Generation X trivia buffs will soon mark the 34th anniversary of the first episode of the “Max Headroom” series which featured a totally computer-generated main character. The series also returned to mind after observers noticed this video in which microphones were inartfully stitched into a video of Biden apparently giving an impromptu Q&A to the press. Biden’s hands pass in the same line of sight as the microphones in the foreground. The microphones should have eclipsed his hands. Instead, due to sloppy editing, his hands obscure the microphones.
If Biden’s appearances are indeed being “supplemented” by computer-generated images, one can understand the temptation his handlers must be feeling. Given that the actual impromptu and authentic Biden is bound to do things like slip and fall—three times—while in the course of simple tasks like ascending the stairs to Air Force One. Fortunately, the president was not injured in the making of that video as she was back at the White House running things.
Of course, it should just be an amusing punchline to refer to Kamala Harris as the real president. But it’s not funny anymore. Biden himself continues to refer to “President Harris” without any intended irony or humor. In this latest incident, he appeared to read the phrase, “President Harris,” from a teleprompter.
Even his media cheering section has begun to question why their chosen president has set a one century record for the longest stretch of a new president failing to hold a news conference. Foreign leaders have begun to notice something is up. The president of Russia challenged Biden to a live debate, “on the condition that we do it basically live, as it’s called. Without any delays and directly in an open, direct discussion.”
“Vice” President Harris has held several solo calls with foreign leaders including French president Emmanuel Macron and Norwegian prime minister Erna Soldberg. According to the Washington Post, Biden was absent during Harris’ calls to the leaders of Canada, Australia, and Israel. Many of Harris’ calls followed immediately after the approximately 20 one-on-one calls Biden held with foreign leaders. By giving Harris the last word with foreign leaders, it sends the message that she, not Biden, has the final say on foreign policy.
The recent Biden video that appeared to show CGI microphones is not the first time questions have arisen regarding the authenticity of Biden’s interactions with reporters. Recall that in September, I wrote about a “press conference” during which Biden appeared to be reading prepared responses to supposedly live questions from reporters. I noted that the staffer appeared to be calling on the journalists in a particular order to preserve the sequence of answers Biden had with him at the lectern.
Writing for the Arizona Republic, Bill Goodykoontz wrote,
in his 64th day in office, Biden will hold a formal news conference, taking questions from reporters. Press conference, news conference, whatever you want to call it—it’s when the president, alone and without aides, stands before the gathered media throng and answers their questions, unscripted. It’s the longest a new president has gone without one in more than 100 years. If you’re curious, Donald Trump held one after 27 days, Barack Obama after 20 days.
Depending on whom you ask, this is either a scandal of epic proportions and a dereliction of responsibility not seen in modern times…or, wait, what were we talking about?
What were we talking about? Is he serious?
For starters, we should have been talking about the epic crisis at the border that has embarrassed the media scolds (again) who once recycled Obama-era photos of children in “cages” to whip up outrage over Trump’s border policy. The smell of Biden Administration panic is thicker than a hundred overused immigrant detention center porta potties. The new pictures, authentically from the Biden era, show children shivering in foil blankets, packed into rooms made from plastic sheeting. What’s happening at the border is really bad but tragically predictable. Biden should be answering for the humanitarian crisis he effectively invited by criticizing and cancelling Trump-era border security measures.
We should also be talking about the gathering storm clouds for stagflation. The money supply has grown so much and so rapidly that even traditionally liberal economists are saying that the dollar is overdue for a massive inflationary spiral. We should definitely be talking about the total cold war China launched against the United States including a recent massive cyber attack and various actions in the bond market designed to destabilize faith in the credit worthiness of the U.S. treasury. Because Biden seems incapable of noticing Chinese outrages, however, China took the added step of getting in the face of the U.S. ambassador in Alaska earlier this month.
Biden has beaten low expectations before when he performed adequately at the two presidential debates. He is capable of focusing and taking questions under controlled circumstances. Until recently, Biden could always count on former president Trump to grab the spotlight and deflect attention from his own foibles as Trump drew the blinding hatred of the media and leftists (but I repeat myself) in his direction. Unfortunately, Biden can no longer shelter in place behind the daily Trump tweet storm. Some journalists have even begun to stir from their “get-Trump!” trances to question officials in the Biden Administration. If Biden shows up and actual journalists are allowed to ask real questions, the press conference could be interesting.