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IMHO, it is incumbent on us to think country first. That’s who Democrats are—not Party, Person, or Personality. We must have the back of President Biden and the country.
Democrats: It’s not Party, Person, or Personality
Before getting completely frank, I must say the following: I was a Bernie supporter who wanted our country to be as progressive as Scandinavian countries, which see the value in a government that has an important role and is revered for it. That said, I am of the firm belief that President Joe Biden saved this country from a second Trump administration that would have destroyed our democracy and the middle class. Pleasantly, Biden also became the president who got more progressive policies through Congress than any president in my lifetime. I have since wondered, because of our current state of indoctrination, whether only a moderate/neoliberal president could get progressive policies passed.
I watched most of the Sunday morning news programs this morning. They all echoed the same theme: We all know that the debate was a disaster. It was not only a disaster for Biden but for the country. After all, Trump was just a lying snake salesman with nothing to offer Americans or the rest of the world.
The polls say that Trump won the debate. One should ask, what does that mean? If you turn the sound off, his performative antics will give him a win. However, as far as what came out of his mouth, the little Biden said that was coherent in those 90 minutes exceeded Trump’s lying bloviation by orders of magnitude.
I cannot believe that Biden’s handlers could not see that this would be the result after working with him for several days. How can an early debate to dispel notions of a frailing president reinforce it?
We are living in dangerous times. As I write this, France’s Far Right Wing, Le Pen’s party (National Rally), is winning the first round of their swiftly called elections by substantial margins. In America, we do not have the latitude for wishful thinking or willful ignorance. There are forces out there that are ginning up fears that make otherwise good people make poor decisions.
In that light, it is time for Democrats to not fall into the trap of fooling ourselves. Many are looking at polls stating that even after Biden’s meltdown, the polls have not budged much. Many also fear the chaos if Biden decides to drop out. While the past is often a prologue, it does not have to be. We can realize our times and put our country before the party and person, especially in these existential moments.
I recently wrote in another post:
The President has indeed lost a step. I am not concerned about that. He is 81. Genetically, we age differently. That’s not Biden’s fault. Bernie is a year older than Biden, ambulates like a middle-aged man, and is quick to catch when his opponents make remarks that must be rebuffed. Trump is three years younger but acts much more vibrantly when he tells his litany of lies with authority.
Trump is a dummy, and nobody expects intellect from him. But President Biden could not finish a complete thought in the debate. He commingled subjects that did not belong together and was often confused. This was painful for the debate and what one can infer in meetings as we advance.
I believe many of Biden’s poor numbers on the economy, the border, and other issues have a genesis in his age and the problems that come with it. In other words, many are projecting his age on their discontent for just about every issue. Again, it may not be fair, but that is politics.
For those who talk about Republicans coalescing around Trump even after the Hollywood Access tapes, that is a poor comparison. Progressives and moderates are neither cultists nor do they fall in line.
This morning, Dr. Fauci appeared on ABC’s this week. He shares something in common with another octogenarian, Bernie Sanders. They are older than President Biden but are completely ambulatory, mentally lucent, and quick. Americans will not unsee what they saw on Thursday. And trying to sugarcoat reality could come back and bite the entire country. Decline does not always occur linearly but can be exponential, especially when stress is added to the mix.
I have been listening to all sides of the discussion, and they all make valid points—the chaos of a change. Biden’s stubbornness. Loyalty to Biden (which I am as well). But first and foremost, it is about the country and all of us. We need someone who can neuter Trump.
I do not have the answers, but I have considerations for the mix that I think are worth considering. Two people I know, based on their talent, intellect, and political skills who can neutralize Trump and his lies as they make the Democratic case are Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
I favor VP Harris because I think she can create Obama-style excitement. Imagine if the President gave a powerful speech where he resigned from the presidency after saving us from the evils of the Trump and MAGA. Harris would become the first female President of the United States. Biden then releases his delegates to support her. Because of her stance on women’s reproductive rights, the women, most, who cherish their freedom which should be an inalienable right anyway, could likely be locked in. Moreover, she would be the first woman of color to hold the office which could get a lot of folks who felt, incorrectly, that Biden did not have their backs, to get off the couch and vote en masse. Biden’s legacy would be preserved for saving the democracy not once but twice.
Wishful thinking? No! Out of the box. Yes! What are your thoughts. I think decisions have to be made quickly. We have some control, Biden willing, for the next few days. Afterwards, we are at the mercy of vultures and maybe Biden’s overall health.
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