Let's Win This
Biden does an Andrew Little, can Kamala do a Jacinda?
You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry go round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
There is no joy to take from Joe Biden stepping out of the presidential race. It is wretched and awful to see a decent man having to face the reality of the situation and prepare to exit a stage he has given half a century to. All while a man who spits lies and hate, with not a momentary consideration of decency, stays in the race and may well take his job.
The American people owe Joe Biden much. From stepping up to take the White House four years ago from a vicious charlatan who was reluctant to relinquish it. To now, seeing the writing on the wall, stepping aside for the good of his party and his country.
Time Joe, it comes to us all. And what things you have done with your time.
No one else can say they served as VP to the first Black American President. Then defeated his despised successor, and in doing so gave America its first female VP. A women he has now endorsed to succeed him, which would mean a female, African American, Asian American President. There is much to be proud off and retirement years earned many times over Joe.
The following clip is about Kamala Harris being chosen as VP, but it’s quite relevant to the current news and shows the response from Trump, which will no doubt deteriorate further.
Hang on a minute, the Democrats might pick someone else.
That’s true although Biden’s endorsement of Kamal right after his withdrawal from the race was pretty clear and will carry a lot of weight.
“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.”
We’ve head that phrase before haven’t we - Let’s do this. From another candidate thrust forward to win an election that was sliding towards likely defeat. Our Jacinda.
Here she is with that slogan from back in 2017. An entirely gratuitous, somewhat off topic photo that I’ve included simply because I know it’ll make a lot of you smile. 🙂
Did it work?
The thing is if not Kamala then who? Neither party really held competitive primary selection contests, with it long assumed this would be a Biden vs Trump contest.
The absence of that primary process is no big deal for the Republicans as their contest would’ve essentially involved a group of candidates standing like stunned mullets as Trump slandered them with the sort of name calling and bullying you’d expect to see in a school yard, not a Presidential Primary. Until one by one they fell into line, and agreed that Trump, the man who had just been abusing and bad mouthing them was clearly the only choice for the top job.
On the other hand it has meant a lack of clear alternatives for the Democrats. Understandably many potential candidates choosing to keep their powder dry for future challenges, rather than go down in flames trying to take out a sitting President. So I don’t see any value in looking at the also rans in that pseudo contest, which saw Biden receive 87% support.
In the absence of new candidates what about others that have been considered previously?
Bernie Sanders will be considered too old, which is kind of fair enough given at 82 he is older than Biden. Yet in interviews he still sounds clear of thought and as determined as ever. I would love to have seen President Bernie, but realistically his opportunity has passed - no thanks to the DNC.
I watched the following clip with Pete Buttigieg the other day. Talking all kinds of sense about the Republicans selecting JD Vance as Trump’s running mate. Clearly a very intelligent man, but it won’t be him either.
There will always be a problem. We know that no matter who is selected they will be viciously attacked by Trump without cause or factual basis - that’s what bullies do.
So Bernie is too old, and Pete is too gay, Kamala is too black and too female - but what about the Orange guy? You know, the convicted felon? Is he too something?
It seems utterly obscene to me that we would even consider saying that Kamala, who has risen to be the Vice President of America on her merits despite prejudice among voters, can’t be President - but it’s just fine for the guy who got there through being a dishonest bully, and who lacks every attribute that would’ve previously been considered presidential.
Not selecting minority, or female, candidates because the white male is more likely to win becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. The more that the perceived wisdom is that you have to select the old white guy in a suit the more it embeds this limitation. In my view - if not now, then when? There will never be a right time.
Key financial backers are largely lining up behind Harris, and as I’m writing this news has just come out that Nancy Pelosi, a hugely influential figure in the Democrat party, has announced her support for Kamala.
But can she win?
Gut reaction is important when considering a politician, trusting your instinct is usually a good option. You can just tell whether you trust someone, believe them, and think they could take people with them.
From the moment she came on the scene many of us knew that Chlöe Swarbrick was special. It didn’t matter that she was the youngest in the room because it was pretty obvious that she was also the most well informed, clearly spoken, passionate - and according to the facts, generally correct.
Same deal with Barbara Edmonds. What mighty shoes of Grant’s they are to fill yet she has the same fierce intellect and determination to do what is right for the people of this country that he had.
I recall seeing this clip a few years back and feeling the same way. Yes Kamala was polished but there was a genuine directness in her words that was unusual in American politics. At least as observed from across the Pacific.
You’ve no doubt seen clips of Biden and Trump speaking recently - have a look at Kamala by comparison. Apologies to those who might have seen this yesterday when I posted it on Facebook and Twitter.
She looks pretty good to me. Coming back to that familiar phrase, “Let’s do this”. Although I see on Kamala’s Twitter page that’s morphed into “Let’s WIN this” - which I guess is the American translation.
Kamala Harris is obviously a very different person and America is a different place but if that country could experience just a little of that Jacinda fairy dust, that hope and the belief in the fundamental goodness of people. If they could have a leader with the courage to do things like tell the truth about the absurdity of America’s guns laws - that would be quite something.
Not only that, but the Simpsons predicted it - so it must be true.
I remember seeing Kamala on the evening of the last election when she became VP. It felt like a weight had been lifted after Trump, and there was tremendous positivity at a fresh day for America.
The day of Obama’s inauguration and the emotional response from people who couldn’t believe they were seeing a Black President in their lifetime.
Many will question whether America is ready to vote for a Black Woman as President. There will never be a right time to test that but I think the Democrats have to put their best foot forward and I think it’s Kamala.
The spotlight will be intense and the scare mongering from the Republicans will be vicious. Harris has already been put under that microscope, every detail of her life no doubt scrutinised when she ran for her current role. The risk of choosing someone new, that might have undetected skeletons yet to emerge, is too great in my view.
Is Harris perfect? Hell no, do you think anyone gets to the top in US politics without having to swallow some dead rats? Not a chance.
But she looks mighty good to me. I’ll take someone with a good heart, who had to be pragmatic along the way, over the morally corrupt disgrace of a human being she is up against any day of the week.
Harris is the successor as the current VP. She’s been endorsed by Biden for the role of President and I can’t imagine the Democrats coalescing around any other candidate. A combative selection process is the last thing they’ll want at this stage. Others may posture, perhaps registering themselves in the nation’s interest for future campaigns, but I’d be surprised if anyone genuinely challenges Kamala for the candidacy.
Were they to choose a carbon copy, liberal-elite, white guy in a suit, as candidate I think they’d lose to Trump. In my view Hillary Clinton lost because she represented what the country was angry at, as much, if not more, than because of her gender.
Changing candidates at this point is a bit of a Hail Mary pass as it is. They might as well go down swinging with a good one. Besides which, sometimes, just once in a while, people choose someone really good. Like Jacinda Ardern. And maybe, just maybe - Kamala Harris.
Hell, if nothing else at least she gives people something to believe in. Someone who might encourage people to get out and vote en masse, to prevent a second Trump, and elect the first female President of the United States of America.
Let’s win this - America!
Here’s a Spotify playlist of Kamala’s favourites, which includes this one. It’s a small thing, the songs that mean something to someone, but I reckon this choice says a bit about the sort of person Kamala is.
I can’t imagine Mr Trump listening to it - can you?
Thanks Nick, I’ve got out of the habit of doing optimism but you have dragged me back! Yes I did smile with the JA picture. If the USA cannot bring itself to vote for a strong woman of colour then perhaps it is beyond salvation - let’s hope for a parallel with our own Jacinda
Real echoes of Andrew Little passing the reins with dignity to Jacinda for the good of the party and country. Well done Joe. Let's hope it's not too late in the process for them.