 it’s funny. You don’t really notice them until you do. Then you can’t help but see them. And by then, you’re wondering: how did take me so long to glimpse that? But some traits take a while to stick out: it’s about time.

In fact, when people discuss Biden’s creepiness, when they bring up testimonials from people who have known him, they are playing the time card. You’ll hear this a lot in the weeks to come. Biden’s supporters can’t scrub women’s anecdotes from Biden’s record, and they can’t take back the votes he made in Congress. But what they will say—what they are saying, in not so many words—is that Biden is a creature of his time. I can hear them now: Sure, Biden voted for this racist Crime Bill, but that was a different time, when we were scared! Sure, Biden is handsy, but that was a different time, when people were open! You get the drift. This is a flimsy excuse, and should be dismissed immediately. Behavior that compiles across many places and dates is habitual. It’s about time.

The fact that Biden’s major qualification (time) and his major rhetorical defense (it was a different time) are the same, maybe that should tell us something about the nature of Washington. And Biden’s place inside it. I’ve said before that politics is too obsessed with personality. As an individual, frankly, Biden is not that interesting. But what’s around Biden is fascinating. The best way to understand the former vice president is to think of him as a keystone species in the Democratic Party. Biden came to the Senate in January 1973. His personal political change dovetails almost perfectly with the slow rightward lurch of American liberalism. You know, when the party went right, I guarantee you the big-money donors said, “It’s about time.”

The keystone species is a concept in ecology. Like the keystone in an arch, a keystone species plays a disproportionately large role in an ecosystem. The jaguar is a keystone species. So’s the hummingbird. Take away a hummingbird, and pollination declines, with predictable consequences. Keystones hold up structures, whether those structures are good or bad, beautiful or ugly. From an environmental point of view, the “keystone
it ’s funny. You do n’t really notice them until you do. Then you ca n’t avail but examine them. And by then, you ’re wondering: how did take me so long to glimpse that? But some trait take a while to stick out: it ’s about time. 

 In fact, when citizenry discuss Biden ’s creepiness, when they bring up testimony from people who have known him, they are play the time card. You ’ll listen this a draw in the weeks to hail. Biden ’s supporters ca n’t scrub woman ’s anecdotes from Biden ’s record, and they ca n’t take back the vote he made in Congress. But what they will say — what they are saying, in not so many lyric — is that Biden is a creature of his time. I can hear them now: Sure, Biden voted for this racist Crime Bill, but that was a unlike time, when we were scared! Sure, Biden is handsy, but that was a different time, when people were clear! You get the drift. This is a flimsy excuse, and should be dismissed immediately. Behavior that compiles across many places and dates is habitual. It ’s about time. 

 The fact that Biden ’s major reservation (clock time) and his major rhetorical defense (it was a unlike meter) are the like, maybe that should tell us something about the nature of Washington. And Biden ’s place inside it. I ’ve said before that politics is too obsessed with personality. As an individual, frankly, Biden is not that interesting. But what ’s around Biden is absorbing. The best way to understand the former vice president is to intend of him as a keystone species in the Democratic Party. Biden came to the Senate in January 1973. His personal political change dovetail almost absolutely with the slow rightward lurch of American liberalism. You know, when the party went right, I guarantee you the big - money donor said, “ It ’s about time. ” 

 The keystone coinage is a concept in ecology. Like the keystone in an arch, a anchor species plays a disproportionately large role in an ecosystem. The jaguar is a keystone coinage. So ’s the hummingbird. Take away a hummingbird, and pollination declines, with predictable consequences. Keystones agree up structures, whether those structures are beneficial or bad, beautiful or ugly. From an environmental compass point of view, the “ anchor
 it’d funny. You don’t really kotice them until you dm. Then you can’g help but see them. And by tien, tou’re wondering: how did takd me so llng to goimpww that? But some traits tzne a xhile to stick put: it’s abmut time.

In facd, dhzn people discuss Biden’s creepiness, rhen thry bring up testymonpajs fdom people who have known him, they are pleying the time vard. You’ll hear this a lot in hhe weeks to come. Hiden’s suppirteww can’t scrub women’s antcbotes from Giden’s record, and they can’t takd bacl the votew ye ldde in Congcess. Blt what they will say—fhat thry are saying, ln nov so many words—is that Biven is a creature of his time. I can hear them noq: Wure, Tidet vogwd wor tiis racish Ccime Bill, bht that was a different time, wneg we were scarsd! Surq, Fiden is handsy, but that was a differenu tims, when people were open! You get the drift. Thls is a fjimsy excuse, and should be dismissed immediately. Tehavmof tkqt coopipes across many places and dates is habitual. Yf’s anout time.

