MAKE NO MISTAKE: BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE THE PARTY OF NATIONAL SECURITY TODAY
Democrats lead response against Russian aggression
Talk of “political realignments” has been too often overdone in the course of American politics, more often than not by one political party with delusions of grandeur over just one — or perhaps a couple of — good victories over the other.
But, let's be clear, what we have seen in recent days absolutely represents both a deeply important — and, if you're like me, of a certain age — an absolutely stunning realignment of the two major American political parties.
Time was — only as recent as a generation or two removed, really — that it was the Republican Party which had a virtual lock on national security in the hearts and minds of American voters.
Americans may have backed Democrats on taxes, or education, or whatever — but when it came to matters of foreign policy and national security, it was Republicans who projected strength and resolve.
No more.
Today, it is President Biden and the Democrats — and only President Biden and the Democrats — who can be trusted as a party to defend American interests abroad.
Republicans, from former president Donald Trump, on down, are today actively cheerleading for naked international aggression, a dangerous autocrat and against US alliances overseas.
This has been thrown into sharp relief as Russian leader Vladimir Putin finally Thursday began his long-anticipated invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine “has no precedent on this continent since 1945,” says Jonatan Vseviov, the secretary-general of Estonia's foreign ministry — describing Thursday's events as a “major catastrophe.”
Putin has been telegraphing his intent to invade the neighboring former Soviet republic for some time now as last-ditch diplomacy failed.
Biden's political opponents have been calling the president “weak,” but it's been Biden who has rallied NATO and other US allies against Putin’s aggression — and began ratcheting up economic sanctions against Russia and key Russian individuals —in retaliation.
“What ever happens in Ukraine we shouldn't underestimate the fact the United States has retaken the adult chair in the world. Biden has restored American leadership so damaged by Trump. The world needs us and we have a President who can and does lead,” tweeted Joe Lockhart, CNN political analyst and White House Press secretary under President Bill Clinton.
Biden, too, reportedly has been given a “menu" of offensive cyber options, including temporarily and non-permanently targeting Russia’s infrastructure.
And Biden is no outlier in the Democratic Party.
Other Democrats throughout the party are publicly backing him, and standing against the Russian invasion.
That includes congressional progressives like Reps Cori Bush, of Missouri, and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
Even Democrats whose purviews have little to nothing to do with foreign policy, such as Gov Jay Inslee, of Washington State, have been speaking up.
“All Washingtonians should be outraged both by Russia’s unprovoked and destructive attack on Ukraine, a peaceful nation that has embraced democracy. I stand with @POTUS in his steadfast support of @NATO and his efforts to protect our country at home,” Inslee tweeted.
Contrast this sort of strong patriotism and leadership with the sort of flat-out pro-Putin propaganda — and rooting against American interests — which have consumed the Republican Party.
“I went in yesterday and there was a TV screen and I said, ‘This is genius. Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful … That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. We could use that on our southern border,’” Trump said.
Michael Flynn, Trump’s disgraced one-time national security advisor, released a statement actually blaming Biden for not siding with Putin and his “legitimate security concerns,” while continuing to “demonize Russia.”
But no less than the Auschwitz Memorial made clear where the moral center truly lies in this conflict.
“This morning, Russia attacked Ukraine. This act of barbarity will be judged by history, and its perpetrators, it is to be hoped, also by the International Court of Justice,” a statement from the memorial began.
It is time, really, to call the Republican Party and its enablers in the media to account.
“This is the moment the entire Republican party, not just the diehard Trumpers, crossed the line from loveyrs of America and democracy to choosing dictator thugs. And Trump is the perfect man for them. It's not party over country is fascism over country,” Lockhart tweeted.
In the past, when they held the political advantage on national security, Republicans were never shy about using that advantage come election time.
As recently as 2002, the Republican Party used President George W Bush's leadership in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, to successful effect in midterm elections.
It's time for Democrats to do the same.
The strength and resolve shown by Biden and the Democrats should be dramatically contrasted with the Republican coddling of invasion and dictators come November.
Do you find this post of value?
Please consider supporting our work by joining our Patreon for as little as $5…