By Joe Gaetan
August 23, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Like millions of Americans I followed the Democratic National Convention (DNC) that nominated Kamala Harris as their candidate for President of the United States. Why did I do so? Because unlike other elections the prospect of having Donald J. Trump re-elected as President of the United States is beyond scary.
Having watched the debate between Joe Biden and Trump it became crystal clear that the Democrats would not win the election under President Biden. And then President Biden put his country ahead of his personal ambitions. He then doubled down and endorsed Kamala Harris as his successor, who at the time I did not believe was the best candidate to beat Trump.
Many were not sure the two of them could pull it off – they did it. Both did superb jobs in accepting their nominations. Now the worlds waits to see how well they will govern. Unless something catastrophic happens – and in the world of politics it does happen – they will be the President and Vice President of the United States
There is no doubt in my mind that Donald Trump has single handedly ruined the Republican Party. During the DNC, like Biden, numerous Republicans also put their country first and supported Kamala’s nomination. Something I did not believe was possible and is worth emulating here as well.
The Republicans in question came to the convention not necessarily because they believe in everything the Democratic Party stands for, but because they want Trump gone, once and for all so they can start the process of rebuilding the Republican Party.
Do I think either candidate will be good for Canada. No, but neither will they be bad, and whichever party wins they will continue to look after their political self interest on issues like softwood lumber.
Like many others I did not believe Kamala Harris was the best candidate and would have liked to have heard what other candidates had to say and offer. When President Biden made his decision to not run on July 21st, the country was 108 days from election day.
Harris and Walz have shown they are the right candidates.
Are there any lessons here for Canadians? Yes, of the non-partisan nature. Starting with lessons for our Prime Minster and the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC). One last thing, many self-interested people here in Canda would have us believe the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) are Canada’s version of the Republican Party, they are not.
We won’t let them.
Joe Gaetan is a Burlington resident who delegates on occasion and is a strong believer in holding the elected accountable and expects them to be transparent while serving the public.
I go back to my favorite (actually “favourite”) quote, “Politics is the pursuit of power & privilege, without merit”. The November 5th choice is between Trump/ Vance and Harris/ Walz. If I were an American, and gladly I’m not, the only sane (albeit sub-optimal) choice is Harris/ Walz. God bless America!
“She is doing for America what Pierre Trudeau did for Canada”.
My response is and look where that landed us.
Impossibke Pierre fathered Canada’s most despised incompetent Prime Minister. Harris apparently has no children..
The last thing I want is Donald Trump as President. I didn’t want him to win the first time around and the fact that he is able to run again is mind boggling.
Guess that is what happens when judges are appointed to the Supreme Court and the people running for office in the United States are more concerned for their jobs rather than the democracy of their constituents.
Or perhaps the fear that if Trump gets re-elected and they didn’t support him he would destroy them.
After saying this I cannot agree that Harris/Walz are the right candidates.
In reality they were the only choice. Indecision by President Biden resulted in this alliance. The Americans were robbed of any other choice.
Time will tell but it is quite possible that the Americans are voting for a “pig in a poke”. Wouldn’t jump on the bandwagon just yet.
Editor’s note: May I suggest that this is no longer a bandwagon – this is a train that is barrelling ahead with a level of momentum that is greater than what Obama was able to achieve. She is doing for America what Pierre Trudeau did for Canada
Wow, keep drinking the Koolaid, watching CBC and CNN. There was no democratic election for Harris, she is a puppet and useful talking head for the ones that control the party. She has no policy statements, the couple she made make no sense economically, she has driven inflation in the US and unleashed no control of the boarder and through policy promoted war in Ukraine and funded Iran and its proxies. She refuses to do interviews and deathly afraid of debates. RFK speech today should say it all, clearly the dems don’t care about chronic illness of children in the US, the stats are startling.
The media has done everything possible to disparage Trump, I’m not a fan boy buy I look past emotion to policy, and economic data.
Harris says she well solve inflation on day one, what happen the other 1300 days she was in office?
The democrats are more protectionist than the republican’s contrary to what our PM and CBC would have you believe – I worked for a US company for the last 20 years being in the US at least monthly.
Study up on the Abraham Accord and Trumps role. Study up on the lifting of oil embargo’s on Iran by the Biden administration who then funded rockets and munitions for Hesbola, Hamas, Hoothes and the IRGC. Study up on the peace talks the Biden’s administration walked out of in Ukraine prior to Russia attacking in 2022.
The decision not to run was not made by Biden.
Harris is Plan “C”, a place holder selected by a select few
Don’t construe this as an endorsement of either candidate.
I agree 100%, Joe. There were 2 insightful Opinion pieces in G&M (August 21st); ‘The Christians fighting back against Trump’ by Michael Coren, and ‘Conservatives should have no difficulty voting for Harris’ by Andrew Coyne, which I commend to you & the Gazette’s readers.
Well-written Joe. I’ve been watching the convention activities as well and also hope that the majority of Americans can see through Trump’s lies and voter manipulation. Voting a con man in as President once was bad enough.