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US PRESIDENT JOE Biden issued forceful warnings to China and Russia on Sunday and expressed optimism over the US economic rebound, but surprised many by hedging on whether he’ll seek re-election.
In a rare, wide-ranging interview with the CBS “60 Minutes” program, Biden went back on repeated assertions by the White House that he is sure to run in 2024.
Biden, who turns 80 in November, told interviewer Scott Pelley that re-election is his “intention.”
“But is it a firm decision that I run again? That remains to be seen,” he said.
“It’s much too early,” Biden said, calling himself “a great respecter of fate.”
Surveying the state of the world’s largest economy, Biden was optimistic.
He declared the Covid pandemic in the United States “over” and predicted that his administration would tame inflation — the main reason for his weak approval ratings and the reason Republicans believe they can take control of Congress in the upcoming November midterms.
“We’re going to get control of inflation,” he said.
In another surprise moment, Biden once again appeared to challenge decades of US policy on Taiwan with a vow that he would send troops to defend the self-ruling island if China tried to invade.
“Yes,” he said, adding that this would happen if it were “an unprecedented attack” — possibly referring to something beyond the frequent saber rattling conducted by Chinese military forces around Taiwan.
Under US policy known as “strategic ambiguity,” Washington recognizes Chinese sovereignty but opposes any forceful attempt to end Taiwan’s de facto self-rule. While Washington does arm Taiwan, there is no clear promise of direct US military support.
The White House said that Biden’s latest remarks do not indicate a change.
In another tough message to the United States’ biggest economic and geopolitical rival, Biden said he had warned President Xi Jinping not to support Russia militarily in its invasion of Ukraine.
He said he told Xi that US and other foreign investment in China would be disrupted and to think otherwise would be “a gigantic mistake.”
He also said that if Russian President Vladimir Putin uses nuclear or other non-conventional weapons against Ukraine the US response will be “consequential.”
When asked what he would tell Putin if the Russian leader was mulling such a move, he said: “Don’t. Don’t. Don’t.”
Biden praised the Ukrainians for their gritty fight against the huge Russian invasion force and said “they’re defeating Russia.”
Asked how to define victory for Kyiv, he said “winning the war in Ukraine is to get Russia out of Ukraine completely.”
But given the scale of human suffering and destruction inflicted in resisting the Russian onslaught, “it’s awful hard to count that as winning,” he added.
Despite his poor ratings and polls showing Democrats likely to lose control of at least one chamber of Congress, Biden said he is upbeat.
Noting that employment is booming and the economy is strong, Biden said “we hope we can have, as they say, a soft landing.”
On questions whether at his age he is physically and mentally able to continue in the grueling job, Biden said: “watch me.”
“It’s a matter of, you know, that old expression — ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating.’”
When asked his source of inspiration when times get tough, Biden mentioned his son Beau who died in 2015 but also his parents’ exhortation to “just get up.”
Biden said he had “a lot more to give.”
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Apollo House is a short term solution and a longer term solution is required.
Apollo House has re-ignited outrage over homelessness.
Others will fill the vacancies.
If you can afford to donate, here is the online link.
@Scarlett Milton: There would be no stunts needed if the government took its sworn duty to look after ALL the citizens of the country in a serious manner. It was FG who brought the eviction bill before the Dail and backed it up with the Courts (2016) Bill. This along with its neo-liberal love for market economics, that makes a commodity for profit out of all human need, is what caused the homeless epidemic.
Brendan Ogle, is a first rate organiser, a leader, who can bring people together in common cause. He has used his energies to do something positive to help and highlight the homeless epidemic in the country. Dame Enda, has done diddly squat, nothing, except to legislate to make the problem worse.
Government are in hiding.shame on them.
@@mdmak33: They haven’t really hidden. Their agencies have taken up the fight against Apollo Hse and the organisers.
Apollo Hse and the organisers are not on the list of approved charities, they don’t depend on government funding, the approved charities do.
@@mdmak33:was just thinking that my sled not a word from any of them . Especially independents where are u all gone
@John Scott: the politicians are certainly running scared on this one.
@Scarlett Milton: Home Sweet Home and Apollo House is primarily about generating a critical mass of awareness of and motivation to address the homeless crisis.
