A Month of Political Chaos and Upheaval – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - July 28, 2024
Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™
A Month of Political Chaos and Upheaval – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - July 28, 2024
“Why Biden Left?” – With great anticipation, I watched President Biden’s address from the Oval Office Wednesday night. I was left wanting more. I thought he would deliver a clear idea about why he dropped out and give an update on his health since he will still be in office for five more months. Biden said, “It’s not about me. It’s about you, your families, your futures.” He added, “The sacred cause of this country is larger than any one of us.” He also read a laundry list of his perceived accomplishments on the economy and prescription drugs saying, “More people have health care in America than ever before.” So, it was more a legacy speech than an explanation of why he ended the campaign. He also said, “I revere this office, but love my country more.”
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“Still, It Was a Campaign Speech” – Biden said, “I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new administration. It’s the best way to unite the country.” He added, “I’d like to thank our great Vice-President Kamala Harris. She’s experienced, she’s tough, she’s capable. She’s been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country. Now the choice is up to you the American people.” I thought he would say much more about her. I thought he would make a longer and stronger case for her. I checked the transcript, and he only mentioned her by name once. Of course, he never mentioned Trump by name, but when he said, “Kings and dictators do not rule, the people do,” it was clear to whom he was referring.
“The Golden Rule of Political Departure” – The most recent event that parallels President Biden’s withdrawal, was when President Lyndon Johnson announced in March of 1968, that he would end his run for a second full term. He left, not because Republicans wanted him gone, but because fellow party members like Sen. Robert Kennedy (D) New York and Sen. Eugene McCarthy (D) Minnesota, ran against him. President Richard Nixon resigned in 1975, not because Democrats wanted him gone. He left when top Republicans told him he would not survive impeachment. This time around, former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined about three dozen Congressional Democrats suggesting a Biden exit. Lesson: you cannot stay when the top leaders of your own party say it is time to go!
“Harris VP” – Depending on who you believe, there are anywhere from four to twelve people Kamala Harris is considering for a running mate. I’ve done a lot of analysis on this and have narrowed down the finalists to three. In no particular order, they are Sen. Mark Kelly (D) Arizona (11 Electoral Votes), Gov. Roy Cooper (D) North Carolina (16 Electoral Votes), and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) Pennsylvania (19 Electoral Votes). President Biden carried Pennsylvania and Arizona in 2020, but Trump took North Carolina by just 1.34 percent, which was Biden’s closest losing margin. Cooper is the oldest and most experienced of the three. I bet Harris will pick Cooper.
“Can Harris Win?” – The short answer is yes. But she will have her challenges. The latest Real Clear Politics Composite Poll has Trump leading with 47.6 percent of the vote, to 45.9 percent for Harris. That’s just 1.7 percent. The final poll with Biden had Trump up 3.3 percent. That’s still close but with breathing room. Harris has shown she can raise money, raking in over $100 million dollars in the two days after Biden departed. She’s also held a few very raucous rallies, but that’s with friendly “home field” crowds. Republicans will really attack her on immigration. You’ll recall Biden put her in charge of securing the Southern Border, and it hasn’t happened.
Of Harris, former President Trump said, “She’s a radical left lunatic, who will ruin our country.” The new fall campaign is now in full swing!
“New Assassination Info” – We learned more information about the failed assassination attempt against former President Trump this week, which included more shocking details. The deceased gunman flew a drone in the area, just hours before the shooting. He also searched on his computer for details on the assassination of President Kennedy, including Lee Harvey Oswald’s distance from Kennedy. We already knew he was seen by law enforcement on the roof well before the shooting. The evidence just keeps mounting in this botched security detail. Many Democrats and Republicans joined together in unison, and Kimberly Cheatle was forced to resign as Director of the Secret Service. But how does this happen? How could so many mistakes have been made? We still need more answers!
“He Said What?” – Vice-Presidential running mates have a history of saying odd-ball things that get them in trouble with voters. Our latest example is Sen. J.D. Vance (R) Ohio, who was on record saying in a video clip: “The entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children.” He added, “And how does it make any sense that we’ve turned our country over to people who don’t really have a direct stake in it?” He was making specific reference to Kamala Harris, who has two stepchildren; Rep Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, who has no children; and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who adopted twins with his gay husband. Look, it’s 2024 and families come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, but words can still be hurtful. Buttigieg said, “The really sad thing is, he said that after Chasten [Buttigieg] and I had been through a fairly heartbreaking setback in our adoption journey.”