The Albany Times-Union’s Sunday presidential endorsement editorial was quite extraordinary in multiple respects.
It was unusually early. Filled an entire page. And was superb.
Of course, endorsing Biden was no surprise. Last time, practically no paper in America endorsed Trump. Unprecedented then, it will surely repeat this year. Trumpsters will say that merely shows the press’s bias against him. As if it’s somehow just a baseless prejudice. In fact journalists, whose business it is to understand public affairs, do so far better than the average citizen. Far less susceptible to disinformation, lies, and propaganda. Thus they see the reality of Trump — and in consequence almost unanimously oppose him.
Much good it did in 2016. That such responsible voices are nowadays drowned out by a cacophony of crazed shouting (like Trump’s own) is one of the signifiers that we’re in real trouble.
The Times-Union’s editorial presents a damning indictment. Setting forth the facts — not “fake news,” BS, lies, hoaxes, spin, or hype, but facts — such things do still exist — with blistering, devastating thoroughness. Nailing Trump as a very bad man, very bad for America.
His cultists, if they read it at all, will just wave it away. That itself is a key reason why Trumpdom bodes terrible for our future. So many people so impervious to reason and indeed reality itself. Living in an alternate reality bubble. We can’t go on like this.
It was apparently written by editorial page editor Jay Jochnowitz. A masterpiece of the genre, meriting attention for that alone. But more importantly, it does cogently illuminate the stakes in this election: good against evil. Really and truly.
Please do read it here: https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Editorial-Joe-Biden-for-president-15655822.php
(Coming soon: my own final comprehensive indictment.)
The Rational Optimist 
October 21, 2020 at 6:05 pm
Jay is a friend of mine. Brilliant, great guy. Like you!
Robyn E. Blumner *President and CEO*, Center for Inquiry *Executive Director,* Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 205 Washington, D.C. 20005 RBlumner@centerforinquiry.org
The Center for Inquiry strives to foster a secular society based on reason, science, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values. Our vision is a world where people value evidence and critical thinking, where superstition and prejudice subside, and where science and compassion guide public policy.
On Wed, Oct 21, 2020 at 4:59 PM The Rational Optimist wrote:
> rationaloptimist posted: ” The Albany Times-Union’s Sunday presidential > endorsement editorial was quite extraordinary in multiple respects. It was > unusually early. Filled an entire page. And was superb. Of course, > endorsing Biden was no surprise. Last time, practically n” >