Sometimes we act while we are afraid — even though we are afraid. But sometimes we act because we are afraid. The two are completely different. One involves courage. The other is territory fraught with risk.
One rarely comes across or hears about any important decisions made from a fearful or panicked state, which turn out well. Yes, if its roots are anchored in a primal urge not to be devoured by scary circumstances, then a decision born of fear represent a completely understandable response. But it doesn’t mean it is the best one. A decision coming from a panicked state is a less reliable decision.
Acting out of fear narrows our focus to the singular outcome we must avoid at all costs — in this case, Trump being elected in November. But what’s needed is a steady mind and calm heart, to better evaluate the various paths forward and more importantly, to sense which direction to take, and to do so thoughtfully. It is to rely on a coherent state of being, judicious and measured, and to avoid the very real risk of “ready, fire, aim.”
What I sense, so far, in the groundswell of party elites and celebrities gathering publicly to force Biden’s hand, is a rush to implement the collective agreement of, at best, a couple hundred “important” people in politics and the media. They are mostly well-known people whom we trust, so that makes their words and actions that much more weighty. But ultimately, they are speaking and acting on behalf of 210 million registered voters who have not yet weighed in. That’s a big responsibility. And by its devout and daily attention, the breaking news media has no problem endorsing their roles as the ultimate influencers. Media reports on every pronouncement or closed door meeting, mostly focused on efforts to convince Joe Biden to resign from the race, because the stakes are just so damn high! And they are.
But you know what else gives buoyancy to the unending daily focus of the media on the ongoing efforts by party elites to replace Joe Biden? Well, public opinion polls — you know, those infallible gauges of public sentiment that predicted in 2016, with up to 99% certainty, that Hillary Clinton was going to clobber Donald Trump in the election. Yes, those same polls that are reporting the current race as almost neck and neck, except after the debate when Biden fell predictably way behind. But wait! He’s back up somewhat today, within the margin of error in multiple polls.
Biden may surprise the lot of us and suddenly announce that he is giving up his candidacy. But until such time, he is still at the mercy of those Democrats that will simply not back-off. And I don’t believe for a moment that their insistence is coming from a scintilla of openness to the possibility, however remote, that Biden actually might be the best choice for beating Trump. This urgency from forces within the party has come straight out of fear, and fear alone. Biden certainly knows this, and it reinforces his instincts and commitment to tough it out; precisely because the stakes are so high, and he knows fearful decisions are not what the moment demands.
Biden has spent the past three and a half years accomplishing what no other U.S. President had accomplished in the past 50 years or more. He’s proven that he knows what he’s doing, despite how he stutters, or loses his train of thought sometimes. Despite the surrounding dread of those around him, that he might not know what he’s doing. Despite the “fear itself” that the physically compromised Franklin D. Roosevelt sagely advised a terrified nation was the only obstacle to victory against the fascist threat of World War II.
The Democrats need to get a grip. We elected this leader for a reason. He beat Trump even before the world found out how ultimately vile and dangerous Trump really is. He assembled as top-notch Cabinet and repaired the damage Trump had done world-wide. Biden hand-picked a smart and capable Vice-President, the able-bodied replacement that might be needed, just in case things go wrong. Just in case he doesn’t make it through a second term, for any reason. If that were to happen, we will have a smooth transition in place, without interruption in seeing Trump and his MAGA hoard made to account for their misdeeds, finally answerable to the rule of law. It will be thanks to a Democratic party that has learned to unite behind a trusted leader as convincingly as the GOP has learned to unite behind a thug.
I’ve heard fearful concerns coming from Democrats who understand the enormity of the stakes, and fear that dejected voters won’t vote for Trump, but they won’t vote for Biden either — they’ll just stay home instead. I’m not buying it. That’s not who America is.
The choice between Biden and the Heir Tchump isn’t a close call, in any universe. It’s binary. It’s either the wise and experienced old guy with a stutter and a great team, or the vile, convicted felon, rapist, con-man and unrepentant traitor. America either chooses to go full fascism or we choose to preserve our democracy. Biden knows this all too well; and in our hearts, we voters know it too. November will prove this out. Be not afraid. Vote.
“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life, a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.”
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Inaugural Address, 1933