“The sacred task of perfecting our union.”

July 24, 2024

President Biden delivered an address from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening. (Full transcript here.) The speech was thoughtful and forward-looking, focusing on the challenge and promise of America. President Biden said he was passing the torch to a new generation, charging them with “the sacred task of perfecting our union.”

The speech was grounded in gratitude, not bitterness. He said, in part,

It has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years. I have given my heart and my soul like so many others. I'm blessed a million times in return with the love and support of the American people. I hope you have some idea of how grateful I am, to all of you.

The most important part of the speech was President Biden’s recognition that he was prioritizing “saving our democracy” over “personal ambition”:

I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America's future, all merited a second term. But nothing, nothing, can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition. So, I've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That's the best way to unite our nation. You know, there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life. But there's also a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices, yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now.

He also spoke to the character and greatness of the American people:

We have to decide: Do we still believe in honesty, decency, respect, freedom, justice and democracy. In this moment, we can see those we disagree with not as enemies but as, I mean, fellow Americans — can we do that? Does character in public life still matter? I believe you know the answer to these questions because I know you the American people, and I know this:

We are a great nation because we are a good people.

President Biden reiterated his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris to be the next president, saying:

In just a few months, the American people will choose the course of America’s future. I made my choice. I’ve made my views known. I would like to thank our great vice president, Kamala Harris. She is experienced, she is tough, she is capable. She’s been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country.

Now the choice is up to you, the American people. . . . Whether we keep our republic is now in your hands.

In an emotional closing, President Biden said,

The great thing about America is, here kings and dictators do not rule — the people do. History is in your hands. The power’s in your hands. The idea of America lies in your hands.

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President Biden calls for Supreme Court reform

In his remarks on Wednesday, President Biden mentioned several issues that will be the focus of his remaining time in office. Importantly, he included the need for Supreme Court reform. His call for Supreme Court reform was first shortly after the debate in June. See CBSNews, Biden considering proposals to reform Supreme Court.

Per CBS News,

President Biden is considering a series of proposals to reform the Supreme Court, including measures to establish term limits for justices and an enforceable ethics code.

According to reports in the Washington Post, President Biden called constitutional law scholar Laurence Tribe to discuss an essay by Professor Tribe in The Guardian entitled, How the US supreme court shredded the constitution and what can be done to repair it | Laurence H Tribe.

In his essay, Professor Tribe wrote,

[T] here is a compelling need for supreme court reform, including a plan to impose an enforceable ethics code and term limits and possibly create several added seats to offset the way Trump as president stacked the court to favor his Maga agenda . . . .

Let’s hope that a newly emboldened and unburdened President Biden will pursue all of Professor Tribe’s suggestions, including creating “several added seats to offset the way Trump stacked the court to favor his MAGA agenda.” It can’t happen soon enough!

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Democratic National Committee gives candidates until July 30 to declare intent to seek nomination

The DNC is taking no chances that Republicans will be able to keep the Democratic nominee off the ballot in any state in 2024. To remove all doubt, the DNC will hold a virtual roll call of delegates beginning on August 1 and concluding on August 7. Notably, both nominees—president and vice-president . . . must be included in the nomination process, meaning that V.P. Harris will likely announce her vice presidential pick by early next week. See Politico, DNC gives would-be Harris rivals 3 days to declare.

V.P. Harris has asked for materials from the following candidates: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Mark Kelly, of Arizona. Other sources say that V.P. Harris is also considering Kentucky Governor Andy Beshears and Governor Pritzker of Illinois.

I do not have an opinion on who V.P. Harris should select. The good news is that she has a very deep bench to choose from. That should give us confidence—especially compared to the rogues gallery that competed for the Republican vice-presidential nomination.

Speaking of JD Vance—or James Donald Bowman and James David Hamel as he was previously known—Axios reported that Elon Musk lobbied heavily for Trump to pick Vance. When Musk was lobbying for Vance, Musk reportedly offered to provide $45 million per month to a Trump Super PAC. But after President Biden withdrew and Kamala Harris quickly consolidated support in the Democratic Party, Musk denied that he committed $45 million per month to support the candidacy of Trump. See Fortune, Elon Musk denies reported $45 million a month pledge to Trump, says he doesn't 'subscribe to cult of personality’

All of which goes to prove that President Biden timed his withdrawal announcement perfectly—denying Republicans the opportunity to pick a running mate for Trump who would be effective against a Kamala Harris and [player to be named later] ticket.

