All the angst and prognostications of gloom post-debate reveal a central reality most of the politically astute have always known. Democrats’ timidity to the point of near-paralysis is almost a cliché. But in fairness to those articulating concern, it makes sense to ask the questions now ricocheting around the media. Especially in light of Mr. Biden’s pre-debate bravado. Wasn’t he the one who wanted the early debate—and was quoted as saying, “Bring it on. Make my day, Pal.”? So, yeah. I get the concern.
That acknowledged, isn’t there room for just a taste more perspective than some of the self-appointed thought-leaders seem to be showing? Work with me, here. Let’s start with the stakes. No one who has been paying attention is unaware that the stakes have never been higher in our lifetime.
Taking into account Mr. Trump’s ethical challenges, his civil and criminal judgments and his own increasing evidence of mental dysfunction at his rallies, Mr. Biden’s own mental challenges seem comparatively innocuous, to me. Even without the Heritage Foundation pushing Project 2025, “Mandate for Leadership”, representing it as essentially Mr. Trump’s policy platform.
Even if all you’ve read is the introduction, (never mind the whole turgid 922 pages), you really don’t want to give Mr. Trump or his surrogates a shot at implementing it. Unless, of course, you’re anti-democracy, anti-women, anti-“minority” rights and are okay with “ Big Brother” deciding what it’s “safe” for you to read or watch.
Mr. Biden’s debate performance and growing evidence of showing his age, may not be reassuring, but this election won’t be decided by either knee-jerk Democrats or Republican dead-enders. It’s going to be decided by (hopefully) clear-eyed Independents and swing voters in a few key swing-states. Men and women who:
- are invested in maintaining and democratic republic with an independent judiciary. Men and women who recognize that the Dobbs decision overturning Roe V. Wade did a lot more than threaten access to abortion.
- recognize how perilous the SCOTUS ruling on presidential immunity is for the survival of democracy and legitimate political dissent.
- recognize the notion of replacing the income tax system with tariffs is a recipe for economic disaster.
- are aware of the importance of maintaining strong global alliances both for our protection and our allies.
Nobody asked me, but...
Are there other reasons to vote for whoever has a realistic shot at beating Trump? Sure. Many. But this is a blog post, not a doctoral dissertation. If the foregoing reasons aren’t enough for you, I’m guessing you’re probably not going to be convinced by anything supportable in an article brief enough to fit in this forum.
The concerns over Mr. Biden’s debate performance ignore the obvious…or are at least overblown. As a convicted felon, adjudged sexual assaulter and business fraud, Mr. Trump does not belong in the White House, irrespective of any other considerations. And thoughtful swing voters know this.
If we’re worried about Mr. Biden’s intellectual capacity—now or down the road—it’s worth remembering we have a Vice President who is both younger and intellectually sharp as a razor. Anyone who is familiar with Kamala Harris knows this. The media pundits’ opinions notwithstanding, after three and a half years as an active Vice President, she’s more than ready. There’s no need to panic, Democrats. You have a winning hand, if you play it with confidence.
In the meantime, stop it with the public handwringing. Mr. Trump survived a blizzard of terrible press during the 2016 campaign. He did so largely because Republicans eventually stood with him—even the ones who said the Access Hollywood tape was a deal breaker. And it didn’t hurt Mr. Trump that Ms. Clinton was the perfect candidate for him to run against. Neither Mr. Biden nor Ms. Harris suffer from the same deficiency, real or imagined. We should all learn a lesson from Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign, and the Republicans’ willingness to stand by him no matter what.
