The whole idea behind More Spock is to minimize our emotional responses to the issues of the day and attempt to analyze them using logic and reason. But as a human, I couldn’t help but be sad on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. On that day, our choices for the 2024 presidential election were pretty much set. Yes, Joe Biden could bow out due to health reasons, and Trump could get thrown in prison. But, barring something unexpected, it’ll be a Trump-Biden rematch that most rational people don’t seem to want. How did it come to this?
In part, I’ll blame Democrats and left-leaning media for the return of The Donald. Love him or hate him, Trump is good for ratings. When Biden defeated Trump in 2020, left-leaning media began losing viewers and readers – the victory had been achieved and the evil one defeated. But outrage leads to ratings, and keeping the prospect of a continuing Trump threat on the front burner was the best place for those media outlets to stimulate viewership and readership.
Enter stage left: Alvin Bragg, Jack Smith and Fani Willis. They created the opportunity the media outlets needed. While legal minds can debate the legitimacy of all of the charges, one thing is clear. The zeal with which these prosecutors have pursued Trump has been more than matched by the zeal of the MAGA world in concluding he’s being persecuted unjustly. These prosecutions were also great news for Fox and right leaning media. It gave them red meat to feed to their viewers and to keep them tuned-in. One has to wonder, if Dems and their media arm had just ignored him for four years like we did with Bush and Obama, would we be in this position today?
But Republicans deserve some blame as well. Fear of making Trump’s enemies list kept many Republican leaders quiet during the primary season. Mitch McConnell waited until after Super Tuesday to formally endorse Trump. The Republican field was too crowded during the early campaign season for any strong primary challenger to emerge. Ron DeSantis decided to bow out early and live to fight another day. Tim Scott ultimately decided to hitch his wagon to the frontrunner and he’ll likely be rewarded with a cabinet post and possibly even be the VP pick. Haley chose to fight to the end, forfeiting her chance to be VP or cabinet member, gambling that Republican voters would ultimately come to their senses. Or that Trump would make some fatal mistake. Neither happened.
But what about the other side? Rational Democrats are no more excited about a second Biden term than they were the first. There’s been a lingering question since January 6 – who really is the president? It’s pretty apparent that his strings are being pulled by a team of handlers, but who is the ultimate marionette? It’s obvious that the folks behind the curtain didn’t want a protracted primary fight, so if their plan is to replace him, it’ll have to be late. Perhaps at the convention itself. I suspect Democrats at large are concerned that “at least we’re not Trump” may not be enough in 2024. Especially with a candidate who can’t even speak extemporaneously without appearing to be battling senility.
With Trump-Biden II we seem to have a nut versus a different kind of nut. One is a carnival barker who doesn’t respect the office and the other isn’t even sure what year it is. One thing is for sure. Come November, Americans will elect the president they deserve. And that makes me sad.