No Country for Old Men
Dearest Reader,
What a difference a week makes! On Sunday July 21, 2024 President Joe Biden reached the tough decision (realization?) that his 2024 campaign would likely be unsuccessful and lead to a second, disastrous Trump term. President Biden announced his decision to suspend his candidacy and nominate his Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency. This historic, welcome and absolutely necessary decision gives the Democratic Party a fighting chance to beat former President Donald Trump this November. According to recent polling, under Biden the Democrats would likely lose the presidential election, the House and the Senate this November as voters steadily fled his reelection campaign and the party, overall. But now, with the emergence of a Kamala Harris presidential campaign everything feels different, but has anything actually changed?
The most common criticism of Biden’s reelection bid is that he is too old or infirm and unlikely to have the vitality to serve 4 more years in one of the most stressful jobs in the world. On June 27th after his shocking failure to effectively challenge Trump in one of the most curated debates in history, the electorate, politicians and donors saw nothing but doom for the Democratic Party. It kind of felt like being waist deep in quicksand with a clear view of unreachable dry land. President Biden was the only person who could stop the trajectory we were on. There is much speculation about what took Biden so long to bow out, but I suspect he was getting skewed polling from his inner circle or was otherwise willfully ignorant; which showed during press appearances in recent weeks. He was alarmingly out of touch with the dread all around him.
In last week’s newsletter I discussed the need for the Democratic Party to innovate away from their current electoral strategy in a manner similar to France’s recent snap parliamentary elections. By forming a broad leftist coalition and a strategic alliance with centrists, the French managed to block far right National Rally from seizing the most votes, which they were clearly on track to do. As I said, “at the end of the day, we rise together or we fall together when it comes to defending democratic norms and halting dictatorial/autocratic or populist or fascistic tendencies.” As residents and citizens of the United States it genuinely felt like we were on the Titanic and no one was steering to avoid the iceberg. But following weeks of bad press, public recriminations from donors, politicians and thought leaders plus leaks from every corner of Washington, D.C., President Biden relieved a very anxious nation (and arguably, the world) by opening a path for Vice President Harris to step into leadership. Sure, it’s late, but better late than never!
Within the first 24 to 48 hours of her candidacy Harris raised a whopping $250 million from small dollar and major donors alike—a clear record in fundraising. Harris has also rallied her party without any competition from her potential rivals for the nomination like Pete Buttigieg, Gavin Newson, Josh Shapiro and Gretchen Witmer, who all endorsed her campaign. Additionally, according to NBC News, the majority of the Democratic party’s pledged convention delegates have willingly thrown in their support for Harris 2024 with some 1,992 delegates, exceeding the the required threshold of 1,976 delegates to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. Although the Democratic National Convention (DNC), beginning August 19th until the 22nd, could have a broadcast competition for the top job (referred to as an “open convention”), it looks like Harris is already the defacto nominee. She is endorsed by President Biden and other Dem leaders like Pelosi and The Clintons, has no rivals, seemingly secured her delegates, is fundraising in record numbers and the internet is awash in endearing content about her campaign and quirky, no nonsense personality.
I think it’s important to savor this moment for all its historical significance. In April I wrote a newsletter entitled, "The First Black Woman To Run For President" which provided me an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the late, great Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm. Chisolm undoubtedly set the stage for a Kamala Harris presidential campaign and hopeful victory. As the first black woman to be elected to Congress in 1968, Chisolm went on to wage a genuine campaign to win the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972. During her campaign, Chisolm was undermined at nearly every turn by women and black folks alike because her “intersectional” campaign predated our present, tacit acceptance of multiple, interrelated identities existing in one person. Also, the audacity of Chisolm to pursue the presidency surprised people and triggered a kind of rivalry in them.
Despite several assassination attempts and political backstabbing, Chisolm won a significant 152 delegates. In many ways her journey is akin to all prominent black women attempting to cultivate power over their own lives and be of service to their community. There is a very distinct, yet predictable set of stereotypes and attacks levied at black women. On a daily basis, sexist, racist and often violent projections undermine our ability to move in a straight line. And when a black woman is seeking significant systemic power these sexist, racist and violent hostilities ratchet up to 1000%. Unfortunately, I don’t see Vice President Harris avoiding this reality in coming months and years, if she wins in November. I’m curious to see how the electorate and her allies step up in their defense against and understanding of misogynoir—hatred of, aversion to, or prejudice against Black women.
1968 is a significant year to remember because not only did Shirley Chisolm enter Congress as the first and only black woman, the 1968 Civil Rights Act get signed into law, but it was also the last time Democrats had an open convention. Because of the unpopular, morally dubious war in Viet Nam and I would argue a backlash against civil rights, President Lyndon B. Johnson concluded he would likely lose in a bid for reelection. President Johnson officially bowed out of the race on Sunday March 31, 1968. His Vice President Hubert Humphrey won the nomination, but lost the presidency to none other than Richard Nixon—and we know how criminal the Nixon administration was. Humphrey lost the popular vote by less than 1%, but was walloped by Nixon’s success in the electoral college with 191 votes to Nixon’s 301.
The point of considering this history is that, as much as I am energized by Harris 2024, the path to victory in November is by no means guaranteed. Biden was very unlikely to win, whereas Harris has more favorable polling that puts her within striking distance of victory over Donald Trump—now the oldest candidate ever to run for president of the U.S. I have faith in the broad electorate and am hopeful Harris learns from President Barack Obama’s electric, grassroots, youthful and lucrative campaign rather than say Hillary Clinton’s campaign, that I recall as a bit too inward looking albeit very polished—Harris will likely end up in the middle. Basically Kamala Harris needs to hit the road with some powerful surrogates, paint a clear, inviting vision of the future and stay on message until November. There may be another presidential debate going head-to-head with Trump which I’m sure she’ll excel in as a former prosecutor. Regardless, Harris has to paint a clear contrast between her leadership and his.
The feeling of this moment is more hopeful than I’ve felt in years—maybe since the Obama administration. Who would have known living under the Biden administration would start to feel like being a hostage—to outdated foreign policy, stubborn political figures, and a palpable feeling of doom. So embracing a lighter energy under the Harris 2024 campaign is welcome—even if a bit illusory as we learn about Harris’ platform, vice presidential choice and cabinet in coming days, weeks and months. As I’m sure the next couple months will bear out, Vice President Harris has a real shot, but no guarantee to lead the country. Nevertheless, I’m more than willing to bet on Harris and her vision for America over the likes of Trump—or Biden for that matter—because to paraphrase filmmakers the Coen Brothers: this is no country for old men (to lead).
With Love During End Times,
Agunda