Most people I meet shake their heads when they talk about the US government, even if their jaws hurt, especially in the Americas, where US policies have left many nations struggling. Multicultural USA will go to the polls in November to decide between two white old men – one less white and more orange. The presidential nominees as they stand, remind me of the 1980s film Weekend at Bernie’s, where two idiots somehow puppet-parade their deceased boss around all weekend.
I was a Biden/Harris supporter as I saw kinder people with policies and people who were there for fairness, not the racist and disorganised agenda of MAGA Trump. The latter has proven to be someone who not only fails to follow the law, won’t release his taxes, and is essentially the rapist (civil trial) of Jean Carroll; this alone should have turned Republicans away from him, convicted felon, bankrupt of six businesses (how do you bankrupt a casino), head of a fraudulent charity, head of a business empire whose CEO went to prison for significant fraud, a company that has been found guilty of inflated and deflated assets for loans and tax purposes, represented a fraudulent university, dislikes many veterans and is an adulterer.
Take out the Ten Commandments and stick it on your wall as Louisiana has done in every state classroom, and you will find that Donald has broken nine commandments. Where’s Moses when you need him? Trump is unhinged, and despite creating no new wars, he signed a deal with the Taliban that led to a meek surrender of Afghanistan. The whole no “new war” thing, just remember it was his party that invaded Iraq and Afghanistan.
At the 2020 debates, Biden promised to be a transitional president for one term. Now he’s running again. Biden’s Administration has passed significant legislation to help the economy and environment and, like every Democrat at that level, has tried but failed with proposed gun reform and the right of women to decide what happens to their bodies. From introducing the Juneteenth public holiday in a nod to black history to decriminalising marijuana federally, installing diverse federal judges and student debt forgiveness, he will be remembered as a fantastic president domestically. Biden is slowly turning to stone and must consider quitting while he is behind. Most of us who have been to Spec Savers can see a decline coming. His lack of charisma means many independents and disinterested Democrats won’t come out for him.
It all comes down to seven swing states. The swingers. States with small margins that can be flipped. Remember, the USA has an Electoral College; a certain number of points/electors are allocated to each state, and a presidential winner must win the state by popular vote to collect the points. You may have heard about the Electoral College after Trump refused to concede defeat and helped stage a failed coup on January 6, 2021. He was impeached for the second time for his behaviour yet remains eligible to run.
As MAGA crowds chanted ‘Hang Mike Pence’ when the former VP proved honourable on January 6. Republicans such as Pence and Liz Cheney will not endorse Trump. They are, of course, among some of the Republicans who didn’t end up in prison, unlike Bannon, Stone, Manafort, Flynn, Rick Gates, Papadopoulos, Cohen and more.
Biden has zero influence on Netanyahu or Putin and his failure to bring peace to these regions is heartbreaking. Neighbouring Haiti also suffers, whereas Obama once sent in troops to restore order. Obama knew to draw down troops without abandoning Iraq. In contrast, Biden abandoned Afghanistan. It was a Trump-signed Taliban agreement. Therefore, both should share responsibility.
Speaking of the poor, Trump gave wealthy people tax cuts. He will do it again after Joe raises taxes on the rich. Trump needs help understanding simple economics. He intends to introduce import tariffs of between 10 and 60 per cent, which will reverberate worldwide, leading to higher inflation, job losses, and a decline in consumer confidence within North America.
Biden, who shouldn’t be running again, has ensured that Trump is on course to win many of the seven swinger states. Muslims, Asians, and many Jews in these states will either not vote or vote donkey. This may tip the scales toward Donald. Many others, baffled by Biden’s aging process, will not turn out to vote.
I mention Christ because these Republican states fail to see that Jesus stood by the needy, yet being a MAGA Republican means, ironically, doing the opposite of what Christ preached. Vitriol, lies, bitterness, and hypocrisy are not virtues of Christ. Biden treats others with respect and wants to help the disadvantaged. Record job creation numbers, social security nets, and support for half a million ‘dreamers’ are positive outcomes. I know Barrack and Michelle will save many congressional seats. Still, they’re not magicians and will struggle to save Biden.
Added to the mix is nutty RFK Jr. He is technically a Democrat, running as an independent and is likely to take more votes off Biden in the swing states. Jill Stein, the fourth contender, is an honourable candidate who will take a million votes for the Greens but is also heading towards an advanced age, 74. She is Jewish and condemns both Netanyahu and Hamas.
The Libertarian candidate, Chase Oliver, is younger. He is a breath of fresh air, even if cut from the same vintage as the others. Openly gay and anti-war, Oliver has dismissed the politics of Trump and is willing to listen to ideas. Libertarians believe in small government, minimal tax, and no helmets or seatbelts. The Libertarians may pick up two million votes by using a younger face that didn’t ever praise the “late, great Hannibal Lecter” (yes, Trump really said they did).
Claudia De La Cruz is the only person representing colour and minorities. She describes the Party for Socialism and Liberation, advocating for minority rights and reparations for black people. She is running with Karina Garcia, but this ticket will only attract a few votes, far less than Kanye in the last election.
Activist and civil rights champion Cornel West, 71, is also considering running as an independent. I wish Claudia and Cornel could gain some attention and votes for their real-life issues that matter. Other minor candidates will make the ballot in some states. In the end, it will come down to these factors: age, getting people out to vote, MAGA propaganda, the swingers, RFK Jnr’s numbers, domestic policies, and the economy. Independents may see through Donald’s lies.
Biden struggled during the first debate. Democrats like Wes Brown, Gavin Newsom, AOC, Bernie Sanders, Jaimie Raskin, Jasmine Crockett, Beto O’Rourke, and Pete Buttigieg have talent. Sticking with Biden could become a Weekend at Bernie’s sequel. As for Trump, he will be 83 by the end of the next term. It’s shocking that after respectable candidates such as John McCain and Mitt Romney, we get MAGA bigots. How did the USA go from eloquent JFK and Obama, the good of Carter and Ford and the charisma of Reagan and Clinton to the insanity of today?
