How groups choose their leaders is one of the most important characteristic of any organization. I share with people all the time that one of the many reasons I’m proud to be Presbyterian is Presbyterian congregations choose their own pastors. It’s a distinguishing and important characteristic of being Presbyterian. The congregation appoints a group of people who brings a candidate to the congregation and then the congregation votes. If a person is a member of a Presbyterian church that person will have a say in the next pastor.
The events of the last week have thrown into question how political parties choose their candidates to be President.
A week ago Saturday, Thomas Matthew Crooke attempted to assassinate former President Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. It’s incredible that if the bullet had been less than an inch to the left President Trump might have been killed. Thankfully, former President Trump “only” suffered a nick of his ear, though a full medical report from the physicians who treated him has not been shared with the public.
The question is hypothetical, but what would have happened if the Republicans would have had to choose a new leader? The party would have had less than a week to present a candidate to the delegates. Would the convention have been postponed. Would the party have had an election?
These questions are worth asking the leaders of the Republican party.
I also think it's important to continue to try to understand what led Thomas Matthew Crooke to attempt this assassination. He didn't seem to have many political opinions. Why would he risk his own life to attempt this heinous action?
Yesterday President Biden did the inevitable and honorable task of removing himself from running for President. When I saw his debate performance on June 27, I thought that there was no way he was capable of running an effective campaign for President. And even though it took President Biden three weeks to make his decision, his decision to withdraw was honorable. President Biden put the country ahead of his own political desires.
To be honest, it would have been better if President Biden had chosen to drop out earlier. I half expected him to drop out the next day after the debate. And to be quite frank, it would have been even better for the country if he had decided not to run for President. I had always understood that because of his age he was only going to run for one term. But then he changed his mind. And the Democratic Party accepted his decision.
People knew about his decline long before it became apparent to the nation on June 27. And somehow the word did not get out. I think it’s important to know who protected him. It’s important for the truth be known.
I’ve always respected President Biden for his intelligence—he’s always seemed like a very smart guy. I still remember him eviscerating Robert Bork during Bork’s Supreme Court hearings. I went out of the way to read the transcript of the hearing because I wanted to read word-for-word the questions President Biden had asked. But there was a different President Biden at the debate that I had never seen before.
Yesterday when I was driving back from Duluth after spending five days “up north” my wife, Amy, and I listened to a number of shows about President Biden’s decision and what will happen next. Already Vice-President Harris is receiving many endorsements.
But here’s the thing. Vice-President Harris might be the right person to receive the nomination. But I think she needs to earn the nomination from voters. I believe that some sort of nationwide primary could be set up before the Democratic convention. Let her earn the nomination and let others have the opportunity to earn the nomination. If need be, postpone the convention, so an election will take place.
James Carville had an idea that could also be helpful.
A defining characteristic of democracy is the people
choose their leaders.
These are very strange times for our country. Former President Trump was almost killed; President Biden dropped out of the race. The best way to navigate any types of changes is for the voters to have the final say. They are the lifeline of democracy.
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