The Struggle for the Soul of America: Biden, Harris and the Dems Blew It

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Author: Bruce Berlin

Trump was the worst candidate the Republicans could have run, and Harris still couldn’t win. He had so much baggage, yet the Dems couldn’t beat him. Why?

Let’s start at the beginning. In 2020, candidate Joe Biden declared he would be a bridge to a new generation of leadership. The expectation was that once Biden dethroned Trump, he would not run for a second term, especially since he would be 82 by the time that term began.[1] By 2023, approximately three-quarters of the country, including a decided majority of his fellow Democrats, thought Biden was too old to serve another term as president. The American people wanted him to step aside at the end of his first term.[2]

Last January, when the 2024 presidential primaries began, Biden’s approval rating stood at 38%, while 47% of Americans disapproved of his job performance.[3] Yet, most of his party supported him, and no prominent Democrat challenged him in the Democratic primaries. By April of this year, more than 60% of Americans disapproved of Biden’s performance, while only 35% approved.[4] Still, his party stood by him.

It was not until late June after Biden’s disastrous performance during his first debate with Trump that Democrats began to seriously question whether the president should run for a second term.[5] Nevertheless, despite his age and a horrible debate, Biden insisted that he would stay in the race and defeat Trump in November.[6] Finally, almost a month later, the president reluctantly withdrew from the race at his party’s urging and immediately endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris.[7]

With less than four months till the election and Biden’s endorsement of Harris, the Democratic Party had little choice but to nominate his VP for president at its August convention.[8] Consequently, millions of Democratic voters had no say in who would be their candidate for president. Biden’s inability to put the best interests of the country above his own ambition until the very last moment put Harris and the Democrats in an untenable position.

In late July, Kamala Harris became the Democrats’ presumptive nominee for president without winning any primaries due to the endorsement of one person, President Biden. Instead of distancing herself from a very unpopular president, Harris chose to stick by her man throughout her campaign for president. She couldn’t even bring herself to suggest modifying U.S. arms sales to Israel despite its utter destruction of Gaza and the annihilation of thousands of innocent Palestinian people with U.S. weapons.

In fact, during an interview on ABC’s “The View,” candidate Harris could not name one thing that she would change in the four years of the Biden-Harris Administration.[9] That left Americans believing voting for her would be four more years of the unpopular Biden policies, which contradicted her message that the Harris campaign represented true change. At the same time, she provided no real vision of a future America.[10]

In the minds of a great many Americans, the primary reasons for voting for Harris came down to her support for abortion rights and that she was not Trump. Sadly, that just wasn’t enough for the majority of American voters.

“Trump’s victory is a grim day for the United States and for democracies around the world. You have every right to be appalled, saddened, shocked, and frightened. Soon, however, you should dust yourself off, square your shoulders, and take a deep breath. Americans who care about democracy have work to do.” – Tom Nichols, The Atlantic

“To those feeling despair: I understand. But remember, every step toward progress in American history came after the darkness of defeat. Abolitionists, suffragettes, Dreamers, and marchers for civil rights and marriage equality all faced impossible odds, but they persisted. Now it is our turn to pull up our socks and get back in the fight.” – Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is a former U.S. Institute of Peace Fellow and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He is also the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America. (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.). Contact him at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2023/09/biden-reelection-transition-president/675395/

[2] https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/pancreatic-biden-82-four-years-president-colorado/article_a133e0fa-63ba-11ee-b04b-735748c6968d.html

[3] https://redfieldandwiltonstrategies.com/joe-biden-administration-approval-ratings-and-hypothetical-voting-intention-19-january-2024/

[4] https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17IXmmK_CjrhhNnHZJQHhCqgXm8PpEiiv43RcrC4jZXY/edit?gid=1366600926#gid=1366600926

[5] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/biden-debate-performance-democrats-panic-rcna157279

[6] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-scramble-limit-damage-after-bidens-wobbly-debate-showing-against-trump-2024-06-28/

[7] https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6

[8] https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6

[9] https://www.cnn.com/politics/harris-2024-campaign-biden/index.html

[10] https://www.newsweek.com/what-was-kamala-harris-campaigns-biggest-mistake-strategists-verdicts-1981194

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Just a Few More Days

Posted on November 1, 2024 by Author: Bruce Berlin

Finally! Election Day is almost here. It’s been a long time coming.

