John, Would you believe it if I told you that the presidential debate with Joe Biden and Donald Trump took place less than a month ago?
I don't know about you, but it feels like we've lived an entire lifetime of history and politics in these few short weeks. We’ve had to absorb a decade’s worth of drama, from the debate fallout, an assassination attempt, the Republican convention and now President Biden’s withdrawal from the election. American democracy is most healthy when we have a vibrant two-party system, and the recent events have highlighted the importance of having strong, capable leadership from both sides.
For some time, Americans had been frustrated about the rematch of Biden/Trump. Then rumors about Biden's declining health were confirmed with his debate performance. It sent shockwaves to even his most stalwart supporters that triggered a lot of anxiety and concern. I have often been critical about how insular Biden's team is and I believe their unwillingness to allow for the President to hear outside opinions is part of the reason it took him so long to come to what for most of us seemed to be an inevitable conclusion.
Now that his withdrawal has been announced, we should pause for a moment to acknowledge the human side of this decision. No matter how hard we fight against it, time moves forward, and it's never easy to watch someone in decline.
I'll leave it to historians to judge President Biden's legacy, but you've frequently heard me talk about how courage is contagious (I even wrote a book about it!) - what Joe Biden did by voluntarily laying down power is an act modeled by our very first president, George Washington, when he refused to serve a third term as president. The great American tradition of our leaders peacefully passing off power to others is part of the reason January 6th was such a big deal.
Let me also acknowledge that, viewed in its entirety, the Republicans had a very good convention and accomplished their goal of unifying the party. There may be those of us who are not happy with where the party is these days, but there is no doubt that they appeared unified.
The first part of Trump's remarks in Milwaukee were effective, and since most Americans get their news these days in small, curated clips, they likely won't ever see second half of his speech that was rambling and concerning. He certainly missed an opportunity to put an exclamation mark on what otherwise was a successful convention.
So, given all we’ve lived through just in the past few weeks, what's ahead for America in the months leading up to the election?
First and foremost, the Democrats will need to decide about who their candidate is and who their running mate will be. It seems that many are coalescing around Vice President Harris, but we may not know for sure until the Democratic convention that runs August 19-22.
Next - the challenge before Democrats is to do their best to pull off a successful convention and come out of Chicago as unified as the Republicans are right now. That's a tall order, but if there was ever a moment for unity, this is it.
Our democracy thrives when we have a vibrant two-party system that can present American voter with a choice about which direction they want to go for the next four years.
While the Republicans are still saddled with a candidate who, thanks to Biden's withdrawal, is now the oldest American ever to run for the presidency, the Democrats have a historic opportunity to elevate leaders who represent a younger generation of Americans. And don't forget about the potential to elect the first female to the presidency if the Democrats select Kamala Harris.
With all the turmoil and drama in recent days, it’s easy to lose hope or faith amid the chaos. But I encourage you to reflect about how these can also be exciting times to walk a different path forward in the ongoing experiment that is America. While I wish our civic discourse was more respectful and hopeful, I am encouraged to see that so many people who are participating in the process and fighting for their beliefs.
Let's all work together to keep it civil and listen to each other more. I truly believe that our best days are ahead. Thank you for all that you're doing to help! -John |
