Why are you promoting this book and beating a dead horse? You are part of the problem, like CNN and the rest of the media getting all worked up about this water under the bridge. Get over it and start focusing on the real battle at hand--saving our democracy. You are doing just what rump and maga want--talking about something besides their systematic dismantling of our republic. I will never buy or read this Jake Tapper garbage which is completely useless now.
Yes. To all of this. I felt the same about Joe. He was the perfect balm after the ragged edges we were left with after the other guy. I agree, in my mind, he was a one term guy. I can’t muster much anger for Joe, the man. But the Joe Machine didn’t do right by us and the corner we landed in, was devastating. Thanks, as always, for the clarity.
Ryan, thank you for this. And for a frame of reference, I have never thought much of Biden. He spent way too much time with his foot in his mouth, and over the decades, had some essentially shocking changes of position. I think of him as a stuffed shirt who kept being in the right place at the right time.
I never voted FOR Biden. I voted twice AGAINST the alternative. There were plenty of things wrong with Biden, even before his collapse. But he was never, for an instant, as bad as is Donnie on Donnie's best day.
Thanks again for pointing out that the Emperor's attire had much to be desired. But it was still, sadly, far better than the other choice. No one has to doubt that today.
Speaking the truth, that’s what we need to do. The lies have gotten us where we are. After having 3 house member die in office now, we’ve got to get these old men and women out. They’ve done their jobs and now they need to retire! We need younger rambunctious folks who can stand up and fight. I would’ve voted for a rock over trump, but he should’ve stepped aside, so we had more time to go through the election process. Kamala wouldn’t have had to hold back on HER views, instead she was held under the thumb of what Biden had done.
Be careful what you wish for. A good number of those "younger rambunctious" folks are the same people who voted for the current situation we find ourselves in.
As for age bashing, I don't accept that. Seriously, at what point/age do any of us mark "old" from "younger" ... and by what criteria?
I know young folks (20s and 30s) who are truly aspiring and intelligent but haven't quite figured out the "how" life really works simply because they aren't "old" enough to know better. A lifetime of experience and wisdom from people I prefer to call "our elders" can be, and are, invaluable.
On the flip side, I know folks older than myself (50s) who are reluctant, or maybe cautious, to hear/learn from the up-and-coming generation(s). They are "set in their ways," as we often say, to the exclusion of newer and fresher ideas coming down the pike. Perhaps these elders have a keen ability to process those fresher, newer ideas through a lens of life experience that enables them to see "how" those ideas have the potential to go awry.
Hindsight IS invaluable.
My reply here is not a sole rant on you, Darcy. It also speaks to Busse's post which gets under my skin as an irritant and not some overly emotional soap opera response. We all see, hear and absorb the lies and nonsensical statements on a daily basis. Is someone hiding the "real" stupidity from us? Oh yeah, right... The old people hiding their health problems and declines. It really is none of anyone else's business, except diggers and exploiters like the author who decided to focus on it at a time when the current administration is running around flying their personal billboards about the same thing for all of us to see. True as the story told may be, it is a distraction of convenience for someone and ammunition for someone else.
Speaking of "some one" ... Someone in history once said "It's not what we know that is the problem. It's what we think we know that ain't so." Even that statement can not be attributed to a single source definitively. Whoever it was that said it, got it.
I’m 49, my kids are 24. I’m organizing and protesting with a group of women and men younger than me to folks into their 80’s and up. Should they be running the country? When they are running the country damn right it’s our business. I most definitely it’s time for the old guard to step down. That’s on you if you are reactive about Ryan’s post, I’m sick and tired of beating around the bush, rich men and women stepping on us to get richer. Enough is enough. Get out on the streets and do something other than being irritated. Complacency got us here and it is us who have to dig ourselves out. We lost the house vote by one, imagine if 3 house members were still spry and not dead. When we are given the same people in office every session year after year and nobody dare go against them are we truly getting the best? We don’t know because nobody will go against Pelosi, Schumer and even some of the younger ones who vote with republicans to give trump his cabinet picks. When none of them should be voting for anything trumps wants, that’s resistance. The yo-yo voters better start standing for US and not doing speeches for 25 hours only to turn around and vote for more money to go to Israel! Come on, he’s the one who said right is right and wrong is wrong. I will hold my party to higher standards at this point, damnit we all better start!
Should Jamie Raskin step down because he was diagnosed with cancer and went through chemotherapy and might not have as many years on his side? Do any of us?
Trump clearly has some kind of cognitive problem, serious disconnect, and is a clinical narcissist. We see this every single day, yet here he is front and center of the country and the world! We all see it, hear it, cringe at it. But let's reflect on Biden's health and consider that a solid talking point for present failures? Yes... I'm "reactive" to such banter the same way my pupils are reactive to bright light. It has a place in the discussion, but now is not the time. This IS Substack, so Ryan can muse about whatever he likes. Because it is public it is subject to reaction, response, or critique.
