Schumers Spin is a Dance Around Biden's Mental Acuity

I get it. Politicians have a knack for speaking in a way that only politicians can. It's either in their DNA, or they undergo a rigorous orientation upon taking office, complete with courses on the art of "communication."

How to dodge questions while appearing to answer them. How to create the illusion of transparency. How to lie convincingly and make it seem like you're being truthful. How to craft intricate riddles that no one can truly solve, yet make you sound ingenius.

It is literally an art form.

Remember when Chuck Schumer and his fellow Democrats dismissed claims about Biden's mental acuity as right wing conspiracies? Then came that infamous debate performance, leaving Democrats visibly stunned.

"Oh, God. We can't possibly spin this anymore. Can we?"

They couldn't spin it anymore. The writing was on the wall, clear as day. But to be fair, they're still dodging the question, doing their best to find creative ways to deny the truth. This was evident once again when Chuck Schumer was recently asked on Meet the Press if he felt he misled the American people with his comments.

He didn't answer the question. Instead, he rambled on about Biden's "record," his supposed accomplishments, claiming he achieved more than any other president in history, and highlighting achievements that marked a very successful presidency. 

Beyond none of that being true, it was a relatively simple question. "Did you and the Democrat party mislead the American people about President Joe Biden's health?" Of course, answering that question truthfully would have posed another important question that no one really wants to address.

If Joe Biden's mental acuity was in decline, then who was making the decisions? Who was truly running the country? And whoever that was, how much power did they amass in Biden's mental absence? Could they have controlled Harris? Were they controlling Harris? Was she merely a Manchurian candidate?

During Trump's first term, without any doubt, he posed an existential threat to The Establishment. Were Joe Biden and Kamala Harris the ultimate opportunity for them to reaffirm and cement their power indefinitely?

Conspiratorial, I admit. Crazy? Maybe. Possible? You never know. But I digress.

When Chuck Schumer skillfully dodged the question, the follow-up might have been even more revealing. "Do you believe Biden could have served another four years?" Schumer's response was that he didn't want to speculate. For all intents and purposes, that's a no, which circles back to the original question.

If Joe Biden wasn't in mental decline, why did he debate performance essentially seal the deal for calls for him to drop out of the race? If he was fit to lead, wouldn't that have outweighed the impact of the debate? And if it were true that he wasn't experiencing any mental decline at all, and it was nothing more than a bad night at the podium, why couldn't that be easily conveyed after the debate to change the Democrat's minds?

I understand Chuck Schumer's going to speak like he does. He's seasoned. The real question is whether the American people buy his answer, and I believe the answer is no. Beyond that, if the Democratic party continues to blatantly mislead the American people and dodge the truth, how will they ever restore the trust they lost in the last election?

Not that I'm rooting for them to do that, mind you. I'm just making an observation and asking, what else were they hiding?

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© 2025 Jim Bauer

Biden Blocks Nippon Steel Deal: The Uncertain Future of U.S. Steel and Granite City Works

Driving through the streets of Granite City, Illinois, you might notice that the city appears a bit worn down. This is largely due to the presence of the steel mill, Granite City Works, which is part of U.S. Steel, and SunCoke Energy, a separate entity, both of which involve demanding and gritty work environments. However, despite their rugged nature, and the fact that driving past these facilities is quite a bit of an eyesore, these operations play a crucial role in holding the community together.

Without these industries, Granite City might risk becoming a ghost town.

It's no secret that U.S. Steel has faced several financial challenges, putting Granite City Works in jeopardy. Even as negotiations with Nippon Steel to acquire U.S. Steel for an estimated $14.9 billion were underway, Nippon pledged to enhance steel mills in Gary, Indiana and Pittsburgh. However, they remained silent about their plans for Granite City.

In 2023, the plant had to shut down its only operational blast furnace, resulting in layoffs. Additionally, there have been other temporary layoffs and shutdowns, leaving unions frustrated and workers uncertain about their job security. 

These jobs are well-paying, with the average worker earning around $75,000 a year, and certainly these are important, family supporting wages. That's something any community wants to keep around. At one time, about 900 people were employed there. But recent cuts in production and layoffs have reduced that number to around 300.

Typically, if there's an opportunity for new leadership to bring in innovative ideas and operational efficiencies, potentially increasing profitability and securing jobs, people would support the sale. However, steel is different. It's a critical resource for national security, making it understandable that selling to a foreign company could pose certain risks.

Even the unions preferred the initial offer from American based Cleveland Cliffs over Nippon Steel's, despite it being half of what Nippon ultimately offered. This was true even while Cleveland Cliffs never provided details about its plans for any of the U.S. Steel mills involved in the transaction.

President Joe Biden ultimately blocked the deal, and incoming President-Elect Donald Trump likely would have done the same, as he said as much on the campaign trail. Personally, I support the decision for the same reasons they cited.

National security.

The question becomes, are we in a damned if we do, damned if we don't situation? U.S. Steel continues to face financial difficulties, and regardless of the outcome of the Nippon Steel deal, the company will still need to make decisions in its best interest. This means that even if we prioritize national security interests, it doesn't guarantee that the workers at Granite City Works will be better off with a sale to either Cleveland Cliffs or Nippon Steel.

Moreover, if U.S. Steel cannot fix its problems, mills will potentially have to be closed anyway, or even the entire company could cease to exist—defeating the purpose of blocking the Nippon Steel deal anyway for national security interests to protect a valuable commodity. 

This raises the question, should the federal government step in and offer assistance, similar to the bailout provided to automakers? Unlike the financial issues faced by automakers, if the government's decision to block the deal creates additional hardships for the company, does it have an obligation to provide some support?

It's reminiscent of the Covid shutdowns mandated by governors and mayors. If the government decides to close business' doors, regardless of the reasons or the societal impact, offering relief seems like a reasonable thing to do. These businesses did not make decisions to close on their own. They were forced to operate under government directives rather than according to their best interests, and unable to make decisions on their own how to operate within the environment they were in.

While I generally do not support government intervention, I believe a case can be made for a situation like the one regarding U.S. Steel. If the goal is to protect an essential commodity, then we must take steps to also ensure its protection.

Moreover, amid all this uncertainty, I think the workers of Granite City Works, and all of U.S. Steel's mills, deserve some clarity about their futures. The people of Granite City also deserve transparency, as decisions made could have long-lasting impacts on their community. High paying jobs like those at Granite City Works are crucial—they are part of the glue that keeps the city whole.

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© 2025 Jim Bauer

American Manufacturing Is About More Than Just Jobs
Bringing back American manufacturing is critical to American society in more ways than just economic ones. In order for America to succeed it needs the ability to make things, not only for the stability and good jobs it provides, but for national security as well.