A tale of three leaders.

September 20, 2023

          World leaders gathered at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday. A tale of three leaders—Biden, Zelensky, and Putin—encapsulates the state of the world. Two sought to rally the world to the defense of democracy, global stability, and national sovereignty. One dared not travel to the UN because he is subject to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for forcibly removing tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia.

          As at home, President Biden rose to the occasion. While his predecessor’s remarks were greeted with incredulous laughter by the General Assembly (in 2018), President Biden’s message of unity and strength was “warmly” welcomed by a war-weary world. See NYTimes, In his U.N. speech, President Biden called for collective action on Ukraine and other major crises. (Accessible to all.)

          President Biden spoke about global unity in support of Ukraine and the fight to contain the climate crisis at the very moment Republicans were attempting to pass spending bills that would remove support for Ukraine and reverse the progress his administration has made toward reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Like many Americans, world leaders are looking to the 2024 presidential elections with equal measures of hope and anxiety. And we cannot imagine the angst that President Zelensky must experience every time he hears that Republicans plan to abandon Ukraine in the middle of a fight for its existence.

          Biden’s theme was global unity, acknowledging that “we know our future is bound up with yours”—an inescapable fact that Biden’s predecessor ignored and mocked. Biden stressed that truth in his description of the fight against human-caused climate change:

Record-breaking heatwaves in the United States and China. Wildfires ravaging North America and Southern Europe. A fifth year of drought in the Horn of Africa. Tragic flooding in Libya has killed thousands of people. Taken together these snapshots tell an urgent story of what awaits us if we fail to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and begin to climate-proof our world. From day one of my Administration the United States has treated this crisis as the existential threat that it is, not only to us, but to all of humanity.

          As to Ukraine, Biden spoke directly to Vladimir Putin, congressional Republicans, and the people of Ukraine:

Russia believes that the world will grow weary and allow it to brutalize Ukraine without consequence.  But I ask you this: If we abandon the core principles of the UN Charter to appease an aggressor, can any member state feel confident that they are protected? If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?

“The answer is no. We must stand up to this naked aggression today to deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow.

“That is why the United States together with our Allies and partners around the world will continue to stand with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity – and their freedom.

          President Zelensky warned the world that it is fighting on behalf of all nations to stop Russian aggression. See NYTimes, U.N. General Assembly: Zelensky Warns World Leaders That Russian Aggression Could Expand Beyond Ukraine. (Accessible to all.)

          Per the Times, Zelensky said,

“The goal of the present war against Ukraine is to turn our land, our people, our lives, our resources into a weapon against you, against the international rules-based order.” Zelensky [added] that Russia was weaponizing essentials like food and energy “not only against our country, but against all of yours, as well.”

            Zelensky’s plea for unity occurred against a backdrop of wavering European unity and active subversion of Ukraine by a handful of nations in league with Russia. See Robert Rotberg’s Substack newsletter, Conflict Mitigation, Halting the Enablers of Putin's Invasion. Rotberg writes that Russia is being enabled by North Korea, UAE, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and possibly Kyrgyzstan—all of which are providing either arms or electronics to Russia in violation of international sanctions.

          [Note: Robert Rotberg’s newsletter on Substack is a new resource to me, but he has been writing on foreign relations on Substack for a while. He is the Founding Director of Harvard Kennedy School’s Program on Intrastate Conflict and World Peace Foundation President Emeritus. So, as we all search for credible sources of news, I am adding Rotberg’s Conflict Mitigation Newsletter to my list of resources for commentary on foreign affairs.]

          Here’s my point about Biden’s speech at the UN: At a time when Ukraine’s position is becoming increasingly precarious because of eroding international support, Biden is exhibiting global and national leadership on an issue of overriding importance. America and the world need Biden’s steady leadership at this critical time.

The budget mess.

          McCarthy couldn’t get the votes to bring the GOP’s doomed-to-fail continuing resolution to the floor for a vote. The defense spending bill met the same fate. Could things get worse for McCarthy? Yes. A reporter found a draft resolution to “vacate the chair” lying on an infant-changing table in a men’s bathroom in the Capitol.

          What to make of all this? A: Nancy Pelosi was the greatest speaker in the modern era. And we will have a government shutdown on October 1.

The defense secrets case.

          ABC reported on more evidence that Trump attempted to obstruct the FBI’s investigation of his unlawful retention of defense secrets. Per ABC, when Trump's executive assistant—Molly Michael—was contacted by the FBI regarding the boxes of documents in Trump's possession, he told her, “You don't know anything about the boxes.” ABC also reported that Trump wrote notes to Michael on the back of documents containing classified designations. See ABC, Trump wrote to-do lists for assistant on White House documents marked classified.

          The defense secrets case is looking very bad for Trump—especially the obstruction of justice count. If Judge Aileen Cannon allows the case to go to trial sometime in the next decade, it will likely result in a conviction.