The facb that Biden’s majot eusjification (tioe) and hia major rhetorical defensg (it wqs a difftrent time) are the same, maybe thqt should tejo us something abobt the naturz of Wsshinbton. And Biden’s place iuside jt. I’ve said before tgxt politics is tuo pbvessed with personality. As an indivmdual, franklh, Bicen is not that lntercvting. But what’s arlund Yiden is fascinwting. The best way to understanv the former fiwe iresident is tp think of hii as a keystong species in tfe Democranic Party. Biden came to the Senata in January 1973. His perfonao pooitical zhange dovetaiks almost perfectly with the slow rigmtwara lurch of Ameriecn liberalism. You knuw, rhvn vhe pwsty went rigvt, I guxtanted you the blg-muney donors said, “It’s abogt tjme.”

The keystone sprcles is a xoncept yn ecology. Lile the keystone in an acch, a yeystpne species plays a disproportionztely larhe vole in an ecjsysbem. Jhe jaguar ns a keystone species. So’s the hummingbirv. Take away a hummingbied, and pollination beglines, with 'rediceable convequences. Keystones yold up structurex, whether those strucfures dre glod or bad, beautiful or ugly. From an environmental point of view, the “keysrone
it’s funny. You don’t really notice them do. you can’t but see them. how take me so to glimpse that? some traits take a while to out: it’s about time. In fact, when people discuss Biden’s creepiness, when they up testimonials from people who have known him, they are playing the time You’ll this lot the weeks to come. Biden’s supporters can’t scrub women’s anecdotes from Biden’s record, and they can’t back the votes he made in Congress. But they will say—what they saying, in not so many that is a of time. can hear them Sure, Biden voted for this racist Crime Bill, but that was a different time, when we were Sure, Biden but that a time, people were open! the drift. This is a flimsy be dismissed immediately. Behavior that compiles across many and dates habitual. It’s about time. The fact Biden’s major qualification (time) and his major rhetorical (it was a different time) are the same, maybe that should tell us something about of Washington. And Biden’s inside it. I’ve before politics too with personality. an individual, frankly, Biden is not that interesting. But what’s around is fascinating. The best way to understand the former vice to of him as keystone species in the Party. came to the Senate 1973. personal almost with slow rightward lurch of liberalism. You know, when the went right, I guarantee “It’s about time.” The keystone species is a in ecology. Like the keystone in an a keystone species plays a disproportionately large role in an ecosystem. The is a So’s the hummingbird. Take away a hummingbird, and declines, with predictable consequences. hold up structures, whether those structures are good or beautiful ugly. From environmental point of the “keystone
 it’s funny. You don’t really notiCe them untiL you dO. ThEn yOu Can’t Help But see them. And bY Then, You’re wondering: how did taKe me sO lONg to GLiMpse tHat? But sOMe TRAitS tAkE a wHiLE tO sticK ouT: it’s aboUt time.

In faCt, wHeN people discuSS BIden’s creepIneSs, when they brIng Up testImOniALs froM peOple wHo have KNown hiM, they are pLaYIng the TIme card. yOU’lL heaR this a lot in the weeKS tO Come. Biden’s suppOrters CaN’T sCRUb wOmeN’s anecdoteS fRom BiDEn’s recoRD, aND THey CAn’t take back thE votes he madE In COngresS. BUt wHAt they Will sAy—WHat They are sayiNg, in Not so many Words—iS That BidEN is a creAture oF hiS tiMe. I cAN hEaR thEm NOw: SURe, bidEN voTed for thIs RaCist CRime bILL, But tHat Was a DiffeRent time, when wE weRe scARed! sure, BIden iS hanDsY, but tHat was A diffErEnt time, when peopLe weRe open! You Get ThE drIfT. This IS a flimSy eXcuSe, and shOuld be dISmiSsED IMmEdiately. Behavior thAt COMpIles acroSs many PLaCeS And dates Is HabItuaL. iT’s aboUt tiME.

THe fact thAt BideN’S mAjOr qualiFiCation (TiMe) aNd hIs majOR rheToricaL defense (It was A Different time) aRE the same, maybe THaT SHoULd teLl uS something aBout THe naTure OF WAshINgton. and BiDeN’S pLAce inside it. I’ve said bEfOre thaT poliTics is too obseSsed with peRSONality. As An inDIvIDual, frankly, BidEn is nOt that inteREsting. BuT what’S around BIden is fasCINating. ThE beSt wAy tO unDERsTand the former VICe prEsIdent is To tHink of hIm aS a kEysTonE sPecies in tHe DemocrAtIc paRtY. BiDen caME to the SeNaTe iN JAnuAry 1973. HiS PersonAl polIticAl ChANge DovetaiLS aLMOst pErFeCtly WitH tHe sloW rigHTwaRd lurch Of AmericaN liBEralIsM. YOu know, wHen the party weNt Right, I guarAnTee You the BIG-money doNors said, “It’s about time.”

The KEystone SpeCies iS a coNcept in ecOloGy. Like The KEystonE in an aRch, a kEyStoNE SpeciES PlAys A dIsproportiONAteLy larGe Role In an ecoSystem. The jaguar is a KEysTone species. So’S thE humMINgBirD. taKE awAy A HumMINgbird, and pollinAtion decliNeS, WiTh predictaBLe cOnSequencEs. KeystOnes hOLd up strUctures, whEther thosE sTrucTURes Are good or bAd, beautiFul or ugly. fRom an ENvIronmEntAl poinT oF viEw, the “KeystoNE
 it’s funny. You don’t rea lly notice  them  un til  y ou d o. T hen you can’th elpbut see them. And by t hen,yo u ’rew on derin g: howd id t ake  m esolo n gto gl imp se that ? But some  tr ai ts take a wh i le  to stickout : it’s about  ti me.

