News
By George Miller, 7-21-24
Joe Biden today dropped his candidacy to become the Democrat presidential nominee, doing this very late for the party to put forth an effective and democratic alternative strategy. Opponents have long derided him as incompetent and even senile, but most Democrats and media have been supportive and outrageously covered up evidence pointing to his unfitness for office. He said that he intends to focus his energy on finishing his term. the White House hadn’t yet managed to put this on its web site by press time.
The disastrous (for Biden) debate with former President Donald Trump was a major dealbreaker for many of his supporters and only increased Trump’s growing polling lead and fundraising. Many expressed shock that Biden did so poorly. Evidently, many had not been paying much attention to what he was actually saying and doing. The Biden camp last week used Covid as a reason to sequester him and close allies/family. They then quickly caved to enormous pressure for him to drop out, culminating in today’s announcement.
The unsuccessful assassination attempt on President Trump and the dramatic photos and video that accompanied it have helped catapult him into near legendary status.
Next month’s Democratic National Convention should be interesting. Although Biden and some other major Democrat figures have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, both have poor ratings/polling. Harris is one of the most unpopular Vice Presidents in memory. The Clintons and others have endorsed Harris, but Obama has not publicly announced an endorsement. Harris is not well-regarded by many Democrat players, but it will be politically very difficult to pass over a black, woman incumbent VP in these circumstances .
Here’s Biden’s 7-21-24 statement on this:
My Fellow Americans,
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.
Today, America has the strongest economy in the world.
We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans.
We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision. For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made.
Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.
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George Miller is Publisher and Co-Founder of Citizens Journal Florida, based in Fernandina Beach. He is a “retired” operations management consultant, software and publishing executive (10 years) and manufacturing management professional.
