Finally, Joe Biden has rested up enough to emerge into the glare of the spotlight to speak about the ongoing war that Hamas started but Israel will finish.

It’s been quite a few days for old Joe. He did manage to wake up at “7:30, 8 am” on a Saturday (WOW) and discover that Hamas had invaded southern Israel and was busy slaughtering, raping, multilating, and kidnapping civilians. We also know that some of those civilians – both dead and kidnapped – are American citizens. So what did Joe do? He disappeared for two days. Well, he DID host a barbecue on Sunday evening and boy, manning the grill really does take it out of an 80 year old man. (Just kidding, Joe doesn’t have enough upper body strength to flip burgers any more.) The White House called a lid on both Sunday and Monday after 11 am, and we have since learned that Joe was not just resting up, he was meeting with the special counsel in HIS classified documents case.

After getting real blowback for announcing that Biden would be in Philadelphia on Friday for yet another speech on the glories of “Bidenomics,” the White House then announced late Monday that Grandpa Joe would be giving a speech on Tuesday on Israel. The speech was scheduled for 1 pm Eastern Time. Joe Biden did not show up on time. Pundits who were attempting to cover for the delay on the Washington Post’s live feed on YouTube were speculating that Biden could be getting last-minute phone calls with new information, or something IMPORTANT. Or, the White House was waiting for the meds to kick in before sending Old Joe out there. You make the call.

One hour and 24 minutes later, Joe Biden walked in, flanked by Kamala Harris and Antony Blinken. To his credit, Biden’s speechwriters had him saying all the correct things, pointing out that what Hamas has done to civilians is terrorism on par with ISIS, and that Israel has the right to defend itself. (He also claimed that he “just” got off the phone with Benjamin Netanyahu, but the media had already reported that the call from Netanyahu had happened earlier this morning.) Biden did announce that we would be rushing munitions, ammunition, and help to replenish Iron Dome (something that Kevin McCarthy had called for yesterday).

Biden also reaffirmed that the Gerald R. Ford naval strike group was moved to get closer to the situation, and warned that no one else should attempt to try and interfere with the situation. He also told the story that he has told before about his meeting with Golda Meir when she was a senator – at least this time, he got the year and the war correct.

And then Biden walked off. We waited an hour and 24 minutes for a just-over-ten minute speech, and he took no questions. Kamala Harris and Antony Blinken, who were basically props standing in the background (at the ready should Biden tip over), scurried after him like lemmings while the press shouted questions.

After two days of silence, we get ten minutes of commentary. The speech in and of itself was okay enough. Where the speech failed was in the specifics. Biden announced that 14 Americans are dead, and that he has offered military assistance in the form of advice and expertise to assist in hostage recovery. But up until now, none of the families with missing loved ones have even heard from the administration, and said so during a press conference in Tel Aviv today.

Holy shit. Father of an American who has been taken hostage says Biden administration has done nothing to help, hasn't told them anything. He asked if anyone from the US embassy was at this press conference to help. None.

— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) October 10, 2023

There was also something missing from Joe’s speeches – the first one on Saturday, and this one today. That was the word “Iran.” The closest Biden got to mentioning Iran in this speech was his warning to other countries who might look to “take advantage of the situation.” There’s a reason that Joe and his handlers don’t want to take questions right now – he doesn’t want to answer questions about his coddling of Iran, the $6 billion that was unfrozen for them in a cash-for-hostages deal, or any of the reports (the Wall Street Journal’s report now being confirmed by the Washington Post) that Iran gave Hamas the logistical help and the weapons for this attack.

Will Biden’s remarks stem the hideous displays of anti-Semitism that have been running rampant on college campuses and in city streets? Probably not. Will it serve as a rebuke to the Squad? Maybe, but they’ve already shown their true colors. This speech was fine. It just came two days too late. We deserve a president who will wake up for the 3 am phone call. We deserve a president who is present in the moment. Joe Biden didn’t manage either of those things. Ask yourself why.

Featured image: original Victory Girls art by Darleen Click