Most of the people I’ve talked to recently are scared. They’re worried that the fascist Trump will win, our democracy will be destroyed, and the country will be overrun by a bunch of extreme white nationalists. While that’s a real possibility, agonizing over it won’t do any good. Worrying only causes pain and heartache.

Here’s a better idea: Visualize a Big Blue Wave on Election Day. Think about Harris and Walz in the White House implementing a New Way Forward for all Americans.[1] It will make you feel more positive about our country’s future. And it beats dreading about a second Trump term in the Oval Office by a long shot.

This is not a fantasy game. In truth, a Harris/Walz victory is much more likely than not. A new CNN poll finds Vice President Harris with a 6-point lead over former President Trump in Wisconsin and a 5-point lead in Michigan.[2] In Pennsylvania, they are virtually tied,[3] though a recent UMass poll has Harris up by one percentage point.[4]

Early voting in the Keystone state actually provides evidence of a larger Harris lead. Voters over 65 have cast nearly half of the early ballots there. Registered Democrats account for about 58 percent of votes from seniors compared to only 35 percent for Republicans. In the other Blue Wall states of Michigan and Wisconsin, early Democratic voters over the age of 65 are running 10 to 20 percent ahead of their Republican counterparts.[5]

Other indications of a Harris victory on Tuesday include the gender gap, the enthusiasm gap, and the Never Trump Republican movement. Across battleground states, women account for roughly 55 percent of the early vote, while men are around 45 percent.[6] Additionally, 77 percent of Democrats say they are more enthusiastic than usual about voting compared to 67 percent of Republicans.[7] And, the number of Republicans supporting Harris is growing as well.[8]

New polls out this morning reveal that Harris appears to have a very big lead over Trump among early voters. The vice president has an advantage of between 19 and 29 percentage points ahead of Trump, according to New York Times-Siena College, CNN, and ABC News-Ipsos polls.[9]

But there is still work to be done to ensure a Blue Wave victory. One of the easiest and most important ways you can help Harris and the Dems win is to make calls to swing state voters from the comfort of your own home. Here’s the link to get involved: https://events.democrats.org/event/725393/?ceid=19227312&emci=343d19aa-1c97-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&emdi=b4482536-8d97-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b.

Remember, taking action is the remedy to relieve your fears and anxiety about the election. Knowing you helped in such a critical endeavor will make a difference in both your feelings and the election returns.

May the Force be with us!

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is a former U.S. Institute of Peace Fellow and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He is also the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America. (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.). Contact him at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://kamalaharris.com/a-new-way-forward/

[2] https://www.yahoo.com/news/harris-6-point-lead-wisconsin-173428443.html

[3] https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/10/30/pennsylvania-2024-trump-harris-polls-race-virtually-tied-in-4-new-surveys-of-vital-battleground-state/

[4] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/10/31/presidential-election-polls-pennsylvania-michigan-nc/75964694007/

[5] https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/31/trump-lagging-early-votes-seniors-pennsylvania-00186612

[6] https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/29/gender-gap-early-voting-00186155

[7] https://www.newsweek.com/democrat-voter-enthusiasm-republicans-double-digits-poll-1978203

[8] https://ncnewsline.com/2024/10/31/republicans-supporting-harris-say-whisper-caucus-could-swing-the-election/

[9] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/31/polls-show-harris-with-big-early-vote-lead-despite-gop-gains/

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Trump is a Grave Threat. Do Something!

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Author: Bruce Berlin

I am very sad. How is it possible that Donald Trump could be elected president of our country? How could 240+ years of American democracy be summarily rejected by the people of the United States in favor of an autocracy ruled by an incompetent, racist, narcissistic fascist?

I still don’t believe it will happen, though I do realize it’s quite possible. Practically all the generals and White House officials who worked with Trump during his first term have strongly stated he is “unfit to be in office”[1] and “a grave threat” to our democracy.[2] I pray that a majority of voters understand this.

