Tomorrow both Biden and Trump will visit the border. Where Trump is going 588 pass through daily, Biden is going where only 12 pass through. Thoughts?

[sage2021]

[nightdrot]

This I say as a Republican who is not a fan of Mr. Trump and yet who believes that his handling of the issue as President was superior to that of Mr. Biden. The symbolism is fairly straightforward.

Mr. Biden is attempting to create the illusion of a controlled border in an area where he has clearly failed. Take that as a given and Mr. Trump was - and is - by far the more effective leader. Yet really this is all quite nonsensical. It is the politics of symbolism and not really a substantive discussion.

It is what, in his high tech age, is burdening the nation's politics. The fact that Mr. Biden is going to a relatively calm area of the border while Mr. Trump goes to an unstable area is all very attractive to the cameras and serves the biases of partisans on both sides, but it really serves no useful purpose.

It is not conducive to a nuanced debate and analysis, but mere emotionalism and partisanship. To be sure, symbols matter and, on balance, I side with Mr. Trump, but all the heavy breathing over who went to what part of the border serves no real purpose and is a symptom of the politics of the age.

Hence, the rancid populism of the nation's politics. As noted, Mr. Trump was the more effective leader on the immigration issue - the facts are clear on that - but really it is well past time the nation stopped debating photo-ops and started debating the more substantive issues behind those photo-ops. Symbols are fine - and even necessary from time to time - but when they become the totality of the nation's politics, progress on substantive issues becomes problematic.

[sage2021]

@nightdrot
What you say is true. However, people are very visual and I would love it if ice cream joe was the one in the picture with the 588. He would shit in his Depends diaper if he was around that many illegals all at once!

[nightdrot]

Well, sort of my point. Seeking emotional satisfaction is hardly conducive to rational analysis and sober debate.

As I noted in what I wrote above, I don't disagree with you on the value of symbolism - especially in politics. However, this has mostly been a vacuous symbolism. Indeed, the dead body of the young lady in Georgia who was murdered by an illegal immigrant carries far more weight - and is substantively far more grave - than your picture of the 588.

[FunkyMonkee]

Biden's going to pass out ice cream and give offers to sniff the little girls to entice more where he's gonna be.

[sage2021]

@FunkyMonkee
I don't know about that. I don't think he'll want to share ANY of his chocolate chip ice cream.

I noticed him licking on an ice cream cone yesterday on FOX News Channel. I think his handlers keep his mouth busy eating ice cream so he can't talk. Just another diversion to shut him the frick up!

[FunkyMonkee]

I've been hearing that Alzheimer's victims can't get enough ice cream!

[laly520]

he would go if there would be ice cream there

[Surely]

It would not be a good photo opt if hundreds of illegals were to come onto US soil in the background during Joey’s visit! Since Biden’s team handed out tee shirts in the beginning of his term. Maybe Trump should do something similar!
I wonder if Biden’s Secret Service would allow Trump to get anywhere near Joey during their time there?

[exitseven]

Both want a good photo opportunity. Each for a different reason. Too bad Biden will get all the fake news coverage and America will not be able to see whet a dissater the border is.

[Likes2drive]

It figures he would go where there is the least border crossings just so he can say there’s no problem when it’s been a big problem since Joe has been in office and got worse