Americans, every one of us, are about to be tested as never before. We have always been known for our ability to rise above challenges. This will be one for the ages. I have hope and faith that we are up to it. We had better be. Democracy as we have known it depends on us. First and foremost, we all need to take a deep breath and understand what is ahead of us. Although Biden’s decision has been in the works for weeks, it is still shocking, so please support each other as we all grapple with what this means. With President Biden bowing out, the next 107 days will be unlike any presidential campaign in American history. If you can, I recommend getting involved real quick, or at least paying very close attention to the news and this space. And talk to all of your friends and family. God love Joe Biden. He saved this country four years ago, and he is trying to do so again today. Biden’s legacy is now secure, from his legislative accomplishments to making the hardest political decision of his life. There are two paths forward. To avoid chaos at the convention in Chicago, Democrats would need to get behind Vice President Kamala Harris. The other option is to hold an open convention, allowing delegates to choose among anyone who throws their hat in the ring. Be prepared. This will not be a smooth process. Real democracy is never easy. For all who have been clamoring for a jolt of energy into presidential politics, here you go. Americans who have been asking for a different choice will now have it. The hope of many Americans of varying political persuasions is that whichever way the convention goes, the new Democratic nominee will quickly unify the party, bring back anyone who has been disenchanted by the campaign so far, and appeal to those who have yet to decide. We must not lose sight of the end game: to defeat the new autocrats and their leader, a convicted felon and an insurrectionist, who is fundamentally dangerous for the country.
No matter how you subscribe, I thank you for reading. Stay Steady, Dan |
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Biden Bows Out
For the Good of the Country
Why subscribe? Note the kind words of Jay, a new paid subscriber: "I want to be as well-informed as possible while still maintaining a grip on my sanity. I believe you help that effort. Thanks.” For the Good of the CountryPresident Joe Biden makes the difficult decision to withdraw from the race
This will be a day that we remember for a long, long time. Even as the possibility of President Joe Biden dropping out of the race has been increasing, the actual news of his decision to withdraw—a decision of enormous magnitude—is stunning, heartbreaking and hard to fully comprehend. It’s news that you don’t just digest intellectually, but feel emotionally. I can tell you that I gasped when I heard it; it literally took my breath away. Rarely in our nation’s history has an incumbent president made such a decision. The last time was over half a century ago when Lyndon Johnson announced in 1968 that he would not seek re-election. In my estimation, Joe Biden’s historic decision to withdraw is an act of extraordinary patriotism, honor and selflessness by one of the country’s great presidents. This is a man of remarkable character—and I think his decision represents his profound dedication to his country, to public service and to the need to secure democracy. While I know many feel angry and bitter by the pressure from elected Democrats, the media and wealthy donors to motivate the president’s decision, I think it’s important to focus on what the president is telling us. "While it has been my intention to seek reelection,” he said in a written statement, “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” This is a man whose every fiber likely told him that he should keep fighting. That makes this difficult decision both more painful and more noble. As historian and Biden friend Jon Meacham put it earlier today, “He’s put the life of the nation above his own political, individual ambition —and I think that is a remarkable thing that we should acknowledge and honor.” It is ironic that the same man responsible for executing a plan that overcame the worst pandemic since 1918 is now battling with COVID himself. It is possible that the weakening affects of the virus influenced his decision now. But let’s not doubt that he he understood that stepping down is for the good of the country. I suspect in the coming weeks President Biden will only become more beloved and appreciated for his accomplishments since taking office in 2021. I am particularly thankful for having in the White House a president of empathy and compassion, decency and intelligence who succeeded in anchoring the country again after a deadly insurrection incited by a former president bent on ending the American democratic experiment. It’s hard to overstate how sorely the country needed this after the chaos, lies and hate that defined Donald Trump’s presidency. By Biden’s own accounting, his achievements include the strongest economy in the world, rebuilding infrastructure, expanding affordable health care, lowering prescription drug prices for seniors, passing the first gun safety law in 30 years, appointing the first African American woman to the Supreme Court and passing the most significant climate legislation “in the history of the world.” He also rightly noted overcoming “a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression,” as well as preserving democracy and revitalizing alliances around the world. In so doing, he thanked Vice President Kamala Harris, who he endorsed for president today, “for being an extraordinary partner in all this work.” While we have yet to learn exactly what the process will be for deciding on the nominee—VP Harris said today she intends to “earn and win” the nomination—I strongly suspect that leading Democrats will coalesce around the vice president and demonstrate extraordinary unity in ways that they have failed to do in recent weeks. At another time, we’ll explore possible vice-presidential prospects and likely strategies to prosecute the case against and defeat the felonious Republican nominee and a GOP ticket hostile toward women. But I do want to underscore that, while I know many are deeply disappointed by the president’s decision and angry over the pressure from various quarters to drive him out, I urge all of you to take the president’s lead and stand with Kamala Harris in the battle against Trump. President Biden has sacrificed for his country and we should honor his decision by looking forward to the race ahead and working for the Democrats’ success. Responding to Biden’s announcement, former President Barack Obama described Joe Biden, his former vice president, as “one of America’s most consequential presidents” and “a patriot of the highest order.” Today, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., proved it. Thank you, Mr. President. |
The Week Ahead
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President Biden: "I believe it is in the interest of my party and the country to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president." He followed up minutes later endorsing Kamala Harris. He is a splendid man, a splendid human being, and will go down in history as one of our most important presidents. I am profoundly sad that he is out of the race. But he is a man who believes in putting the country’s interests first, over his own, and he did what he thought was right in the moment. A great man.
