America thrives on capitalism, and capitalism thrives on healthy competition. Political parties must be checked and balanced to ensure they compete for what’s best for Americans. Biden vs. Trump in 2024 was not going to be competitive, so it was Harris vs. Trump instead. With the presidential election now in the rearview, it is time to investigate how President Joe Biden was made to be the scapegoat. It was not fair to Biden, and it certainly was not fair to Americans. It’s time to hold the Democrat Party accountable for Biden and hopefully get the answer to the question, “Who was running our country from 2020 to 2024?”
Democrats often carry the stereotype of being “bleeding heart liberals” as the self-appointed party of compassion. For years, Biden was celebrated by the mainstream media for being a bold, innovative leader. After all, Biden broke President Barack Obama’s record for most votes ever cast in a U.S. presidential election. Fast forward to 2024, and history’s most popular U.S. president in terms of votes wasn’t even on the ballot for reelection. What happened?
The Democrat Party’s failure to address widespread concerns about Biden’s age and capability to lead effectively between 2020 and 2024 is one of the most pressing issues in retrospect. Polls indicated that a significant portion of the electorate believed him too old to lead, yet his party had largely rallied behind him without addressing these concerns adequately. This level of inaction reflects a broader issue within his party: a reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths in favor of safe spaces in echo chambers.
The Democrat Party has historically prided itself on being a democratic institution. However, the party’s decision to support Biden without significant competition in the primaries stifled necessary discussions about leadership and revealed a troubling trend of avoiding internal debate. Such lack of competition can lead to complacency, with the party failing to critically evaluate its candidates and their ability to connect with the electorate. This alienates voters who seek change and undermines the party’s credibility as a representative body. By failing to listen to its constituents, the party risks losing the trust and support of the very people it aims to serve.
Biden’s 2024 debate performance was widely criticized, with many observers noting that it showcased his diminished capacity to engage effectively in high-stakes political discourse. His performance reflected poorly on his party, which chose to stand by him for years despite his evident shortcomings. The party’s failure to respond decisively to these issues could have significant ramifications for the future of American democracy.
If the Democrat Party aims to restore faith among the electorate, it must embrace accountability and transparency. Acknowledging the limitations of current leadership and being open to new candidates with fresh perspectives can also bring energy to the party. The status quo has to go, and the party must engage in meaningful discussions about its platform and vision for the future. To tread responsibly into the future, we must first study the past and hold the Democrat Party accountable for the failures of Biden’s leadership. It is crucial for the party’s integrity, rebuilding trust, and ensuring it is prepared to meet future challenges.
To begin this assessment of past failures for future success, we must ask, “Who is President X? Who was running our country from 2020 to 2024?” Given the party’s mad rush to replace him on the 2024 ballots, we now know it wasn’t Biden for the full term, despite receiving the most votes ever cast in a U.S. presidential election. Was it Vice President Kamala Harris? Was it an unelected official? When did the transfer of power and leadership from President Biden to “President X” happen, and why weren’t Americans informed of this transfer? Who was doing the job if not the one elected to do the job?
This call for accountability is not about assigning blame. Quite the contrary, it’s about recognizing the systemic issues within the party that contributed to this leadership crisis and the implications for the future of American democracy. This is a teaching and learning moment: what happened, and how can we prevent it from happening again?