Gen. John Kelly, Trump’s longest-serving White House chief of staff, recently said this about his former boss:

“Certainly the former president is in the far-right area, he’s certainly an authoritarian, admires people who are dictators — he has said that. So he certainly falls into the general definition of fascist, for sure.”[3]

Trump’s V.P. Mike Pence asserted this about the former president: “Anyone that puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president …”[4]

And, John Bolton, Trump’s former national security advisor, noted his “short attention span (except on matters of personal advantage) renders coherent foreign policy almost unattainable.”[5]

Our country is now bitterly divided and hate-filled. While Trump may not have initiated this ugly trend, he has clearly brought it to a boiling point.

Fortunately, it’s not too late to stop Trump and his MAGA cult. But we have no time to lose. With less than two weeks until the election, it’s up to all of us to get to work immediately.

If you know anyone who has not yet voted and is on the fence, talk to them. Make clear to them what’s at stake and that every vote counts.

But most Americans have made up their minds about this election. So, voter turnout is critical at this point. We need to get as many people inclined to support Harris and the Dems to the polls as possible. We cannot depend on anyone but ourselves to win this election.

Here’s what you can do:

Volunteer in Santa Fe at https://santafedemocrats.org/volunteer/
Volunteer with the NM Democratic Party at https://www.mobilize.us/nmdemocrats/
Volunteer for the Harris/Walz campaign at https://web.kamalaharris.com/forms/take-action-for-kamala-harris/
Volunteer in Gabe Vasquez’s campaign in NM’s Second Congressional District at https://www.mobilize.us/gabevasquezforcongress/. Gabe is in a tight race and you can help him in Albuquerque.
Connect with 15 voters who don’t always vote at https://www.mobilize.us/gabevasquezforcongress/event/710388/
Help in a battleground state at https://go.kamalaharris.com/resources/battlegroundstateshelp/
Call voters in Swing Districts to win back the House at https://swingleft.org/event/register/mobilize:732212?timeslots=mobilize:5066383&s=u

Even if you think Harris is the lesser of two evils, she is a thousand times better than Trump. Harris will preserve our less-than-perfect democracy and work to make it better. She will try to bring Americans back together.

Michelle Obama explained we cannot afford to sit on our hands at this point. She has implored us to “Do something.”[6] Now go do it!

Bruce Berlin

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/09/26/opinion/donald-trump-personality-history.html

[2] https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/26/politics/cassidy-hutchinson-jake-tapper-interview-trump-most-grave-threat-cnntv/index.html

[3] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-kelly-former-white-house-chief-staff-on-trump/

[4] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/09/26/opinion/donald-trump-personality-history.html

[5] Ibid.

[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kwra-_8IfI

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Will Harris Ride a Blue Wave in November?

Posted on October 19, 2024 by Author: Bruce Berlin

According to a number of polls, Vice President Harris’s support has slipped. She now leads Trump by only one or two points.[1] Assuming the polls are accurate, which is not always the case, this race appears to be going down to the wire.

On the other hand, I believe a Blue Wave is still quite possible. Three voting blocs may very well create such a flood. First, massive support by women for Kamala will be a significant indicator of a Big Blue Wave. While Harris leads Trump by 14% with women, Trump has a 14% edge with men.[2] The important difference, however, will be in turnout. Women will come out in record numbers to vote for the first woman president. That Harris fully supports a woman’s right to choose, unlike her opponent, will further boost turnout for her.

The second element of the electorate that will help build a large margin of victory for Harris is traditional Republicans who refuse to support Trump. A recent NYT poll found nine percent of likely Republican voters plan to back the Democratic candidate in November, up from five percent in the last New York Times/Siena College poll just a month ago.[3] I suspect that number will be twelve to fifteen percent by election day.

The list of prominent Republicans supporting Harris keeps growing. On September 18^th, 111 former Republican officials and members of Congress endorsed Harris in a letter published in the New York Times. They wrote that “she possesses the essential qualities to serve as President and Donald Trump does not…” Moreover, they denounced Trump’s “unusual affinity for other authoritarian leaders, contempt for the norms of decent, ethical and lawful behavior, and chaotic national security decision-making.” The list includes a host of national security and foreign policy figures who served under the last four Republican presidents, including Trump.[4] Well known and respected, they are bound to get the attention of their fellow Republicans who are having difficulty backing Trump.