I give both my time and financial resources to the ultimate causes that you do. I'm not your enemy. I'm just a person walking the planet the same as you.
I’m just going off what you said, I see that trump is off his rocker crazy. Jamie Raskin isn’t old, yes he had cancer. He also lost his son and came to work the next day. I’m saying if we need to retire around 65/70 these people should also retire. I’m not mad about Biden, I hate how they are twisting things, but he was declining as well, we saw it brushed it off as a stutter or covid. We can’t do that for either side anymore. I’m mostly saying the establishment politicians on both sides need to be broken. If they are working and are healthy let them work but the ones that are sick and just keep running to keep anyone else out of a seat for the sake of power. I mean look at Daines he’s been in office for years he’s a MAGA millionaire now we have Sheehy too young but also a MAGA. So much needs to change we have got to start somewhere. Money and the DNC need to change. Put the vote back into our hands not whoever can raise the most billionaire/millionaire/corporate backing. We may be on the same side but we need to find solutions or we will never get anywhere.
Good post. I think we need to own the Biden issue like good people would. Then we need to push hard on the now. The problem now is not Trump. The problem is that all of this mess is because of the Republican party both in the state and in the nation. They are not doing their jobs in the national Senate and the House. Rather than doing their constitutional duties they are allowing a kleptocracy to be formed. In the state there are nine conservatives who are rational actors and who have expertise and care about governing the whole state. The rest of the Republicans care about cultural isssues and thier own personal beliefs instead of the full spectrum of beliefs, values and needs of all of their constituents. Two things that we in Monatana pride ourselves on is getting to work each day and taking care of our loved ones and neighbors. Neither of these two things are being done by todays Republican party.
I've spent months in denial and anger over the '24 election (skipped the bargaining stage) and now vascillate between depression and acceptance at Dems' predicament. Dems must have a reckoning of mistakes made this past election cycle and do a course correction. And fast.
All I can say is, I was able to sleep peacefully and comfortably following 4-years of sleep deprivation, inability to hold my train of thought or honestly, to even focus. Regardless of what the book exposes, Joe Biden accomplished more than any president in my lifetime, more than I dreamt he'd be capable of doing, and many things me and my family had waited years to see. He showed his compassion openly and with ALL people, regardless of their ethnicity or backgrounds. Everything he did was for the benefit of the people and the communities we live in. He had an extraordinarily impressive group of Cabinet members who worked quietly behind the scenes, all of whom worked towards protecting our country and keeping us safe, can't say that now. The current Cabinet members endanger every single one of us, they're a national security threat in their ideology, their disrespect for rule of law, and the oaths they've clearly betrayed.
I was born and raised in Montana and over the years it's become a people of low voter turnout, people incredibly misinformed and naive to disinformation, an electorate who puts Party over Country. Montana has drifted away from the "Live and Let Live" state I grew up in, I desperately miss those values. Our Govenor and the current members Montana have sent to congress have done nothing for us, rather they've taken things from us, made life more difficult by making life unaffordable. Many, if not all, of them have long disturbing unattractive records on file, they do not represent the decent folks of Montana.
My hope for all voters going forward is to become engaged with the candidates who run for office, particularly their history of character, integrity, and respect for rule of law and our constitution. But also, for what they offer the people and our communities so that we all prosper. I hope Montanans have learned the lesson that those who hide from unvetted Town Hall Meetings or are open to only partisan attendees, aren't transparent and don't deserve our votes.
Please listen to John Flannery, YouTube, May 22, 2025. Joe Biden took us out of the destruction caused by the Orange Maniac, got some seriously good legislation passed and now he is still being thrown under the bus. If Tapper, and others, need to write books to pay bills and fatten their wallets they need to go no further than the present administration. A treasure trove of unfit people who have only their own interests at heart. But, that would take courage something lacking in today’s mainstream media. Thanks
Thanks for writing this Ryan. All I can say is that the Democratic Party (National and Montana) needs to put the best people forward that can accept reality and have the stamina to fight to win even if that means distancing your platform from the party leaders and go with your own gut!
I did not believe it, was shielded from the evidence and took the word of those closest to him. That’s the entire point and what the entire book is about.
It’s going to be a steep climb for Democrats to regain trust after this gross negligence. I didn’t fully connect the dots myself until now. Thanks for your insight Ryan, we need your leadership now more than ever.
Why are you promoting this book and beating a dead horse? You are part of the problem, like CNN and the rest of the media getting all worked up about this water under the bridge. Get over it and start focusing on the real battle at hand--saving our democracy. You are doing just what rump and maga want--talking about something besides their systematic dismantling of our republic. I will never buy or read this Jake Tapper garbage which is completely useless now.
