What a Difference a Week Makes!
Feeling better? I am.
One week ago today I awakened (woke!) to that familiar feeling of deep malaise - fed by the fear that Democrats would hand the presidential election to a psychopathic rapist, conman, thief and traitor - again.
But just after 1:00 PM, one week ago today, I saw "breaking news" that would end the cycle of despair. A wise old soldier for democracy handed his battle sword to the next generation - to a highly trained, well spoken warrior woman.
The momentum of support for the warrior built rapidly with hourly endorsements from all manner of Democratic leaders. Thoughtful and grateful members of the only remaining legitimate political party in America lavished praise on President Biden for his accomplishments (so many) and for his selfless decision to step back from the election.
All of Vice President Kamala Harris’s potential competitors for the job declared their support for her candidacy. The momentum was building. Big time building.
Read this from the Guardian.
Young people across the nation are energized. Interviews and informal polls reveal that many who had planned to sit out the election - were now interested. They are excited to support someone younger who is eloquent and powerful in presentation. Someone who is diverse in heritage - like so many Americans.
The week concluded with the endorsement of Barack and Michelle Obama. I believe they waited a few days to honor the process of convention delegates making their decisions. Once it was clear that VP Harris had no roadblocks to the nomination, they capped the week with a ringing congratulations. Some former US presidents have grace and “class”.
This Sunday, I’ll just briefly reference the “Convicted Felon Putin Puppet” who proclaimed at a recent rally: “Christians won’t need to vote again in four years because I will have fixed everything!” And as if to compete in the weirdo contest, a video revealed his Yale educated sidekick attacking “childless cat ladies” as having no stake in the future of the country???
The face I want you to see is that of Jon Stewart when he describes this boatload of feces on his next show. Can you imagine better material for a comedian?
In the meantime, join us in donating to the Harris campaign. While fund raising efforts this week have broken all past records - every little bit helps.
Here is the easy way: https://secure.actblue.com/
And while you are at ActBlue, please consider a donation to www.turnup.us.
I wrote about Zev Shapiro some time ago. While still a student at Harvard he developed an app that makes it easy for young people to register to vote. His efforts made a difference in 2022 - remember the red wave that never showed up?
Just for fun, consider reading this substack I wrote in advance of the 2022 mid-term election. Let’s just say I have been a fan of Kamala Harris for a long time.
Or this one about Harvard student Zev Shapiro - a hero of his generation:
President Joe Biden made the most difficult decision of his life. Perhaps someday he will explain when and how he came to it. I would guess he carefully evaluated more than the advice of his closest advisors - he listened to the public. My wise wife suggests that he strategically held off his announcement until the embarrassing circus called the Republican Convention had run it’s awful course. Talk about pulling the campaign rug out from underneath the MAGANAZIs !
And who wouldn’t want Joe Biden, the finest and most successful president in recent history, in her corner as she launches the most important campaign since that of Abe Lincoln?
Nicely done, Bill! I think President Biden made the right call, at the right time, in the right way, and probably made sure VP Harris was ready to fly before he announced his decision. He let the controversy swirl and let Felonious T make an unforced error in his choice of a running mate. Not bad for an old guy who's not as sharp as he used to be.
I wasn't expecting Biden to step aside, and yes, he did the right thing. I also never fathomed how ignorant and small the cult of Trump was and is. It completely changed my worldview. I'm cautiously optimistic that we can avoid a downhill slide into our own species' extinction. I also have mixed feelings about whether or not the universe wants to host a species such as ours.
If the Democrats fail to gain the Presidency and reverse the corruption of the Supreme Court and the Congress, I will have to reevaluate my worldview once again. The cancer must be rooted out and excised soon or it will be too late. Kamala is just one small piece of undoing the evil that is Christian Nationalism and the Republican cult.