The third ingredient of the Harris victory pie will be the youth vote. A new poll by Harvard’s Institute of Politics shows that among 18-to-29-year-olds nationwide, Harris holds a 31-point lead over Trump among likely voters.[5]

Of course, other segments of the electorate strongly support Harris as well. Seventy-eight percent of Black voters[6] sides with her, and she has a 25-point lead over Trump with Hispanic voters.[7] But those constituencies make up the Democratic core and are already baked into the Harris election pie.

One final factor in this election that gives Harris a great advantage is Trump himself. Harris is right when she states the former president is “unstable and unhinged.” As the Washington Post observed, he plays “on hatred of immigrants and revenge fantasies.” He denigrates his political opponents as “the enemies from within … those people are more dangerous than Russia and China.” Harris “is running against the oldest man ever to be nominated by a major party for the presidency, someone who is keeping secretsabout his health and degenerating before our eyes.”[8]

In line with the likelihood of a Harris victory, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) indicates “a 72% probability that the Democratic candidate wins in November… Historically, when the Dow’s year-to-date gain by mid-October exceeds 10% — as it does this year with a 13.4% rise — the incumbent party wins 78% of the time.” Financial analyst Mark Hulbert stresses that “the Dow’s indication of who will win the presidency deserves to be taken seriously,” as the stock market has proven to be a reliable predictor in over 30 elections.[9]

And then there’s this recent sign favoring Harris. Undecided voters are notably breaking toward Harris, with 60% of those who decided in the last month now supporting her, compared to just 36% for Trump.[10]

While Harris’s candidacy does have serious drawbacks (e.g. her Middle East and energy policies), unlike Trump she stands for democracy and all the people. I wouldn’t be too surprised to see a Blue Wave washing up on the shores of America next month.

Bruce Berlin

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/harris-trump-polls-tracker-election-campaign-latest-b2629835.html

[2] https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-trump-lead-shrinks-new-poll-1971354

[3] https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-support-among-republicans-almost-doubles-nyt-siena-poll-1965611

[4] https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/republicans-endorsing-kamala-harris-trump-1235096939/

[5] https://iop.harvard.edu/youth-poll/latest-poll

[6] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/17/trump-harris-election-black-voters

[7] https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-surging-back-key-voting-group-new-poll-shows-1970186

[8] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/18/newsletter-harris-attack-trump-weakness/

[9] https://www.yahoo.com/news/wall-street-predicts-kamala-harris-191008486.html

[10] Ibid.

The Struggle for the Soul of America: How Harris and the Dems Beat Trump

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Author: Bruce Berlin

Getting out the vote is the key to winning the presidential election. If Vice President Harris can get the constituencies that strongly support her out to the polls in great numbers, she will be victorious come November. That is particularly critical in the seven battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which will determine the outcome.

Forty-one million members of the Gen-Z generation will be eligible to vote in this year’s election.[1] Young voters under the age of 35 account for roughly 29% of the national electorate.[2] Today’s young people are among the most electorally engaged in recent decades.[3] They support Harris over Trump by 50% to 34%.[4] With a 16% margin in her favor, the Harris campaign must ensure that Gen Z has a huge turnout this election.

The issues that concern young voters the most are the economy, inflation and healthcare, including access to abortion.[5] With inflation now at 2.5%, the lowest level in three years,[6] and interest rates coming down 50 basis points for the first time in four years,[7] the Democrats could produce a big youth vote that would boost their chances this November.

Another very pro-Harris group is women. Harris leads Trump among women by 13 points (48% to 35%). Women favor Harris more than men across every racial and ethnic subgroup. On the other hand, Trump leads among men by only eight points (47% to 39%).[8]

The top three issues for all women in this election are the economy, healthcare/reproductive rights and the cost of housing.[9] Vice President Harris strongly supports a woman’s right to choose. In addition, she has reframed healthcare as an economic issue. She has proposed capping out-of-pocket drug costs for everyone at $2,000 per year and insulin copays at $35 per month, enhancing Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium support, speeding up Medicare drug price negotiation, and expanding efforts to cancel medical debt.[10]

Harris has addressed women’s concerns regarding the high cost of housing by proposing the construction of 3 million new affordable homes with tax initiatives for builders who create them. She would also provide $25,000 down payment assistance for 4 million first-time homebuyers.[11] With a consumer-friendly platform like that, Harris’s support among women can only increase, and hopefully, among men as well.

