Democracy 2024: # 18

There may not be a pressing major topic to discuss this week. In terms of the Presidential election, things feel like they are in a holding pattern. The front-runners continue to be named Biden and Trump and as it relates to those candidates, so much might sway based upon court cases, criminal and civil, already in process or perhaps still to come. For Donald Trump, the matters relate to things he is alleged to have done, both before, during, and after his Presidency. For Joe Biden, the matters relate to the activities of his son Hunter, both personal and professional. If I may editorialize, I find it very disturbing that Hunter Biden fathered a child four years ago and has shown no interest in even meeting the little girl and who is currently engaged in legal action regarding his child support responsibilities. Of course, this paternity matter is not the responsibility of Joe Biden, even though his 53 year old son is said to be living in the White House and regularly accompanies his father on trips. However, the current President does know he has a young granddaughter that he has never met, and he has deliberately misstated the number of grandchildren he has when asked. For someone who has focused so much throughout his career on "The Biden Family", that sends a very unfortunate message.

 

Last night,while engaging in a softball interview with MSNBC, Biden, when asked about his son's pending investigation by the Justice Department, said that Hunter has done "nothing wrong." That response can perhaps be forgiven in regards to coming from a loving parent. The President of the United States, the very head of the Executive Branch, which includes the Department of Justice, should have known better than to answer a question in such a way about what is still (years later) an ongoing investigation. Republicans are going to attempt to make political hay over Hunter Biden whether he is charged or not. There have also been stories going back decades now that Joe Biden has used his positions and influence to get Hunter out of messes. There will be a time where he should be unable to do so. The incumbent President really needs to come to terms, if he has not already, what an indictment and possible conviction of his one surviving son would mean to him in regards to his ability to act as President, his reelection campaign, and his own personal health.

Also this week, there is news that House Republicans claim they have evidence from what they say is an FBI whistleblower who claims that the senior Biden was engaged in a criminal scheme with a foreign national during the time he was Vice President of the United States. To use a phrase that sometimes gets uttered, that would be "big if true." We will have to see if there is any evidence presented that could back up such a serious claim.

Maybe I am missing something else that happened this week, but one of the biggest stories was the possibility of the War in Ukraine taking on new dimensions. Russia has claimed that a Ukranian drone attack was foiled and that it was an attempt on the life of Vladmir Putin. Later on, they said the United States was behind it. All of this could lead Russia to give themselves supposed justification to launch attacks on Kyiv. I am pretty confident though that the lying, terrorist Russian government made this all up though as a "false flag"allegation. Democrat Presidential candidate Robert Kennedy has seemed to side with Russia on this matter. Others, on the Republican side agree with him. It is particular funny yet sad that MAGA folks are attacking Biden for not wanting to debate his Democrat primary opponents.Of course,no incumbent President has ever debated primary opponents, including Donald Trump four years ago. They seem to want to skip over that important aspect.Trump is no longer an incumbent, but he is suggesting he does not want to debate his Republican opponents this cycle either. Some partisans really need to get more consistent with their "outrage."

Along those lines, we also await Beltway action on the debt ceiling. The Republican House passed a bill to deal with the situation but the Biden Administration claims that the proposals are unacceptable and they will not even negotiate with Speaker Kevin McCarthy. I believe that any President has an absolute responsibility to talk to the Congressional Leadership, even when it is controlled by another party, and be willing to negotiate. This should be common sense, especially to someone like Biden,who has been around Capitol Hill nearly since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, and who has portrayed himself as a bipartisan "dealmaker."

There was also another mass shooting today. This time at a mall in Texas. Earlier this week, there was a mass shooting in Georgia. A mass stabber was apprehended in California. An incident on a New York subway in which a black man causing a disturbance was choked to death while being restrained by a white passenger is also roiling many in America. Some say the man is a murderer who needs to be prosecuted as such. Others say the man is a hero who should be applauded. I hope the New York City authorities determine all the facts and then act appropriately. Like many things, the truth is probably somewhere in between the extreme judgments. In the meantime, whether the main culprit is mental health, criminal behavior, or unwarranted vigilantism, a lot feels like it is going wrong in America these days.

With all these depressing things in mind, one might not be blamed for having some interest today in the first Coronation of a British Monarch in 70 years. It is all quite an impressive display from a pomp and circumstance perspective, but I am of course glad America is a different place.

A couple months ago, I started watching Netflix's "The Crown", which is an historical depiction (with some embellishments) of the House of Windsor going back to the how Elizabeth II became Queen at a young age. I am on Season Three and have yet to see an episode featuring the adult Charles, but I certainly know enough about the life story of the man who is now King Charles III.

When we look at how we pick our Presidents (ie Heads of State), we can compare just how different the British monarchical system is. Charles was destined to be King since the day he was born. At the age of 74, he finally is. His son and grandson, who were both very much a part of the ceremony today will one day follow suit. Charles did have a shorter wait than Joe Biden in some regards though. Both men look older than they are. Ambition may come with some unwelcome side effects. Of course, the King of the United Kingdom may get to wear a crown, but has less power than a President of the United States ever will.

As portrayed by "The Crown", we can pretty much know that Charles grew up being treated harshly at times by his father and somewhat distantly by his Monarch mother. It is pretty much accepted that the sensitive and unathletic Prince was bullied and tormented as a child at boarding school by schoolmates who had to know that they would one day be his subjects. As an adult, Charles was basically vilified by the press on both sides of the Atlantic mostly due to his role in his failed marriage to Diana, the onetime Princess of Wales. Charles has persisted though, and so has the woman he fell in love with as a young man, whom he was pushed away from marrying. The current King and Queen because the other parties in each others first marriages but Charles and Camilla now sit on the throne of their Kingdom together. Like many American political figures, the King has some issues in his immediate family as well.

The Road to the White House and Buckingham Palace are different but produce leaders in our media obsessed age who people feel like they know, for better or worse. I will probably have some more snarky comments about the Coronation to share tomorrow after I watch the next episode of American Idol.