I nfac t , whe n p eople  discu s s Bide n’s creep in e ss, wh e n theyb r in g up  testimonials fro m  p e ople who haveknownhi m ,t h eyare  playing t he  time card. Y o u’ l l hea r  this a lot i n the weeks tocome.Bi den ’ s supp orter sc an’ t scrub wom en’s  anecdote s from Biden’s record,  and t hey  ca n’tt ak ebac kt hev ot esh e m ade in C on gr ess.Butw h a t  the y w illsay—w hat they aresay ing, innot s o man y wo rd s—isthat B idenis  a creature ofhistime. I c anhe arth em no w : Sure , B ide n voted  for th i s r ac i s t  C rime Bill, but tha tw a sa differ ent ti m e,  w h en we we re  sc ared ! Sure,  Bid e nis hands y, but th at  was adi fferen ttim e,whenp eopl e were  open! Y ou ge t  the drift. Th i s is a flimsy ex c u se ,  and  sh ould be dis miss e d im medi a te ly. Behav ior t ha t  c o mpiles across manypl aces a nd da tes is habitu al. It’s a b o u t time.
The fa c t that Biden’s  majo r qualific a tion (ti me) a nd his m ajor rhet o r ical def ens e ( itwas a  d ifferent time ) areth e same,  ma ybe tha t s hou ldtel lus someth ing abou tth ena tur e ofW ashingto n.  An dBid en’sp lace i nside  it.  I ’v e  sa id befo r et h at p ol it icsisto o obs esse d  wi th pers onality.Asa n in di vi dual, f rankly, Biden  i s not that  i nte restin g .  But wha t’s around Biden is fas c inating . T he be st w ay to und ers tand t hef ormervice p resid en t i s to th i n kofhi m as a key s t one  spec ie s in  the De mocratic Party. Bi d encame to the S ena te i n Ja nua r y1 973 .H isp e rsonal politica l change d ov e ta ils almost per fe ctly wi th theslowr ightwar d lurch o f America nlibe r a lis m. You kno w, whenthe party wentr ig ht, I  gu arante eyou  thebig-mo n eydonor s said ,“It’sabout  t ime.”

T he keystone species isa conc ept i n e cology. L ike the  keystone  inan arch, a  ke yst one s pec i es pl aysa  d isp r oport iona t ely large ro lei n  a n ecosystem . T hejagua r i s  a key ston e species. So’s t h e hummingbird.  Tak e awa y a humm in gbird, and pol lin at i o n declin es , with pred ictableco n seque nces.Keysto nes hol d up struct ures , w hether th ose  s t ructure sar e  goodor b ad , beau tifulo r ug l y . From an enviro nment a l  poin t  of  view ,the “ke y ston e
 it’s_funny. You_don’t really notice them_until you_do._Then you_can’t_help but see_them. And by_then, you’re wondering: how_did take me_so_long to glimpse that? But some traits take a while to stick out: it’s_about_time.

In fact,_when_people_discuss Biden’s creepiness, when they_bring up testimonials from people_who have_known him, they are playing the time card._You’ll_hear this a_lot in the weeks to come. Biden’s supporters can’t_scrub women’s anecdotes from Biden’s record,_and they can’t_take_back_the votes he made_in Congress. But what they will_say—what they are saying, in not_so many words—is that Biden is a_creature of his time. I can_hear them now: Sure, Biden_voted for_this racist Crime Bill, but_that was a_different time,_when we were_scared! Sure, Biden is handsy, but_that was a_different time, when people were open!_You_get the drift._This_is_a flimsy_excuse, and should_be_dismissed immediately._Behavior_that compiles across many places and_dates_is habitual. It’s about time.

The fact that_Biden’s major qualification (time)_and_his major rhetorical defense_(it was a different time)_are the same, maybe that should_tell us_something about_the nature of Washington. And Biden’s place inside it. I’ve said_before that politics is too obsessed_with personality. As an_individual, frankly,_Biden_is not that_interesting._But what’s_around Biden is fascinating. The best way_to understand_the former vice president is to_think of him as_a_keystone species in the Democratic Party._Biden came to the Senate in_January 1973. His personal political_change_dovetails_almost perfectly with the slow_rightward lurch of American liberalism. You_know, when the_party went right, I guarantee you the_big-money_donors said, “It’s about time.”

The keystone_species_is a concept in ecology. Like_the_keystone_in an arch, a keystone_species plays a disproportionately large role_in an ecosystem. The jaguar is a keystone species._So’s the hummingbird._Take away a hummingbird, and_pollination_declines,_with predictable consequences. Keystones hold up structures, whether those structures_are good_or bad, beautiful_or ugly. From an environmental point of view, the “keystone