Ok so hear me out… We’ve missed the point, I fear

ByPeppa Herrera

The weeks following the Presidential election have been messy. I’m exhausted, and I’m sure you are too. Mainly, I’m frustrated. In one of the most sensitive times in our democracy, there is so much distraction.

Let me get this straight. Immediately after the debate, instead of using this valuable time to put your presumed candidate in a better position against an opponent who is a massive liar and absurd (see reference points: black jobs, migrants are in luxury hotels, and I had the cleanest H2O), Dems began a mutiny for all the wrong reasons. Great.

Throughout all the stupid political fodder (more on that below), here’s the problem: Dems always beat themselves. I think they might squeak this election out, but will continue to make future campaigns hard for themselves. Why?

Democrats tend to act like a dysfunctional family, bickering and fighting over who is doing the most for the family, while all showing up for the annual reunion without fail and wondering why the younger generation has something to say about it. You may complain, but no matter what, you stick beside them, because that’s just how family works.

Republicans, on the other hand, are like the royals pre-Harry+Meghan. Things internally may be a mess: scandals, secret divorces, infidelity, emotional abuse, toxic relations, deep feuds, power struggles. But once the cameras start rolling, you’re a united front. You fall in line and present a single consistent message.

I give Republicans credit for that, because if there was a 24-hour cycle about their candidate’s ability to lead, they would all be lined in front of every camera repeating the same two lines in their defense until all of our ears bleed. They will storm the Capitol and plot to overthrow the government on the basis of NOTHING, it’s toxic, terrifying, and alarming, but that’s loyalty.

What does the left do while there’s a whole media circus about Biden stepping down? Major networks, donors, and even George Clooney himself add fuel to the fire. My god. If my eyes could roll back further, they would.

I would be able to withstand this discourse around Biden stepping down if it were at all about the issues: no ceasefire still, no major legislation passed except bridges and roads (I’m sorry Joe, important, but I can’t rally around potholes), no executive order on Roe, no student loan forgiveness, no economic relief. If we were all pissed and saying he should step aside to let someone more effective get this done, I’m open to discussing.

But what is this all about? Electability, likability, saving face?

There is legitimate concern about Biden’s age. The memory, stumbles, and gaffs are alarming. I’ve had these concerns ahead of 2020. His team had these concerns over the last four years. Why is the energy to make a change coming at the legit worst possible time? Before the campaign season, taking the time to tap a successor makes sense. At the beginning of the nomination process, finding a new person to pass the torch to makes sense. But four months before? I can’t. It’s too late – I wish it wasn’t, but it simply is. I’m also a touch confused since if he does just fall over in the Oval Office (half a joke at this point) there are checks and balances to keep this all going.

The problem as I see it isn’t just that he’s old, he’s old and ineffective. That’s where the media and political aides are derailing the conversation.

Actually, let me rant about the mainstream media for a second here too. I hate to do this; I think there are a lot of unfair attacks on journalists, and they ARE a crucial pillar of democracy. But this story isn’t it. Why are we solely attacking Biden here? There are many, many, many, many things to spend valuable airtime criticizing from the Trump Camp. It’s the same mistake that was made in 2016: legitimizing a truly unhinged man through questioning Clinton/Biden’s electability against his.

We’ve missed the point, I fear.

Let’s focus on the issues. Let’s talk about the continually devastating news out of Palestine, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Congo. Let’s spend time unpacking the lies of Trump or Project 2025. Let’s dig into the corruption that seems to be festering in the Supreme Court. Let’s talk about how we’re experiencing the hottest summer on record. Let’s talk about that. But if I have to see one more think piece about just his age, I will scream. I’m not saying Biden’s age isn’t an issue – it clearly is, but I don’t think it’s THE issue.

When I hear all this commotion – it feels motivated in winning the game, not about leading us to a better future. What happened to hope and progress being the heart of a campaign?

When considering what to do next, we’re trapped between a rock and a hard place. News just broke that $90 million in donations will be frozen if Biden stays in the race. Pressure is surmounting. Who could even be chosen next? Kamala? She’s younger, but not more popular. Gavin Newsom? J. B. Pritzker? Some random other person at the last minute? Yikes – what an absolute mess. I don’t see a world where Biden isn’t the nominee, but it’s seeming like he’s being trapped further into stepping down. If the argument is him stepping down will help Dems odds of winning, I can name several immediate reasons why that logic is flawed. I don’t know the right answer, but right now – I feel like Dems have gotten it all wrong.

We’re in a for a wild ride the next few months and I will be locked in to what happens at both conventions. I just hope in this journey, our lives and country, aren’t collateral damage.

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Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Should Biden set up down or do you think this is all unnecessarily messy?
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  • Two massive elections happened this week. France and the UK both unexpectedly voted in progressive leaders – truly shocking the world. Read more about this sudden left wave in France and in the United Kingdom. 
  • Even though I complained about it for the entire piece, I will re-state that Biden’s age has been a major question ahead of the 2024 election. There were also rumors of a Parkinson’s expert coming in and out of the White House eight times this month. There has been some major gaffs in his recent speeches, called VP Harris Trump by accident and introduced President Zelenskyy as Putin. Yikes. I won’t be sharing links because that is me going against my own advice lol. 
  • If you haven’t heard of Project 2025 yet, I’m sorry to be the one to tell you about it. This 900-page document outlines the plans for a complete overhaul of American society. The policies listed aim to disband the Department of Education, increase the number of deportations, bring the Department of Justice under presidential control, and other Gilead-equse changes. Trump has distanced himself from the plan, but many of his former top aides are spearheading the initiative. While I’m not too sure how much we should be afraid of this now, we should be aware of what policies are being floated. Read a breakdown of it here.
  • The irony in this country is this: most people convicted of a crime have their rights stripped away from them unless you’re the President it seems? In the latest ruling, the Supreme Court gives presidential figures a pass being held accountable to any wrongful acts done while in office. This is in stark contrast to the hesitation, questioning, and aggressive over policing Black and brown people face at the hands of the ‘justice’ system. Read how this will forever change the way we hold the powerful to account here. 

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