The Once and Future President

Joe Biden will likely resign in days. The cringe-worthy presidential debate sealed his fate, thanks to his complete incapacity to, well, answer questions or finish sentences or maintain a coherent train of thought. As I sit here this Friday evening, Joe’s vice-president, Kamala Harris, is now in the box seat to replace him.

‘Frying pan – fire’, I hear you say! Kamala is about as popular as a band-aid at the bottom of a public pool, and that’s among Democrats themselves! During her run for the presidency back in 2020, her approval rating never exceeded single digits. For goodness’ sake, she’s not even popular in her home state of California.

What’s more, just like sleepy Joe, Kamala is gaffe prone. Most recently she spoke of America’s “important relationship” and “alliance with North Korea”. That’s right, North Korea! Then there is the time she actually suggested that hurricane aid should be race-based, prompting prominent and influential US left-wing commentator Bill Maher to call for her to be replaced as VP, and that was months before Biden’s dismal performance at the debate.

In contrast to the Democrats’ disarray, the Republicans have seldom appeared more united in their support of their presidential nominee. For the first time since Trump became the breakout candidate in the 2016 US presidential election, he appears the presumptive president. Trump, ‘like never before’ to use one of his favourite phrases, is drawing non-traditional supporters across communities and states – including in states that were traditionally Democrat red. It is something no pundit would have predicted even a few short months ago.

A sign of Republican Party’s newfound confidence and voice is its change of narrative, which was on clear display in its full-frontal attack on the Democratic claim on the American working class. The selection of JD Vance is proof positive that the Trump team and the MAGA movement understand that appealing to blue collar workers right across America is good politics.

Add the recent and horrific assassination attempt against President Trump, and what we are witnessing right now represents a seismic shift in American politics. The assassination attempt against Trump was felt deeply by many Americans who see in his candidacy somebody prepared to stand up for their values and stand against the tide of wokeism that has inundated America’s institutions.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, the media reporting of the attack on President Trump (at least initially) laid bare the duplicitousness of the left-wing media.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, the media reporting of the attack on President Trump (at least initially) laid bare the duplicitousness of the left-wing media. To any sane person, the footage from the Pennsylvania rally clearly showed Trump had been shot at – after all, who was the shooter targeting if not Trump? The popcorn seller? I think not!

Yet, it was hours before the legacy media outlets were even willing to acknowledge what had taken place: a full blown assassination attempt that left Trump bleeding from the head. Here are just a few of the headlines that make my point:

CNN: Secret Service Rushes Trump Off Stage After He Falls at Rally

Associated Press: Donald Trump Has Been Escorted Off The Stage During A Rally After Loud Noises Ring Out In The Crowd

These, I contend, would never have been the headline were Trump a Democrat.

WORTH noting are the parallels between America and Australia. Like the Democrats, Labor used to be the party of the blue-collar worker – but today, it remains so in name only.

Even as it hectored the working class for its ‘racist’ and ‘bigoted’ attitude, it oversaw actual criminals take control of the country’s biggest union, the CFMEU, who in turn bullied and terrorised the honest, decent and law-abiding workers within their ranks.
Never forget, it was this rotten state Labor government that took a wrecking ball to Victoria’s WorkCover support of workers with mental-injury claims.

As is the case in America right now, I can only hope the people of Victoria – the workers of Victoria – revisit their dissatisfaction with Labor at the ballot box two years from now.

For the time being, though, it’s time to book-end the sorry sitcom that’s become politics in America and wish Joe Biden farewell.

Nick McGowan is a Liberal MP representing the North Eastern Region in Victoria’s Legislative Council