Thanks for stopping by.  This message is for you from me.  IMPORTANT NOTE: Between now and the next post on this topic, probably shortly after the Democratic Convention in August, I will continue blogging on miscellaneous topics.  Any random comments from readers on politics in the upcoming two months will be appended to this post, so check back once in awhile if interested.

In todays background, is news about the Supreme Court Immunity decision. Today’s Supreme Court ruling in its entirety is here.  That is an equally essential issue for another day.  This brief post intends to continue the discussion on the ‘debate’ of June 27.

My two posts about the “Debate” on June 27 are accessible here.  I said in the June 28 post, and I reiterate, that I “resist jumping to conclusions“.   I’ll say more on national politics after the last national party convention in August.  I am, as I say at right, “a moderate pragmatic Democrat” who believes we all matter, not just some.  I am a Joe Biden partisan.

Below is a photo I took of Joe Biden, October 5, 2010, in St. Paul.  He was in St. Paul to support the candidacy of Mark Dayton for Governor.  Dayton went on to be a two-term Governor.

I watched the debate last week in its entirety.  The debate was essential, as was the outcome. We all saw, side by side, two totally opposing views of America as an idea.  There were no filters.  A bonus – I mean this sincerely – is an opportunity to recognize and deal with our near universal stupidity in thinking we can rely on electing one person as President of 330,000,000 people, who we can then blame for everything real or imagined – in the instant case a poor performance in a single 90 minute ‘show’ on a specific day.  “The show must go on”, the saying goes.  Any outside circumstances be damned.

I proudly supported Obama/Biden in 2008 and 2012, and Clinton/Keane in 2016, and Biden/Harris in 2020.  There is nothing, including a difficult 90 minutes on the 27th, that changes my mind about supporting Joe Biden again in 2024.

This is an opportunity for an essential national dialogue for every single one of us to consider where we fit into this picture.  We cannot delegate this to, or blame, someone else.  This is our issue to manage constructively, or to lose everything.

Oct. 5, 2010 in Sr. Paul, Joe Biden in support of candidacy of Mark Dayton for Governor. (Photo Dick Bernard)

Here and here are two analyses of the Trump firehose of lies in the recent debate.  We seem inured to the lies….  Even worse is the conservative game plan  – “2025” – should Trump win.  Here’s a readable source critical about this plan.  None of this is hidden.  “2025” is what they intend to do if in power.  It’s an immense blueprint for taking over, no holds barred  At minimum scroll through these.

On November 5, the American people – all of us – will decide on the states and country we wish to be going forward.  This is not a business-as-usual election; I hope we-the-people don’t approach it the way we often seem to, collectively. which is “oh, what the hell – doesn’t make any difference”.  This is my only appeal.  Go into this with your eyes wide open.  A decision once made cannot be reversed.

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Finally, July 4 comes on Thursday.  This holiday has a storied history in the United States of America.  It’s meaning, and the internal threats our country faces, are in more stark focus today than ever.

A friend sent me a photo of some old Civil War Veterans last week, and it is too good to not share.  The back of the photo indicates it was taken by a photographer in O’Fallon IL (east of St. Louis) in 1908,.  We live in the country these folks fought to preserve.  Remember that.

I am reminded also that our Founding Fathers sought to protect us from another king….

God Bless us all.  Have a great 4th.  Feel free to comment and pass this and other posts along as you wish.  The future of this constitutional democracy is in our hands.

COMMENTS will be added here as received (more at end of post):

Two very important commentaries about Supreme Court overnight, July 2: here and here.

from Larry: [We] graduated with you in 1962 from [college].  We are both concerned about the outcome of the election.  I agree with you – we’re the ones who count.  I’m really worried that Biden is not up to the task, especially for another four years as president. Thanks for your enlightening blogs.

from JoAnn: Thank you, Dick.  Your message is very (!) important and timely.  Keep up the good work.  [from Dick: the message JoAnn refers to is a brief letter to my own list, which you can read here: Letter from Dick July 1 2024]

from Marion: Dick,  I’m with you. That the Kappan accepted for publication in September an article from a 97-year-old may explain my view of the relevance of age.  The title I submitted: Simplify Schooling: Respect the brain’s organizers of information. Its message is genuinely revolutionary but highly unlikely to be seen as such.

response to Marion from Dick: I’ve been honored to know Marion for the last 27 of his 97 years.  He’s on my list, and he received the letter referred to by JoAnn.  His column will be the 5th published by the Kappan over the years.  He is a class act.  Here is his website.

from Brad: Yes voting is all we have left after our Supreme (?) Court’s decisions recently, and especially today’s misguided and incredibly scary decision re presidential immunity.  It is so reminiscent of the Nixon presidency but so much worse with our county’s democracy now on the line.  Voting.  I am remembering my first vote in 1972’s primary, as a freshman in college.  I met and campaigned with Dr. Spock of the Peace and Freedom party.  I was very compassionate about both gay rights and the end of the Vietnam war.  To me, he was the solution to the upside world of the era.  It seems so much more is at stake now – religious freedom, individual rights, environment safety, and especially the rule of law.  All dangerously in jeopardy of eroding or disappearing.  Voting. We must vote, encourage others to vote, and be proactive in driving a vote that ensures the integrity of our US President.