National Voter Registration Day.

          Tuesday was National Voter Registration Day. Pennsylvania celebrated the day by making voter registration automatic for any eligible resident of Pennsylvania who registers for a driver’s license or state-issued ID. See The Hill, Pennsylvania Gov. on automatic voter registration: ‘Greater voter participation equals a stronger democracy’.

          Pennsylvania became the twenty-fourth state to tie voter registration to registering for a driver’s license or state-issued ID. When more people vote, democracy is the winner. So, why are Republicans working so hard to suppress turnout? The question answers itself.

 Reader comment of the day.

          Reader Harvey Stone posted this Comment on Tuesday:

Take a look at Dana Bash's interview of Gavin Newsom: See Gov. Gavin Newsom's full exclusive interview with CNN - YouTube. Wow! Dana Bash couldn't get off of Biden's age. Then she got into Hunter Biden and other "concerns." In contrast, listen to Newsom. He offered the most full-throated explanation of what the Biden-Harris administration has accomplished in less than three years and why they should be re-elected.

In my opinion, this is what Democrats should be doing: talking up the positives loudly, clearly and constantly. It's what gives voters hope for a better tomorrow . . . and a hell of a lot of reasons to vote Democrat.

          I watched the interview (linked above) and . . . wow! Gavin Newsom is a terrific surrogate for Biden. He has an impressive command of the facts and effectively communicates the Biden/Harris accomplishments without sounding wonky. The Democrats need to get Newsom out on the trail for Biden/Harris.

Reader emails.

          I received two reader emails that deserve amplification:

          Reader Ida Messana wrote:

Thanks for mentioning The Media and Democracy (MAD) Project.  I am writing to alert your readers that Milo Vassallo, Executive Director of the MAD Project, will be speaking this Thursday 9/21/23 on Zoom at 7pm Eastern on "Why Media Matters" at Let's Talk Democracy. All are welcome, it is free.  The link will be available on our website Let's Talk Democracy.

          Reader Sarah O’Neill wrote:

Hi Robert, some great news! Hal Rafter won in New Hampshire! As a result, Democrats secured the majority in the NH House!

Such good news! Your promoting the Giving Circle link with the match funds and our Zoom for him was great. PostcardsToVoters.org volunteers also sent postcard reminders to vote for Hal to every Democrat in his District . . . twice!!

          To those readers who supported Hal Rafter through the Giving Circle or PostcardsToVoters, give yourself a pat on the back! Your support made a big difference in New Hampshire—and to Hal Rafter.

Reader meeting in San Francisco.

          My wife and I will be in San Francisco on October 6. We are looking for a reader with a home in the city who would be willing to host a meeting of two dozen readers. If you can accommodate a readers’ meeting, please email me at rbhubbell@gmail.com.

          I will circulate a sign-up sheet after we have secured a meeting location. Stay tuned!

Concluding Thoughts.

          I read or heard the following statement a half-dozen times on Tuesday: “If Trump wins in 2024, democracy is over.” No true! While I firmly believe Biden will win in 2024, we must stop telling people that “democracy will be over” if Trump wins. Why?

          First, it is simply not true. American democracy is stronger and more resilient than Trump or MAGA extremism. It will outlast them all.

          Second, it suggests that if Trump wins, we will all give up. Not me! How about you? If all it takes to end 230 years of American democracy is a second Trump term, shame on us! Too many Americans sacrificed too much for us to curl up in a ball and declare the end of democracy if Trump wins a second term.

          Third, the people who say or write that phrase don’t mean it. They are being hyperbolic and imprecise in their attempt to communicate a sense of urgency. Most of the people who are saying “American democracy will be over” will be at the front of the barricades if Trump wins. But when they attempt to rally Americans to another four years of resistance, they will be rightfully met with cynicism. “You told us democracy would be over if Trump won. And now you ask us to continue fighting?”

          Fourth, because the statement is not true, telling people that democracy will be over if Trump wins is scaremongering. Stop it!! We do not need to create unnecessary anxiety. People are anxious enough; increasing their anxiety is just as likely to drive them away as it is to increase their engagement.

          Whenever I make the above point, I get emails saying that I am lulling people into a false sense of hope or suggesting that we have no reason to worry. If that’s what you think, go back and read what I wrote above. I said no such thing. Things are bad and may get worse before they get better. But they will get better.

          We are up to the task. Success in 2024 will require us to work harder and smarter than we did in 2018, 2020, and 2022. The election will be close. We must not lose focus. We must be determined and fearless. We must be motivated by righteousness and courage, not fear and despair.

          American democracy is on the line in 2024. It always is. American democracy is in danger if we do not step up to protect it. That is always true. It has been true for 230 years—and every generation before us has found a way to preserve democracy for the next generation. Ours will not be the generation that falters. Tell that to the next person who tells you that democracy might end in 2024.

          Talk to you tomorrow!