A Triple Dog Dare

(A Triple Dog Dare)

President Bidne has an opportunity. Such a chance is what would be considered common sense but in the entirety of his Administration, such a concept never interfered with policy. As tensions between Israel and Iran escalate, effects of any action will invariably have repercussions in this country, name on how the price of oil, and by extension gasoline, will be effected, If Biden wanted to ameliorate that effect, he could in short order announce that his war on fossil fuels is at an end and give the green light to increase domestic production and allow for permitting in federal lands. This would have the double benefit of reducing oil and gas prices, curbing inflation, and place Tehran in a compromised position. That being said, that idea makes too much sense to be actively considered by the President.


Anyhow, assume that Biden will not change course and any new Israeli-Iranian war or some action in the Near East and markets here respond accordingly, the President will probably reiterate his calls for a cease fire in the Israeli-Hamas War. He will offer no policy changes and. even with assets still in theater, any escalation on his part would be limited. In any debate with Donald Trump, Biden's Mid-East policy will be called into question.


Every Christmas, there is a 24-hour airing of A Christmas Story. People generally know the plot of how young Ralphie Parker managed that time of his life. One of the rituals he performed with buddies "Flick" and "Swartz" and the exact nuance phrases, beginning with a dare and progressing to Triple Dog Dare, on challenging someone to a chance to show their worth. In the movie, it was a dare to get Flick to see if his tongue would get stuck to a frozen lamppost, It did, of course.


Like Flick and the Triple Dog Dare to freeze his tounge on the light pole, so Donald Trump could challenge President Biden to a similar gathering. However, like knowing that one would freeze pressing against a post, having President Biden facing former President Trump. This time, Trump has come to the realization that voting begins long before Election Day and it would behoove, he and his Campaign to place points on the board before people begin heading to the polls.


And, there is the equally advantageous strategy of what happens when President Biden refuses to engage. He would be working without a net and without any handlers. And, Biden will have no friendly moderator like he had in 2020. If Biden debates Trump, and he does poorly, what chance he has for his own re-election become diminished.  If he does "better than expected," which was the liberal line at the State of the Union, it remains a crapshoot.


Either way. . .

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