Regarding Black voters, Harris has a huge lead with 82% indicating they support her.[12] Black women, in particular, have her back. They are working diligently to bring more black men on board as well.[13] In the Hispanic community, Harris is favored by Latinos in Spanish-speaking and bilingual households by nearly 60% compared to 32% for Trump. In English-dominant homes, 51% of respondents supported Harris, while Trump stood at 38%.[14] Harris is strongly courting non-white communities.[15]

Overall, following the September 10^th debate, Harris leads Trump 50% to 45%, an increase of one or two points from prior to the debate.[16] The Vice President is addressing voters’ primary concerns, and, for the most part, they like what she is offering.

Of course, there are a few issues that are not so easy for Harris and the Dems to address. Like the Israeli-Hamas War and America’s reliance on non-renewable energy, esp. oil. So far, they have not impeded her expanding campaign to any significant degree.

Every day it’s looking more like Kamala Harris will be the next president of the United States.

Bruce Berlin

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com. https://protectthevote.net/), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/41-million-members-gen-z-will-be-eligible-vote-2024

[2] https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-economic-concerns-are-shaping-the-youth-vote-in-2024/

[3] https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/gen-z-voted-higher-rate-2022-previous-generations-their-first-midterm-election

[4] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-half-gen-z-voters-support-kamala-harris-one-third-back-donald-tru-rcna169025

[5] https://www.vox.com/2024-elections/24157594/young-voters-are-just-normies-poll-biden-economy

[6] https://www.bankrate.com/banking/federal-reserve/latest-inflation-statistics/

[7] https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/18/fed-cuts-rates-september-2024-.html

[8] https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/09/12/harris-holds-a-slight-edge-over-trump-and-its-driven-by-women-poll-finds/

[9] https://www.glamour.com/story/election-2024-the-state-of-the-union-for-women

[10] https://www.kff.org/from-drew-altman/harris-is-reframing-health-as-an-economic-issue/

[11] https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/9/18/what-housing-plans-do-us-presidential-candidates-trump-and-harris-offer

[12] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/09/09/harris-trump-biden-black-americans/

[13]

[14] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/harris-campaign-aims-bolster-latino-support-spending-blitz-rcna171113

[15] https://www.lemonde.fr/en/united-states/article/2024/09/19/harris-continues-to-court-minorities-after-saying-she-s-working-to-earn-the-vote-of-black-men_6726551_133.html

[16] https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4876880-harris-widens-lead-over-trump-in-post-debate-poll/

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Biden’s Withdrawal Gives Dems New Hope

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Author: Bruce Berlin

Time is running out. The Democrats must determine who their candidates for president and vice president are very soon if they are to unite the party and beat Donald Trump and J.D. Vance in November.

I wrote the above paragraph just hours before the news broke Sunday morning that President Biden had withdrawn from the race for president. In so doing, Biden has sealed his place in history as a true patriot, and potentially the man who saved American democracy from Trump’s authoritarian takeover. As Biden wrote in his withdrawal statement, “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down…”[1]

Biden has served our country well during the last 50 years as a senator, vice president, and president. He is stepping down at the height of his career as he rightly passes the torch to a new generation of leadership. His legacy as one of our most consequential presidents is now assured.

And yet, it’s still true: the Democrats have no time to lose. They have just four weeks to set the stage for their national convention at which time they must present a clear and compelling case to the American people for electing their chosen candidates over the Republican alternative.

Now the big question is who will replace Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket. The odds on favorite is Vice President Kamala Harris. The Biden-Harris apparatus for a presidential campaign is already up and running. Any other potential candidate would have a lot of work to do in a very short period of time to catch up to her. I doubt anyone will take that on at this late date. In fact, a number of her possible rivals for the nomination have already endorsed her. That includes California Gov. Gavin Newsom,[2] Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer[3] and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.[4]

Regardless of who the Democrats ultimately nominate, their run for the White House has gotten a big boost from Biden’s withdrawal. The youth and minority voters who were not enthusiastic about Biden’s campaign can now be energized by a much younger, more dynamic candidate without Biden’s baggage. Just in the nick of time, the Democrats have new hope for victory in November.

