In their 17-month scorched-earth campaign of ravaging American democracy, Donald Trump, his minions and his increasingly shrinking base have particularly defiled the legacy of former president Joe Biden. Their intricately woven argument goes something like, “Trump good, Biden bad.” 

Whatever you may personally believe about Biden, currently his time is largely past, as is his “blame” for whatever were his real or imagined errors. 

But Trump supporters just don’t see it that way. Whenever they are short on facts, they simply resort to a list of dubious tactics like innuendo, guilt by association, rumor-mongering or outright lies, and invariably reach for good old Joe. Typically, they resurrect some stale news, inject outrage, and try making something fresh and new again. 

Lately you may have noticed in this paper that innuendo regarding Paige Cognetti’s association with Joe Biden has been suggested. Somehow, she has been tenuously connected to an egregious pardon that Biden granted to an undeserving former criminal local judge. Other than being a Democrat, Paige Cognetti has no connection to Joe Biden nor to his widely criticized pardon. In her position as mayor of Scranton, she also condemned that pardon, but declined to go further and take the “pound of flesh” that was suggested by some likely Republican enthusiasts. So, Biden still has his name on a couple of hometown streets. I hear that Trump may have put his name on a few (hundred) things as well. 

I once had a cousin, actually a second cousin. Although we grew up together, after he robbed a bank and was arrested, they did not choose to indict me. I thought it fair.

John Pace
Honesdale, PA