The Witness Chronicles, July 3, 2024
The future of democracy
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A White House in Disarray: Are They Priortizing Staying in the Race Over Democracy?
Loyalty, pride, or hubris, and the truth
The rumors are flying and they are disturbing. The NYTimes reports that behind closed doors insiders are complaining about access and a lack of clarity about the President’s cognitive awareness and focus in the wake of his debate performance.
It has become a blame game but it looks at first glance that the White House is struggling with how to handle all of this. Today the first Democratic Senator came forward saying that Biden should leave the race. He is just one of many Democratic leaders voicing serious concerns.
Because I have advocated for Biden ending his campaign, the comments to my last two pieces were evenly split between support for Biden and those who agree with my point of view. And that division is widespread and extremely damaging. But Biden’s own desire is eclipsed by the scary threat to democracy that a Trump win would unleash.
Those are the real stakes and I question what Biden’s supporters are motivated by. Is it self-interest? That would be a terrible tragedy if it were so.
Now, the corrupt conservative majority in the Supreme Court has done the unthinkable by declaring a sitting President is above the law, the first sign of how the right will tear the Constitution and Bill of Rights to pieces.
Donald Trump has spent his entire adult life subverting the law with baseless lawsuits, stalling, and outright refusal to comply with rules and regulations that get in his way. The enormous legal bills his party are paying are essentially a strategy to win the election by flooding the courts with appeals, and claims that typically have no basis, with the intent of muddying the waters and stalling the felony cases Trump faces.
Now an entire branch of the government has been successfully compromised in the name of Donald Trump, and it is only the beginning. Their action granting President absolute immunity for official actions, with no limitations.
And Donald Trump’s camp fully intends to use it if he regains office. They no longer even pretend to believe in any of the laws that are the foundation of our democracy. He openly discusses executing those he disagrees with and now he has the legal means.
In the middle of this the Biden chaos plays directly into the plans of the Trump Republican Party. Whatever you feel about Biden’s ability to govern or his age, it is unimportant in the face of these realities. We have to defeat Trump if we are going to save the country from becoming a dictatorship run by an unhinged narcissist willing to say and do anything.
There is time for the Democrats to counter this but it will require a huge, united party willing to understand that this is a battle for their existence. The Court’s ruling wildly tilts the balance of power in Washington, bypassing the Constitution.
That story is the one the Democrats must focus on, not Biden’s viability. The only way to ensure this is for him to step down and the Party to have a burning focus on winning and stopping Trump. It cannot become a personal crusade of one politician convinced only he can beat Trump.
That is simply not true and these questions and distractions play directly into the right’s hand, by throwing their opponents into internal squabbling instead of that laser focus on beating an existential threat to the future of our country.
I have nothing against Joe Biden, in fact I think he has been a phenomenally effective president, but his time is running out and the timing is terrible. The one thing the Trump people fear is running against a younger, highly experienced and competent opponent not carrying the stigma of age and health issues, true or not.
They know that putting Trump into the arena with such a person would highlight the constant lying and paranoia he cannot stifle. Though he lied incessantly over and over at the debate, all of the focus has been on missteps and hesitations by Joe Biden.
He basically got away with all his bonkers statements while the Biden campaign was thrown into disarray. That alone justifies the argument that we need a different candidate, now. This is no longer about Joe Biden, it is about the future of our democracy.
~ I write The Grasshopper, an occasional letter on the creative life and it’s sister, mostly daily publication The Witness Chronicles, a place for my articles on politics and climate. They share a free and paid subscription. I also write The Remarkable, a recovery letter, about my addiction and reentry experience. I don’t paywall any content in these, however this is how I live and I strongly believe all writers and creatives should get paid, if we provide value. Your support with a paid subscription helps make that happen.
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Believe me, it makes my day. M
God, were it not so. Time to gird our loins and focus. With these new Supreme powers can't Biden assassinate Trump, or several members of Congress? Or declare Martial law? Or overrule the Supreme Court? The Supremes ruling affects the Presidency not just Trump!
I think I can offer an honest and objective view - from across the pond. Here in the UK, Trump is seen for what he is - a deranged narcissist, who is a threat to democracy. And Joe Biden's presidency is seen for what it is - hugely successful. But... does he look like someone who can do another 4 years? No. Does he look like someone who can beat Trump? No.
What are the options? First things first... There is absolutely no point in the Dems continuing as if this is a fair fight. It's not a level playing field when your opponent(s) have adopted lying and cheating as their core strategy. So that's the first hurdle, they need to get over - and quick.
Option 1. Biden stands down and the Dems get themselves a fighter who is capable of dealing with Trump and his cult. And is prepared to do whatever it takes to win.
Option 2. Biden gets dirty and uses his newly acquired King-like powers to take action against those that threaten democracy in the US. And I don't mean talk - or taking the moral high ground. I mean locking people up - right now. Charge them with insurrection, treason, I don't like your face, whatever the fuck he wants. SCOTUS says that's OK now - didn't they?
Option 3. Both of the above.
I can't imagine the panic and melt-downs you guys are going through. But, I can tell you, this is scaring the shit out of many of us here in the UK too.
I wish all of you who are in the fight for democracy, the very best of luck. You'll need it.