By Don C. Reed
Remember the words above Dante’s doorway to Hell?
“All hope abandon, ye who enter here.”- poet Dante Alighieri
That was how I felt after the Biden/Trump debate; it gutted my hopes as a Democrat.
President Joe Biden, so deeply admired, suddenly seemed a different person. He was still fearless, of course, with that glorious “in-your face” attitude, once the battle was joined. But the words did not connect properly; Eloquence, the politician’s chief weapon, was denied him.
I knew what that was like, having had my own speech diminished by a stroke. It is a hard thing to need words, which will not come. But for me, it was an inconvenience. With Joe, it mattered. He was the President, the world depended on him.
Head on one side, like a puzzled predator, Donald J. Trump studied Grampa Joe, fumbling for words. And then Trump smiled.
Days passed and I went through the motions of my normal life, but my body seemed sluggish, as though I waded in mud. Trump won every poll, and he smirked so much I thought his cheeks would pop.
And then it happened: the unbelievable.
“President Biden is withdrawing from the election!”, said the voice on the car radio.
President Joe was sacrificing his personal hopes and dreams. He loved being President, and was good at it. But he would be giving up his hold on power, in hope that another Democrat might prevent Trump from taking over again. Joe Biden was putting the country’s needs above his own.
Before I could absorb that shock — another jolt came. The President was recommending his successor: endorsing the vice President , Kamala Harris, identifying her as the best person for the job.
It dawned on me. If Kamala Harris became President, we were not stuck with Trump…
Could this be done?
Some Democrats suggested, “Have an open convention”, meaning argue back and forth until a consensus candidate was picked.
There were of course excellent individuals who could do the job: like Gavin Newsom, California’s Governor, deeply respected in our Golden State.
But before Gavin’s nomination could even be offered, it was shot down — by Governor Newsom himself. He enthusiastically endorsed vice President Harris: as did many others.
Kamala went to work to earn the nomination, making over 100 phone calls the first day after President Joe gave her his blessing.
When the vote was held, there was no more doubt. Kamala had more than enough support, and we had our candidate.
All America had to do now was defeat Donald J. Trump — in what may be the closest political battle in the history of our free nation.
Tonight, in open debate, Harris and Trump will meet at last.