“I Alone Can Fix It”
No, Joe… that is him, not you
In accepting the GOP nomination in 2016, Donald Trump famously said “nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it.” False, ludicrous, arrogant, and narcissistic … and we were just beginning to learn how corrosive and unmasked those traits would be.
Joe, you are far, far from alone in assuring the continuance of the American Democratic experiment. You defeated Trump. There is no reason for you to believe you are “the one” that must defeat Trump a second time. Your role now is to place full support behind a middle-aged firebrand alternate, one who will crush Trump with oratory, charisma, facts and trust. The Democratic Party must waste no time nor deploy a strangled process to choose a successor.
We are once again reminded of the Biden family spirit. That is to face problems head on, get up when knocked down and stare down the will of things gone bad. This comes from too many family funerals and too much trauma in that menage. This step requires a different brand of courage.
Handing off to a high-profile alternate candidate is precisely the bold move and “shock treatment” the country needs to change the trajectory of an eroding public faith and trust in America’s basic governing principals.
Consider the sea change, not just in legislation, but in public sentiment, zeal and move-the-needle action that followed the youth and vigor of John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama among others. A change of candidates in this situation should not be thought of as a setback, but rather an enormous opportunity. Currently all major news outlets and polls show apathy and disappointment between current candidates including increasing numbers of voters who may choose to simply sit out. Consider the damage no-votes can have on down ballots and tight races at the state and local levels.
President Biden must be coached by his most trusted confidants and pull the ripcord within days. He instantly becomes historicaly preeminent. The steps that follow must be carefully crafted. The Democratic Party should consider a short list of no more than 3 candidates and do so immediately. Allow the public and the press to vet and establish the leading candidate within 2–3 weeks. Then, it becomes vital to coalesce 100% support behind that candidate.
It is a grave error to expect November voting to follow reason, common sense or to separate saints from sinners. Such miscalculation can forfeit Democracy as we know it.
Those who would rally in support of President Biden and dismiss his debate performance as a bad night, grossly miscalculate the dynamics of today’s voters and toy with grenades. MAGA supporters and mega donors blindly follow Trumps’ well-honed mob-boss charisma. Consider the population reach of Fox News reinforcing misinformation, particularly in rural markets and low population states which have an outsized vote in the Electoral College system. It is a grave error to expect November voting to follow reason, common sense or to separate saints from sinners. Such miscalculation can forfeit Democracy as we know it.
In 2016, Trump was clearly the flawed, inexperienced, and unlikely candidate. And he won the Electoral College mystery math over one of the most experienced and seasoned life-long public servants of our times. Then we all witnessed and documented the most dysfunctional and corrupt administration in modern history, watched a brain-drain exodus of government talent, a record shattering number of Party insider resignations and terminations from congress to cabinet to agency leaders. Given all that, we now see a David Copperfield sized illusion: that flawed candidate now with dozens of indictments, conviction of rape, felony and much more … that is the candidate with equal or stronger approval rating.
The stakes here could not be higher. Consider the probabilities. Would Democrats have a stronger or weaker chance of beating Trump if 82-year-old President Biden clears the way to field a middle aged, high profile, and charismatic Democrat? Winning chances certainly get no worse, but more likely to improve dramatically. Such result would not just help assure the win in the White House, it can pull more party leaders through their down ballot races and with the potential to turn the corner on the erosion of trust and faith in government.
John Bringenberg is a concerned citizen and worker bee. John works in new energy + conservation, and also presides a Colorado NGO focused on sustainable living.
