The debate between President Joe Biden and the former The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America is over. And I will start by saying President Joe Biden is still the man who should run against Trump in the 2024 presidential election. In case you might think that how I addressed Trump in the title of this article is harsh, it is no worse than how major newspapers addressed President Biden. Look at the headlines about President Biden in most of the major newspapers in America and around the world immediately after the debate then see if you still feel the same way.
Just so that you will know, if you did not watch the debate; during most of the debate, one of the hosts addressed both convict Trump and President Biden as President. No deference, distinction, esteem, dignity, or honor – choose any one of these words that you would like, was granted to President Joe Biden for the distinguished job that he has done as president under extremely polarized partisan political circumstances and that of a convict who has been convicted on 34 felony counts and is awaiting charges in future trials that he has managed to avoid until after the 2024 presidential election.
Journalists who once supported President Biden turned their backs on him and completely slammed him based on one 90-minute broadcast! They showered him with blistering comments about his debate performance before encouraging him to drop out of the race! Many Democrats also jumped on the bandwagon. They said things like, although President Biden has been a good president, perhaps it is time for him to go and that it would be selfish of him not to drop out. I have always admonished those who read this blog to base their voting decisions on a politician’s record and not on a soundbite. Perhaps I should add “broadcast” and say that those decisions should be based on a politician’s record and not “a soundbite or one 90-minute broadcast.” Perhaps the journalist of those major newspapers would benefit from the advice offered in this humble blog.
To contextualize those headlines and comments so that you will better understand just how completely harsh they were, consider this; President Biden was debating a person to whom the word truth is just a conjured-up word that does not actually exist. The truth is what I say it is could easily be his mantra. Again, no deference, esteem, honor, dignity, distinction, etc. was granted to President Biden as the President of the United States of America over a convict and serial liar who has been convicted on 34 felony counts and was awaiting a July 11, 2024 sentencing, which has been delayed until September 18, 2024 thanks to “[his] judges” at the Supreme Court. There was no semblance of respect for the office that President Biden holds in which he has served with dignity and honor over his opponent who, arguably, instigated the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the United States capitol in an effort to remain in power after he lost the 2020 election. While President Biden debated within the boundaries of truth, Trump, oblivious of those boundaries, spewed pablum – saying whatever came to his mind, mostly lies, to rebut the president and gaslight debate viewers.
Republicans say that Democrats do not fight for what they believe in. Democrats went a long way in providing some validity to this after the debate. What do I mean by this? Donald Trump has said so many derogatory things about women, immigrants, fallen soldiers, and people of color, that I will not even try to list them all. But to name a few, he said 1) You can grab women by their p***y…” 2) [Mexican immigrants] are bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some, I assume are good people.” 3) Fallen soldiers are “suckers” and “losers.” 4) Regarding people who are crossing America’s southern border: They’re taking Black Jobs. They’re taking Hispanic jobs. 5) Black people like me because of my mug shot. Plus, lest American voters should forget, Trump is a convict! Despite all of this, Republicans have circled the wagons around him.
Now, contrast this with the kind of support that President Biden is receiving from Democrats. President Biden has done a yeoman’s job since he has been in office of carrying out the Democrats agenda even with a slim majority in the senate and a Republican controlled House. He has always been looked upon as a patriot and a person of honor. His dedication to serving America with dignity and honor has never been questioned: His determination to protect America against all enemies foreign and domestic, preserve democracy in America and foster democracy around the world has never been questioned. Recently, President Biden participated in a debate with Trump and, based on the optics – emphasis on optics because a debate between two people with only one being bound by the parameters of truth is fundamentally not a debate, failed. No consideration was shown President Biden for having been bound by the parameters of truth while Trump was free to say whatever came to mind without the slightest regard for truth. What did Democrats do? Did they circle the wagons around President Biden? No, they cut bait and ran!
Many Democrats now want to run someone else against Trump; they do not know who and do not seem to be concerned about whether the system within which Democratic nominees must operate is set up to handle this kind of a situation, especially at the last minute. I started this article by saying that President Biden is still the man who should run against Trump. I will end it by saying that Democrats need to work with President Biden and figure out a path forward without him withdrawing from the race. I have said before that the cavalry is not coming to save the American people from Donald J. Trump, this one is on us and we must save ourselves: and we must do it through our vote. After the Supreme Court’s 7/1/2024 presidential immunity ruling, this is our only option.
So always remember, whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!
Eulus Dennis – author, M2: Street Cop To Top Cop, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line