Bruce Berlin

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.yahoo.com/news/california-governor-gavin-newsom-responds-183109865.html

[2] https://www.yahoo.com/news/california-governor-gavin-newsom-responds-183109865.html

[3] https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2024/07/22/michigan-gov-gretchen-whitmer-endorses-kamala-harris-for-president-joe-biden-democratic-nomination/74497595007/

[4] https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cv2gryx1yx1t

The Struggle for the Soul of America: The Case for Kamala Harris as the Democratic Candidate for President

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Author: Bruce Berlin

Saturday’s attempted assassination of Donald Trump will likely make it harder for President Biden to win the November election. And, before Saturday, he already had an uphill battle on his hands. So, I’ve concluded that Biden’s withdrawing from the race and putting Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket is the Democrats’ best path forward to beating Trump.

Abortion rights will be an overriding issue for women in this election. As a pro-choice woman, Harris leading the Democrats would boost their standing with Republican women. In fact, half of Republican women voters think abortion should be legal in all or most cases.[1]

Among all women, Biden and Trump are essentially tied. Harris, on the other hand, beats Trump 50 to 43% with women voters. Harris also runs better than Biden against Trump among people of color, Democrats, Independents, liberals, moderates, and conservatives according to a recent CNN poll.[2]

In a close race, suburban women in swing states may well decide the election. A recent poll found that most suburban women identify as pro-choice and believe that abortion should be legal. This same poll discovered that suburban women feel frustrated with the upcoming presidential election and 60% of them are dissatisfied with the choice of candidates.[3]

Replacing Biden with Harris could eliminate that dissatisfaction for enough women voters to put Harris in the White House. The same is true regarding disaffected younger voters as well as angry Arab Americans, especially in the critical swing state of Michigan, who oppose Biden’s strong support of Israel in its war against Hamas that’s killing thousands of innocent Gazans.

In addition, the attack on Trump makes gun violence a more prominent issue in this year’s election.[4] Democrats believe gun violence prevention may also be a decisive issue with suburban women.[5] As a former prosecutor and California attorney general, Vice President Harris has vital experience in this area and would be a more effective candidate in making the case for both gun violence prevention and abortion rights. This is especially true now that she oversees the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.[6]

The fact is suburban women voters are dissatisfied with both Trump and Biden.[7] A younger woman candidate with Harris’s background could energize women voters. Harris also does not have the baggage that Biden has regarding his age, the Israeli-Hamas War, and inflation. It’s time Obama, Clinton, Pelosi, Schumer and Jeffries go to the White House and tell Biden (and Jill) that he must withdraw from the race for the good of our country.

Bruce Berlin

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/poll-finding/polling-insight-republican-women-voters-on-abortion/

[2] https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/kamala-harris-trump-polls/

[3] https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/poll-finding/polling-insight-4-takeaways-about-suburban-women-voters/

[4] https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-shooting-election-analysis/33036007.html

[5] https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-gun-control-nra-069fa483fc8af1e321ef8b53040f70ef

[6] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/03/23/fact-sheet-vice-president-harris-announces-gun-safety-solutions-while-continuing-efforts-to-keep-schools-safe-from-gun-violence/

[7] https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/poll-finding/polling-insight-4-takeaways-about-suburban-women-voters/

The Struggle for the Soul of America: We are Living in One of the Most Critical Times in the History of Our Country

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Author: Bruce Berlin

The next four months will be the most critical time for our country since at least the Civil War, if not in the entire history of the republic.

What’s at stake is the survival of American democracy. If Donald Trump is elected president in November, he has assured us that the United States will become an authoritarian country under his control.[1] His MAGA base has taken over the Republic Party and he’s gotten most other members of the party from Mitch McConnell on down to fall in line behind him. This after those same leaders had strongly denounced him after the January 6^th insurrection.[2] And now he’s gotten the Supreme Court to back him up as well.

