One of the “so good it’s bad” movies I enjoy is “War of the Gargantuas,” which is a Godzilla-adjacent flick and one that in my head I was equating to the upcoming presidential election (it happened to be playing when I heard the news. Go figure).
That is until Sunday, when President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, up and quit, calling the move as one that was in the best interest for his party and for the country.
Odd phrasing, that, putting party ahead of the country, but then again, only the most steadfast of sheep believe that the government actually cares about what happens to the country.
Before things get indignant, good intentions do not make good policy, and most policy decisions coming down the pike have been solely for the purpose of retaining power, irrespective of party.
It’s that retaining power stance that perplexes me now.
For years, particularly in the Trump era, we’ve been told that our democracy is under attack, and that the only way to keep it viable and keep the American dream alive was to not vote for neo-fascists. We’ve also been told that voting is sacrosanct and inviolate, and how can anyone mistreat people of color by requiring an ID to vote?
Except now, that no longer seems to matter.
Most states by now have either caucused or held primary elections, and those results have followed both Trump and Biden to their conventions. While the Democrats will not hold theirs until August, it was pretty much assured Biden was a lock.
That, I believe, presents several problems; several states have already locked their ballots, meaning changes now shouldn’t be made; but the worst is that everyone that cast a ballot for Biden in the primaries have been told their votes are immaterial.
As in, yeah, you wanted Joe, but since you didn’t read the fine print, you get (insert name here).
In his surrender letter, Biden threw his weight behind Vice President Kamala Harris. Other names that have been floated are Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
While I’m sure that’s name dropping to gin up some kind of interest, it not only speaks to the lack of care for the will of the people (which is the founding principle of our republic), it speaks to the need for the current “powers that be” to not become the “powers that was.”
I’ve even heard that in order to force the acceptance of whatever candidate is called from the bullpen, the lawsuits will fly fast and furious.
Even in a democracy, that kind of underhanded bait-and-switch is frowned upon. But since voting rights are only a matter of discussion to keep the other guys out of office, it really isn’t a surprise.
At the end of his statement, Biden claims he will focus on the remainder of his presidency. While the debate on whether he is fit to lead since he is not fit to run for re-election is not part of this right now, it is yet another example of governmental disconnect with the people.
Let’s hope 2025 is the great reset.
Tony Farkas is editor of the San Jacinto News-Times and the Trinity County News-Standard. He can be reached at [email protected].
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