Democracy 2024: # 8

It was one year ago when Russia invaded Ukraine. At that time, most expected the sovereign invaded nation to valiantly fight for their survival, but many also thought Kyiv would have fallen in a matter of days and that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not be captured or killed on the orders of Vladimir Putin.

A year later, Kyiv stands under the Blue and Yellow of the Ukrainian flag and its President walked down the street with American President Joe Biden, who made a surprise visit on Monday to that nation's capital. Never before had a U.S. President visited what amounted to a war zone outside of the relative security of an American Armed Forces base. Whatever one thinks about the policies of Biden, and I have disagreed with many of them, especially a shameful withdrawal from Afghanistan, the images from Kyiv were proud ones for America and for all who love freedom. The next day, Biden gave a powerful forceful speech in defense of freedom in Warsaw, Poland, similar to one he gave there a year ago. It was a strong moment, perhaps the strongest of his Presidency. In many ways, it was a speech that could have been given by Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush. The current President did well on this past week in which Americans recognize "Presidents' Day."

Still, Biden has critics when it comes to aspects of his Ukraine policy. You can count me among those who believe he should be doing even more to help Ukraine continue to defeat Russian forces. For all the incredible spirit that Ukraine has shown the world, they are still underdogs in this battle and America and out allies need to do whatever is necessary to help them win because so much more is at stake, not just for them, but for other free nations, and for the leadership of America itself. For now, Biden is resistant in giving Ukraine the airplanes it could use. There may be some legitimate reasons for that, but overall, the cause demands we do whatever is needed.

Then, there are those who vehemently oppose American aid be it militarily or economically to Ukraine in its fight for survival against Russia. The loudest voices on that front are not from the traditional anti-war military skeptic left of the American political divide, but from paleo-conservatives on the right in the Republican Party who sound a lot like peaceniks over their supposed desire to simply "prevent World War III" or who warn that China is a far bigger threat to America than Russia. In some ways, that may be true, but if America were to abandon Ukraine, it would only embolden China to not fear or respect America and the rest of the world would also view our commitments as meaningless.

 

Most Americans, and indeed most Republicans support continued aid to Ukraine, but there is a divide within the party on this matter. Many on talk radio and on right-wing websites and Twitter handles very much distrust Zelenskyy and his country and claim America has enough problems at home to worry about. They are outraged that Biden visited Ukraine before he visited East Palestine, Ohio. As I said last week, Biden probably should visit the scared residents of that community, but that matter has nothing to do with foreign policy or Ukraine.

 

Many on the right continue to rail against Zelenskyy,"globalists", "war mongers" and "neo-cons", I often wonder if that is just their way of saying "Jews." At the same time, those who favor a vigorous American alliance with Ukraine are often too quick to assign opposition as "loyalty to Putin." I think that can be somewhat unfair in many circumstances, although it probably does apply to Tucker Carlson and Tulsi Gabbard, just to name a couple. It is also true that Donald Trump, during his four years as President, was far more favorable in his dealings with Russia than he was to Ukraine. Nobody should forget that Trump threatened to hold up crucial aid to Ukraine in its battle against Russia because he wanted them to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden under false pretenses.

The populist "anti-war" wing of the Republican Party will play a large part in shaping the narrative before actual voting gets underway in primaries and caucuses next year. Republican frontrunners, Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis, who are likely to clash on other matters, both seem to be catering to this wing of the party. One can only hope that they will be unsuccessful. Other Republican Presidential candidates will take the other position in support of defending Ukraine including announced contender Nikki Haley. Former Vice President Mike Pence, also very much a possibility to run, reiterated this week that there can be no room in Republican Party leadership for "apologists of Putin" and there can only be room for "champions of freedom." Well said, Mr. Former Vice President. Next time, please name names and include your ex-boss among those apologists for dictators and despots.

 

Also this week, there is a new official Republican Presidential contender and the second Indian-American in the GOP field. It is Vivek Ramaswamy a 37 year old tech entrepreneur from Ohio. I had literally never heard of him until about two weeks ago, when online rumbles of his candidacy appeared. The online MAGA crown seems to be familiar with him from appearances on cable television and whatnot as he is apparently a big "anti-wokeness" activist. Some are absolutely smitten with him, and think he will make a strong Presidential candidate. However, these are the same people who seem likely to support Trump or DeSantis instead. If the MAGA vote were to wind up severely split, maybe there would be an opportunity for a "normal" Republican after all.

At this point in time, I will make the bold declaration that Jeb Bush has a better chance of becoming the 2024 Republican Presidential nominee than Vivek Ramaswamy.

As for the Democrats, February is nearly over and there has not been a formal announcement by the 80 year old incumbent that he is definitely running. The conventional wisdom is still clear that he will run but this past week has generated some buzz that the decision may not be as 100 percent certain as it appeared two months ago. I said for a very long time that despite statements to the contrary, I doubted Biden would actually run again in 2024, but after the midterms, even I will be surprised if he takes a pass. For now though, Democrats seem to think he is still in and his only "major" primary opponent will be 2020 contender and one-time New Age guru Marianne Williamson.