In Trump v. the United States, the Supreme Court sided with Trump over our country, ruling that a former president has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken within his “conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority.” The Court also found that a president is entitled to presumptive immunity for all other official acts.[3] And so, Trump (and all presidents), is above the law. This decision further ensures that Trump would have the green light to become a dictator for all practical purposes if he wins the election. The American people cannot allow that to happen.

At the same time, President Biden’s re-election is even more in jeopardy now. While his recent debate performance was a disaster, his post-debate efforts to re-ignite his campaign have only raised more questions about his ability to win in November. And millions of voters are doubting his capacity to preside over the government for four more years. A CNN analysis concluded that Biden, the Democrats, and the entire country are in a growing political crisis.[4]

While Biden insists he’s in the race to stay, the pressure for him to withdraw is intensifying.[5] Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris is becoming the top choice to replace Biden in the race for the White House if Biden does drop out. Party insiders believe that she is better positioned to beat Trump than other possible Democratic nominees.[6] Still, others think an open convention is the way to go.[7]

Ironically, the Supreme Court immunity decision should help Biden or whomever the Democrats ultimately put at the top of their ticket. We already know that a second Trump presidency threatens our democracy. With the Court’s permissive ruling, it becomes an even more frightening danger and the most critical issue in this fateful election.

The question is: Which Democrat is the best messenger to effectively deliver that message to the American people and beat Trump in November? I and a great many other Americans who want to save and strengthen our democracy do not believe Biden is that person. We need a strong, clear voice from a new generation of leaders to call on all Americans to save our democracy from Trump’s authoritarian rule.

It may be Kamala Harris or one of several other prominent Americans, in or out of politics. But time is running out. The Democratic Party, including President Biden, has to come together very soon for the good of our nation. It’s the only party that can and wants to save our democracy. And we, the people, can’t just sit back and watch this movie play out. Call your Senators and Congressperson ASAP and tell them how you feel. Tell them it’s time for a new president from the next generation who will inspire the American people. A leader we can vote for with enthusiasm.

Bruce Berlin

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2024/02/26/trumps-authoritarian-playbook-for-2025-and-what-it-means-for-democracy

[2] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/mcconnell-says-jan-6-capitol-attack-was-provoked-by-trump-and-others-in-power#:~:text=6%20Capitol%20attack%20was%20’provoked’%20by%20Trump%20and%20others%20in%20power,-Politics%20Jan%2019&text=Senate%20Majority%20Leader%20Mitch%20McConnell,in%20the%20video%20player%20above.

[3] https://americancornerstone.org/an-overview-of-the-supreme-courts-presidential-immunity-decision/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-ai0BhDPARIsAB6hmP7r1PD-EmcHvvZzmUSGjkZ74AOoocsDLst5QZ-pRbDoR7jy73xbygsaAqENEALw_wcB

[4] https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/06/politics/biden-abc-interview-analysis/index.html

[5] https://www.axios.com/2024/07/03/house-democrats-biden-jeffries-withdraw

[6] https://www.newsweek.com/support-kamala-harris-grows-among-democrats-worried-about-biden-1921704

[7] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/02/james-carville-joe-biden-democrats

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Trump Found Guilty: Now What?

Posted on June 1, 2024 by Author: Bruce Berlin

Donald Trump is finally being held accountable. That is a good thing for democracy and the rule of law. Still, no one knows how Trump’s guilty verdict on all 34 felony counts will affect the November elections. Will it increase his support at the polls this fall? I seriously doubt it. If anything, the guilty finding will likely give a number of undecided voters a reason not to support him. How many go that route could be critical to the final outcome.

That does not mean, however, that those voters will support President Biden. They could stay home or vote for third-party candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. or someone else. Yet, anything that reduces Trump’s vote count should help Biden’s re-election bid.

Here are some other factors arising from the verdict that may significantly affect the election. First up is the sentencing of Trump on July 11. The harsher the sentence the more outraged Trump’s supporters will be. But I still don’t believe it will increase turnout for him in November. Rather, it will likely make the campaign uglier and turn voters off.