Type less, use brain more! Byeee
Excellent post, Ryan. Thank you.
Yes. To all of this. I felt the same about Joe. He was the perfect balm after the ragged edges we were left with after the other guy. I agree, in my mind, he was a one term guy. I can’t muster much anger for Joe, the man. But the Joe Machine didn’t do right by us and the corner we landed in, was devastating. Thanks, as always, for the clarity.
Tough considerations, but what we’ve come to in this flat out evil time.
Ryan, thank you for this. And for a frame of reference, I have never thought much of Biden. He spent way too much time with his foot in his mouth, and over the decades, had some essentially shocking changes of position. I think of him as a stuffed shirt who kept being in the right place at the right time.
I never voted FOR Biden. I voted twice AGAINST the alternative. There were plenty of things wrong with Biden, even before his collapse. But he was never, for an instant, as bad as is Donnie on Donnie's best day.
Thanks again for pointing out that the Emperor's attire had much to be desired. But it was still, sadly, far better than the other choice. No one has to doubt that today.
Speaking the truth, that’s what we need to do. The lies have gotten us where we are. After having 3 house member die in office now, we’ve got to get these old men and women out. They’ve done their jobs and now they need to retire! We need younger rambunctious folks who can stand up and fight. I would’ve voted for a rock over trump, but he should’ve stepped aside, so we had more time to go through the election process. Kamala wouldn’t have had to hold back on HER views, instead she was held under the thumb of what Biden had done.
Be careful what you wish for. A good number of those "younger rambunctious" folks are the same people who voted for the current situation we find ourselves in.
As for age bashing, I don't accept that. Seriously, at what point/age do any of us mark "old" from "younger" ... and by what criteria?
I know young folks (20s and 30s) who are truly aspiring and intelligent but haven't quite figured out the "how" life really works simply because they aren't "old" enough to know better. A lifetime of experience and wisdom from people I prefer to call "our elders" can be, and are, invaluable.
On the flip side, I know folks older than myself (50s) who are reluctant, or maybe cautious, to hear/learn from the up-and-coming generation(s). They are "set in their ways," as we often say, to the exclusion of newer and fresher ideas coming down the pike. Perhaps these elders have a keen ability to process those fresher, newer ideas through a lens of life experience that enables them to see "how" those ideas have the potential to go awry.
Hindsight IS invaluable.
My reply here is not a sole rant on you, Darcy. It also speaks to Busse's post which gets under my skin as an irritant and not some overly emotional soap opera response. We all see, hear and absorb the lies and nonsensical statements on a daily basis. Is someone hiding the "real" stupidity from us? Oh yeah, right... The old people hiding their health problems and declines. It really is none of anyone else's business, except diggers and exploiters like the author who decided to focus on it at a time when the current administration is running around flying their personal billboards about the same thing for all of us to see. True as the story told may be, it is a distraction of convenience for someone and ammunition for someone else.
Speaking of "some one" ... Someone in history once said "It's not what we know that is the problem. It's what we think we know that ain't so." Even that statement can not be attributed to a single source definitively. Whoever it was that said it, got it.
I’m 49, my kids are 24. I’m organizing and protesting with a group of women and men younger than me to folks into their 80’s and up. Should they be running the country? When they are running the country damn right it’s our business. I most definitely it’s time for the old guard to step down. That’s on you if you are reactive about Ryan’s post, I’m sick and tired of beating around the bush, rich men and women stepping on us to get richer. Enough is enough. Get out on the streets and do something other than being irritated. Complacency got us here and it is us who have to dig ourselves out. We lost the house vote by one, imagine if 3 house members were still spry and not dead. When we are given the same people in office every session year after year and nobody dare go against them are we truly getting the best? We don’t know because nobody will go against Pelosi, Schumer and even some of the younger ones who vote with republicans to give trump his cabinet picks. When none of them should be voting for anything trumps wants, that’s resistance. The yo-yo voters better start standing for US and not doing speeches for 25 hours only to turn around and vote for more money to go to Israel! Come on, he’s the one who said right is right and wrong is wrong. I will hold my party to higher standards at this point, damnit we all better start!
Darci, with an "i"...
I still ask... at what age do you cut people off?
Should Jamie Raskin step down because he was diagnosed with cancer and went through chemotherapy and might not have as many years on his side? Do any of us?
Trump clearly has some kind of cognitive problem, serious disconnect, and is a clinical narcissist. We see this every single day, yet here he is front and center of the country and the world! We all see it, hear it, cringe at it. But let's reflect on Biden's health and consider that a solid talking point for present failures? Yes... I'm "reactive" to such banter the same way my pupils are reactive to bright light. It has a place in the discussion, but now is not the time. This IS Substack, so Ryan can muse about whatever he likes. Because it is public it is subject to reaction, response, or critique.
