Time to #StandUpForJoe

Biden has been a very effective president and his political views and planned policies are right for America.

Joe Biden is correct when he calls Donald Trump a clear and present danger to our democracy. The former president’s rhetoric and policy views endanger precious rights and freedoms. His Supreme Court nominations have decimated our constitution. His lead in recent polls is as surprising as Joe Biden’s low approval ratings.

Biden has been a very effective president and despite questions about his age, his political views and planned policies are right for America. However, in our divided country, Trump seems to have enough support to win in November, a fact that should scare the hell out of every citizen who heard him call the January 6thinsurrectionists “patriots.”

Recently, though, four events have bolstered Trump’s chances, and Biden and the Democrats will need to work hard to overcome what seems to be a solid lead:

1. Biden’s unfortunate debate performance.

Millions watched Biden stumble on live television. His party’s drumbeat to replace him, despite his very successful presidency is dumb politics, adding salt to a self-inflicted wound when actually it is Trump's mental fitness that should be in question.

2. The recent assassination attempt on Trump.

The media is falling all over itself to call for “unity,” to urge politicians to change their tone and stop using inflammatory rhetoric.

The problem is that the most offensive rhetoric in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 campaigns has come from Donald Trump. While no reporter has been willing to say it, Donald Trump brought about this attempt on his life by being the most offensive human being in political history. His would-be assassin was not some left-wing nut. He was a registered Republican and a resident of Butler County, PA, a Republican stronghold.

3. Judge Aileen Cannon’s absurd dismissal of Trump’s classified documents case.

With an assist from Clarence Thomas, perhaps the most compromised and politically biased Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history, Cannon ruled that the special prosecutor must be appointed by POTUS when federal judges across the political spectrum have almost universally ruled that the Department of Justice may appoint a special prosecutor.

While all of us have seen the photos of a huge stash of classified documents in Trump’s Mara Lago master bathroom, Cannon, a Trump appointee, gave him a complete pass on his dangerously casual handling of classified docs. When you issue a ruling that is supported only by Clarence Thomas among all the ultra-conservative judges appointed by Trump and his Republican brethren, you know the ruling is way “out there” and has no precedential basis.

Using the assassination attempt as cover and unable to use the Supreme Court’s recent immunity ruling because Trump took the documents after leaving office, Cannon dismissed the 40 count documents case without citing any case precedent (because none exist) to support her absurd decision.

The case will likely be successfully appealed, but the damage is done. Trump’s main goal was to push a possible trial past election day, which the ruling accomplishes. If Trump wins the presidency, he will certainly pardon himself of all cases pending after his inauguration. His lawlessness and refusal to be held accountable are wonderful reasons to vote for Biden and declare, with your vote, that no one is above the law.

There were multiple ways to correct Cannon’s perceived appointment defect, short of dismissal, but Cannon chose the most extreme adjudication. For instance, she cited Special Prosecutor Jack Smith’s lack of supervision, which could have been easily corrected by appointing a United States Attorney to supervise.

While I am not surprised by this brown-nosing judge’s ruling, I am dismayed that any judge would permit politics and career advancement to allow a criminal, especially a criminal president, to evade justice. Since the very beginning, Judge Cannon has, time and again, given serious consideration to Trump’s most specious claims in the case, allowing long hearings and friend-of-the-court briefing universally reserved for appellate courts.

4. The timing of the other three.

The Republican National Convention began yesterday. Look for Trump and his Republican brown-nosers to prominently feature the other three events in speeches and political presentations. Don’t be fooled by the celebratory or “unifying” rhetoric you might see at the convention—read the Party’s 900-page Project 25 and its dark vision of America under Trump’s promised dictatorship. A presidential candidate usually receives a “bounce” from the convention and Trump should be no exception.

Biden

This is one of five billboards posted by the DNC in Milwaukee during the MAGA Convention.

#StandUpForJoe

President Biden and America are now solid underdogs. We cannot, we must not, be complacent. This nonsense is easily defeated if common sense Democrats, Republicans, and Independents repudiate the so-called MAGA agenda, Project 25, and the right-wing’s call for autocracy. It is up to us. Vote in November and #StandUpForJoe. Your constitutional freedoms hang in the balance.

Heed the words of former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger as expressed on X (Twitter):

"The Trump campaign and surrogates will try to intimidate Biden supporters from going after the former President politically. Do not let up. Trump is a threat to democracy and he must be stopped. Every rational person knows that means politically. DO NOT let them twist your words and intimidate you. Trump must be beaten at the ballot box."

Listen to Kinzinger. Vote Biden/Harris in November. Your constitutional freedoms hang in the balance.

Please check out Mark Bello’s latest book, "The Anti-Semite Next Door," an exploration of antisemitism in the context of today's political environment.

It's the latest in Bello's ripped-from-the-headlines legal thrillers, all available online at Amazon and other major online booksellers. He has quite the hero in Attorney Zachary Blake, who fights for justice on all fronts. His previous books are Betrayal of Faith, Betrayal of Justice, Betrayal in Blue, Betrayal in Black, Betrayal High, Supreme Betrayal, Betrayal at the Border, You Have the Right to Remain Silent, and The Final Steps – A Harbor Springs Cozy Legal Mystery. He’s also written a wonderful children’s book about bullying, “Happy Jack, Sad Jack,” and he's just released "Love Hate Law," a new legal romance novel. For more info, just check markmbello.com.