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When Joe Biden eventually resigned from the presidential race on July 21st, it was far too late for The Democratic Party to go through the usual procedures to choose a new candidate. Instead, for expediency, it had to be the Vice President who had been Mr Biden's personal pick ahead of the 2020 election.
In spite of achieving her candidacy by default, Kamala Harris came across as capable, articulate, unifying and trustworthy. She fought a good fight. It is a shame that we shall never know how her presidency might have been. She was always going to be associated with the incumbent's record even though she had simply been his loyal lieutenant.
In the eyes of thousands of centre and right of centre white Americans there were three other things that undoubtedly counted against her - she was a Californian woman of colour. Though liberally minded citizens might have been ready for such a president, the traditional centre and centre right were demonstrably not.
Now we have to endure that boorish, spiteful, aging egotist back in The White House with his cartoonish view of the world. What further damage will he cause? And I don't know if you agree with me or not but a big chunk of the blame for what has happened lies with the fellow at the top of this post and possibly the woman below. Witnessing his decline firsthand, did she urge her husband to quit the race months earlier? We may never know.
Jill Biden
No matter what the Bidens did, the people of the US had a choice between somebody honest and decent and a convicted felon with a track record of backwards policy.
ReplyDeleteWhen they live in a fascist state it won't be Jill and Joe's fault
Powerfully expressed. Thank you Kylie.
DeleteI don't disagree with anything you wrote. Misogyny still lives and thrives in the world, especially in the world of politics in the US. I am angry and nauseated today. It is a sad day for americans and a sad day for the world.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to believe that the MAGA cult is now joyfully dancing in the darkness of their stupidity.
DeleteI am not happy with the result YP but DT is a business man and he knows how to keep the rich happy. A sad day for democracy.
ReplyDeleteMany of the things that Trump has said suggest that democracy in the USA is now seriously under threat.
DeleteI largely agree with your assessment. She was always near the bottom of the pile during the primaries leading up to the 2020 election and thus dropped out fairly early on. I have wondered why her party rushed to confirm her after President Biden dropped out and didn't take that into account but you are most likely right, time limited their options and any in-fighting would have hurt the eventual nominee even more. The only thing I would quibble with is that the centrists or right leaning party aren't ready for a woman of color. The right has had both women and people of color that have done as well as Harris in the primaries. In fact, half of the most recent primary season candidates were people of color, one of who was female. I know a handful of Trumpers in my circle and never once did they mention Harris by gender or color. What mostly was mentioned that she deaf to their pleas for economic or immigration policies. They have the ability to laugh off Trumps comments (something I still can't do) and view him for what they perceive he has previously done for them. I'm not sure I agree with that either but that is what they talk about when I'm around.
ReplyDeleteOne way or another, the days of Trump are now numbered and I for one can't wait to have an election where truth is closer to being true. Only 1461 days to go.
Thank you for these thoughtful reflections Ed. The perception that things were better under Trump between 2016 & 2020 does not take into account the long economic recovery from COVID19 and impactful world issues such as the warfare in Ukraine and The MIddle East.
DeleteNo. You cannot blame Jill Biden. You have to blame an American populace that is racist and misogynist and looks for a leader who is too. They didn't care that he lies, that he cannot speak coherently, that he's a felon, that he does not give one good god damn about any of them. They do not care that he is a RAPIST.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Jesus Christ himself would have won against Trump. My country is as good as gone. Good luck to the rest of the world too.
I'd apologize but hell if I had anything to do with it.
Sorry for all the cursing. I could have done much worse. You can delete this if you want and I will understand.
There's no way I would delete this comment Ms Moon. It is honest and genuine and it explains something of how you feel on this dark day.
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