As important as Trump’s sentence is, presiding Judge Juan Merchan’s remarks at the sentencing hearing may be just as compelling. While a judge must remain impartial during the trial, he can be very revealing about his reasons for the sentence he is imposing. That is, Merchan can point to Trump’s outrageous behavior, his disrespect for the court and the jury, and his lack of remorse in explaining his decision for Trump’s sentence. The judge’s laying this all out in open court could sway some undecided voters not to support Trump.

Another interesting result of the verdict is how Trump’s team will handle the appeal. Until now, Trump’s strategy has been to delay all court proceedings for as long as possible, hopefully until after November. That would prevent any adverse decision from hurting his election prospects. But now that he has been found guilty, Trump may very well reverse strategies. That is, he might move for a quick appeal on the chance that an appeals court would reverse his guilty verdict before the election. While not likely, a desperate Trump might try to pull that off to improve his chances of being elected.

Then there’s the Republican National Convention beginning four days after Trump is sentenced. Given the strong support for Trump from most Republicans following the jury’s verdict, it appears that Trump will still be the Party’s nominee for president. I can’t believe the convention’s ignoring the verdict and going full tilt for a convicted felon will go over well with swing voters still trying to decide for whom to vote. By the same token, those undecided voters may not be able to stomach voting for other down-ballot Republicans who want a felon to be our next president. It’s hard to imagine how this goes well for Trump and his Republican Party.

Finally, there’s the overriding issue of the survival of American democracy. The Republicans are trying to convince the public that this whole affair is just about politics. As Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, put it: “The conviction of former President Trump on politically motivated charges is an outrage and disservice to the nation.”[1] Really?

Isn’t everything Trump does politically motivated to win the presidency, give him authoritarian power, and eliminate any opposition to his authority? Trump’s conspiring with Michael Cohen and others to conceal the fact that he had sex with a porn star while his wife was home caring for their newly born child was motivated by his desire to win the 2016 election. If moderate Republican women and others had known the truth before they voted, Hillary Clinton may very well have been our 45^th president. Our world would be a lot different today under those circumstances. But conspiring to conceal facts that could change the outcome of a presidential election is just politics according to most Republicans. Why should the American people care?

Well, the DOJ during Trump’s administration cared enough to prosecute Michael Cohen for the same campaign finance violations. He was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison.[2] Why shouldn’t the leader of the conspiracy be treated the same way? Biden and the Democrats need to make that perfectly clear to every voter before Trump steals another election.

Bruce Berlin

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.yahoo.com/news/disservice-nation-former-vp-pence-154731149.html

[2] https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/michael-cohen-sentenced-3-years-prison

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Trump’s Delaying Strategy May Backfire on Him

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Author: Bruce Berlin

Ever since Donald Trump was charged with multiple crimes in four different jurisdictions his main strategy for beating these charges has been delay. If he could only delay the trials until after the November elections, Trump believes he would be elected president and have the charges dismissed. However, this would not apply to the two cases brought in state courts, namely the trial now proceeding in New York and the Georgia conspiracy case.

Still, Trump’s strategy does apply to the most important case, the election interference charges in D.C. Since that case involves Trump’s conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election, it’s not only the most important but also the one that has gotten the most attention. While it’s clearly the case that voters most want to know the outcome of the trial before the election, it’s the one that Trump most wants to delay.

But here’s where it gets tricky for Trump. If Trump succeeds in delaying the DC trial until after the election, which now seems likely, and he wins the election, then the American people will never know the truth. So, the only way we will get to the truth about Trump’s involvement in the attempt to overthrow the election is by re-electing President Biden.

The majority of Americans, including 52% of Independents, want a verdict in the DC case prior to the election.[1] Since that is not likely at this point, Trump’s successful delaying tactic would frustrate those voters and make them more prone to support Biden. In addition, it stands to reason that Trump’s desire to delay the trial indicates he believes he’s guilty. If he thought he was innocent, wouldn’t he want to be vindicated before the election to allay Americans’ doubts about voting for him?

Thus, Trump’s delaying strategy is handing Biden and the Democrats a huge campaign issue: If you want to know the truth about Trump’s alleged unlawful interference in the 2020 elections, the only way to guarantee that you will learn what really happened is to vote for Biden.

Bruce Berlin

[1] https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/05/politics/cnn-poll-trump-verdict-election-charges/index.html