech will help him. He is so ego-driven and seeing, hearing, watching Kamala Harris wipe up the floor with his side, out pace in every category and certainly now have better poll numbers, makes me wonder if he can stay on track at all. It sounds like many of his people are quite concerned too. They want to say he is going to pivot — well he has done that a time or two, but very short bursts of time and then he goes back to what he knows best. That is name calling and lying and coming up with nonsensical junk that doesn't even fit most of the time. I personally think he won't change his spots. He is what he is and that his that there are mental damages and no amt. of written for someone speeches is going to fix that.
Interesting to see when he goes out for his first rally. If he can get through a whole speech and say nothing stupid or insane.
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It doesn't get a lot more insane than this. Nuclear war will cancel out the respect of everyone , never mind the tyrants — look at the capitals. But at least the Tyrants love him. Good to know in case I think I need Info like that to thrive. HINT: No, I don't.
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The picture I thought had to be an old one but wasn't. He actually did seem to do a better job on his ears and neck though.
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Not much of a surprise. Loon was mad that he and media egged Pres. Biden till he dropped out. It now seems great, but he has known from almost the first that he doesn't dare try and debate Kamala Harris. In addition to everything else — a pure and total humiliation of the worst kind — a black woman, making him look small, weak, and totally in-effective. I think we'd see a melted puddle in the back of his podium.
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It would be like watching the Wicked Witch from Oz puddle except the puddle would be orange tinted.
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Great description, betrayal! Totally agree!!
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Of course, even though I, for the most part, did not care for a lot of his policies, he was a gentleman, and seemed always to display decorum in his dealings. He wasn't ever it seemed to be to be one of the sleight of tongue characters that many of his co-Reps. were and had as a signature.
So, it is a shame that they find such a decent man deserving of their scorn. Since it is their's I say I'm not one bit impressed by all of you and your indecent reaction for former Sen. McCain.
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All the worse because it certainly was not said in jest.
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Three-ring mess for sure.
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The so-called “tough guy” is afraid of a strong intelligent woman humiliating him in front of the entire country. Even worse the “tough guy" is blaming it on the questions that he could be asked. It's a sign of weakness on so many different levels. Weak people are constantly the victim. Weak people think everything is "unfair."
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Sorta silly, but sorta fun too.
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