This is about issues and not about personalities.
I smell a rat on this. So PMVT are offering all tenants of Apollo a 6 month residential opportunity? How quick was that?! They are trying to undermine the positivity of what has happened by reducing the nightly count in Apollo to zero quickly. They are working through government funded charities to do so. We saw through it Kenny. .
@saoirse janneau: it does seem very odd that 6 month spaces should open up with such remarkable speed.
It’s stretching things to suggest that these spaces were planned and provided in a week. The truth of the matter, that these spaces were planned already, might not suit Brendan ogle’s election purposes, but everyone but the paranoid conspiracy theorists can understand it.
@John Mulligan: then thankfully Apollo House played an invaluable role as a stop gap measure to accommodate more than 35 homeless people as Storm Barbara approaches.
I take the people involved in Home Sweet Home as principled, humane, idealistic and altruistic. I include Ogle in that.
@Micheal OLainn @saoirse janneau: I think it´s very important right now to be careful not to direct our (very justified anger) towards PMVT. A charity who have applauded the newcomers Home Sweet Home and have decades of experience of fighting homelessness are not the people we need to put under the microscope. Direct your anger and your misgivings towards the governement. What´s their response?
@Micheal OLainn: It’s a very clever spin attack, meant to divide public opinion and remove the huge support the Apollo Hse has received from the public.
The government’s usual response to any display of people power.
@Dave Doyle: you are absolutely right and I found myself falling for it.
@Micheál Clesham: I truly accept your valid and justified criticism. Well said and I hold the McVerry trust and FathercMcVerry in the highest esteem. Indeed I have made donations but I feel protective of the Apollo House initiative which is beleaguered from many sides, most lately from Dublin City Council.
Interesting http://jrnl.ie/3157263f
32 have not taken up the offer yet .. that’s sad really ..
@Dave Doyle: brilliant and comprehensive comment.
what kind of trolls were out tonight?
@John Byrne: I don´t disagree with some of what you´ve said (i although i´m not sure where you´re going with the last line).
But, did the fight against homelessness not need a publicity stunt? Surely no one believes that anything about Apollo House is long term but was there any harm in throwing up a hail-mary move like this?
@Scarlett Milton: You’re a typical example of ‘you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t’. This is not about personalities, and your attitude is unhelpful and you’re simply just looking to stir this typical online drama to pass your time. Be original for gods sake and find something else to poke at!!
Give it another 3 weeks or so and nobody will give a flying f€&k until Christmas comes around again and Glen gets all festive emotional again. It’s government action that is needed not out of work crusties singin Kumbuya.
@TellingItAsItIs: thankfully you will be proven wrong. Your low class jibes discredit your feeble point. The flag has been raised.
@Michael Mark my words. You’ll be eating crusty humble pie as soon as a few of their dole days comes around.
@John Byrne: A load of bollixology from you. It’s not about Brendan Ogle or the organisers. It’s all about the government and its neo-liberal market primacy ideology that turns human need in a for profit commodity. A government that has farmed out its responsibilities to charities. Charities where the majority of the funding goes on salaries and a pittance goes where it’s intended.
Apollo Hse has shown people what can be done when people organise themselves and use the resources at their disposal, the vacant, public owned buildings, to give some respite to the most disadvantaged in society. And it terrifies the government.
The PMVT versus Apollo Hse spin we are now seeing spread across the media is phase two of the government’s response. The first being the very fast court action. This latest stunt to divide people and get the government off the hook wont work if the truth is told. What PMVT is offering the homeless is also a long time in the planning. It too offers the homeless a genuine alternative to a shop doorway, or a mat covered floorspace, that takes no account of the homeless’s problems, needs, safety or dignity. That’s the best DCC can come up with.
Public leaders are well entitled to demand how the government spends the resources. That’s democracy. The government’s sworn duty is to use the resources of the state for the benefit of ALL its citizens. The government and its love for a market driven ideology does not serve its ALL citizens. It serves only a select few.
75 Social housing units built this year, the government’s reluctance to provide council housing is why we are here, they put it on to private landlords to fill the gap through RAS and it hasn’t worked, it’s basically privatisation of Social housing, there are always going to be people who cannot afford to buy their own house and these people should be accommodated by Social housing.
have your say