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Opportunities for Reader engagement

Red Wine & Blue hosts Senator Elizabeth Warren to discuss Project 2025

On Monday, July 29th at 7:00 pm Eastern / 4:00 pm Pacific, Red Wine & Blue will host Senator Elizabeth Warren to talk about Project 2025 and the economy.

Kamala Harris says she’s taking on Project 2025. But too many Americans still don’t know about it. You can help change that — it's a huge threat, not just to our democracy, but our economy too. Who better to explain how we can reject division and build an economy that works for families than Senator Elizabeth Warren? Join us as we talk with her about the economic threat of Project 2025, the state of our economy today, and what our plan is for getting everyone what they need to succeed. Sign up here by clicking the link: Project 2025? We Have A Plan For That With Elizabeth Warren. 

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If you are an American citizen living abroad, please read this important notice from Vote From Abroad.

VoteFromAbroad.org provides every US citizen abroad with the information and tools needed to VOTE.

We assist US citizens voting in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories. Our online tool makes it simple to fill out and send in the federal form needed to request your ballot every year. And our informational webpages and Voter Helpdesk provide in depth and personal support to US citizens abroad with requesting, receiving, and returning their ballots to vote in US elections.

Don't forget your colleagues, friends and relatives working and living overseas!! Ask them to register and/or request their Absentee Ballot immediately (to arrive by email, about Sept. 20) at Vote From Abroad or fvap.gov.

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Don’t forget your state and local Democratic parties!

A volunteer for a state Democratic Party sent a note this morning asking me to remind you that state and local Democratic parties can use volunteers! To contact your state and local Democratic Party, conduct an internet search in this format: [State / County] Democratic Party. That should get you started!

Concluding Thoughts

If you are looking for positive signs to decrease your anxiety, ignore the polls. Media organizations are already commissioning new polls (or updating old ones) to determine the effect of Kamala Harris’s candidacy. The trendlines are good for Democrats—especially among young voters, Black voters, and women voters. But, overall, the race remains close—within the margin of error.

But the uptick in support among young, female, and Black voters is consistent with the anecdotal evidence being reported by grassroots volunteers of renewed enthusiasm and volunteerism among young voters, Black voters, and women voters. It is also consistent with reports from dozens of readers who tell me that previously alienated young family members are suddenly excited and engaged!

Anecdotes are not data. But when anecdotes combine with data, like the fundraising haul in the 48 hours after Joe Biden endorsed Kamala Harris, they can provide insight into what is happening on the ground.

Here, there is no doubt—none—that we are experiencing a remarkable moment of political rebirth in the Democratic Party. We must do everything we can, as quickly as we can, to capitalize on and extend that moment of rebirth.

Although Republicans were caught off-guard by Joe Biden’s endorsement of Kamala Harris, they will find their stride and do their best to disrupt and divide us. Although we are 100 days from November 5, 2024, early voting in some states begins in September. There is not a moment to spare!

The good news is that the Harris campaign is off to an amazing start and has kept the Biden campaign staff in place—so as not to miss a beat. V.P. Harris is already on the campaign trail in a big way—while Trump cheats at golf three days a week at Mar-a-Lago.

Now, more than ever, we have every reason to be hopeful, but no reason to be complacent!

Talk to you tomorrow!

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Pictured below: The Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565), which is 39 million light-years from Earth. Taken on 7/24/24 in Los Angeles.

Note the “smudge” along the bottom right edge. That smudge is another galaxy (NGC 4562) and is 36 million light-years from Earth.

It is impressive that two galaxies separated by 3 million light years are shown in the same photograph, no?

But here is something even more impressive. In the upper right corner are four “stars” that form a “Y” shape. The “star” at the upper left of the “Y” is another galaxy (PGC 41967) that is 310 million light-years from Earth. The light from that galaxy began its journey toward Earth before the rise of the dinosaurs! The light from the other two galaxies began its journey after the dinosaurs became extinct.

When you gaze at the night sky, you are looking back in time—with every star and galaxy representing a different point in the unimaginably ancient history of the universe.