“I have a foreboding of an America in my children’s or grandchildren’s time –when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what’s true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness…”
~Carl Sagan
“The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark”
Joe Biden always couched himself as a transitional president. As the debate demonstrated, transition time is here.
The President’s debate performance, marked by moments of hesitation and occasional lapses that chillingly resembled a semi-fugue state, has brought into sharp focus the question of whether he is up for another four. Many career politicians need to ask themselves the same question.
Throughout his long and distinguished career in public service, Biden has consistently put the needs of the country first. Now, the most patriotic gesture he could make would be to step aside and allow for new leadership to emerge within the Democratic Party.
This is not to diminish the significant accomplishments of the Biden administration, which include:
Leading the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in over 200 million Americans fully vaccinated
Presiding over the strongest economic recovery in 50 years, with unemployment falling to 3.6% and GDP growth reaching 5.7% in 2021
Securing passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a $1.2 trillion investment in America’s future
These achievements speak to Biden’s ability to govern effectively and build coalitions. However, the presidency demands more than just a steady hand – it requires a leader who can inspire confidence and articulate a clear vision for the future.
By choosing to step aside, Biden would open the door for a new generation of Democratic leaders to step forward. Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lead a stream of political hopefuls with progressive agendas.
In making the difficult decision to pass the torch, Biden would be fulfilling his promise to be a bridge to the future of the Democratic Party. It would be a selfless act that prioritizes the long-term health of our democracy over personal ambition.
President Biden has served our nation with distinction for over half a century. By recognizing that the time for transition has arrived, he would once again demonstrate the wisdom and patriotism that have defined his career.
