Heading into next year’s election, several factors remind me of the situation 14 political cycles ago in 1968. Like now, it was a tumultuous time.
We had an incumbent Democrat in the White House (LBJ) who had proved to be effective at winning important legislative victories (the Civil Rights Act), but who faced growing opposition to America’s involvement in an unpopular war overseas (Vietnam).
The Republican challenger (Nixon) was a figure deeply feared and despised by progressives, but the rising anti-war sentiment among the young (my generation) opened up deep fissures within the Democratic camp.
Challengers to LBJ soon emerged from the left (Eugene McCarthy, RFK, George McGovern) and after a poor showing in the first primary, LBJ chose to withdraw from the race for re-election.
This set off a mad dash for the Democratic nomination, which ultimately was decided by party insiders, who selected a weak option, the incumbent V-P Hubert Humphrey over the anti-war candidates.
And how did that work out? Nixon won, and the country subsequently suffered one of its worst political crises ever with the Watergate scandal.
I’m not yet predicting or advocating that Biden will or should withdraw his candidacy, necessarily, but it seems a definite possibility that he may have to eventually given his low approval ratings and the tragic situation in the Middle East.
Should history repeat itself a la 1968, that could saddle our country and the future of democracy with Donald Trump.
On the other hand, if Biden does pull out sooner rather than later, that could help Democrats get a stronger candidate, like Gavin Newsom or Gretchen Whitmer into the fight against Trump — and give our children and grandchildren a better chance to preserve their democratic future.
HEADLINES:
Israeli forces battle militants around another Gaza hospital as babies evacuated to Egypt (AP)
Israel says soldier executed, foreign hostages held at Gaza's Shifa hospital (Reuters)
Between Israelis and Palestinians, a Lethal Psychological Chasm Grows (NYT)
Is it time for America's elder statesmen to retire? (BBC)
Mullen on Blinken’s reaction to Biden calling Xi a dictator: ‘Wincing is accurate’ (The Hill)
Many former Trump aides say he shouldn’t be president. Will it matter? (WP)
Trump visits Texas near US-Mexico border as he escalates anti-immigrant rhetoric (CNN)
Vulgarities, insults, baseless attacks: Trump backers follow his lead (WP)
The Supreme Court’s new ‘code’ does nothing to enhance ethics (The Hill)
The White House May Condemn Musk, but the Government Is Addicted to Him (NYT)
Why Americans feel gloomy about the economy despite falling inflation and low unemployment (AP)
Radical libertarian Javier Milei seizes victory in Argentina presidential election (Financial Times)
More than 400,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan following crackdown on migrants (ABC)
Royal Navy nuclear submarine sinks towards ‘danger zone’ (Telegraph)
NASA will take your name to space in a “Message in a Bottle.” (WP)
When people move out, wildlife moves in: 10 abandoned places reclaimed by nature (CNN)
Amazon aims to provide free AI skills training to 2 million people by 2025 with its new ‘AI Ready’ commitment (AMZN)
Sam Altman joins Microsoft as OpenAI names its third CEO in 3 days (CNN)
A timeline of Sam Altman’s ouster from OpenAI and Microsoft appointment (Reuters)
The Winners and Losers of OpenAI’s Wild Weekend (NYT)
Brilliant but Dangerous Move. It Could Change the Future of A.I. Forever (Inc.)
OpenAI in chaos as nearly all employees threaten to quit to join Altman at Microsoft (WP)
The “Next Wave” of AI Is Here (Brownstone)
Loud Man Not Even Drunk (The Onion)
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