I give both my time and financial resources to the ultimate causes that you do. I'm not your enemy. I'm just a person walking the planet the same as you.
I’m just going off what you said, I see that trump is off his rocker crazy. Jamie Raskin isn’t old, yes he had cancer. He also lost his son and came to work the next day. I’m saying if we need to retire around 65/70 these people should also retire. I’m not mad about Biden, I hate how they are twisting things, but he was declining as well, we saw it brushed it off as a stutter or covid. We can’t do that for either side anymore. I’m mostly saying the establishment politicians on both sides need to be broken. If they are working and are healthy let them work but the ones that are sick and just keep running to keep anyone else out of a seat for the sake of power. I mean look at Daines he’s been in office for years he’s a MAGA millionaire now we have Sheehy too young but also a MAGA. So much needs to change we have got to start somewhere. Money and the DNC need to change. Put the vote back into our hands not whoever can raise the most billionaire/millionaire/corporate backing. We may be on the same side but we need to find solutions or we will never get anywhere.
Good post. I think we need to own the Biden issue like good people would. Then we need to push hard on the now. The problem now is not Trump. The problem is that all of this mess is because of the Republican party both in the state and in the nation. They are not doing their jobs in the national Senate and the House. Rather than doing their constitutional duties they are allowing a kleptocracy to be formed. In the state there are nine conservatives who are rational actors and who have expertise and care about governing the whole state. The rest of the Republicans care about cultural isssues and thier own personal beliefs instead of the full spectrum of beliefs, values and needs of all of their constituents. Two things that we in Monatana pride ourselves on is getting to work each day and taking care of our loved ones and neighbors. Neither of these two things are being done by todays Republican party.
I've spent months in denial and anger over the '24 election (skipped the bargaining stage) and now vascillate between depression and acceptance at Dems' predicament. Dems must have a reckoning of mistakes made this past election cycle and do a course correction. And fast.
All I can say is, I was able to sleep peacefully and comfortably following 4-years of sleep deprivation, inability to hold my train of thought or honestly, to even focus. Regardless of what the book exposes, Joe Biden accomplished more than any president in my lifetime, more than I dreamt he'd be capable of doing, and many things me and my family had waited years to see. He showed his compassion openly and with ALL people, regardless of their ethnicity or backgrounds. Everything he did was for the benefit of the people and the communities we live in. He had an extraordinarily impressive group of Cabinet members who worked quietly behind the scenes, all of whom worked towards protecting our country and keeping us safe, can't say that now. The current Cabinet members endanger every single one of us, they're a national security threat in their ideology, their disrespect for rule of law, and the oaths they've clearly betrayed.
I was born and raised in Montana and over the years it's become a people of low voter turnout, people incredibly misinformed and naive to disinformation, an electorate who puts Party over Country. Montana has drifted away from the "Live and Let Live" state I grew up in, I desperately miss those values. Our Govenor and the current members Montana have sent to congress have done nothing for us, rather they've taken things from us, made life more difficult by making life unaffordable. Many, if not all, of them have long disturbing unattractive records on file, they do not represent the decent folks of Montana.
My hope for all voters going forward is to become engaged with the candidates who run for office, particularly their history of character, integrity, and respect for rule of law and our constitution. But also, for what they offer the people and our communities so that we all prosper. I hope Montanans have learned the lesson that those who hide from unvetted Town Hall Meetings or are open to only partisan attendees, aren't transparent and don't deserve our votes.
Please listen to John Flannery, YouTube, May 22, 2025. Joe Biden took us out of the destruction caused by the Orange Maniac, got some seriously good legislation passed and now he is still being thrown under the bus. If Tapper, and others, need to write books to pay bills and fatten their wallets they need to go no further than the present administration. A treasure trove of unfit people who have only their own interests at heart. But, that would take courage something lacking in today’s mainstream media. Thanks
The evidence was there but you chose to believe the word of people who are known serial liars. That doesn't say anything good about your judgment.
Thank you
Thanks for writing this Ryan. All I can say is that the Democratic Party (National and Montana) needs to put the best people forward that can accept reality and have the stamina to fight to win even if that means distancing your platform from the party leaders and go with your own gut!
Great info. Thank you Ryan
Biden's cognitive decline was visibly evident before the 2020 election, why did you not tell us?
I did not believe it, was shielded from the evidence and took the word of those closest to him. That’s the entire point and what the entire book is about.
Under Bridge, meet water.
It’s going to be a steep climb for Democrats to regain trust after this gross negligence. I didn’t fully connect the dots myself until now. Thanks for your insight Ryan, we need your leadership now more than ever.
The Democrats need their own Heritage Foundation, and we are way behind them in so many ways.