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The endorsements have continued to roll in since Biden led the way, with President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and Representative James Clyburn, the South Carolina Democrat who launched Joe Biden’s successful run in 2020, following suit. And as one of my friends pointed out, this means that so many of Trump’s “arguments” are gone in one fell swoop: President Biden’s age, Hunter Biden, the whole “Biden crime family” corruption allegations. All out the door.
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This is the poetic justice the country has been looking for and richly deserves: A highly qualified, talented Black woman, a former prosecutor, will be the one to take down Donald Trump. Nothing says women refuse to accept second-class citizenship like electing one. I have no doubt she can do it, and I look forward to watching the support she receives from Hillary Clinton, her sorors, and pretty much everyone in America who loves democracy. We have work to do!
That, of course, includes Donald Trump, who despite the much vaunted claims by some people in the media that he has “softened” is the same old Trump, telling a crowd this weekend: "The only way I can lose is crooked judges. But we'll get it overturned, anything that happens." On Saturday night alone, Trump:
Called President Biden “Crooked Joe,” a “feeble, old guy,” “low IQ,” and “stupid.”
Called Vice President Harris “Laughin' Kamala,” “crazy,” and “nuts.”
Called former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley incompetent.
Called Democrats “enemies of the democracy” and attacked the “grossly incompetent people running our country.”
Don’t believe anyone who tells you Trump is going to change. Remember all those moments when he “became truly presidential”? The promises he would change? Trump is who he is, and that’s the one constant in his universe.
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But who knows, maybe even Trump will fall in line. After all, both he and Ivanka donated to Kamala Harris’ campaign in the past.
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We have a major legal moment this week, on Wednesday, when the Manhattan DA responds to Trump’s motion to dismiss his convictions on presidential immunity grounds. It will be a good moment for the country to confront the fact that the election is now one between a prosecutor and a convicted felon.
There are still open questions ahead:
Will Democrats now line up behind Kamala Harris, or will there be a challenge? The hope is that the quick cascade of support for the Vice President makes clear that it would be political suicide to challenge her, but this is the Democratic Party.
Will Republicans bring lawsuits challenging the validity of ballot names, whether they are meritorious or not, in order to create noise and confusion that interfere with the campaign and potentially give the Supreme Court a crack at the issue?
Never-Trump Republican pollster Sarah Longwell found in her focus groups that many swing voters had “negative impressions” of the Vice President. But she also found that they weren’t “locked in.” There are reports that donations have come rolling in with the announcement and lots of excitement around Harris tonight. The question is whether she can keep that going.
Who will the Vice Presidential nominee be?
How is everyone feeling now?
We all get that there is a lot at stake (pardon the profanity).
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At the end of the day, it’s Trump who makes the strongest argument against Trump. Promising to immediately deport masses of people who are in this country without legal status, he said, “You are not going to teach a criminal not to be a criminal … That is why as soon as I take the oath of office, we will begin the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.”
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Trump is not inevitable. Start making plans with your friends in real life and online to hold celebrations as you exercise your right to vote this November.
In a 2022 report, the 52% of eligible Americans who didn’t vote said it was because they didn’t like any of the candidates. Forty-eight percent said that a major or minor reason they didn't vote was because they were “too busy” or believed their vote didn't matter. Some said they didn't have time to research the candidates. Significant numbers of people had trouble with the mechanics of voting, with problems including:
A lack of transportation to the polls
Being required to vote in person
Not knowing how or where to vote
Registration issues including being registered in a different state, missing the deadline, and not knowing how and where to register.
Want to do something to help keep the Republic? Civil Discourse readers made plans and executed them in 2022, and we can do it again! We’ll share information and tools for voters to register, staying registered, vote, and make sure their votes count. Sometimes, these issues can be surprisingly difficult for people to navigate, but as someone who has worked both inside and outside of government on elections and voting rights issues, I’m here to lend my expertise, and I know all of you will have good ideas! Thank you for supporting Civil Discourse so we can get to work.
Democracy only dies if we let it. Let’s not do that.
We’re in this together,
Joyce
Thank you, Mr. President.
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Five Voting Right Stories to Boost Your Spirit
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