Like many Democrats, I was resigned to us losing the White House, the U.S. Senate and seeing an increase of MAGA crazies in Congress. Many of us felt in our heart that Joe Biden was too old and his performance at the debate showed us a doddering old man who could not keep his train of thought. After the debate, any doubts as to whether Joe Biden was too old were resolved definitively. He was too old.
When Biden asserted that he would not step down, I fully expected Donald Trump, an old man who wears a dirty diaper, to beat another older man, Joe Biden. Then Biden did the unthinkable, he stepped down and passed the torch to his young, vibrant Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden’s speech explaining his decision demonstrated just what a decent patriot does when he loves his country more than his personal ambition. Biden has done an excellent job as president and deserved a second term based on performance, but he realized that to bring his party and this country together and to save our democracy, he had to sacrifice his ambition for the greater good. No politician voluntarily steps away from power. Biden is in the same league as George Washington and Lyndon Johnson, the only presidents to voluntarily not seek reelection.
Biden’s decision has caused the world to do a somersault over the moon. The Democratic Party is united and ignited. White women, Black women, Black men, Hispanics, Asians, white men and young people are all flocking to the Harris campaign. She has raised more than $200 million and counting since announcing her candidacy and thousands of people are tripping over themselves to volunteer for her.
Suddenly, states like North Carolina, Florida, Montana and all the battleground states are in play. People are raising their heads and taking notice. A lot of people wanted someone new; they were tired of Trump and Biden and now their wish has been granted. We have someone new -- a smart, tough, Black-Asian woman in Kamala Harris.
In the meantime, Trump’s choice for vice president, J.D. Vance, is creating chaos based on his remark about single woman who are childless, calling them angry, cat woman. Well, he angered a lot of people, including Jennifer Anniston, who spoke out against J.D. Vance ‘s heartless remarks. It should be noted that J.D. Vance once said Trump was akin to Hitler. Now, he is a Trump sycophant.
This election will pit a bigot, megalomaniac, rapist, fraudster and felon against a talented former prosecutor. As Kamala Harris said, she knows “Trump’s type,” because it was her job to put his type in jail.
This campaign offers a stark choice. Trump believes that everything is wrong with this country and runs a campaign of hate and fear. Harris is running a campaign of hope, competency and inclusion.
America will have to decide, but I am hopeful that there are enough sane people out there who will vote so we can save our democracy, the rights of women and minorities, and so we can appoint new U.S. Supreme Court justices who respect justice and the law.
Reginald J. Clyne is a Miami trial lawyer who has worked in some of the largest law firms in the United States and been in practice since 1987, trying cases in both state and federal courts. He has lived inAfrica, Brazil, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Reginald J. Clyne, Esq.